Should you buy your health insurance from a broker? Or should you buy directly from an Indiana insurance company? And is your rate higher by using a broker or do you receive a discounted premium? These are legitimate concerns by Indiana consumers and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each choice.

Firstly, the rate you pay for your medical coverage is exactly the same regardless of how or where you purchase that specific policy. For example, if you purchase an Anthem HSA directly from the insurer, let’s say your monthly rate is $210. When you buy that exact policy utilizing our website, your rate will be identical. And that is designed to benefit Indiana consumers who know they won’t be charged any extra fees either from a carrier or a broker.

So why do so many people choose to work with us? In my opinion, based on my 31 years of experience in the health care business, I believe the key phrase is “unbiased.” Here’s what I mean. When you work with an experienced broker, he/she is not working for an insurer. They are working for you. So instead of receiving advice and 10 reasons why you should buy a policy from “Company A,” you’re receiving expert research and guidance about “Company A. B, C, D and E.”

Because, whether it’s Anthem, or UnitedHealthcare or any other carrier, we will not show bias or favoritism towards any one carrier. Our “favoritism” will be towards you…our client, who we are obligated to offer the best Indiana health insurance at the absolute lowest possible cost. And personally, I have more than 30 years of experience as an insurance broker. When you call an insurer directly for a quote, I doubt you will ever speak to anyone with that type of experience.

What about fees that you pay? Actually, you never pay a charge to work with our website or any broker. Ironically, we are paid directly by the insurers since they realize that most persons purchasing coverage prefer to work with independent websites and brokers. So you receive the lowest possible rate, you pay no extra costs and typically you work with someone who has many years of experience and will drastically simplify a complex decision.

After you buy your policy, you may need some assistance. It may only be once a year or it possibly may be more. Usually, consumers prefer to communicate and work with the same person, as opposed to a customer-service office that may have high employee turnover. With more than 31 years of experience as a broker, it’s not unusual for us to spend more time servicing than selling. And that’s good news for customers. And just as importantly, at some point, your existing Indiana medical coverage may need updating or perhaps even changed to a different carrier. In that situation, it’s imperative that you’re considering all of the health care providers in the state…not just one.

In fairness, we don’t question the integrity or honesty of any employee that works directly for Anthem, Humana, UnitedHealthOne or any of the top companies. Our point is that when you “go direct,” you aren’t really shopping or comparing all of the best plan options. You’re only seeing a fraction of the available policies, when you could be seeing them all. With us, when you buy a policy, you’re going to get the lowest possible rate, great service for all of your needs, and annual updates that review your current plan.

Health care reform in Indiana is underway. The “Affordable Care Act,” also known as “Obamacare” is helping many Hoosier consumers with their health insurance benefits. But the legislation remains very controversial, and is being reviewed by the Supreme Court. It is possible that the entire Bill (or parts of the Bill) will be invalidated and overturned. Or, the Supreme Court may decide to keep the legislation intact.

One of the key components of the legislation (and one of our favorites) is the removal of waiting periods and deductibles from approved preventive services. Along with annual physicals, well checks and mammograms, other covered benefits include adult blood pressure and cholesterol screening, depression and Type 2 diabetes screening, immunizations, and many other items. No matter what happens, this portion should remain.

Other changes already implemented include the elimination of lifetime caps on paid covered benefits, creation of “state high risk pools” and eliminating the practice of rescinding policies. And children can now stay on their parent's policy until age 26 (subject to certain restrictions).

However, Obamacare has not reduced rates and it is widely expected that rates will substantially go up when the full implementation takes place (although tax credits may reduce the premium for selected consumers). The Indiana Health Insurance Exchange, if and when created, is expected to become an option for Indiana residents to buy their medical benefits. These purchases would be made online (in 2014).

But without the assistance of experienced licensed professionals, consumers may have to fend for and navigate themselves on an impersonal website. In fairness, many details have yet to be worked out, so we’ll keep you informed of any update or change that affects your personal health care. It is our hope that brokers will play a vital role in helping consumers with the "Exchange." Plan details and tax credits will just be two examples that will need a professional's help.

Although there are a few government websites that offer medical coverage information, the vast majority of residents we talk to prefer to work with experienced licensed brokers that are unbiased and work with Indiana medical plans on a regular basis. And yes…that’s us!

Our website will continue to provide consumers with current rates from the major insurance companies in the state, which include Anthem Blue Cross, Medical Mutual, UnitedHealthcare, Celtic and Assurant. Until recently, Cigna and Aetna offered competitive plan options, but both carriers have ceased writing individual business in the state. It's always possible that additional companies might follow.

Please feel free to check this page on a regular basis for updates to Indiana health reform issues. The "Affordable Care Act" may be changing.

12-19-2011 UPDATE- We finally have a date! March 26-28 is when the Supreme Court will meet and listen to testimony regarding the legality of Obamacare. So far, 26 states have joined together in an effort to overturn part or all of the legislation. An official determination will probably be made by the Court in June.

04-15-2012 2012 UPDATE- The Supreme Court ruling on the federal mandate requiring consumers to purchase health insurance is being discussed and determined. A decision should be announced within 45 days.

05-06-2012 UPDATE- Still no news, but the decision is getting closer!

Affordable Indiana medical insurance policies provide quality health care to Indiana individuals, families and small businesses that pay their own premiums. Fortunately, there are many attractive options that can give you generous benefits at a rate that’s within your budget. Of course, our job is to find these plans and make it easy for you to choose and apply for coverage. Rates in the Hoosier state are often much lower than consumers realize.

One of the best methods to keep premiums within your budget, and still maintain high quality health care, is to purchase a medical insurance policy with a higher deductible on the catastrophic expenses. This allows you to continue to pay low amounts ($15-40 on average) for most office visits and prescriptions. Yet, your rate will be very reasonable. And whether you have two or twenty covered office vists in a year, you may be able to avoid paying anything but small copayments.

The Anthem Blue Cross SmartSense plan should be at or near the top of your list. It’s a popular personal policy that pays for all of your preventive expenses (as specified by the “Affordable Care Act”) and waives any copayments or waiting periods. Additional covered benefits for females include well-woman checkups, domestic violence counseling, and of course, the hotly debated FDA-approved contraception methods. However, three non-preventive office visits are also included in the benefits package (subject to a $35 copayment). Anthem will negotiate on your behalf to reduce the cost of any additional office visits.

There are two RX options with the Anthem plan. By “upgrading,” you’ll have much better benefits for non-generic prescriptions. The deductible is most often applied to larger expenses (i.e. hospital visits). With choices from $500 to $10,000, it’s easy to customize a plan to fit your budget. Of course, don’t forget that higher deductibles, although lowering your premium, mean you’re taking a greater out-of-pocket potential risk.

Temporary medical plans are the most affordable types of health care policies. Many companies, including Anthem, UnitedHealthOne and Humana offer contracts that have a combination of cheap rates, simple applications, quick approvals, and comprehensive major medical coverage.

Although you typically can only purchase a policy for a year’s worth of coverage (or less), and pre-existing conditions are not honored, it may give you that “quick fix” you need if you are without coverage or transitioning from one job to another. Excusions for prior conditions may possibly be covered on an alternative type of plan.

One of our favorite low cost plans is UnitedHealthOne’s “Saver 80” policy. It’s cheap, simple to understand and if your application is approved, coverage can begin in 15 days. The “Affordable Health Care Act” requires all policies to provide unlimited lifetime covered benefits. This change makes the Saver 80 plan even more attractive. Once the deductible is met, most large health care costs are covered (subject to any applicable coinsurance or exclusion). A $10,000 deductible is available if you wish to take the increased risk.

When you purchase a policy, of course, your health may change at any time. Maybe in a few years. Maybe in 15 years. But regardless of the seriousness of your medical conditions, your insurer can not cancel you because your health changed. For example, if you develop an illness such as cancer or heart disease, and incur $1 million of medical bills in a calendar year (extremely unlikely), your personal policy must be renewed without interruption. Of course, if the provider stops offering policies in Indiana or files for bankruptcy, that would be a different situation.

Affordable  insurance in Indiana can be found. Our website provides you with free quotes from the top companies and we’re confident you’ll find the perfect plan for you and your family’s needs. After you compare different policies, if you wish to apply for benefits, the process is very simple and typically, you will not be asked to take a physical.

Indiana health insurance comparisons are easily viewed on our website. We realize that comparing dozens of different health insurance plans from the major Indiana insurers is not easy. For that reason, we use the nation’s top quote engine, so that comparing price and coverage becomes a simple process. And we highly recommend that you ask our advice when comparing your options.

Indianainsurancehealth.com is the premier trusted resource for affordable Indiana health care. Easily, you can view, compare and apply for quality plans from the top carriers, such as Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealthCare, Assurant, Humana and Celtic. There are never any fees for using our service and the rates you view are the lowest allowable published rates from each carrier. Aetna and Cigna no longer offer personal health plans in the state, so we have deleted them from our database.

Although any comparison of medical plans must include the cost, we feel it is equally important to ensure you understand the how benefits and exclusions differ from one plan to another. Each Indiana health insurance policy is different, and while it is very difficult to review every page of the contract, we try to take the time to point out the coverage, benefits and exclusions that are likely to affect you the most. The best policy for someone else may not be the best policy for you.

Our quote engine provides rate and coverage information that is updated daily, and allows Indiana consumers to create multiple scenarios in seconds. We realize that some of you will want a high-deductible catastrophic plan, while others may prefer a traditional comprehensive plan with low copays. And of course, Indiana Health Savings Accounts have become increasingly popular and are one of the most widely-viewed plans from customers. As you view these different options, we are always available, via phone or email to offer our expert advice, and make sure the policy you select is going to meet your needs at a cost that stays within your budget.

Any Indiana health insurance comparison must take into account the underwriting guidelines of each company. For example, taking high blood pressure medication will not substantially increase the rate. However, specific carriers may be more lenient, so it’s important to take that into consideration. And of course, major health conditions such as heart disease and cancer may require a “guarantee issue” policy, which we’ll be happy to discuss with you.

You should be able to instantly view quotes by opening up the link that was emailed to you. If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to call or email us. Comparing Indiana health insurance plans is what we do best, and we're here to help.

Indiana medical insurance doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. There are quite a few affordable plans that will offer coverages that you would expect to find in more comprehensive plans, and the rates may pleasantly surprise you! And if you are currently not covered, there are some very inexpensive starter plans available.

At indianainsurancehealth.com, our job is to find the policies that allow you to pay the premium that you can afford, but still give you the medical coverage that’s most important to you. We don’t take any shortcuts. We’ll spend the time needed to research all of your options and we will never recommend a “discount” plan.

A Few Of Our Best Tips That Will Help Reduce Your Rate

Let us do the hard work for you. We know it’s time-consuming, confusing and frustrating trying to choose (or even understand) the best health care policies. But by providing the information needed for a quote, you’ll be presented with the best options in an easy to understand format. And you’ll have a live person to talk to or email any time. Even after you purchase a policy.

Don’t buy health insurance from a TV commercial. Many of those ads are “limited benefit” plans that will provide much less coverage than you need. Many folks have found out the hard way when only $4,000 of their $25,000 hospital bill is covered. In fact, a lot of those plans are not classified as insurance. They are only “discount plans," which have very basic coverages. And if you have a claim, you'll realize how limited your benefits are, and how difficult it is to get a refund on any money you already paid, including an application fee.

If you think you’re paying too much, maybe you are! Medical benefits in Indiana are not nearly as expensive as in many other states. Have you recently checked the rates in New Jersey, New York or Massachusetts? You don’t want to! In some instances, the longer you have been with a specific company, the more competitive the rate becomes. However, sometimes, staying with the same company may actually work against you. Each situation is different. But if it is advantageous for you to stay put, that's what we'll tell you.

For example, if you are in reasonably good health, and you have been insured with the same company for more than three years, it may be a good time to view current quotes (see quote box at the top of the page). You may save a lot, but, of course, we don’t recommend cancelling a current plan until you have been approved (in writing) for the policy you applied for. Also, it’s important to understand the terms, conditions and possible exclusions of the newly issued coverage. A live broker can help you with this.

Don’t pay for coverage that you probably won’t use. The biggest offender here is maternity coverage. Maternity benefits are VERY expensive. You probably don’t have it if you purchased an individual policy. But if you are paying for it, the cost is probably in excess of $4,000 per year.There may be other less expensive solutions. Also, you can remove the roder if you are certain it will not be used.

Low deductibles will drastically increase your premium. If you rarely (if ever) meet your deductible, raising it can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year. Yes…you do take on more risk and you will have to weigh the risk vs. the potential money you will save. But if you're looking ahead a bit (maybe 3-10 years), you may put a lot of extra money in your pocket that will easily offset the extra money you paid.

Our software constantly updates Indiana premiums (usually daily) so the information you view is very current. We also try to make it very easy to view your options. You’ll notice there are fields at the top of the page where you can request your free quote. You might be surprised at how affordable coverage is and how quickly some policies can get approved.