Insurance premiums are increasing dramatically as the cost of health care continues to rise. Group plans offered to employees of large companies are taking a toll on both employer and employees, as more companies are increasing the employee portion to make up the difference. The small business owner or groups of people such as farmers have been left with incurring the rate increases with little recourse until the option of cooperative group health insurance became available. The cooperatives can negotiate for better premiums in a fashion similar to larger corporations.
Instructions
Explore Available Cooperative Plans
1. Take healthcare planning into your own hands and enroll in a group cooperative health insurance plan. Health care cooperatives actively participate on the state and local levels to keep insurance premiums affordable for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
2. Check with your State Department of Insurance to determine if there is a provision for a group cooperative health insurance plan in your state for your business or occupation. Since this is a concept that has only been available in recent years, not all states have made provision through legislation to authorize healthcare alliances.
3. Expect a community-based non-profit cooperative group health insurance plan to provide the kind of care you and your family deserve at a price that is usually more affordable. As a cooperative group, small businesses and organizations can get care through the same carriers that provide policies for larger corporations and businesses.
4. Apply online through a reputable broker or agency for your group cooperative plan. You will need the number of individuals to include on the plan, along with the age, gender and general health condition of each enrollee before you can get a price quote.
5. Reduce the premium by selecting a higher deductible and copayment. The copayment is the amount that you will be required to pay for each doctor visit or for prescriptions (if you have drug coverage on the policy). The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket each year before your policy is required to take over.
6. Ask about the option to choose your own doctors and clinics. Some plans require you to use only those on their preferred provider list or you may have to pay more out of pocket for services.
