Health Insurance Articles
How Yearly Physicals Affect Health Insurance Coverage Rates
2010-11-11
For those who have employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, they don't have to worry much about qualifying for health insurance. Group plans aren't as strict because there are many people contributing to the policies. For individuals seeking health insurance, this is not the case. Pre-existing conditions and other factors are considered when determining what their health insurance coverage rates will be. In order for health insurance agents to figure out what your rates will be for a new policy, they take into account your past health history as well as your current health. The following explains how yearly physicals affect one's health insurance coverage rates.
Past Physicals and How they Affect Current Rates
Health insurance agents look at an individual's past health history in order to see what, if any, health problems they have. One of the ways they do is by looking at any physicals they have had through their previous health insurance carrier. Although this information may be dated because it happened in the past, it is still relevant. Someone who has had a history of high blood pressure or high cholesterol is likely to have this issue arise again in the future. Physicals tell a lot about how a person takes care of themselves. Most doctors will draw blood to look for any diseases or signs of possible health-related issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. However, if the individual's last physical was one year or older, that information may be incorrect because the person's diet and exercise habits may have changed.
Determining Current Rates Based on New Information
Sometimes, when something bad concerning a person's health has been found, the individual can plead with the carrier to let them retake a physical. Health insurance agencies oftentimes allow this, and even encourage individuals to see a doctor in order to get an updated physical before they determine what their health insurance coverage rates will be. This way, if that particular individual who previously had a negative physical has learned to eat healthy and has picked up exercising regularly, there is a good chance that their health may have changed for the better. As a result, they will no longer be put in the high-risk pool in health insurance and can take advantage of lower coverage rates.
Annual physicals determine health insurance coverage rates much more than one may think. The physical determines just how healthy an individual is. Therefore, health insurance agencies encourage individuals to get yearly checkups which would also result in lower rates. Make sure you check with your agent today to find out what you can do to keep your rates low.
