Friday, June 27, 2008

Assurant Health Insurance Company of Arizona Review

Assurant Health Insurance Company of Arizona is one of the premier medical insurance companies in the state of Arizona. Of course, Assurant of Arizona is not the only choice in the Arizona health insurance market so read on to learn a little more about the different Assurant AZ health insurance plans available and if they make sense for your health insurance needs.

A company that has been growing within the United States, Assurant is given a rating of A- by A.M. Best meaning that they are doing everything they are financially stable and able to pay claims. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in New York; however the health care division of this great company didn't get founded until 1982; so it's a relatively new company within the "top dogs" of health insurance. Although it is relatively new to the United States, Assurant has established themselves as a global company that operated in the countries of Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil and Puerto Rico.

Although Assurant is not as big as some other ones in the state of Arizona, they do offer some great plans that can be of benefit to many people. They offer health care coverage to people that aren't covered through their employers or other groups and they cover about 1 million people within the United States. It is important however, to shop around before deciding on which Arizona health insurance company to sign up with. Based on their ratings by A.M. Best, Assurant's underwriting companies (Time Insurance Company and John Alden Life) are one of the top sellers in temporary health insurance and the company was one of the first ones to introduce Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) into the market.

Within the state of Arizona the company offers 4 plans that are all fairly comprehensive in nature. Below you will find the 4 plans listed with a brief description of each one. The description will not include every piece of information possible about the plan, but it will summarize the most important things about it and the cost for each coverage option.

1. Coremed: One of the best things about this AZ health plan is that it offers you the option of locking in your rate for up to 36 months if you were to enroll and that you will be protected anywhere in the world. You will use the PPO network meaning that you won't need the need of referrals when it comes to getting a second opinion or going to another doctor. You can also receive what they call a "Healthy Discount" if you maintain good health, which will give you 10% off services.

The beauty of this plan is that you can choose from a variety of deductibles according to your health care need. They offer deductibles from $0 to $10,000 with the highest deductibles having a lower monthly premium because they pay higher out of pocket expenses. Copays for doctor visits in case you have a deductible are $35, while you have to pay $45 if you don't have a deductible. For prescription medications you will only pay $15, however if you want more than a generic medication you will have to pay $25 plus 50% co-insurance after a $500 deductible (the family deductible is $1,000). Hospitalization cost varies with deductible (it can be $0, $200 or $750) and you will pay a $75 fee for going to the emergency room.

2. Maxplan: When you apply for this plan you can expect a response within 48 hours and you can also lock in your rate up to 36 months depending on the coverage. You will also be covered everywhere in the world, be offered the "Healthy Discount" if you maintain good health and be using the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network. The deductibles on this plan range from $0 to $25000 making some of the rates lower than the Coremed plans.

Co-insurance for the services range from 0 to 50% and the out-of-pocket maximum can be $7500 or $10,000 depending on the plan you choose to purchase. Just like the other plan, you only pay $15 for generic medicines and refills, while brand name and specialty medicines have a deductible of $500 for individual and $1,000 for families.

Apart from the deductible you will have to pay a $25 copay plus 20% co-insurance. There is no limit on office visits and if you have a deductible you should expect to pay $25 while no deductible plans should expect to pay $35. The emergency room fee is also $75 and hospitalization is covered after you meet the deductible.

3. OneDeductible: This type of plans is Health Savings Account compatible and is very famous within the state for that same reason. It is chosen by many members because the plan can protect you from large medical bills, provides tax advantages ad keep premiums affordable. This type of plan has an individual deductible plan ranging from $0 to $5,000 and a family deductible from $2,000 to $10,000 accordingly. The prescription coverage, office visits and preventive services are covered with an emergency room fee of $75. Hospitalization is also covered.

4. SaveRight: This is the other side that Assurant offers to Health Savings Account members. The customer will only have three choices of deductibles: $2,200, $3,000 and $5,100 for an individual with the family deductible being two times that. Office visits and prescription medications are covered, however with prescription medications you will have a $2000 out-of-pocket maximum for brand and generic combined. Hospitalizations are also covered and emergency room visits are the same as the other plan ($75).

Although Assurant is not as big within the United States yet as compared to the more familiar names like United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, and Humana it has accomplished many things in the little time is has been in the Arizona health insurance market. The numerous plans and choices that they offer are very beneficial for people looking to save money on insurance. The best way to decide which Arizona health insurance company is right for you is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Get started finding Arizona health insurance today!