New Plan Options vs First Quote Health

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Fortunately, there's good news on that front. There are a number of health insurance platforms that can help you sort through your options and get coverage. You won't pay extra for using one of these resources, and you'll often get the benefit of knowledgeable guidance from a licensed insurance agent. If you don't understand the difference between PPOs and HMOs or between deductibles and coinsurance, you should make sure you have an expert on hand to walk you through the process of picking a plan.

However, not all of these companies are made equal. While some do exactly what they say they will, others are fronts disguising lead-generating agencies. They get paid to collect your personal information, which is then sold to anyone with the cash - marketing companies, other insurance agents, health insurance providers, and who knows who else.

How can you tell which health insurance websites are legitimate? Consider the following criteria when deciding where to begin your coverage shopping:

• Licensed agents. As we mentioned, the reputable platforms offering health insurance will always have an option to work with a licensed agent - without having to first provide any personal information.
• Upfront quotes. Do you have to enter a lot of details before you can see quotes for policies in your area? This could potentially raise concerns. We prefer health insurance sites that let you enter a zip code and some limited demographic info (usually male/female, age, and income range), then show you a preliminary set of matching plans.
• Ease of use. How quickly can you see quotes? Can you apply online and get coverage right away, or will a phone call be required to finalize your enrollment?
• Support available. How easy is it to get help if you get stuck in the application process? Will the company continue to care and advocate for you after you've purchased a health insurance policy? Does the company offer year-round support? Do they offer more than one way to contact them - phone, live chat, and email, for example. Do they have limited service hours?
• Reputation. While many health insurance websites boast impressive claims, which ones truly deliver? You can determine that by looking at customer reviews on third-party sites or reading reviews like the ones here at TopConsumerReviews.com.

To help you get the medical coverage you need, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best resources for finding health insurance plans. We're confident that this information will make it easy to navigate the often-tricky world of healthcare and buy the right plan for your needs.