Should I buy health insurance from Walmart?

Walmart is now selling health insurance.  Yep, Walmart.

The world’s largest retailer plans to work with DirectHealth.com, an online health insurance comparison site and agency, to allow shoppers to compare coverage options and enroll in Medicare plans or the public exchange plans created under the Affordable Care Act.

So should you go down to Walmart when open enrollment comes around?

Probably not.

Although Walmart is using actual insurance agents in their stores, they’re only working with Medicare and Exchange plans.  That’s OK if you’re eligible for a subsidy.  But if not, you’ll likely be put in an Exchange plan when you don’t need to be.  What’s wrong with that?  Just scan through the news.  “Hacker’s Dream?”  No thank you.  Anyone who’s not eligible for a subsidy shouldn’t be in the Exchange.

Apart from being locked into the Exchange plans, Walmart may not be the best place to buy health insurance because health insurance is more complicated than ever.  Walmart is not the proper setting to discuss the intricacies of health coverage and doctor networks.

The absolute best place to buy health insurance is your local independent health insurance agent.  Nobody is more informed and more qualified.

Yes, it’s OK to buy health insurance online, but do it through your local independent health insurance agent.  Most agent’s websites have the ability to quote and apply online but they are also available for over the phone or in person advice.

If you would like an instant online health insurance quote for California, we’ve got you covered.

Local expert advice with today’s online tools.  That’s what you need, not an agent inside your local superstore.