Messy in the Middle- Episode 6: How to Find Health Insurance As An Entrepreneur with Dr. Noor Ali
Are you lost on how to find health insurance as an entrepreneur? For many of us, thinking about health insurance typically has one of two reactions. Either our eyes just glaze over because it is so boring, and we’re thankful to have health insurance taken care of through a partner, a spouse or our parents; or we instantly feel our blood pressure rise because it is such a frustrating and confusing process. And it seems like no matter what decision we make, we’re probably going to mess something up. If any of this sounds familiar, this episode 6 of the podcast is for you!
The Breakdown
My guest, Dr. Noor Ali, is a medical doctor from New York City, determined to bridge the gap between patients and health insurance services through education, information and empowerment. As a medical doctor and surgeon with a strong clinical background, Dr. Noor has first hand experience with the issues people face with health insurance plans. It was through these experiences and her unique inside lens, that she knew she could help people understand medical insurance and find better solutions for their healthcare coverage.
Dr. Noor currently works with ANYONE and her services are 100% FREE- how’s that for amazing. She specializes in helping individuals find a medically underwritten insurance policy- one that underwrites you based on your health. This option is great for business owners who are growing rapidly, as well as for teams. When your team has 50 or less employees, you have a lot more flexibility in building a plan that suits the needs of each individual team member. Many employers try to go with an insurance plan that they think will suit everyone, but one policy doesn’t fit all. Dr. Noor helps employers build plans that team members will actually love, want, and need that the employer can then budget their contribution to.
Slice of Advice
Whether she’s working with a small business led by one entrepreneur or a larger business with too much money for government subsidies, her main purpose is to guide. The biggest piece of advice she had to offer for individuals on their health insurance hunt: Don’t try to DIY it! Work with a professional! Trying to figure it out on your own, you’ll waste a lot of your valuable time and feel less confident in what you’re choosing. The info you’re going to find online is based on what companies want you to see. By working with a neutral professional, you’ll be led to the right choice for you specifically.
Another note of advice: Constantly reevaluate your plan! You might not have known this, but you can cancel your current insurance at any time if you find something better. With that being said, don’t cancel your current plan if you don’t already have something else lined up! If you miss open enrollment, you may not be able to find something else.
Dr. Noor’s Messy Middle
Enough about the logistics, onto Dr. Noor’s messy middle. She’s been in business for three years now, and noted that learning a new industry is always a challenge. She didn;t learn any of what she knows about insurance from med school, so the learning curve is always present! You might also be asking- if her services are 100% free, where does her income come from? When individuals sign up for plans with the given insurance companies she is recommending, she receives commission directly from the insurance company!
What’s on the horizon for Dr. Noor? One thing she wants to invest in in the future is education for herself in other areas that will only help her grow her business. Whenever she faces a challenge in her business, she turns to the experts- but the experts cost money. By investing in education for herself, she’ll hopefully be able to resolve some of the issues that come with the messy middle herself! She referred to the messy middle in business as a bell curve- if you think you know everything, you’re probably only on the front end of the curve.
Her advice to any entrepreneurs who are looking to branch out: Plan it out! Business can be scary, but once you get the hang of it you’ll never want to turn back- you’ll skyrocket! While that’s amazing and exciting, she recommends taking the time to slow down and plan out your financials and insurance,
You can find Dr. Noor Ali on Instagram, on LinkedIn, and at her website!