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| Evaluating Coverage |  You can compare several companies with the help of an independent agent or broker. Talk to several to find one who will be suitable for you and who proposes policies from several companies. It is recommended to ask questions about each policy and make a comparison table. It is always better to look through the policy itself, though an agent can reply much of your questions.
– How much of my doctor and hospital bills will this plan pay for?
– What is the monthly premium?
– How much will I have to pay for a hospital stay before the plan begins to pay?
– How much will I have to pay for office visits to the doctor?
- Does the plan pay for preventive health care, such as routine checkups?
– Does this plan have rules for people who already have dangerous, chronic medical problems? Will this keep me from getting the care I need? A pre-existing condition should be described as a condition "for which you have got treatment, medication, or advice in the past six months" as opposed to having manifested itself for a particular time before the policy start. In the second case, a company could deny coverage of cancer because it might have been growing for more than six months even if you do not know about it.
– If there is a deductible, does it begin over each year (preferable) or for each new illness?
– What services are covered by this health insurance? Will it pay for visits to the emergency room or urgent care center? Find out whether it covers routine surgery, doctor visits, hospital stays, home health care, skilled nursing facility care, and medical equipment and supplies.
– Does the plan pay for visits to a dentist, an eye doctor or prescription drugs?
– Does the plan cover catastrophic medical costs?
– Get to know if there is a yearly or lifetime limit to how much the plan will pay for medical costs. The lifetime limit should be at least five million dollars.
– Are rate hikes based on individual or pooled claims? (In the case of pooled claims, the company raises the rates of an entire category, not individuals.)
– Are rates based on my age at the time the policy is issued (preferable) or my "attained" age?
– Is the policy Guaranteed Renewable/Non Cancelable (preferable) or is it just Guaranteed Renewable?
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