These days, a growing number of people are realizing the immense importance of having health insurance. The rising costs of medical care make it almost impossible to afford medical treatment from one’s own account. Having the backing of health insurance ensures that you can get access to the best in healthcare for emergency and planned treatments without worrying about the costs.
You can either opt to buy health insurance through an agent or online on your own. There are other modes of getting coverage; however, these two are the most well-known ones. Now, you may wonder which method of purchase is more beneficial – through an agent or online from the insurer’s website. Let’s pit these two options against each other and see what we find out.
Buying health insurance through an agent
Till date, a lot of people prefer to buy medical insurance from an agent. They prefer the convenience of getting end-to-end assistance from someone who is knowledgeable about the various insurers and insurance policies in the market.
Additionally, if you choose to buy health insurance through an agent, you receive help with filling up your form. They literally do the entire application process for you – you just have to provide them with your personal details, signature, and payment. That kind of assistance can prove handy for someone who has never bought health insurance before or for anyone who has a very busy schedule.
Now, let’s look at the benefits of buying medical insurance online.
Buying health insurance online
Almost all major general insurance providers in the country offer their policies for purchase on their websites. The availability of health insurance online is a win-win situation for you and the insurer – the insurer saves on infrastructural costs and you receive discounts due to those savings.
Buying health insurance online is extremely easy as leading insurance companies have websites that are very intuitive and user-friendly. The process is also convenient as you can buy your policy at a time and place that suits you – whether on your coffee break at work or at night after dinner. You can bid adieu to getting stuck in long traffic jams as you rush from one insurance provider’s office to the other.
If you opt to buy health insurance online, you also gain a greater degree of control over the entire process. You can use aggregator websites to compare all available policies and make an unbiased selection. You can also do an in-depth study of the insurer’s reputation in the market and read a few customer reviews too. If you need help at any point, you may contact the insurer on their toll-free number and put forth your query.
The verdict
So, which one wins – buying coverage through an agent or online? Honestly, the answer can vary between people as the right choice depends on what your unique needs are. If you are new to buying health insurance and want step-by-step assistance from someone, then it is worth going with an agent. No doubt they earn a commission, but they also become your sole point of contact for the application process and any queries you may have henceforth.
On the other hand, if you are comfortable transacting online, it is worth buying your health insurance over the Internet. You will benefit from the ease of the entire process that can be done at your convenience. Plus, you do save money as online medical insurance policies are generally offered at more competitive prices.
We hope that the information in this article will prove helpful when you set out to buy health insurance. Good luck!
