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Top Tips for Shopping for Health Insurance Online

BY READERS DIGEST

1st Jan 2015 Insurance & Legal

Top Tips for Shopping for Health Insurance Online

The internet has made it easier to find the best deals in a variety of things and shopping for health insurance online is great way to save money. In order to find the best deals, you must compare health-insurance offers and make sure you fully understand what you are getting as part of your policy. The following tips are essential to keep in mind when shopping for health insurance online.

Do Your Research

Before you start to compare health-insurance deals and make your final decision, you need to understand what is on offer. Private health-insurance deals come with a variety of options and if you’ve never purchased health insurance before, it might be difficult to navigate your way through the insurance jargon.

It is a good idea to check out websites such as Which.co.uk and understand the basics of health insurance. If you already have a pre-existing condition, you should check how it might affect health-insurance policies. Health insurance is generally still available when there are pre-existing conditions, but you’ll need to disclose fully this so you can be covered correctly.

Keeping your personal situation in mind will help you in finding the right type of cover and prevent you from paying more than you need.

Don’t Over-Protect

We here in Britain are lucky to enjoy free healthcare from the NHS. Although private health insurance can be a great additional support for you, especially as you age, you still don’t want to over-protect yourself.

A good idea is to visit the GP prior to shopping online and see if you belong to any risk groups. Don’t be too paranoid about covering every possibility, as tailored cover packages are still able to provide cover in case something serious happens.

If you have a history of heart conditions in the family, for example, you may be able to cover yourself purely for any heart treatment you require.

Use Different Comparison Sites

Once you are aware of what you are looking for, you can find health-insurance quotes on price comparison sites. When you are shopping online, it is important to keep in mind that not every insurer provides their services on all comparison websites. Therefore, in order to find the best deal, you must look at multiple different websites, as well as visit insurance websites that aren’t part of comparison websites.

Read the Full Policy

Before you purchase health insurance, read the full terms and conditions of the policy. This will help you understand things like what are you covered for, how can you cancel or change your policy and how your premiums might increase if your situation changes.

This is the best way to guarantee there are no hidden fees involved. If you have any questions regarding each policy, always check with the insurance provider.

If they are unwilling to answer your questions, you can move on!
 

Remember to Haggle

When it comes to insurance premiums, a little haggling can save you quite a bit of money. If you already have health insurance, see if you can get your premiums down by showing cheaper health-insurance quotes and offers to your current provider.

Although haggling isn’t the most enjoyable thing to do, it can end up saving you a lot of money. Get on the phone, tell insurers what you’re looking for and what you’ve already been offered.

Remember insurers know the markets better than anyone, so don’t be tempted to make up numbers in the hope of getting a better deal. Be honest with what you’ve been offered, and you’ll find yourself getting the best deals anyway.
 

If in Doubt, Talk to an Expert

Finally, if you feel unsure about your options at any point, it is a good idea to talk to a financial adviser. You can find free financial and consumer advice from organisations such as AgeUK. Going through your options with an impartial advisor can guarantee you find the right cover.

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