Applying for an insurance policy can be overwhelming! With over hundreds of independent insurance companies in Texas alone, finding the right policy means you’ve got your work cut out for you.
How can you know which questions to answer? How can you be sure to make the right choice? As an insurance agent, I’m always getting calls from people who sound as hesitant as someone trying to arrange his or her own brain surgery.
Applying for insurance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s what you need to know when applying for an insurance policy of your own. Having this information available before making that call or stepping into an office will make the process a thousand times simpler—and stress-free.
1. First, you’ll need your personal information like social security number, name, date of birth, marital status… pretty much the same you’d put on a credit card application or any other form. Have your social security card and I.D. at hand when you apply for insurance.
2. You need to know the date you want your coverage to go into effect.
3. You’ll need health information about yourself and any family members who you want to be covered on your policy. Depending on the company, many years of your medical history may be required, so try to find out what information you’ll need before starting the application process. Check with your doctors to make sure the information you have is accurate.
4. The insurance company may want to know if you have a family history of cancer, heart disease, or other conditions. If you do, provide the name of the person in your family who had the condition, as well as any details you have about their condition. Many insurance companies charge higher premiums to those with a family history of health issues.
5. Finally, you’ll need information about any pre-existing conditions you have when you apply.
By having this information at hand when you begin the application process, you’ll speed up your own insurance application—and you’ll know the questions to answer. See? No stress. Definitely not brain surgery.