Question:
Are health insurance rates different in every state? For example, is New York more expensive than Pennsylvania?
Answer:
Yes, health insurance rates vary in every state. In fact, rates vary in every county.
Rates are based on age, geographic location (zip code) and other factors such as tobacco use. And they are not negotiable.
That means your neighboring town may have access to different plan networks than your hometown.
For example, if you lived in Lake County this year, you would not have access to Blue Focus Care, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois network specific to Cook County only.
You can only visit hospitals and doctors that are in network. Regardless of the county they service patients in—the plan you purchase is specific to the county you reside in.
