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Updated: May 18, 2023

How to Correctly Search for Insurance Online

Finding appropriate health care coverage online can be an overwhelming task.  Companies offer many different options and the numerous options can become confusing.  It helps to enter this processin...
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Finding appropriate health care coverage online can be an overwhelming task.  Companies offer many different options and the numerous options can become confusing.  It helps to enter this processing knowing what you need in health care options, whether it is minimal overage for a fairly healthy individual or extensive coverage for a large family.

The way to inquire about insurance policies it usually to pick up the phone and call the companies that you are interested in and ask about the costs of insurance premiums.  This method does come with limitations.  Often insurance companies will need some time to research your needs and it may take them a few days or even a few weeks to get back to you.

There is an easier way.  Search for policies online. It is quick, saves you time and money and makes for easy comparison of multiple policies.  There are websites that will comparison shop for you called aggregators.  Aggregators will compare different quotes and show the options available from the insurance companies.  This allows the customer to select the options that best suit themselves or their families according to their needs.

How Do the Insurance Websites Work?

Insurance websites will request your name, age, what kind of coverage you would like and for what length of time you would like the policy.  The website will also collect other basic information such as address, email and phone number in order to contact you in the future for a quote.

Some websites will collect the information and immediately direct you to all policies that are relevant to your needs.  It will give the details of each policy, including coverage specifics and pricing.  Usually the aggregator sites act as the intermediary and will collect payment from you and then contact the actual insurance company to arrange for the set-up of the policy.  The aggregators, in turn, will collect a small fee from the insurance company as payment for arranging your policy on their behalf.

These websites can give information boxes that allow you to compare two or more policies side by side.  This gives you the option of comparing and contrasting different insurance quotes and you can decide which policy scores best in what your needs are.

Once you have selected a policy that suits your needs, the aggregator websites are pretty friendly in terms of check-out procedures.  After your payment has been collected, the insurance company you selected will contact you within approximately one week with the required paperwork.

Things to Watch Out for When Buying Insurance Online

  1. It is good to check a couple of aggregator sites.  They may cover different insurance companies and you may find a company on one site that is not covered with a different site that you think suits your needs best.  It is worth the minimal extra effort on your part.
  2. The aggregator sites might not always have up-to-date or correct information.  It is best to double-check with the actual insurance company when they contact you personally to be assured that you are getting the policy you indicated you wanted on the aggregator website for the price you were intending on paying.
  3. Ask if you will be required to take any medical tests in order to obtain the policy.  Decide if you are willing to go through the tests in order to get the policy you were searching for.