Saturday, March 25th
2023 Health Insurance Plan Reviews
First Quote Health
- Founded in 2014
- Connect with multiple insurance partners
First Quote Health says that they put you in touch with licensed, independent agents to get free quotes on different types of health insurance plans "in just a single phone call" (or by using the site to "find deals" ). The company has been in business since 2014.
No quotes without a phone call (or several hundred)
When you enter your zip code and then click on "Complete My Quote" , you'll be taken to a form that asks for your gender, birthdate, height and weight (?), household size and income, and so forth. You can also indicate when you need your coverage to start, if you'd like any other type of coverage (dental, vision, life, pet, telehealth), and then your contact information. However, we'd recommend that you stop before you get there. Why? The next screen says "connect now" to review your quote - and then informs you that your phone will ring. You don't actually get to see any quotes on the screen unless you click the "x" to clear that popup, and in that case you'll be redirected to an insurer (Molina Healthcare)...to start the process all over again.
Zero stars from users
Besides that, First Quote Health has a terrible reputation. Among all of the reviews we found, 100% gave this service the lowest possible rating of just one star - and most people said they'd give it zero stars if they could (just for laughs, our favorite description of this company from customer feedback was "clown factory" ). Dozens of people said that "scam" is the best word for First Quote Health and complained about receiving so many phone calls and emails that they wanted to throw their phone away and get a new number. Also, multiple consumers report that when they indicate that they need more time or more information before committing to an insurance plan, they get a rude response from the First Quote Health representative.
Only trying to make money
This all stems directly from the fact that First Quote Health is the platform for NextGen Leads: a lead generation platform, not a licensed insurance agency. In other words, First Quote Health exists for the sole purpose of making money for NextGen, not for helping you get good health insurance coverage. You'll find all of that in the Terms page.
Your information will be sold
That's also where you'll see the very lengthy list of "marketing partners" where your information goes. Remember how people said they were getting inundated by spam calls (some reported hundreds a day). Look at that list and you'll see why: sure, there are some that you'd want when looking for medical insurance, like Cigna or Blue Cross. But who is Bold Media Group? CS Marketing? Or any of the other hundreds of businesses who will get your information if you give it to First Quote Health?
Don't give your information to First Quote Health
By now you've probably understood why we recommend staying far, far away from First Quote Health. Choose a health insurance platform that is reputable and staffed by licensed insurance agents, not a lead generation company that just wants to make money off of you.
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Where Can You Get the Best Health Insurance?
About half of Americans have health insurance from their employer. But what if you're not one of them? Not only can it be risky to go without insurance - one trip to the ER for kidney stones can easily result in a bill of $75,000 or more - but the IRS will also penalize you for not having qualifying health coverage. Ouch.
The good news is that you have coverage options that might come with a tax credit used to reduce your monthly premiums, if you need to find health insurance on your own. Those plans come through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, but if you've tried to navigate the government site on your own, you already know it can be confusing at best.
Health Insurance Plan FAQ
Continued from above...
Don't worry, there's more good news: 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 PPO and HMO 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 websites promising to help you with your health insurance are trustworthy. While some are exactly as they appear - services staffed by licensed agents, authorized to act on your behalf to enroll you in a plan - others are just lead generators who get paid to pass along your information to any number of insurance agencies, marketing companies, and who knows where else.
How can you tell which health insurance websites are on the up-and-up? Keep an eye on these criteria as you decide where to start shopping for coverage:
- Licensed Agents. As we mentioned, the reputable platforms offering health insurance will always have an option to work with a licensed agent - usually well before you ever 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? That can be a red flag. 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.
- Support Available. How easy is it to get help if you get stuck in the application process? Will the company advocate for you after you've purchased a health insurance policy? Can you reach someone via phone, live chat, or even in person? Is help offered only during business hours or round-the-clock?
- Ease of Use. How quickly can you see quotes? Can you easily sort out health insurance coverage by premiums, insurers, or any other criteria? Can you apply online and get coverage right away or will a phone call be required to finalize your enrollment?
- Reputation. Lots of health insurance sites talk big, but which ones actually come through? You can determine that by looking at the company's Better Business Bureau rating and any complaints filed there, along with client reviews on third-party sites.
To help you get the medical coverage you need, TopConsumerReviews.com 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.
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