Getting Insured

• 1). To become eligible for a group plan, your first chore is to prove you are a business entity. To be eligible for a group plan, you must have at least two people in a group. Pretty much all reputable insurance companies qualify a small business as having between 2 and 50 employees. For a family or couple, the easiest way is to get a business license with the husband and wife on it. If you have a business partner, it can be you or the partner. If you are a sole proprietor, you can also submit the Schedule C profit/loss statement you filed with the IRS. Either one of these two documents will prove that you are a business to the insurance company.
  
  
• 2). Once you have the documentation set, the next step is to get a quote from the insurance companies. It is highly recommended that you consult with a licensed insurance agent from whichever state you live in. Different states have different insurance regulations and carriers. The agent can give you a free quote as well as help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of group insurance plans. If you insist on going at it by yourself, have an idea of what hospital or doctor you want to use and ask them who they take. Also have an idea if you want to use an HMO or PPO. If you have a certain doctor you want to go to or you want set co-pays, go with an HMO. If you want a little bit more flexibility in choosing your doctors and a lower premium, a PPO is generally the better option.
  
  
• 3). Go to the website of the company you've chosen and get a quote on your group. Be aware that the price is likely to be high, especially if anybody you are looking to insure has preexisting medical conditions. This doesn't mean just physical ailments either; health insurance companies also consider just about any medications you are taking as a preexisting condition. The benefit to group plans is that the insurance company has to take you with no medical underwriting. The downside is that the rates can also be quite high and are unlikely to come down anytime soon.
  
  
• 4). With all your information gathered, the final step is to submit your application. If you are using an insurance agent, she can help you through this process. Otherwise, you can submit your application online or mail it in. Although how long it takes to get the actual insurance depends on how fast the insurance company processes your application, the good news is that they have to take you if all your information is in order.