Evaluate health insurance plan on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a time for being with the one you love. It's also one of the most popular days to get engaged. Before getting caught up in the stress of planning an elaborate wedding, it's smart to select the right health plan to build a strong foundation for a life-long partnership.

This V-Day, why not evaluate health insurance plans with your significant other?

Health insurance is a tricky topic, especially if marriage is involved. To be or not to be... your partner's health insurance plan is the question. We've compiled a list of questions and solutions from eHealthInsurance to help with choosing the best kind of policy for you. The right health plan can determine future financial stability, and help a couple to have a solid start.

Should we keep our health insurance plans separate?
Maybe you should. It's possible to save a lot of money by choosing your own health insurance. If there are no employer-covered options, definitely apply for individual health plans. Shop around! Get quotes for the health insurance plans available in you area. However, look into family plans as well, and choose the plan that offers the savings. Having the same plan is not going to prove your love or strengthen your relationship.

We want to start a family right away. What should we do?
Looking to start a family this year? The health insurance you pick is very important. Not all plans offer maternity benefits, and these benefits are going to be extremely important to you at this time in your life. When shopping for plans, make sure you pick a health insurance plan that offers the maternity benefits to kick in right away... not six or nine months in the future. Also, some plans offer "well child" or "well baby" care. This is care for your baby from checkups to immunizations... so make sure this part of the plan is affordable.

Can I add my spouse to my employer's health insurance plan?
You certainly can, but is it the best deal? Just like question one, asking if it is best to keep plans separate, the answer really comes down to cost. Talk with your HR department. How much does your employer pay towards monthly premiums for a spouse and/or children? More often than not, the monthly contributions will be substantially less. Ask yourself questions before deciding on a health plan solution for you and your spouse. How do the copayments and deductibles compare? How do the monthly premiums for individual or family plans compare to the amount of money taken from your paycheck?

We don't have health insurance. What is our best bet?
No health insurance? It's time to get some, and at an affordable cost, too. Health insurance is extremely important. It limits your financial liability when you need medical care, or when you want it. According to an article by CNN Money, with the cost of medicare on the rise and medical bills among the most common reason for personal bankruptcy, a quality health insurance plan can help provide the financial security you need. If your employers do not cover health insurance, look into individual and family plans. It may not be that bad. Two people covered under a family plan pay an average of $328 a month for coverage, according to a recent survey by eHealth Inc.

How do we combine plans without medical underwriting?
It is very possible to combine plans with no medical underwriting. If you are interested in adding your spouse to your employer-sponsored group health insurance plan, individual medical underwriting is not necessary. Do not worried about being declined, because you cannot be turned down for pre-existing medical conditions under a group health insurance plan. If you are both under individual plans however, talk to a licensed insurance agent to find which companies are more flexible in their standards on pre-existing medical conditions. If no plans work for you, check into government-sponsored plans available in your area.

Click here for details.

Tips to negotiate for lower health care costs

Haggling for health care? Yep, it may be one of the best-keep secrets for frugal-minded consumers looking to save some cold, hard cash with their doctors, dentists and hospitals.

While negotiating for health care is a trend, many consumers don't know they even have the option. According to a recent poll conducted by Angie's List, 57 percent revealed that they never negotiated with their doctors and 25 percent said they had no clue it was a viable alternative.

Most important, a majority of those who did reach out for discounts were able to save, with 74 percent of respondents paying less when they approached their health-care provider. Based on those who did score discounts, here's the savings breakdown: 40 percent on medical bills, 31 percent with hospitals and 18 percent on dental bills.

Not insured or have a high deductible? No problem. Some people have saved up to 50 percent on procedures with their health-care provider by paying upfront and in full. For those who are insured, it's still possible to negotiate costs not covered by your provider.

Also, some people have zeroed in on savings by scanning their medical bill for errors. In fact, some consumer advocates suggest that 80 percent of medical bills contain errors.

Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List, serves up some savings tips for those looking to save on their health care costs.

Need to see the doctor? Find reviews on the best doctors in your area at Angie’s List here.

Evaluate health insurance plan on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a time for being with the one you love. It's also one of the most popular days to get engaged. Before getting caught up in the stress of planning an elaborate wedding, it's smart to select the right health plan to build a strong foundation for a life-long partnership.

This V-Day, why not evaluate health insurance plans with your significant other?

Health insurance is a tricky topic, especially if marriage is involved. To be or not to be... your partner's health insurance plan is the question. We've compiled a list of questions and solutions from eHealthInsurance to help with choosing the best kind of policy for you. The right health plan can determine future financial stability, and help a couple to have a solid start.

Should we keep our health insurance plans separate?
Maybe you should. It's possible to save a lot of money by choosing your own health insurance. If there are no employer-covered options, definitely apply for individual health plans. Shop around! Get quotes for the health insurance plans available in you area. However, look into family plans as well, and choose the plan that offers the savings. Having the same plan is not going to prove your love or strengthen your relationship.

We want to start a family right away. What should we do?
Looking to start a family this year? The health insurance you pick is very important. Not all plans offer maternity benefits, and these benefits are going to be extremely important to you at this time in your life. When shopping for plans, make sure you pick a health insurance plan that offers the maternity benefits to kick in right away... not six or nine months in the future. Also, some plans offer "well child" or "well baby" care. This is care for your baby from checkups to immunizations... so make sure this part of the plan is affordable.

Can I add my spouse to my employer's health insurance plan?
You certainly can, but is it the best deal? Just like question one, asking if it is best to keep plans separate, the answer really comes down to cost. Talk with your HR department. How much does your employer pay towards monthly premiums for a spouse and/or children? More often than not, the monthly contributions will be substantially less. Ask yourself questions before deciding on a health plan solution for you and your spouse. How do the copayments and deductibles compare? How do the monthly premiums for individual or family plans compare to the amount of money taken from your paycheck?

We don't have health insurance. What is our best bet?
No health insurance? It's time to get some, and at an affordable cost, too. Health insurance is extremely important. It limits your financial liability when you need medical care, or when you want it. According to an article by CNN Money, with the cost of medicare on the rise and medical bills among the most common reason for personal bankruptcy, a quality health insurance plan can help provide the financial security you need. If your employers do not cover health insurance, look into individual and family plans. It may not be that bad. Two people covered under a family plan pay an average of $328 a month for coverage, according to a recent survey by eHealth Inc.

How do we combine plans without medical underwriting?
It is very possible to combine plans with no medical underwriting. If you are interested in adding your spouse to your employer-sponsored group health insurance plan, individual medical underwriting is not necessary. Do not worried about being declined, because you cannot be turned down for pre-existing medical conditions under a group health insurance plan. If you are both under individual plans however, talk to a licensed insurance agent to find which companies are more flexible in their standards on pre-existing medical conditions. If no plans work for you, check into government-sponsored plans available in your area.

Click here for details.