For coverage that is guaranteed, group health insurance plans can be a reliable solution

TS Insurance

While the most significant and unnerving trend for health insurance in recent years has been the skyrocketing cost of premiums, there is another trend that has aging and poor-health customers worrying just as much. Insurance companies are also tightening their health qualifications for many policies, which has resulted in a growing number of people who are finding it impossible to obtain health insurance.

There are a number of options for those in this desperate situation, but perhaps the most satisfactory answer is an employer’s group insurance plan. Employees with pre-existing conditions and those who are considered too high a risk by other insurers can get their coverage guaranteed; group health insurance plans typically do not require medical exams or medical record reviews. By insuring a large group of employees under a single policy type, insurance companies can still turn a profit without worrying much about a few higher risk customers in the mix.

This situation not only makes insurance possible for those who could not previously find coverage, but it also makes the rates very affordable. Most employers either fund the policy through a simple payroll deduction or, in some cases, pay for all of the premiums as part of employee benefits. There are a few downsides, however. If there are a number of large claims from the group within a short enough period of time, the premiums may increase without warning. If the group plan uses an HMO, the range of health care providers available to employees may be very limited. Also, if employers are worried about the rising costs, they may institute company policies such as a no-smoking policy, mandatory annual physicals or other preemptive health maintenance practices. While some employees may see this as an employee benefit, others may consider it to be an intrusion of privacy and personal choice. Nonetheless, when high-risk employees can find guaranteed coverage with group health insurance plans, the benefits far outweigh the costs.