Gone With the Wind: Avoiding High Hawaii Health Insurance Rates
Hawaii health insurance is among the most progressive systems in the nation, but it’s far from automatic coverage, and those who must find an insurance policy on the individual market still struggle with issues of affordability, reliability, and adequate coverage. Moreover, this lack of adequate coverage or a failure to obtain any health insurance whatsoever, leads to the same nightmare scenario in the Aloha State as it does in any other: Nobody should have to worry about going bankrupt or losing their home, while the well-being of a loved one hangs in the balance in the next room. With this in mind, finding an affordable Hawaii health insurance quote is the first step to making sure you and your loved ones have the financial protection they deserve and access to health care services when they need it most.
Who Needs a Hawaii Health Insurance Quote?
Health care in Hawaii is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a “universal” health care system. An employer mandate and aggressive public assistance programs have led to one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, but 7.9% of the population still went without health insurance in 2008, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). If you’re employed by a small business that has an exemption from the employer mandate, are currently unemployed, or work as an independent contractor, you will need to shop for a Hawaii health insurance quote on the individual market. And between elevated unemployment and new economic realities, more and more Hawaii residents are falling into these groups.
Finding a Hawaii Health Insurance Quote
The Hawaii health insurance system hasn’t changed much since it was enacted in 1974 because to do so would require the state to ask the federal government for a renewal of its exemption to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Yet, the health insurance industry has seen major changes over the past decade, irrespective of Hawaii health care law. One of the biggest changes is the role of the Internet in shopping for and buying health insurance. Today, health insurance consumers can research and choose the best health insurance policy from the comfort and convenience of their own home through a reliable online referral service, such as NetQuote. In just minutes, you can submit a request asking to be connected to licensed health insurance companies that are writing policies in your area. This leaves you with the time, patience, and environment to carefully consider what type of insurance policy and health plan is best for you and your family. Better yet, online referral services eliminate the need for pricey marketing strategies and the highest commission-based insurance agents. And, in direct competition with other companies, insurers must pass these a substantial portion of these savings on to consumers to remain cost-competitive.
Employer and Group Health Insurance Quotes in Hawaii
Large business firms with an army of employees frequently find that health insurance companies send out their top insurance agents to woo them with cost discounts and top-notch customer service. “Mom-and-pop” businesses are often not so fortunate. Moreover, you don’t need to a group of “employees” to shop for group health insurance, assuming your group can reach consensus on a health plan that works for everybody. Despite more guarantees and lower costs, small group health insurance is in many ways more similar to the individual market, than large group health insurance. If you’re shopping for health insurance for a small group of people, the best place to start this search is likely the same place as savvy individuals and their families, with an online referral service.
