5 Tips for Find Affordable Student Health Insurance in Utah
By Bret Harding
Finding affordable student health insurance in Utah doesn’t have to difficult, after all isn’t paying for the rising cost of college difficult enough? Many of Utah’s Universities require students to pay for their entire semester of health insurance premium up-front. Again this is expensive; especially when you’ve already drained you’re bank account to pay other college expenses. There are many low cost student health insurance providers in the state of Utah that currently offer plans. These plans are typically cheaper than the University health insurance plan, and in many cases provide better coverage. The other great thing with a traditional student health insurance plan is you don’t have to pay six month of premium up-front.
Here are five tips’ to help you keep your Utah student health insurance costs down:
1. Write out your priorities
Do you love your current doctors? Then you should choose an insurance company that covers their service. Its important to make a list of the top five things you would like in plan, and bring them up to the broker or insurance company This way you can really start to focus in on a plan that will more appropriately meet your needs.
2. Don't be afraid to use a Utah health insurance broker
An insurance broker can be a huge help. He can do the legwork to find a well-suited insurance company, help shop for the best rates, and explain the ins and outs of your plan. You may also want to make sure he has a large "book," the industry term for the network of providers he works with. More options mean a better deal and a better fit. Also another important tip to keep in mind when choosing a broker say Bret Harding of Utah Insurance Solutions “most consumers don’t know that states regulate the rates insurance companies charge, this means that every insurance agent must quote the same rate for a particular health insurance company. Therefore, the best way to save money on a plan is to find an insurance agent that really knows the individual health insurance market and can recommend a specific plan to fit your individual needs.”
3. Consider Using a Discount Health Card
Discount health cards can be a tremendous saving tool for consumers who actively use them, says Bret Harding with Utah Insurance Solutions. Discounted health cards don’t replace health insurance, but they can enable you to save on prescription drug costs so you can, perhaps, forgo the Rx plan that comes with many health insurance plans, and thus save you some money. Many prescription benefit cards are available for free or at a minimal cost.
4. Consider a Utah Health Savings Account
An HSA is a great option for people who generally only have to whip out their insurance card once or twice a year. Maybe you go for a yearly checkup, and then to the doctor if you have the flu. It goes hand-in-hand with an insurance policy that has a high deductible ($1,100 for individuals; $2,200 for families), but low premiums. The money you save on premiums each month can be deposited into the HSA pre-tax, where it grows tax-deferred. You then use it to pay for any unexpected medical expenses. The bonus? Once you turn 65, you can withdraw any money you didn't use and spend it on anything you want, including funding your retirement.
5. Negotiate
You've chosen a plan, but you're still not home free. Bills can pop up everywhere, from services that aren't covered to doctor and hospital co-pays to costs for prescriptions. Many insurers have instituted a system of preferred pricing when it comes to prescriptions, meaning that if yours isn't generic and on a list, it could still cost a bundle.
Now days even people with employer coverage have to be smart shoppers for prescription drugs, especially if they have a regular medication that is pretty expensive. Keep your costs low by shopping around (prices can vary among pharmacies — your best bet is a discount store or price club) and asking for generics whenever available. You can also have your doctor write out a prescription for a longer period of time, so you'll get a 90-day supply instead of a 30, advises Harding.
The co-pay will be the same. And don't be afraid to negotiate with your doctor if you're paying out of pocket. In a recent Harris Interactive poll, three out of five people who did so received a discount. With the cost of a single visit often tallying over $200, it's definitely worth a try.
Summary
Finding a Utah student health insurance plan may not be on the top of your list of important things to do today, but that doesn’t mean you should put it off any longer. It general takes between 30-45 days to find an implement a new student health insurance plan. Get started today with Utah Insurance Solutions, we’ll point you in the right direction and make sure you’re taken care of! Call or email Bret Harding for personal guidance: 801-372-2647. Email: Bret@UtahInsuranceSolutions.com
