What are the most important points I should look for when purchasing an insurance policy?
• A: Before you buy any health insurance policy, make sure you know what it will pay for…and what it won’t. To find out about individual health insurance plans, you can call insurance companies, HMOs and PPOs in your community, or speak to the agent who handles your car or house insurance. Tips when shopping for individual insurance: • Shop carefully. Policies differ widely in coverage and cost. Contact different insurance companies, or ask your agent to show you policies from several insurers so you can compare them. • Make sure the policy protects you from large medical costs • Read and understand the policy. Make sure it provides the kind of coverage that’s right for you. You don’t want unpleasant surprises when you’re sick or in the hospital. • Check to see that the policy states the date the policy will begin paying (some have a waiting period before coverage begins) and what is covered or excluded from coverage • Beware of single disease insurance policies. There are some polic
