Monday, November 16, 2009

Dipping In The Risks Pool

By J. D Theis

Health insurance policies just like all other insurance policies are based on risk assessments from the insurance companies. The risks that the people should have been taking every day are transferred to the risks being shouldered by the insurance company.

The insurance companies are taking risks exactly at the moment they approved your insurance application. On the other hand, insurance companies are compensating for the risks that they are shouldering in behalf of the insurance policy holders through the premium that they are charging. In return, the insurance companies promise insurance coverage.

Knowing where and how you are putting your money on these health plans is a vital part in fully understanding the risks factor of insurance. Insurance companies that offer health policies prepare to shoulder the risks of insuring policy shoppers by the process of risk pooling. Insurance companies are able to pool the risks that they are shouldering through finding the common denominators of their policy holders. The frequency through having a common denominator allows companies to do risk pooling. This process not only reduces the risks that you are taking, but also the companies' risks.

The "law of large numbers" favors mot insurance companies in their attempts to pool the risks that they are taking. For example, insuring individuals who go to different work places are riskier as compared to insuring a certain block of professionals that go in only one working place. A successful attempt to have a group of policy holders with the same risks exposure is good for the insurance companies' business profiteering. The premium paid in medical insurance and other major health compensatory policies are computed through the risks exposures of the policy holders and shoppers.

Being included in a well coordinated health plan on the other hand will assure cheaper premiums in the end of the policy holders. Most insurance companies that offer low cost health insurance look for individuals who are members of a specific block of existing policy holders. It can be said that insurance companies in their own rights are specializing in specific groups of policy shoppers in their attempts of reducing the risks that they are taking. Policy shoppers in particular should take a closer look on the weight of the risks that they are making the insurance company to bear in their stead. A knowledge whether you are included or can be included in an existing risks pool is an edge you can use to press for lower premiums and higher benefits.

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