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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the difference between a quote and an application?
- A quote is strictly a "base" premium based on the data (date of birth, city, etc.) given. Final rates are
based on full medical underwriting, including an application. After
the carrier receives the application, medical underwriting can include a phone interview, a urine specimen,
a physical exam or some combination
thereof. The majority of the underwriting lies in the application
and phone interview. The carrier can also request full medical records from your provider. Based on all of
this information, a final medical decision
will be made -- i.e., approved as-is, approved at a higher rate,
approved with a rider or declined.
- Q: How do I apply?
- When you receive your application (via e-mail, PDF download or U.S. mail), please fill it out and return
it to Seabury & Smith, HealthInsurance.com Application Processing,
1440 Renaissance Drive, Park Ridge, IL, 60068-1400. The HealthInsurance.com application processing department
will prescreen the application and
then forward it to the carrier for further medical underwriting.
Please do not cancel any coverage you may already have until a final offer is made and a policy number is
issued.
- Q: In order to qualify for this plan, do I need to answer questions regarding
my medical history?
- Yes. Because this is an individual and not a group policy, the insurance carrier will medically underwrite
your application. Your application may be approved, your premium
may be adjusted or you may be declined based on this medical underwriting.
- Q: How long will it take for my application to be approved?
- Most underwriting is completed in approximately four weeks. The carrier will perform a phone interview,
and in some states, a urine sample may be required. The carrier may
also request medical records from your doctor. Keep in mind that while some doctors are quick to turn this
information around, some are very slow,
and this may affect the time it takes to approve your application.
- Q: What are the limitations regarding pre-existing conditions?
- Some of our carriers will consider covering pre-existing conditions with an increase in your premium to
cover ongoing medications or treatments. Keep in mind that with some
carriers, pre-existing conditions are normally not covered during the first 12 months of the policy. Other
pre-existing conditions cannot be covered.
We will provide you with a list of these conditions as part of
our quoting process.
- Q: Does your plan include a physician office copay or dental benefits?
- Yes. Most of our carriers offer these options.
- Q: Why are these plans not available in all states?
- Due to strict state legislation, most insurance carriers do not write new business in all states. Seabury
& Smith is committed to bringing you the most competitive insurance
products available, and will continue to explore other options where products are not currently available.
- Q: Are all insurance carriers reputable?
- Seabury & Smith requires all its major medical carriers to be rated at least an "A-" by A.M. Best, an independent
insurance-rating company.
- Q: How can I find out if my doctor is part of the PPO?
- A book of all participating doctors will be sent to you upon approval of your policy. Also, most PPO networks
have a website on which you can search for your current physicians. As you
review plans on our site, you can click the "Provider Search" button
to see a listing of the providers offered by a particular insurance
carrier.
- Q: I was referred by my association's website. Is this policy endorsed by my association?
- Your association endorses Seabury & Smith's "HealthInsurance.com" approach to making individual health
insurance coverage available to its members. That means that in order to provide you with a competitive product
that meets your specific needs, Seabury & Smith works with a variety of individual carriers.
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