The 5 Types of Health Insurance Shoppers (And How to Spot Them)

Let’s face it: shopping for health insurance isn’t exactly everyone’s favorite hobby. But if you’ve ever spent time researching plans or talking to an agent, you’ve probably noticed that people approach the process in very different ways. At Better Health Consulting, we’ve encountered all kinds of shoppers, and we’ve identified five distinct “types.” So, which one are you? Let’s dive in!

---

1. The Over-Analyzer

Characteristics: They’ve got a spreadsheet, a notebook, and three highlighters in different colors. They know the details of every plan out there, and they’ve been comparing the same 12 options for weeks. This person could probably teach a class on health insurance at this point.

How to Spot Them: You’ll know them by their relentless questions about co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. If they start talking about actuarial values, run.

Our Advice: It’s great to be thorough, but don’t get paralyzed by overthinking! Trust your licensed agent (we’ve already done the homework for you) and make the decision before open enrollment ends… please.

2. The "Just Get It Done" Shopper

Characteristics: These folks want the process to be as fast and painless as possible. Health insurance? Sure, just tell them what’s best, and they’ll sign on the dotted line. No time for chit-chat, just point them to the plan.

How to Spot Them: They’ll ask, “Is this the best one?” at least three times before agreeing. If they start looking at their watch, it’s go-time.

Our Advice: We get it—time is money! Just make sure to ask enough questions so you don’t end up with a plan that doesn’t meet your needs. We’ll make it quick, we promise.

3. The “What’s the Cheapest?” Shopper

Characteristics: Price is king for these shoppers. They’ll gladly take a plan that covers next to nothing if it means saving a few bucks each month. Health insurance might not even be necessary, right?

How to Spot Them: If they say, “I’ll just use Dr. Google,” or “I haven’t been to the doctor in five years,” you’ve found them.

Our Advice: Saving money is important, but so is your health! A cheap plan is great until you actually need healthcare. Let’s find a balance between affordability and coverage that won’t leave you with surprise bills.

4. The "I’ll Decide Tomorrow" Shopper

Characteristics: This shopper cannot make a decision to save their life. They’ll ask for more time to think, compare, and weigh every option. Then… they’ll forget about it until the deadline is tomorrow.

How to Spot Them: They say, “I just need to sleep on it,” every time you chat. They also tend to ghost during open enrollment.

Our Advice: We understand the need for time to decide, but don’t wait too long! Set a decision date and stick to it. Remember, there’s nothing worse than missing the open enrollment deadline and getting stuck without coverage!

5. The "My Friend Said..." Shopper

Characteristics: This person bases their health insurance decisions entirely on what their friends or family have done. Their friend’s plan might not even be in the same state, but hey, it worked for them, right?

How to Spot Them: You’ll hear, “Well, my cousin has this plan, and they said it’s the best,” at least once during the conversation.
​
Our Advice: While it’s great to get recommendations, what works for one person may not be the best for you. Let’s find a plan that fits your personal needs—not your cousin’s!

Conclusion:
No matter what type of health insurance shopper you are, Better Health Consulting is here to help you find the best plan for your unique needs. Whether you’re an Over-Analyzer or a "Just Get It Done" Shopper, we’ve got you covered (literally). Ready to find your perfect plan? Let’s talk!