Chicago Group Health Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I just quit my job which resulted to the cancellation of my group health insurance policy which was part of my fringe benefits with them. I am currently unemployed but with ample savings for about another 6 months of not having a job. Is there any way I can get protection for medical expenses at a low cost in Chicago while I am still looking for a new employer?

Mira

Chicago, IL

There’s always something that can be done, Marie.

Fortunately, there are life insurance companies in Chicago IL that offer temporary or short-term health insurance policies. Such health insurance policy is designed for those who need temporary health coverage or those who have pre existing medical conditions or are in between jobs.
When do you need to get one? As soon as you can! You shouldn’t put off until it is too late. You wouldn’t want to see yourself ending up paying whopping hospital bills especially now that you are still without a job or a company-sponsored health insurance policy. You do not have to wait until an insurance agent calls you or gives you an offer for a health insurance coverage. What you can do instead is to start shopping around using the internet. You can easily get some free health insurance quotes online from reputable health insurance companies. Most people commit the mistake of not talking to an agent or making a move to get an individual health insurance policy for the misconception that a health insurance policy is too high or will not cover the medical requirements that they need. This shouldn’t be the case as there are many health insurance companies competing out there who are just as determined as the others to make you sign up with them!

Chicago Illinois Health Insurance Help

Reader’s Question:

I am getting my own health insurance before I go to post graduate school in Chicago. What are my choices?

Amanda

Chicago, IL

 

Plenty of choices for you, Amanda.

First of all, you have to consider the type of policy you would like to have for your health insurance in Chicago. Most major health insurance policies have a high deductible and a co-insurance with a lifetime maximum limit, which is usually at $1M or higher). To give you an idea of your coverage, most of policies of this type cover medical necessities such as doctor visits and hospitalization along with physical therapy, xray, outpatient surgery, and other medical procedures. Also, it can be offered with or without a PPO network provision, depending on your health insurance company.

Another type that you can check out are HMO policies. It really means Health Maintenance Organizations, with coverage that is close to that of a major health insurance policy. HMOs have co-payment obligations for you for the carious covered benefits. With this type, you can choose your primary care physician, also called PCP, from a list of network providers.

The last one is the PPO type of health insurance policy which really stands for Preferred Provider Organizations. It normally provides consumers with economic incentives if they contract to patronize a particular group of healthcare providers. A very common style for PPO is making you pay 80/20 if you go to a doctor that is in the network of providers.

But whatever the type is that you choose, there are normally exceptions for emergency care so you have to take a closer look at the policy for you to be aware beforehand of any extra costs for emergency cases.

Health Insurance Help Chicago IL

Reader’s Question:

Before my daughter left for college out-of -state, I purchased the university’s student health insurance plan for her and kept her old one which was under my in-state health insurance plan. Now, the problem is, when she used our health insurance plan in her school she needs to travel quite a distance to see her doctor. Number 1, she doesn’t have a car. Number 2, even if the school has an on-site clinic, she has only gone to the clinic once within almost 2 years. However, this winter quarter, she got really sick for a few days. Some of her assignments due dates could be delayed. What should I do? We live in Chicago IL.

Susan

Chicago, IL

 

Thanks for asking, Susan.

I had the same problem before. I have a Kaiser, and this is how we attacked this same kind of problem. My son attended college in Chicago. We fly him home on some weekends to see dentist, lab work, dermatology, primary physician, orthodontist, or whatever medical needs he needs. What he does is to notify his professors that he will be having a 3 day weekend, either missing classes on a Friday or a Monday. Meanwhile, when he’s back in Chicago, like there was this one time he had to go to the emergency room and missed classes since he had to wait for his doctor for hours. Kaiser only cover E.R and urgent care outside their providers (accredited hospitals and doctors) and Pharmacy bills can be reimbursed through proof of purchase like receipts for all claims.

I love Kaiser in the sense that it reimbursed all my pharmacy claims…though it took a while since my son forgot to mail the receipts directly to Kaiser Claims and mailed it to us instead. Fortunately, I was able to resolve the issue after ½ of a year…just because of that one mistake. By now, I kinda understand how things should be done for claims, such as making sure my son keeps his receipts. There are kinks of course in certain incidents when you cannot fly your daughter out for medical. At one point, my son got hit by a car, and couldn’t fly out, so everything had to be on us for that case. So that’s just one disadvantage if you choose to keep your in-state health insurance policy.

Cheap Chicago IL Life Insurance Rate

Reader’s Question:

I have a heart attack and had to undergo bypass surgery a year ago. Will I still qualify to get a cheaper life insurance policy than the standard rates in Chicago?

Alicia

Chicago, IL

I really hope you are well, Alicia.

Thank you for asking. As long as you are taking care of yourself and you visit your doctor for a regular checkup, then many life insurance companies in Chicago that can still offer competitive rates for you…even if your application is as little as 1 year after the bypass surgery.
When you get tentative quote, no exam will be required for the initial quote and you will be assured that information on your medical records will be sent confidentially from your doctor to the life insurance company. Be aware that the best offers usually come from the top-rated and biggest life insurance companies.

In most companies, a preliminary quote is not a guarantee or offer of coverage and the decision to offer coverage is always from the life insurance companies based on your medical requirements. Although not all companies would require underwriting, just prepare yourself for a one-on-one interview process which can quite be invasive for some applicants. This is a normal procedure for most insurance companies just to verify information from your medical records.

Feel free to contact any insurance companies in Chicago for your special needs and they will be more than happy to send you tentative quotes. Just enter your zip code on the space located on this page for free quotes from qualified insurance companies.
Have a great time shopping!

Teen Life Insurance Chicago IL

Reader’s Question:

I am a resident of Chicago IL. I am a single mom and I would like to make sure that she will have a secure future in case something happens to me. I wonder if there is any life insurance available for my teen daughter who is 13 years old? Can you suggest any insurance companies who offer teen life insurance in Chicago?

Amelie

Chicago, IL

 

Hey there Amelie!

Yes, there are many Chicago insurance companies who offer life insurance for teens and even children who are a few days old.

Now that your child is still young is the best time you can start investing for her life insurance. The younger your child is, the lower the premiums are for most insurance companies.

Make sure you choose insurance policy that has guaranteed rates – meaning, no increases – for the life of the policy. You do not only secure your daughter’s protection at a fixed rate, you also save a few dollars annually. Get a budget-friendly premium which you can find in the internet, or contact any local insurance company in Chicago that offers teen life insurance.

Maybe you can start acting now in securing your daughter’s financial future by getting a free quote…all you need to do is to type in your zip code at the form on this site.

Child Life Insurance Chicago IL

Reader’s Question:

I am a single parent in Chicago IL and I want to purchase enough life insurance to guarantee that my minor child is cared for if I should die suddenly. How do I handle the “beneficiary” designation? What steps would I take to be comfortable in knowing that my child would benefit from the life insurance proceeds?

Mary

Chicago, IL

I have known of many situations where single parents in Chicago, especially single Moms, are treated more or less like outcasts. This results to having no one that they can actually trust with the care of their children.

In your case, say for example having a life insurance proceeds of $100,000 that goes wherever, can be enough worry to think about. I see the point that even if the single parent has responsible parents, “money” can always change a person’s personality.

The best option you can do is to establish an irrevocable trust and make the trust the beneficiary of the life insurance policy in Chicago IL. This way, you will be certain that the proceeds you paid for would definitely be a benefit for your child.