Blue Cross of California &

Blue Shield of California

Authorized Agents Lic. 0C30542
1-800-889-1910

California Health Insurance


Individual & Family Health Plans

Purchasing health insurance in California no longer has to be a long, drawn out process. Because there are several health insurance carriers to choose from, Californians have more choices when it comes to choosing their health insurance and with the many companies that offer instant quotes from multiple health insurance carriers on their Web sites, shopping for health insurance is easier than ever before.

With the realization that health insurance has become a necessity for most people, health insurance in California is often a popular topic of debate among both politicians and the constituents they serve. In addition to the ongoing dialogue about how all Californians can have access to affordable health insurance, the number of health insurance carriers in the state continues to grow, ensuring that health insurance premiums remain competitive and relatively affordable for residents.

Regardless of whether you've lived in California all of your life or you're a new resident, you can find affordable health insurance if you know what to expect from the process. Of course, there is much more to shopping for medical insurance in California than visiting a respected company's Web site and entering your name, email address, and other personal information.

Before you start looking for medical insurance for yourself or your family, you must know exactly what you need from your health insurance plan. Shopping for health insurance without knowing your exact needs will only cause you to waste time and could potentially result in you purchasing health insurance coverage that is not sufficient for your needs.

The first decision you must make is likely the easiest: What type of coverage do you need? Individual or family health insurance, Group health insurance for the employees of your small business, short term or temporary medical insurance, health insurance to supplement your Medicare coverage. Do you need dental coverage? How important is vision coverage?

Once you've answered those questions, consider whether you want HMO or PPO coverage, two vastly different types of medical insurance in California. HMO coverage requires you to visit healthcare providers in their network. On the other hand, PPO coverage allows you to visit providers in or out of network. However, should you opt to go to an out-of-network provider, you'll pay higher co-pays.

Another major consideration is how high of a deductible you are willing to pay. Do you want a health insurance plan with a low deductible or a high deductible? Opting for medical insurance with a low deductible will generally result in higher monthly premiums while you'll pay lower monthly premiums with a high deductible health insurance plan.

One huge benefit of opting for a high deductible health insurance plan in California is the fact that you'll likely be eligible to open a Health Savings Account (HSA), a personal savings account that allows you to deposit funds on a pre-tax basis and use to pay for medical expenses that aren't covered under your health insurance plan or to help cover your deductible or out of pocket expenses. You or your employer, or both you and your employer, can contribute to the HSA, and the funds that aren't used in one year roll over and can be used in ensuing years.

After you've identified your health insurance needs, you're ready to start comparing your options online. Instant health insurance quotes will save you time, since you won't have to call or visit five or ten different independent health insurance agents, and ultimately will take care of all your health insurance needs.