When the Vitality Team was going through school there was a song on the radio with the lyrics: “I want my MTV!” which reminds us of our theme for this article: Okay, you’ve researched your choices for affordable California health insurance plans. You’ve engaged in a free consultation with a California health insurance professional here at Vitality, and now….you want your California health insurance plan!

Great! Well let’s take you through the process:

• First, you have your choice of how to apply. You can apply online for California health insurance by clicking on the blue bar that says Start an Application Online on the right hand side of our website’s various sections, or go with a standard paper application for a California health plan which can, in turn, be faxed over to us. We recommend applying online: It speeds the application process and cuts down on the possibility of inadvertent errors in filling out the application.
• Payment: There are some variables here – mostly involving how you want to pay for your premium: Monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly payment schedule and the way you pay – check, credit card, automatic billing to your credit card or automatic deduction from a checking or savings account. Contact us and we’ll help you clearly understand your options and the advantages of each. We like the automatic billing/deduction route – it’s one less thing to worry about and helps ensure that your premium payments are current with the insurance company. By the way: Setting up an automatic payment/auto-deduction is also a money saver: Some California health insurance companies can and do charge a paper bill fee.
• You are never “locked in” to a contract. Don’t want your California health insurance plan? Cancel it at any time.
• There are no fees to apply. There are no fees paid to us from the client. Our services to you are always free. Always.
• How long does it take to find out if your application for California health insurance has been approved? The timing varies depending on how long it takes to move your application through the underwriting process. While it could take as little as a week or so, if the underwriting department wants more information it will request records directly from your physician(s). This can extend the application process to upwards of 2-4 weeks, or more.  Can you speed up the application process? Yes! Apply online through our website. Online applications do move quicker through the system.
• Can I downgrade or upgrade my plan at a later date? Well you might have recalled the furor surrounding the planned increases to individual health plans owned here in the state earlier in 2010. At that time, insurers like Anthem Blue Cross were reaching out to members and making it clear that help was available should it be necessary for members to trade down for more affordable California health plans. That’s still the case in that both the Vitality Team and the health insurance company who provides your health coverage want to see you insured and insured with the company you started out with. So – if affordability becomes an issue – reach out to us and we’ll respond with the same careful, considerate consultation you can always expect of a Vitality California health insurance professional: We here to help you and your family. Always. Thinking of upgrading your health plan or adding a benefit such as maternity coverage? Upgrading or needing additional benefits is always possible providing you are in good health and medically qualify as you will need to pass through the underwriting process again. As always, we urge our readers: If you are thinking that a future addition to the family is a possibility, you must have maternity coverage before you conceive.

That is an overview of the California health insurance application process. While there may be slight variables to what we’ve described above, please know we’re here to help and ease your way through the process. Our client services are free and access to our experience and expertise represents one of the great values available in the California health insurance shopping process!