How to Get Affordable California Group Health Insurance
Across the country, health insurance premiums are rising. In
2005, national total health expenditures went up almost seven
percent, or twice the rate of inflation. By the year 2015, U.S.
health care spending is expected to reach twenty percent of the
Gross Domestic Product in this country. The annual average premium
for a family of four was over eleven thousand dollars in 2006.
This is more than many people make in a year. It seems impossible
for some people to afford health insurance. So the pressing question
is to get affordable california group health insurance?
Most of the affordable insurance available comes through group
insurance. Because insurance companies are willing to offer lower
rates to groups, this kind of insurance is more affordable than
individual plans. This is what makes employer-provided insurance
cheaper than insurance you purchase yourself. Many employers,
unfortunately, are feeling the pinch of a very competitive economy,
and have chosen to reduce or eliminate employee benefits.
It’s still possible to find affordable group health insurance
in California. Not-for-profit insurance companies may offer somewhat
lower rates than for-profit ones. Many insurance providers that
used to advertise their group rates through conventional insurance
agents have instead decided to work through in house representatives.
These people tend to focus their sales efforts on larger groups,
which means that many small employers and organizations aren’t
aware of the deals that they could be getting. You can go directly
to the insurance company to find out about some of these rates.
Insurance provider web pages simplify this process by allowing
you to see plans, rates, and even get quotes from the comfort
of your home.
If you can’t get group insurance through your employer,
it’s still possible to get group rates. Check with any professional
organizations, unions, alumni groups, or other associations you
might be a member of. These will often arrange with an insurance
company to get lower rates for their members. As with all insurance
companies, be sure to double check the background of any company
your organization uses, since you can’t necessarily trust
them to have made a good choice.
If you’re not a member of any
organization or association that can help you get a lower rate,
consider forming your own. Other people you know might be interested
in getting a lower health insurance rate, and go in with you
as a small group. You can stay on top of the rising insurance
premiums that are such a problem in California and across the
country by getting people together to get a group discount on
your insurance. No matter what solution you choose, group health
insurance is the most affordable option you can find. With just
a little research, you should be able to find some group that
you qualify to get a lower rate on your insurance through. This
will reduce your insurance expenditures and make it possible
to afford insurance. Health insurance is important for everyone
to have, in case of emergency, and through group insurance,
you can afford to be covered.