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Health insurance?

I need to get basic individual health insurance. I'm no longer covered by my dad's company's insurance provider because I am no longer a full-time student. I don't need prescription coverage because I can pay for those myself. I live in New Jersey and I need a policy that allows me to be covered all over the United States, because I will be leaving in 2 weeks on a broadway national tour, going everywhere from Florida to Washington state. All of the websites I have found on Google are confusing me, and I keep getting directed back to ehealthinsurance which gives me the same quotes for the same NJ-only insurance providers. No idea what to do now. Any advice? Thanks a bunch, I really appreciate it.

Public Comments

1. Contact a local independent agent. The agent knows which plans are available in your area that will also cover you while travelling. The plans and premiums are the same whether you use the agent or buy directly from the company. With the agent you can make sure to get what you want. Using the internet to find a policy is a crap shoot. Most policies will cover you across the nation for emergencies. It is the non-emergency coverage that will make the difference between policies.
2. I agree that it is best to talk with an independent agent. I would recomend though that you buy through that agent (even though it's a couple bucks more sometimes). Being able to have a person to call when you have questions or problems makes a world of difference. Many times when you buy over the internet directly from the company you have a hard time getting any customer support.
3. As the others have said you need to speak with an independent agent-This means not a captive agent- You want someone who can sell any product which fits a clients needs not what his company says he has to sell. Be prepared to pay for a decent policy though. It's not cheap for quality insurance. If its seems really cheap you need to make sure you understand what the policy is actually going to cover and what your own out of pocket expenses are going to be. Good luck in the hunt.
4. Well, policies DON'T cover you all over the US, unless you're having a life threatening issue. That's because EACH STATE says what the policy has to cover, and a policy for a NJ resident isn't going to have providers in FL or WA. That's JUST how it works. Sorry.
5. I use to travel extensively (pleasure) and I was covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Oxford in NY.) Of course, I would get sick and go to the doctor or hospital. I never had a problem with coverage although make sure if you speak to an Oxford rep tell them of your situation and traveling.
6. My advise: don't buy insurance on-line. Talk with live person: 2-3 agents. Ask questions!!! Do Shoping for your insurance, but not on-line. On-line you can educate yourself about health insurance and find out what to ask the agent.
7. Geez, mbcratz17, you have good advice a lot of the time, but every once in awhile you completely miss the mark. This is one of those times. If you purchase a PPO policy, your insurance company should have what's called a "travel network" that provides you with a network of providers to use in virtually any state. I used to work for one of the largest health insurers in Ohio, but our customers could access care in virtually any state. That's why networks like PHCS, Beech Street, First Health, etc. exist, for crying out loud. Any of you can check the back of your insurance cards...if you have a PPO, most likely you have the logo from one of these large national networks on the back of your card and just never realized what its for. (BCBS is the exception, because BCBS insureds just ride off the BCBS provider lists in each state.) For example...at my former employer, we had a lot of snowbird customers...lived in Ohio during the summer, Florida during the winter. For their winter residences, they simply made sure to select a provider from the travel network on their policy. Just because your insurers are based in New Jersey doesn't mean that you only have coverage in New Jersey! When you purchase a PPO policy, you should have coverage all over the US. Just be sure to know what your travel network is and be sure to stay within that network.
8. see this http://gsx1.com/InsuranceComparison.html it's one form to get a number of quotes from different insurers. It's free and a big time saver, these are all the main American insurers competing to get your business so you are bound to find something that suits you, if it works out remember my points please :)