Why You Should NEVER Buy Health Insurance Without An Agent’s Help

The internet makes it easy to handle almost any financial matter on your own. You can take out a loan, pay your bills and even buy an insurance policy – all without talking to another human.

But just because you can do something online doesn’t mean you should.

That’s painfully true when it comes to health insurance. And unfortunately many people find out too late it’s one thing you shouldn’t rush into.

How An Insurance Agent Helps You Make The Smartest Choice

Getting an insurance plan isn’t as simple as ordering a pair of sneakers online. You shouldn’t just point, click and buy, or you could end up regretting it.

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should work with an insurance agent when shopping for a health plan:

1. You reduce the risk of rejection.

Getting turned down for insurance is bad news. Rejected applications are permanently recorded by the Medical Information Bureau. This black mark can make it harder – if not impossible – to get insurance through other companies. If you find another company to accept you, it could permanently raise your rates.

Insurers are cautious about who they accept. If there’s something confusing on your application, or you’ve failed to provide them with complete information they won’t hesitate to turn you down.  

Your agent will help you fill out your application correctly AND they know which companies are most likely to accept you.

They can even make informal inquiries to an insurance company’s underwriting department to find out what your chances are before you submit an application.

2. They know the ins and outs of insurance. You don’t.

A good agent monitors the status of your application as it goes through the underwriting department. If they catch wind of your rates being hiked or extra conditions added, they can call up the underwriter directly and state your case.

If they do a lot of business with that company, they’ll have built a relationship with the underwriters. Your agent will know how to talk to them, and explain your case. That’s a lot more than you can do on your own.

3. You’re gaining a trusted adviser

When you work with an agent you are building a relationship with a financial professional whose job it is to help you. If your claim was unexpectedly denied, would you rather speak to a representative at a big call center, or the person familiar with you and your policy?

And your agent can help you troubleshoot any problems you have during the life of your policy.

How To Choose An Agent

Insurance agents aren’t going around door to door anymore. But you can find many of them online. When you find one, here are some things to remember:

Are they a broker? Working with a broker means they’ll find you the best plan out of all the companies they represent. The more companies they work with, the more options you have.

Are they licensed in your state? It’s always a good idea to check with your state’s insurance department to find out if an agent is actually allowed to do business with you.

Do they have experience helping people like you? If you have specific concerns or medical conditions, it’s wise to work with an agent who has experience helping people with those issues. For example, an agent who sells plans mainly to businesses might not be the best at finding a policy for your family.

Best of all, using the services of an insurance agent is FREE. Agents get paid through the company they help you buy a policy from. You get all the advice and answers from an insurance professional, without paying a dime. Use our health insurance quote form and get the help you need.