Guide to Buying Health Insurance
in North Carolina

1. Check out the Financial Rating of the health insurance carrier.
   (We highly recommend a carrier with a “A” rating or higher.)
   
   
2. Is health insurance carrier totally committed to the N.C. Health Insurance Market?
   Find out how long they have been selling their current health insurance product in N.C. Find out what would happen to your coverage, if the health insurance carrier decided to “stop” writing insurance in N.C. & “pull out” of our state.
   
   
3. Will your “personal” physician & “local” hospitals accept health insurance carrier’s plans.
   ALL plans penalize you for using out-of-network doctors & hospitals. Research ALL In and out-of Network Benefits
   
   
4. Will health insurance carrier’s health plan “limit” you to the # of visits you can use your co-payment benefit in a calendar year?
   A lot of health plans offered in N.C. put certain “limits” on how many visits you can use their co-payment options.
   
   
5. Make sure “you” the “insured” DISCLOSE all health information about yourself & other family members that are applying for coverage on the health insurance carrier’s application.
   Failure to “disclose”, can cause serious problems for “you” in the future & will most likely see your health insurance carrier “deny “ your claim.
   
   
6. Read ALL policy “Exclusions” & “Limitations” before buying a health insurance policy.
   Make sure you know what ”benefits” are covered and the one’s that are “excluded” or “limited”.
   
   
7. Research the Prescription Drug Benefit
   Find out what the “maximum” benefit that is provided by carrier’s plan per calendar year.
   
   
8. If the health insurance carrier’s “benefits” plan your looking at seems to be too expensive, look at possibly raising your “deductible” & “co-payment” options to get your “premiums” more affordable.
   Most carrier’s offer considerable rate “reductions” for High Deductible health plans. Higher Deductible health plans offer consumers more stable & consistent rates.
   
   
9. If you need “help” or “advice” in the future, who will be there to assist you?
   Purchase your coverage from a “reputable” insurance agent who has been in the insurance business for several years & knows the N.C. health insurance market!! Buying coverage from an “Authorized” agent doesn’t cost “you” the “consumer” any additional premium than if you purchased the coverage directly from the health insurance carrier’s website!!!

At McLeod Insurance Agency, LLC, we have been “Assisting” & “Guiding” our clients since 1971. Let us “Help” and “Guide” you in the right direction today!!