What You Need to Know About Health Insurance in New Hampshire

Residents all over the country have recognized the benefits of having health insurance. This is no different in New Hampshire, where the costs of medical and health care services are significant. Having health insurance also allows the policyholder and his dependents to enjoy immediate care during emergency in virtually any medical facility. There are generally two types of insurance to be had, one from private source and the other provided by public sources such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal and state-regulated health plans.

Most employees in the state enjoy health coverage through group plans offered by their employers. This type of coverage is guaranteed, even for those with pre-existing medical conditions. Because the policyholder in this kind of health plan is the employer, individual employees do not have control on the provisions and extent of coverage given.

Those who are not included in group health plans can purchase private health plans for themselves and their families. Examples of private health plans include Health Management Organizations which specifies the network of health care providers that policyholders can go to, Preferred Provider Organizations in which health care is obtained at a discounted rate, conventional health plans which does not impose what providers to go to for health care services, Health Reimbursement Accounts, and High Deductible Health Plans with Health Savings Accounts. Most of these private health plans contain provisions on how medical service is obtained to manage costs. Consumers who plan on purchasing private health plans yet do not know how to start can ask around and make inquiries as to which type of plan meets their health care needs yet is still affordable.

Residents of New Hampshire enjoy the state’s continuation law, which is designed to answer the health care needs of those who lost their health care coverage due to qualifying events such as being laid off, being terminated, disability, employer bankruptcy, resignation, legal separation, or divorce. In these scenarios, insurance providers are required by state law to notify consumers of their continuation rights and consumers has a period of 45 days to respond to this notification. Should the consumer choose to exercise their continuation rights, coverage is provided retroactive though premium rate is typically a little higher than the rate charged for group health plans. The state continuation law is only applicable for fully insured group health plans.

Insurance providers might charge higher premiums or impose exclusions for those with pre-existing medical conditions. This serves to lower the liability taken on by providers when they decide to provide coverage. However, insurance providers are not allowed to cancel or non-renew a health insurance policy except for few legally acceptable reasons. These include nonpayment, misrepresentation of facts upon application, occurrence of fraud, or when the state determines that it is no longer on the best interest for employers to continue to provide coverage. To ensure coverage, applicants must be honest in filing out forms during the application process, must make honest claims, and make prompt payments. In New Hampshire, policyholders are allowed 30 days grace period to make payments.

In the event of bankruptcy in the part of the insurance provider, its policyholders can avail of the assistance extended by the New Hampshire Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association. This association can continue coverage and pay claims for up to a specified limit. All licensed health and life insurance providers in the state are required to be a member of this association. Consequently, assistance is extended only for residents of the state who purchased products from licensed providers. In the event of insolvency, the guaranty association will notify its policyholders of their eligibility.

We help our New Hampshire customers in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Rochester, Dover, Derry, Keene, Portsmouth, NH and other cities in the Granite State lower their premiums and save money on all types of insurance. Use the form above to find low cost auto, homeowners, health, medical, life and long term care insurance. Using our New Hampshire insurance agent and broker network, you can easily compare rates from multiple insurers.

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