Getting an instant health insurance quote in Atlanta is easy in this internet accessible world but what does that quote really mean? How accurate is it? Should you rely on them?

Instant Insurance Quote and Actual Premiums

Most simple instant Atlanta health insurance quote systems ask you a handful of questions and then use the insurance carrier's rate card to determine what your rates will be based on your height, weight, age, gender and smoking status. These rates are based on a standard or preferred risk, which means they represent a customer who has no pre-existing conditions, and no adverse health history .

In short, the picture of perfect health.

In general, the quotes offered are intended to give a healthy, low risk applicant an idea of what premiums they might be charged and to give an indication of the difference in premium between plans.

If you were to move forward with an application, you would be required to complete a lengthy health history questionnaire.  Should your health history or medication list indicate any additional risk to the insurance carrier, your actual premium could be substantially more than the instant insurance quote you received online. Other alternatives include ridering (excluding) certain medical conditions from coverage under the policy, or simply refusing to issue any coverage.

Pre-screening an Application

Agent have the ability to pre-screen applications with the health insurance company BEFORE sumitting them to the underwriter. This process takes a day or less, costs nothing, and allows you to preview multiple offers bfore applying for health insurance in Atlanta.

The pre-screen is an effecitve tool but only if done correctly. A pre-screen wtih missing or incomplete information is a waste of your time and totally useless.

A knowledgeable agent who understands the Atlanta health insurance market can save you time and frustration.

Policy Approval

Policy approval does not occur when you get an instant health insurance quote online and you apply for the policy. Policy approval occurs once the insurance carrier's underwriters have reviewed your application and decided to offer you insurance and you have paid the initial premium.

There is a chance that your application will not be approved when it is reviewed by underwriting. If you have a chronic or terminal illness the insurance company may deem you too high a risk and may decide to decline your application. This makes it extremely important that you do not cancel any of your existing insurance plans after receiving a quote and applying for insurance online. If you do, you could find yourself uninsured and unable to replace the policy you cancelled with one of like coverage and premiums.

The Best Option

Because many insurance companies have different underwriting standards and rates, working with an Atlanta health insurance aagent is the best way to get an affordable policy for your health history and your budget. It's also important to do your homework and familiarize yourself with the various options for health insurance coverage that are available to you as well as the many different policy choices you can make. Online resources such as Georgia Insurance Shop provide consumers with a wealth of information tailored to your needs.