Thanks,

 Joe Jessome

 SmartHealthIns.com

 Smart Health Insurance, Inc.

 Better Business Bureau member

 800-828-2950

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Florida health insurance companies and the F.D.O.I not insurance AGENCIES determine the price(s)of their various products. Which means, the price per month for the Florida health insurance product you purchase is the same no matter WHERE you find or WHOM you purchase it from. (I.E.) Internet, yellow pages, direct mail advertisement, an acquaintance, etc.

 

Since your price is IDENTICAL, what should you look for from a Florida health insurance agent? Two things to consider before you make a decision.

 

1.     Is the agent involved making an effort to show you why one

Company’s particular product would be your best Florida health insurance value possible?

 

2.     Is the agency assuring product integrity and service AFTER THE

SALE by offering professional Florida health insurance references?

 

If another agent / agency offers you a different quote for a Florida health insurance product from one of our companies, then they are quoting you a DIFFERENT Florida health insurance PRODUCT by that same company. Florida health insurance should be purchased on the merit of value. That is, not a Price comparison between different companies, rather a Coverage / Price comparison between different Florida health insurance companies.

 

This is the purpose of our spreadsheet. There are 5 points to consider:

 

1.     Deductible

2.     Co – insurance

3.     Exclusions

4.     Limitations

5.     Price

 

Deductible:

Most people are aware of their Florida health insurance deductible. It is in the area of co - insurance, and especially exclusions and limitations that clarification is often in order. What we see in this spread sheet is a coverage / price comparison of four leading Florida health insurance companies with the same deductible(s):

   

As closely as possible, we are comparing the same product with

4 different Florida health insurance cos.

 

All these companies have been in business for 30 - 60 yrs.

 

Some Florida health insurance companies offer a deductible as

small as $1000.

On Job Coverage

 

Sometimes people gravitate towards a particular good or service because of name recognition (marketing). The "$mart" consumer knows what it is they are buying. Simply put, don't buy a television commercial; buy the Florida health insurance product that offers the most value for your Florida health insurance dollar possible, and get the service you deserve, behind it.

 

Doctor Visit

 

The total cost of a doctor visit is $60 - $140 (depending on the doc.).

If you have a $25 co - pay that means you pay $25 and the Florida health insurance company pays the rest. When you use a doc. visit co- pay, none of the cost of that visit is applied to your calendar year deductible.

 

Let’s explore the Florida health insurance options, of course, but many times, people find paying extra for “co – pays” is not worth it.

 

Emergency Room Visit

 

With some Florida health insurance companies, we can have the first $500 paid for by the Florida health insurance company in case of an accident.

It will cost an additional $8 per month per person insured to do so. If a medical issue is more serious and the patient is taken from the E/R to the outpatient treatment area, then this situation is waived and we are looking at deductible / co - insurance.

 

R/X (Prescription Medication)

 

This row on down covers the areas that make up the reasons why we need Florida health insurance. That is, medical treatment(s) that could be very expensive. Generic medications shouldn't be a real concern because they are inexpensive. However, many times drugs are not available in generic form.

 

Brand name medication can be very expensive, this is why, in order to save themselves money (and make their products more cost competitive with other Florida health insurance companies), some Florida health insurance companies will only pay for a portion of these brand name drugs after the deductible is met. Or perhaps only cover $500 max. per year. Remember you CANNOT add coverage, after the fact, in regards to a pre-existing condition/expense(s).

 

We have witnessed clients using thousands of dollars in brand name medication after they leave the hospital or Doctor's office to recuperate at home, sometimes for months, if not indefinitely. For this reason we feel it is important to have the medications paid for, by the Florida health insurance carrier, after the client satisfies their deductible/co-insurance.

 

Co-Insurance

 

Co-Insurance is what you owe after your calendar year deductible. If you owe $0.00 after your deductible is met then you have a 100% co-insurance plan.

 

If you pay $3000 in co-insurance, then you have an 80/20 split on the next $15,000 of medical expense after your deductible. Example:

 

$25,000 (Gall Bladder Surgery)

- 1,000 (Deductible)

$24,000 (After Deductible)

x 20% (Of next $15,000 of medical expenses after deductible is met)

= $3,000 (Co-insurance)

Total Owed by the Insured: $1,000 (deductible) + $3,000 (co-insurance) = $4,000

 

Possible Out of Pocket Per Year

 

Using the example above, possible Out of Pocket per Year would be $4000.

Can you save money by purchasing your insurance on the internet?

 

Please understand, the web is used simply as another form of marketing for Florida health insurance companies or agencies. Again, we, as licensed agents, have no bearing on the price Florida health insurance companies ask for their various products. No one can blame you for trying to "cut out the middleman" in order to save some of your hard earned money, but there is no markup involved by going through an agency vs. applying with a Florida health insurance company directly.

 

What you do receive by going through a value based agency, is having someone with a vested interest in your satisfaction.

 

A Florida health insurance agent is paid each mo. as you pay your premium. A good agent will be there to answer your questions, to review any and all paperwork with you in the event of a claim. In the event that Florida health insurance billing information has not been submitted properly (we are dealing with human beings here, this can happen) you will want to be in control of the situation and know that you are not experiencing any unnecessary out of pocket costs.

 

Why be just another name in an insurance company’s database, with no representation, especially when you will be paying the exact same price for your Florida health insurance? Also, it is good to have someone to work with you who knows the marketplace and who will continuously (year after year) be "on the lookout" for the best possible Florida health insurance products and company for his / her respected client.

 

In a word, service. You will be paying for it anyway; why not receive it?

 

You have to be careful. Above and beyond your deductible, is there additional co - insurance liability, are you covered on the job, are there coverage limitations on or total exclusions in regards to expensive brand name medications or diagnostic testing? (Cat scan /M.R.I./upper - lower G.I.'s, etc.) Is there a good supply of “in-network medical providers in your area? What’s the best way to check this out?

 

These important points should be discussed with a knowledgeable Florida health insurance independent agent, directly. The differences between companies and their products can be significant to enormous.

 

Finally, you have the Price per Month for the product you purchase.

 

No one wants to spend more money per month than they have to, that's why it is crucial to recognize exactly what elements of possible medical expense we are trying to protect ourselves and or our family from, and to choose the Florida health insurance product that covers those potential financial concerns in the most cost effective manner.

 

Give us a call/email and we will carefully review this information together, completely.

 

"Hey Joe, why don't all agencies do business this way?"

 

Well, the reasons are as follows:

 

1.     INEXPERIENCE ... they don't know any better. No one, including

ourselves, knows what they are doing when they first become licensed.

Unfortunately, it seems everything has to be learned the hard way in this Florida health insurance business ... hopefully not at your expense!

 

2.     MARKETING ... sometimes it is too much trouble/cost for most

agents to go out and find their own new business. And, it is expensive to do so. These are known as 'captive agents' who, in exchange for a weekly list of leads or contacts, agree to write Florida health insurance business for only one company .... greatly limiting 'YOUR'

options.

 

3.     COMMISSIONS ... everyone has bills to pay and in their haste to

pay them, some agents will sell an Florida health insurance product just because it pays a commission up front. This advance commission is usually 8 months worth, paid immediately upon each sale, as compared to an as earned commission where the agent is paid each month as the policy holder pays his / her premium.

 

Without exception, the companies which offer the lowest amount of value to the consumer offer 'advanced commission' ... to entice sales people.

Companies which offer products of value, pay 'as earned' commissions.

 

Smart Health Insurance, Inc. would rather wait to see its money.

Ultimately, that adds up to a greater client retention / referrals us.

Better business for everyone.

 

Competence, Commitment, Character.

 

 

 

Competence: Does your Florida health insurance agency know what they are doing? Believe me, just because someone made it through the Florida health insurance state exam doesn’t mean they have the experience to truly assist you in acquiring the best coverage / price balance possible or that they would be able to help you interpret Florida health insurance claim documentation properly in the event of a medical incident. You pay for this service and the same price no matter how you buy so why go up against a medical provider or ins. company without proper Florida health insurance  representation / guidance? From time to time we speak to someone, who, wanting to help out a friend, purchases his insurance through “his buddy.” His intentions were good of course, but not surprisingly, after one year his premium increased and he wanted to shop around. Wouldn’t you know it; his friend was by this time out of Florida health insurance industry and was trying his hand at a different line of work. This is unnecessarily risky. I cannot tell you how many times someone has contacted us a year or so after going through another agency, and realizing they could have done better, begin to express a litany of things that went wrong … And sometimes folks get stuck with the wrong Florida health insurance and cannot change because of a change in their health.” Remember, there is always medical underwriting involved with applying for a new plan / company.

 

Commitment: Can the Florida health insurance agency (agent) you are considering going with prove that they are committed to their clients over all well being in this area? Everyone talks a good game, but where are the Florida health insurance professional references to substantiate?

 

Character: After 10 years in this business, I can tell you folks this much. Not every Florida health insurance agency has this important attribute. We all begin in this business the same way. And as with any business you learn “the ropes” over time. Sadly, many people will sell an Florida health insurance product only because they are being paid on an advanced commission schedule and or because they are receiving marketing assistance. So what’s wrong with that? Well, to recoup these monies, these Florida health insurance  companies have these agents sell insurance products that are misleading to the consumer and that simply do not pay for a whole lot when the real medical bills start rolling in. A good arrangement for this type of insurance company, and perhaps this rookie Florida health insurance agent; not so good for the insured person and their family. People of character, upon realizing they are in a situation such as this will leave to go it alone or often get out of the business. And unfortunately, some agents just don’t care enough to leave.

 

Guidance and Service

 

PRICES ARE THE SAME wherever you buy your Florida health insurance; through the yellow pages, an acquaintance or online. Companies and their various products however do vary substantially. Why not receive the ongoing Florida health insurance service and support that you pay for anyway? Isn’t it good to know that when you want to discuss monies owed or not owed w/ an

company or a medical provider that you will have your own Florida health insurance agency to confer with to help you get your facts together first? Saves a lot of time, speculation, aggravation and often … money. A significant Florida health insurance medical claim will involve 50 + invoices from multiple medical providers and your insurance company. Potentially, we are talking about 10’s if not 100’s of thousands of dollars changing hands, you’ll want to be clear and in control and we will be available to help make sure that you are. We are a “non – captive” agency. This means we are free to represent the Florida health insurance companies / products that serve our clients in the most effective manner possible.

 

Currently appointed with 19 leading Florida health insurance companies, we have access to all products of quality. Our website exists so that potential Florida health insurance clients may witness the level of customer service that we strive for as well as the continued Florida health insurance support that we have earned and greatly appreciate. In the documents area of our site, there are a series of pdf files we hope

 

you will investigate further. Let’s get together on the phone / email and discuss? No obligations or expectations. If you are in the market for Florida health insurance, we can assist you in acquiring the most value for your health insurance dollar possible. Now, and in the future.

 

 

 

Thanks,

Joe Jessome

SmartHealthIns.com

Smart Health Insurance, Inc.

Better Business Bureau member

800-828-2950