Health Class and insurance rates

Message Author
Add to del.icio.us
Add to YahooMyWeb
Add to Simpy
Add to BlinkList
PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:16 am   Post subject: Health Class and insurance rates  

How do the health carriers fix our rates and determine our 'health class'?
_________________
Register Now to have your Insurance queries solved.
Plastimind
Guest






PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:34 pm   Post subject: health insurance rates  

The answer to this question will vary between the company that you apply it to. As a general rule of thumb in order to qualify for health insurance you need to qualify through a process called medical underwritting. This is the process in which an underwritter investigates your medicale history to determine what health conditions you have had and currently have. The underwritter than uses this information to calculate that individuals potential health care costs in the future. Your health class and your monthly premiums will also be greatly effected by your lifestyle. If you are a smoker you pay more, if you are overwieght you pay more, and even if you have been declined for other insurance you will pay more. All of these factors are indicators of increased risk to the insurance company, to hedge against this risk the insurnace company charges you more premium to soften the blow should you have a large claim.

This is only a basic interpretation of how insurance companies determine rates and classes and is only illustrating the basic concept.
wwwsimplyinsuremecom
New member
Leave a quick message


Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 14


7.32 Dollars($)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:04 am   Post subject:   

Hi,

See, each company would determine the health class of an applicant on the basis of their own criteria. Depending on your qualifications as per their criteria, they'd arrive at your rates. It's not unnatural for a person to achieve a 'standard class' for one company while achieving a 'preferred class' with it's competitor.

When it comes to determining your health class during life insurance underwriting, factors like smoking would have a strong impact. In order to achieve a 'preferred' rate you'd need to maintain a healthy lifestyle for years. Cholesterol level, Height-weight ratio, BP level, past family health history are some of the important factors that affect your rates. You'd probably need to undergo a small medical test before your health class is actually determined.

Fatman
fatman
Moderator
Leave a quick message

fatman
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 571


103.70 Dollars($)

PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:21 pm   Post subject:   

Quote:
See, each company would determine the health class of an applicant on the basis of their own criteria.


Well Fatman, there are about 15-20 health rate classes with all life insurance companies.
Of these the Preferred, Preferred Best, Standard and Standard Plus are the common ones. Under these classes there are the other rate-classes which are called the table-ratings.

Everyone of us would desire to fall into the Preferred Best class. Little do we know that it's only 2% of our population that would fall within this category.

Roddick
roddick
Senior member
Leave a quick message

roddick
Joined: 05 Oct 2005
Posts: 611


104.10 Dollars($)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:51 am   Post subject:   

Hi,

We'd certainly be eligible for a better rate-class if we stay healthier. By leading a healthier life we'd be paying lower premiums to our carriers. We should never forget that our carriers would definitely look into our entire family health history while determining our rate-classes.

ArindamSenIndies
ArindamSenIndies
Senior member
Leave a quick message

ArindamSenIndies
Joined: 14 Feb 2007
Posts: 341


66.59 Dollars($)

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:39 pm   Post subject:   

I might add...you CAN change your rate class. They are not set in stone. Reduction of weight, healthier eating habits, rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers and increased exercise can reduce your rates!

OK...The Steelers suggestion is a reach!

_________________
Affordable Ohio Health Insurance

Ohio Health Insurance Plans

Affordable Pennsylvania Health Insurance
OhioHealthInsurance
Preferred member
Leave a quick message

Ohio Health Insurance
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 170

Location: Midwest
2.08 Dollars($)

Quick Reply
Your Name
Subject
Message body
All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 

Ask Community Experts

flash plugin

Quick Links
Must See
Community
Hot topics in forums

Latest in blogs