A Better Way To Buy Health Insurance…

PPO, HMO, HSA, It’s all so confusing…Agents can help…Really!

By Leslie Ellis

Leslie Ellis

Do you know that the average cost for a day in the hospital is $9,328? No one plans to get into a car accident or develop a condition, but it does happen, so being prepared is imperative. People often say they can’t afford health insurance but the real issue is people can’t afford not to have it.

Many individuals, families and small companies think medical insurance is unaffordable. But that is not necessarily true. An agent/broker who specializes in health insurance can help.

Using an Agent is Risk-Free

One of the many advantages to using an agent/broker is that it is basically risk free. If an agent/broker, despite all of his or her efforts, can not find a plan to fit an individual or company’s needs, there is no charge.

Give Yourself Some Relief From the Stress!

An agent/broker will also manage the confusion of all the hundreds of plans from which to choose. For a small company, there can be up to 300 plans! Although the Internet is a wonderful tool, it is not recommended for identifying health plans; let an agent/broker do it. They are trained in the area and will relieve a ton of frustration.

For individuals, it’s imperative to use an agent/broker. If an individual is declined by one carrier, chances are really good that individual will be declined by all of them. An agent/broker will likely know what conditions or situations will get approved and what will get declined. In the end, this will save the applicant time.

Agents will Help You After the Purchase Too!

Many people wrongly assume using an agent will cost more than surfing the Internet. Everyone pays the same price regardless of where they purchase their insurance.

In addition, once an individual or company has coverage, the agent/broker is available to help with claims, questions and other situations such as denied claims. Just because a claim has been denied doesn’t mean the claim will not be paid. A good agent/broker can be a real ally when it comes to negotiating with the carriers and can often get a claim paid that was initially denied.

First and foremost, remember that the agent works for the individual or company. He or she should help get the best plan, the best price and answer all questions. Being comfortable with an agent/broker can not be emphasized enough. A good agent will return calls within 24 hours and will remain in touch regularly throughout the relationship.

If you don’t have insurance, PLEASE ask for some options. Your life might depend on it!

Leslie Ellis, a licensed insurance agent, is with Personnel Touch International and Domestic Insurance Brokers. They have been providing employee benefits since 1990. To learn more about how Leslie can help you, please visit the Personnel Touch website.