When looking for health insurance quotes, there are a number of factors that must be considered. The first is price – a policy with fantastic coverage is of no use if the quote is so far out of the ballpark that it is unreasonable. The second is coverage. A quote that contains only the most bare-bones coverage may not be suitable for a growing family or a chronically ill individual. As well, service must be a consideration. Over time, a great deal of money will be paid by a client into the coffers of an insurance company, and it is important that they receive a level of service that is commensurate with the money they have spent. While it is essential that all of these factors be considered on the client side, it is important to understand that the insurer also looks at a number of factors to determine if a client is worth insuring.

The first and most important of these is risk. Risk is a combination of two things – how likely it is that a client will make a claim against the insurance policy, and how likely it is that they will default on payments. It is the second element of risk that most companies initially look at. Credit scores and debt ratios may be considered, and if it is determined that a client presents too high a risk of missing payments, coverage will not be offered. The other element of risk is more difficult to assess, but one of the most important elements used by an insurance company in making this determination is the prospective client’s health history.

This history can run the gamut of previous and current habits such as smoking, drinking, and overeating, to pre-existing conditions such as diabetes. In fact, a health history may also include potential disorders that a customer may eventually develop, either as a result of environmental factors because of employment or home location, or because of a genetic predisposition. Every insurance provider will take a different approach to a client’s health history. Some will offer health insurance quotes before ever seeing documentation, some will never want it, and some will want not only a medical check up, but access to all medical records on file.

In many states, it is not required for much of this information to be disclosed, and health history cannot be a reason for denial of coverage. However, in some instances it can be beneficial to disclose this information, especially if a client has a clean bill of health. So, while customers evaluate providers based on their price, coverage, and service, remember that many providers evaluate their prospective customers based on their physical and financial health.