Health insurance for young, healthy people?

Question

I'm trying to find a health insurance plan made for someone like me- 26, male, non-smoker,non-drinker, currently at ideal weight, regularly exercises, no health conditions, no prescriptions, etc. I mostly want something that'll cover check-ups with maybe a small co-pay, and then has a high deductable for a broken bone/ sports injury etc. Everything available at my job seems to cater to the chronically ill/ older/ heavy prescription user. private plans are to much per month. This is why I decline medical benefits, year after year! I know any of these plans would be helpful in the case of serious injury- just in case. But none seems to offer any tangible benefits like, I don't know, 2 doctor visits a year? Every plan requires that I exhaust my deductable first- I'll never spend 250-1000 a year for doctors visits!

I'm guessing, based on cost that a high deductable plan is best for my broken bone scenario- but how can then screw me out of seeing a doctor just to get a check up?

i want HEALTH INSURANCE, NOT LIFE INSURANCE. I DON"T CARE IF MY CREDITORS GET PAID OFF IF I DIE- AND I HAVE NO DEPENDENTS/FAMILY.

Answer 1

There are several high deductible plans that also cover doctor visits on a "first dollar" basis (meaning you don't have to exhaust your deductible first -- although there is usually a co-payment of $20-to-$40 per office visit. Whether they are available to you will depend on what state you live in. For example, in California and a few other states, the local Blue Cross plan may offer something called Tonik.

You best bet is to do some shopping online and then consult with an agent. In California there's an online service called Insurance Neighborhood (www.InsuranceNeighborhood.com) which has tools for comparing health plans AND finding a local, vetted agent to work with if you want to (you're not required to use an agent). You can also find agents through their professional association at www.NAHU.org. Outside of California you can shop see what plans are available through sites like www.ehealthinsurance.com and then, if you want, find a local agent through NAHU.

BTW, why use an agent? A good one knows which plans are providing the best service in your community and may know of plans web sites like ehealth don't represent.

Answer 2

You can get quotes in just a few minutes at - QUOTESTOASSURE.INFO-

RE Health insurance for young, healthy people?

I'm trying to find a health insurance plan made for someone like me- 26, male, non-smoker,non-drinker, currently at ideal weight, regularly exercises, no health conditions, no prescriptions, etc. I mostly want something that'll cover check-ups with maybe a small co-pay, and then has a high deductable for a broken bone/ sports injury etc. Everything available at my job seems to cater to the chronically ill/ older/ heavy prescription user. private plans are to much per month. This is why I decline medical benefits, year after year! I know any of these plans would be helpful in the case of serious injury- just in case. But none seems to offer any tangible benefits like, I don't know, 2 doctor visits a year? Every plan requires that I exhaust my deductable first- I'll never spend 250-1000 a year for doctors visits!

I'm guessing, based on cost that a high deductable plan is best for my broken bone scenario- but how can then screw me out of seeing a doctor just to get a check up?

Answer 3

If you don't use the insurance, you don't have to pay anything on the deductible. If you use it, the doctor is supposed to bill the insurance first, then the insurance tells them what to bill you as far as your deductible. (In other words, doctors can in theory bill an insurance whatever they want to, but the insurance is only obligated to pay the contracted rate - which is 99.9.% of the time significantly less than billed amount. Sometimes fifty cents on the dollar) NEVER pay up front!

Some plans only have deductibles for illnesses - well exams are covered. See if those plans offered have those. Otherwise, I'd personally take the $250 deductible plan offered - God forbid something happens to you. Better to pay out up to $250 than thousands, you know?

Answer 4

You fall into the trap that many consumers do by not understanding the purpose of insurance in general and health insurance in particular. The purpose of insurance is the protection of assets. Therefore, you should self insure for the things that you can afford to pay and purchase insurance for the catastrophic losses. If you are offered health insurance through your company that is your best value for the dollar because someone else (your employer) is paying at least 50% of the cost for the premium for the employee (this is required by law) and many employers pay more than the required 50%. Anytime you can purchase something where someonelse is paying at least 50% you can't beat it in terms of value. However, many times the employer selects very feature rich benefit plans that are very expensive. If you have to pay 50% of a plan that costs 1000/month you are still paying 500 per month. If you elect to purchase an individual plan you will give up alot of benefits. You will get 500 worth of benefits for 500 250 for 250 etc. (not a 2 for 1 like through your employer). It is possible to pay someone else for providing any product or service and have it cost less than you could purchase that same product or service directly. So quit trying to have a plan include 2 doctor visits per year. Pay for those out of your own pocket. You are right, you will probably never pay 250-1000 per year for doctor visits, therefore pay the 100 per doctor visit out of your own pocket. A good analogy would be with car insurance. Imagine if you tried to have oil changes covered by the policy. The extra premiums would be much higher than what it would cost you yearly to pay for those out of your own pocket.

Answer 5

There are a couple of free services where you can compare rates and get quotes from potentially 100 or more insurers. See Sources for a page with links. This will give you a broad arena in which to search conveniently.

You could also try finding a local independent health insurance broker. Independent brokers typically represent several insurers and can help you find one that specializes in your parameters.

Answer 6

Nearly a third of young adults ages 19 to 29 are uninsured. Individuals in this age group are nearly twice as likely as all children and older adults to be without health insurance. At a time in life when financial security is perhaps most tenuous, uninsured young adults are vulnerable to potentially catastrophic expenses in the event of serious
illness or injury.

Despite a tight U.S. labor market, the uninsured rate among young adults has jumped in recent years. Most Americans get health coverage through an employer. But many young adults—unless they are enrolled in college full-time and can remain on a
parent’s health plan—cannot gain access to affordable health insurance through their often low-wage, entry-level jobs. In addition to the financial burden it can create, lack of health
insurance limits access to regular preventive care and health counseling and can force people to forgo needed medical care.

They note that not all health insurance policies are expensive. In 2005 a 19-29 year old could get a basic policy for an average of $20 to $50 per month.

Health insurance is best found by investing time, educating yourself and comparison shopping. InsureMe is designed to be an invaluable resource for insurance shoppers like you in this process. Fill out our easy form, and you can get up to five insurance quotes from insurance agents who can help you make the best decision regarding your insurance. Go to: http://www.insureme.com/landing.aspx?Refby=614504&Type=health. Once again, shop around, get multiple quotes, and learn all you can about a policy before you buy cheap health insurance.

Answer 7

If you think you can get away with any serious injuries or illness.....invest into a medical savings account....I do...I put a portion of what I would pay a company into a separate account.....I have only dipped into it a couple of times in the past 20 yrs or so....the last time was only a 4grand hospital bill.
Besides if anything catastrophic happened that's what bankruptcy was invented for.

Answer 8

I believe it has alot to do with income...a teen/young adult/low income who makes 7.50 /hr it is very hard to come up with or even try to budget in insurance expecially when the company you work for does not provide it. The average out of pocket for people with insurance through there workis 2400 or more per year imagine if your employeer did not provide it. Or trying to afford that when you are low income with a family to feed low education, low income, ect.

Answer 9

Why don't you call one or more local insurance agents and tell them what you want and what you want covered - for instance, a high deductible plan that also covers checkups.

Answer 10

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