Individual Health Plans

Some plans being offered are a complete fraud by using industry language to describe levels of coverage, and issuing authentic looking insurance cards.”
Then there are offerings of discount cards through “buyers clubs” which may legitimately provide discounts on some expenses things such prescription drug costs and dental services that are offered through a network of providers, but they are not medical coverage. In some cases marketers are overstating the size of the networks, or offering unbelievable discounts – “up to 85 percent off,”.

Consumers are being drawn into these plans by lower premiums only to find out later that they do not have health insurance and that they have to pay for services rendered. Even if they did receive a discount of say 40% that still leaves 60% for them to pay themselves, and that can be very costly. In addition to that many find out that, “pre-authorized surgeries” or other large expenses won’t be reimbursed or discounted at all.

Common-sense defensive measures.

• Trust your gut. “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” If a plan is providing extensive coverage for just “pennies a day,” beware.
• Look for suspicious signs. A common persuasion tactic is to use an image of someone official to lend legitimacy to a plan. Check them on the web for their ratings and financial statments.
• Stop. Call. Confirm. First, ask the marketers to provide proof that they’re licensed by the government. Then, verify their information with the state insurance comissioner to confirm that the plan is licensed to do business in their state”.
• Take your time. Don’t bend to the pressure of a “limited-time offer”, and definitely don’t provide bank account or credit card information until you’ve checked out the policy thoroughly.
• Compare. Use a reputable agent who has been in the business a number of years and has the abiltiy to offer coverage from many insurance companies rather than an agent who is just captive with one company.
• Know what your are buying. “No matter what you buy, know it is by reading your policy,”