How to Change Health Care Insurance

Health insurance is a very complex subject.  It is also something that can cause a great deal of frustration for people.  However, whenever you find yourself dissatisfied with your health insurance policy, you may wish to consider changing it.  There are some tips that you should keep in mind while doing so.

1. Look into insurance rates.  If you have a condition that requires long-term, expensive care, expect to pay much higher premiums.


2. Talk to your current doctors.  You will want to make sure that they will still accept the insurance that you are switching to.  This is especially important if you have a condition that requires consistent treatment.


3. Investigate the plan-year keeping in mind that not all insurance plans renew in January.  Depending upon the company and on the date of activation, you may have to wait several months for your new insurance plan to go into effect.  If this will not work for you, call your insurance company to discuss cancellation.  Some of them will charge you a fee while others will simply not let you out of your plan.


4. Let your current insurance company know that you will be discontinuing their services.  If your insurance is through your job, most of the time they will do this for you but it is still a good idea to talk to the company yourself to find out exactly when your coverage will be terminated and if there are options to prolong it if necessary.


5. Enact your new insurance as soon as possible.  If this insurance is through your job, you may have to wait until your first day to enroll but usually this can be done online before you even get to your new job.  Make sure to contact human resources or the person who hired you and ask about this option.


6. Strategically plan both the end date and start date for your insurance.  If you are changing jobs and have the flexibility of choosing the dates for doing so, try to aim for the beginning of the month.  Oftentimes, you will be covered by your health insurance until the last day of the month in which you leave.  This will help you avoid a lapse in coverage unless your new job has a probation period during which you do not receive benefits.


7. Whenever there is a lapse in coverage, pay COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to be sure that you are covered during the interim period.  Oftentimes this will be worthwhile for the short-term even though it is more expensive than when your employer pays for it since you will have to pay the entire premium yourself.