Health Insurance Companies

How to find the right health insurance company

Choosing the right health insurance company is as important as deciding to take a health insurance policy itself. After all, the premise is that you want to be secure in the event of any illness or accident. As such, it is important that you find reliable health insurers that can deliver on your claim.

Consider the following when looking for health insurance company. Dig deep and find out the health insurer’s financial rating. The better the rating, the more credible the health insurance company is in being able to fulfill a claim. Check the network of hospitals and physicians that is provided under the health insurance policy. Are you comfortable with these options? Are they located close to where you live? Find out what others are saying. Seek other people who are also insured with the same carrier and find out how fast the health insurance company responds from simple queries to claims. It can often be a good idea to phone the customer service lines, rather than the sales lines, to see how quickly they answer the phone.

Note that there are numerous state and federal laws that can help protect people with pre-existing conditions who are either seeking health care cover or looking to switch plans. There is a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act which sets national standards for all health plans. A good health insurance company should be able to discuss these aspects with you. This can be a good test of the health insurance companies' integrity - don't be afraid to ask.

Some of the biggest names in health insurance, and those specializing in areas or professions, include: Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Southeast Medical Alliance (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas), International Medical Group, BUPA International, Amil International Online, Provident, Kaiser Group Health Insurance (insurance for small businesses), Midland Insurance Group (sport leagues accident and liability insurance.

We don't recommend any particular insurance company. We encourage you to use these guidelines and to compare offerings.