HOW TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE
Many small companies (2-100 employees) think they can’t afford to provide health insurance for their employees. Many people won’t consider working for a company that doesn’t offer health insurance. It’s a valuable benefit that can bring you better quality employees. It doesn’t cost anything to look into what is available and you might find that it is within your reach.
The internet is a wonderful tool but not when it comes to buying health insurance. For a small business there are over 100 plans available. It’s incredibly confusing! A broker will help to find the best plan for your company taking into account budget and the employee population.
Many people assume that if you use a broker you’ll pay more than if you use the internet. Not true! The price is the same no matter how you buy it. In addition, once you have coverage, your broker is there to help you with plan benefit questions, claims and anything else you need. People assume that if a claim is denied, that’s the end of it. That is not necessarily the case. A good broker can be a real ally when it comes to negotiating with the carriers and can often get a claim paid that was initially denied.
First and foremost, remember that the broker works for you: s/he should help you get the best plan for your situation. S/he should answer all your questions. Make sure you’re comfortable with the broker’s recommendations. A good broker will return your call within 24 hours. Many brokers will sign you up and you’ll get a phone call once a year at renewal (if even that). A good broker will stay in touch and be available whenever needed.