Consumers urged to be cautious buying health insurance online

Consumers are being advised to exercise caution when purchasing health insurance online, particularly during Maine’s health insurance marketplace open enrollment period starting on November 1st, according to the Maine Bureau of Insurance. A recent study by Georgetown University revealed that online searches for affordable health insurance often lead to results dominated by lead-generating companies. These entities request basic information and contact numbers to facilitate communication with insurance agents, as highlighted in a news release by Karma Lombard from the bureau.

The study further indicated that individuals receiving calls after providing such information are frequently steered towards limited benefit insurance plans rather than comprehensive major medical health insurance plans. It is crucial to recognize the distinctions between these plan types—major medical plans encompass traditional health insurance, covering preventive services, office visits, inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergencies. In contrast, limited benefit plans only provide coverage for specific medical issues (e.g., cancer) up to a predetermined dollar amount.

Maine’s official marketplace for individual major medical plans is CoverME.gov. It serves as the state-run platform to ensure that Mainers comprehend their health insurance options. Noteworthy insurance companies offering individual major medical plans in Maine include Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim/Point32, UnitedHealthcare, Maine Community Health Options, and Taro Health (in specific counties). Consumers seeking major medical plans for themselves or their families can purchase these plans through CoverME.gov or, in certain instances, directly from the insurance company. It is imperative to input the correct website, as websites with similar spellings or those lacking the “.gov” domain extension may redirect individuals away from CoverME.