How Can I Choose the Best Group Health Insurance Company?

Do you know the difference between an HMO and PPH? Most people don’t, and if you do, then you probably already have a good idea of which companies are right for you. For the rest of us, here are some tips on choosing the best group health insurance company to fit your needs.

• Does the company deal in HMOs or PPHs?—You’re probably wondering why this is important and what the difference is between the two. Before you can choose group health insurance provider you need to know what they are going to offer to you since not all plans, or companies, are equal.
  • What is an HMO?—An HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, offers you less expensive care, but with a load of restrictions. With an HMO you must only visit their network of doctors and hospitals, limiting you to choices that may not fit your needs if you need specialized care.
  • What is PPH?—PPH, or Provider Health Insurance Plans, are more expensive than HMOs, sometimes A LOT more expensive, but they offer you the flexibility of visiting any number of clinics, hospitals and doctors in a large network. Many PPHs even have deals with providers in other states, so if you are traveling, you have the added comfort of knowing you can receive covered medical assistance if you need it
  • What’s More Important: Flexibility or Cost?—If you want flexibility in your plan, don’t choose an HMO. If you can barely afford health insurance, go with an HMO.
• What Level of Customer Service Do You Expect? — Many group health insurance providers offer 24-hour 800 numbers for certain types of customer service. Even if they don’t, they should be available Monday thru Friday, 8am-5pm. Call the customer service center for your prospective group health insurance provider and check off this list to determine their capabilities:
  • How long were you on hold? — If you were on hold longer than ten minutes, this may not be the company for you.
  • Did you get a live person? — If the company won’t spend the money to have adequate customer service, what will that mean for your coverage?
  • Did the representative answer your questions? — If the representative couldn’t answer your questions, continuously became flustered or kept putting you on hold to find an answer, you should seek a company with more knowledgeable and fully-trained customer service representatives.
• What is the Company’s Reputation?—Whether you search company ratings on the internet or go by the traditional word-of-mouth method, a group health insurance provider’s reputation is key in choosing the right company for your needs. If everyone you know has the same group health insurance provider, it probably means they treat their customers well and you should follow suit.

Remember, while it is important to ensure that you have the group health insurance coverage you need to take care of your medical bills, it is equally as important to have a provider that you can count on.