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How to Choose the Right Health Insurer During Open Enrollment

By , About.com Guide

4 of 5

How Helpful is the Health Insurer's Customer Service?

No matter how well your choice of insurers seems to fit your needs, it will only create headaches for you if working with them is difficult.

If you have concerns about how well they might handle any questions or complaints that may come up during the next year, then try calling the customer service phone number provided, and ask some basic questions about coverage. Try to get a sense of how helpful they can be.

Please note that it's important that you ask the questions of customer service, and not the insurer's sales personnel. Glossy brochures and slick sales speeches won't be helpful to you if you have to deal with claims that have been denied, or errors on your bills.

Health insurance providers are regulated by the state in which they offer insurance. Often those regulations include guidelines for customer service, but that doesn't always turn out to be helpful.

Some states offer information on their websites that helps you compare your different health insurance options. A good example is the comparison in New York State. Check your state's insurance department's website to see if they offer similar information.

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