Individual private health insurance may be purchased either online or by phone directly from the insurance carriers themselves, or via a professional health insurance agent duly licensed in the state of Iowa. It is important to ensure that the company is approved by the Iowa Insurance Division and that your agent has a valid license to solicit insurance in the state of Iowa.
Types of Health Insurance
Broadly speaking, there are three types of health insurance available in the state of Iowa: Medicare, long-term care and disability. Medicare insurance is designed to pay doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care professionals. Long-term care insurance is designed to pay nursing home, custodial care and hospice costs associated with long-term, chronic medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Some long-term policies also cover home- and community-based care. Disability coverage replaces lost income in the event you are disabled and unable to work.
All three types of insurance coverage are regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division and the Iowa Insurance Commissioner.
Finding a Company
The Iowa Insurance Division maintains a list of carriers licensed in the state. See the References section below for a link. The Iowa Insurance Division also provides a list of health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, currently operating in Iowa.
Purchasing Through an Agent
An independent insurance broker can represent a number of different companies, and help you select the best carrier for your needs. Typically, a health insurance broker will collect basic information about you and your family, including age, height, weight, sex, whether you smoke and current health status. A broker can then shop the coverage around to different carriers to get you the best combination of plan features, benefits and rates for your needs.
Going Direct
You can also purchase health insurance directly from the company by going online to the company's website, or by telephone. Be prepared to answer specific questions about your medical history in either case. Have your current medications and dosages ready.
Checking Out Your Agent
Make sure your agent is currently licensed with the state of Iowa and duly appointed with the company he or she is representing. You may also wish to see if your agent has a history of ethics or discipline problems. You can do an agent license lookup online at the Iowa Insurance Division's website.
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