Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Best? Here's How to Decide

Before comparing health insurance plans, find out about the providers' eligibility requirements first. That's because some insurers may not qualify you based on your current health. Some also have strict eligibility factors when it comes to medical history.

The good news is, some plans offer guaranteed acceptance. There are Manulife's FollowMe plans for example. At the moment, Manulife is accepting everyone for these health and dental plans.

Keep in mind that public health care doesn't cover all the necessary services. It doesn't pay for routine and emergency medical costs.

That's why Manulife's FollowMe plans have supplemental health insurance. Thanks to these plans, consumers can minimize their out-of-pocket medical expenses.

But that doesn't mean all health insurance plans will cover you for everything. Some offer full coverage for specific services, while others only provide partial coverage. Some even exclude certain services completely!

This said you want to make sure you choose a plan that'll help you get the coverage you need. You should pick a plan that'll give you the least possible out-of-pocket costs.

This is especially important if you already have a pre-existing health condition. Again, some insurers may not cover your costs for prescription medications. Do your homework to find insurers accepting applicants despite their health conditions.

Monthly premiums aren't the only cost associated with health insurance. There's also the deductible and copayment/coinsurance you need to consider.

These are the fees you need to pay on top of your premiums. Most plans have them in some form or another. What's important is to choose one that'll make it easy for you to get the health care services you need.

Don't forget to check each of your prospective health insurance plan's maximums too. These are the max dollar amounts set for each covered product or service.

For instance, one plan may have a $2,000 annual maximum, while another may have a $5,000 max. Once you've reached this amount, you'll be responsible for costs that go beyond that.

Don't worry though, as the top health insurance companies offer reasonable plan maximums. But be sure to factor in your current and future healthcare needs. This way, you can avoid under-insuring or over-insuring yourself.

Your health insurance won't do you any good if you have very few doctors to choose from. This is an important consideration since you don't want to travel far and wide for a check-up. Especially in case of an emergency.

Good news though, since the best health insurance providers have extensive networks. In other words, many doctors and healthcare providers accept insurance from them. In fact, they have such big networks your current doctor may already be part of it!

If you're having health problems, the last thing you want is to deal with complex insurance paperwork. Your only priority is to get better.

The most reliable health insurance companies understand this. This is why they make their services as easy to access as possible.

In simpler terms, that means they provide coverage as soon as needed. They don't make their policyholders wait too long to receive approval.

All these allow policyholders to experience exceptional customer service. It's for this reason that top insurance companies have high customer satisfaction rates. So, be sure to check company reviews and complaints before you sign up for that health plan.

In 2010, Health Canada published a study which shared the dental health of Canadians. This stated that that 96% of Canadian adults have had dental decay. As well as 6% of the nation's adult population have complete edentulism (toothlessness).

Not a pretty sight, is it?

The problem is, public health care services don't cover preventative dental care. It also doesn't pay for restorative (like dental fillings, crowns, etc.) dentistry.

Now, you want to keep as many of your permanent teeth as possible. But dental services aren't cheap, so optimal oral health can be difficult to achieve.

As such, it's best that you also factor in dental coverage when looking for health insurance. Fortunately, the best health insurance companies also offer dental coverage with their plans. Not all plans though, so be sure to review each of your options.