โฆ Under Age 26? Stay on your parents' health insurance plan until you turn 26.
โฆ Through Your Job: If your employer offers health benefits, human resources will give you sign-up paperwork when you are hired, or during "Open Enrollment" (usually in the fall). The premium is automatically deducted from your paycheck before taxes.
โฆ The Government Marketplace: If your job doesn't offer it, go to HealthCare.gov during the Open Enrollment period (usually November to January). You might qualify for subsidies that make it affordable.
โฆ Go online to major carriers (e.g., Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate) or use a site like The Zebra to compare quotes.
โฆ What you need to provide: Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), your driverโs license number, and your driving history.
โฆ Pro Tip: Opt for a higher deductible (the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in, like $500 or $1,000) to lower your monthly premium.
โข Renters (or Homeowners) Insurance:
โฆ The easiest way to get it is to bundle it with your auto insurance. When you apply for car insurance, click the box that says "Add Renters Insurance." Companies usually give you a multi-policy discount on both.
โข Disability Insurance:
โฆ The Workplace: Most professional jobs offer Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) as part of their benefits package.
โฆ Action: During onboarding or Open Enrollment, check the box for "Long-Term Disability."
โฆ Individual Policy: If your job doesn't offer it, you must buy a "private" policy through a broker (e.g., Northwestern Mutual, Guardian).
โฆ Action: Search for "disability insurance broker." Be prepared to provide tax returns to prove your income.
โฆ Workplace "Basic Life": Many jobs give you a policy worth 1x your salary for free.
โฆ Action: Name your beneficiary in your HR portal. Even if it's just your parents or a sibling.
โฆ Private Term Policy: If you have a mortgage or kids, you need a policy that is 10xโ12x your annual income.
โฆ Action: Use a comparison site like Policygenius or Term4Sale. You will fill out a health questionnaire, and for larger policies, a nurse might come to your house for a quick medical exam (blood draw/blood pressure).
โข 4-Step Action Plan to Get Covered:
โฆ Take Inventory & Gather Info: Write down your vehicle's VIN, guess the total dollar value of your clothes/electronics (for renters insurance), and find your gross monthly income.
โฆ Check Employer Perks First: Ask your company's HR department for their benefits package. If they offer health, dental, vision, or disability insurance, sign up through them.
โฆ Shop & Bundle Auto/Renters: Go online to 2 or 3 major insurance websites. Input your info for car insurance and add renters insurance to the quote. Compare the total monthly costs.
โฆ Set to Autopay: Once approved, set your premiums to auto-pay.
โฆ Check your 'Benefits Summary': Check your work email/portal. Look for a PDF called "Summary of Benefits." See if your employer already provides Long-Term Disability or Basic Life Insurance. If they do, you're likely already covered for the basics.
โฆ Designate your Beneficiaries: In your HR portal, officially list who gets the money if you pass away.
โฆ Evaluate your 'Gap': Do you have a mortgage or children? If YES, shop for a private Term Life policy. Do you work a physical job or have no savings? If YES, ensure you have Long-Term Disability.
โฆ Apply and Underwrite: For private policies, you'll submit an application. The insurance company will "underwrite" youโmeaning they look at your medical history to decide your rate. Once they send the final offer, sign and pay the first premium.
โฆ 100% Covered (Preventative): Routine cleanings, exams, and X-rays are usually completely free to you twice a year. The insurance company pays the full bill because they want you to catch problems early.
โฆ 80% Covered (Basic Procedures): If you get a cavity and need a filling or a non-surgical root canal, the insurance company pays 80% of the cost, and you pay the remaining 20%.
โฆ 50% Covered (Major Procedures): For complex work like crowns, bridges, wisdom teeth extraction, or dentures, the insurance company splits the bill down the middle. They pay 50%, and you pay 50%.
โฆ Dental insurance is the exact oppositeโit has an Annual Maximum Benefit (the most they will pay).
โฆ This limit is usually quite lowโtypically between $1,000 and $2,500 per year. If you need extensive dental surgery that costs $4,000, the insurance company will max out at their limit, and you are responsible for the rest of the bill.
โฆ From your workplace, dental usually costs around $15โ$30 a month. You sign up during Open Enrollment, and it is deducted straight from your paycheck.
โฆ If your job doesn't offer it, you can buy plans directly from major carriers (like Delta Dental).
โฆ The Exam: You pay a small copay (usually $10 to $25) for your annual eye exam to check your prescription.
โฆ The Hardware Allowance: The plan will give you a fixed dollar amountโtypically $130 to $200 every 12 or 24 monthsโto buy frames or contact lenses. If you buy designer frames that cost $250, and your allowance is $150, you pay the $100 difference out of pocket.
โฆ The Lenses: Basic single-vision lenses are usually covered for a flat copay ($25). However, upgrades like anti-glare coatings, polarization, or progressive lenses will cost extra.
โฆ Through your workplace it often costs less than $10 a month. You sign up during Open Enrollment, and it is deducted straight from your paycheck.
โฆ If your job doesn't offer it, you can buy plans directly from major carriers (like VSP).
