CHOOSING AN INSURANCE PLAN - INSURANCE RATES

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This page contains dozens of short articles that will help you quickly understand international insurance. For example, terminology, purchasing details and managing your insurance coverage are topics that are all covered within these articles. Choose an Article From the Topics Below

CONTROLLING UNBEARABLE INSURANCE RATES

This is an annual problem for those who have international health insurance. Let me give several suggestions:

  1. Choose a high deductible of at least $1,000. A deductible of $2,500 or $5,000 is better yet if you have some reserve money in savings. This will have a definite impact on your insurance premium.
  2. Choose a policy with "capped" coverages. Instead of guaranteeing an unlimited amount of money for a normal childbirth, they limit the coverage to $4,000. That is enough to cover the delivery of a baby almost anywhere in the world.
  3. Choose a plan with less maximum coverage. Instead of getting $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 in coverage, settle for $500,000.
  4. Select a short-term plan. Some short-term plans can be renewed up to three years.
  5. Choose a career plan that will not cover you in the USA. Then, when coming on furlough, take out a short-term plan that will cover you during your visit.
  6. If you need maternity, put your wife on a maternity plan and yourself and children on a non-maternity plan. This will often save $40 a month or more.

None of these are "ideal" solutions, but if you start with one of these and after a year your financial situation improves, you can then upgrade your insurance coverage. If you are putting out $200 a month now for insurance, in a couple of years bumping that up to $300 for a better plan will be easier than going from $0 for no insurance to $300 now.