The Most Important Skills

You Must Learn

In Order to Succeed In the Civilian World

 

(Part 5)

 

 

How to get the best health and life insurance at the right cost

 

The best thing about being in the military is that the government provides all your life necessities.    The military provides you with a job, clothing (your standard uniform) of course.  It would be nice if they included Gucci’s or some top designer clothing, but for some reason I do not see that happening anytime soon. 

 

The government also provides their military soldiers with health care for their military members and their families.  They usually always cover one hundred percent of the cost too.  As you know, insurance is expensive and the fact that they pick up all the costs is extremely helpful.  When you are in the military, there’s no need to purchase any insurance or additional insurance. Therefore, if you have been in the military most of your life then you probably do not have a lot of experience in choosing a health insurance company or choosing a policy.   This could pose a problem.

 

The cost of medical care today can quickly run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. The costs of medicine alone today is insane and if you every looked at a doctor’s invoice after your visit, the ones they send the insurance company your eyes would budge and you would probably be in shock with the costs of medical care.

 

When I would pick up my medicine, I would always say to myself how people with none or little medical insurance do it.  What happens when you are seriously ill?  Nowadays when you walk into a hospital or doctors office, the first thing they ask you for is your medical insurance.  They do not care what you are suffering from, they care about how much they are going to be paid and where the money is going to come from. 

 

To get good coverage at an affordable price, you need to shop around.  You need to call a bunch of insurance companies because premiums vary widely.  You need to let other companies know some of the quotes if their quotes are higher, see if they can lower the price, and give you a better deal. You are sure to save money if you get quotes from several companies.   It is like buying a car.  You need to haggle with the salesperson until you get the price you can afford and see if you score some bonus points.  Ask them if they can change the plan a little to make it worth your wild. 

 

They say the easiest way to research is to search the internet for the keywords “health insurance comparison”. Several websites offer free comparisons and quotes from a wide variety of companies. Simply fill in an online questionnaire with your specific requirements and you will immediately receive a list of companies that meet your criterion. This listing will also tell you the company’s requirements before coverage is approved for you.   

 

Personally, I always did better when I called.  Talking to a supervisor, someone that approves the final decision can be more effective.  If you call the process will probably run quick and the in the outcome you will probably get more for your money.

Evaluate each plan’s coverage and features such as:

 

·       account exclusions

·       limitations

·       optional prescription drug plan

·       the freedom to choose health-care providers

·       any special health requirements you may need

 

Make sure you pay attention to how much you are responsible for in co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

 

 

The same goes for life insurance coverage.  The military always provides soldiers with a generous amount in their life insurance plan if anything should happen to them.  This plan usually only costs soldiers a few dollars each month. This is mandatory coverage and you must participate in it.

 

Therefore, with this all said you could see that unless the soldier has chosen to purchase additional insurance for themselves or their family, there has been little experience in choosing a company or a policy for the military soldier.

 

When shopping for life insurance, you want to compare the plans by figuring out what plans cover and do not cover when it comes to:

 

·       which benefits are paid

·       the cost of premiums

·       The types of physical examinations required to qualify for coverage.

 

Research and compare policy options as well as each company’s reliability and history before selecting the best one for your primary insurance carrier.  You do not want an insurance company to drop you after you put a couple of large claims.  Some shabby insurance companies will do that to clients, so be careful.  Do your homework before you make your final decision.  Rushing and choosing any insurance company, is the worst thing you can do for yourself.  Just do not do it, so you get it done and out of the way.  This can do more harm than good, so make your chose wisely.