The Basics

Health insurance, in this modern world of cancer, heart disease, AIDS,
diabetes, asthma, ageing and other diseases and afflictions, it is essential to
have some sort of health insurance.

There are many levels of health insurance coverage available; unfortunately,
like most things in life, you get what you pay for, and good coverage can be
very expensive.

The two most common terms in referring to health insurance are premium, which
is the amount paid for the insurance, and deductible, which is your
out-of-pocket expense before the insurance pays your provider.

For instance, you might pay $300 premium per month for family coverage, and
your deductible might be $250 per person, which means if you fell and broke
your ankle and went to the hospital emergency room, you would be required to
pay the first $250 of the bill.

You can purchase very basic catastrophic coverage, which would carry a very
high deductible and the premium would be less than comprehensive coverage which
would have a higher premium and lower deductible.

It pays to invest the time to investigate various insurance options, taking
into consideration your age, your general health and the health of your family
members.

Your employer may offer group health insurance, which is most likely the least
expensive option for you, and usually the premium is deducted from your
paycheck.

Health insurance is a calculated risk; can you afford the premiums or are you
willing to risk that you would pay less out of pocket for medical expenses in a
year than the premiums would cost? Consider carefully.

What Happens When I Retire?

Health insurance considerations weigh heavily on the minds of people wanting to
retire before Medicare coverage kicks in at age 65. Many people put off
retirement simply because the cost of an individual health insurance policy is
too great on a limited income.

What options for health insurance do you have if you choose to retire before
age 65? Although they are not required to, you may be able to get COBRA-like
coverage from your employer.

As an added retirement benefit, your employer may allow you to pick up the
premium on your policy; although paying 100% of your premium may initially
appear to be an expensive option, purchasing an individual policy apart from a
group may be even more costly and not provide you with the level of coverage
you previously had.

Some companies are offering basic high-deductible insurance reasonably in the
hopes that they will be able to enroll you in Medicare Part C (supplemental
insurance) when you retire.

Another option is to budget and save money to cover your anticipated medical
costs for the time period between retirement and age 65. If you are in very
good health, this may be a viable alternative for you.

Pre-planning for retirement is an important issue; the earlier you start
planning, the better. Realizing the Medicare does not pay all of your medical
expenses, you should budget money for medical expenses even after retirement.

What if I leave my job?

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), a law created in
1986, gives workers (and members of their family) who lose their health
insurance benefits the right continue their group health insurance for a
limited period of time under circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job
loss, reduction in hours, transition between jobs, divorce, adoption and death.

Generally, the employee pays up to 102% of the premium cost for the same
policy; this is still usually less expensive than buying an individual
insurance policy.

There are three basic aspects for qualifying for COBRA: the qualifying event,
the insurance plan coverage and the qualified person.

Each aspect is taken into consideration when applying for COBRA and you must
elect to either apply for COBRA or waive your rights to COBRA within 14 days
after a qualifying event.

You must also have been in the group insurance plan during your employment to
be eligible. Although there are exceptions, generally you may continue to pay
your own premiums to keep COBRA coverage intact for up to 18 months.

Companies who have fewer than 20 employees, State or Federal employers or
employee organizations may not offer COBRA coverage.

Check with your health insurance administrator to see if you may qualify. You
may also have this information readily available in your group health insurance
policy or in your company handbook.

Although it may be expensive, the cost of being able to keep your group
insurance coverage rate may be well worth it.

Getting the Most Benefit From Your Policy

The key to getting the most benefit from your health insurance policy is
knowing your policy coverage.

Many people don't actually read the policy for the policy plan book; they may
not be aware that the policy may pay 100% of certain procedures, like annual
physicals, mammograms, flu shots or certain labs tests.

The policy plan book will outline for you what procedures are not subject to
the deductible or co-pay (your out-of-pocket expense).

Some insurance companies have shifted their emphasis from health insurance to
health improvement and maintenance and will pay for the cost of gym membership,
nutritional counseling or plans to stop smoking.

If you were trying to lose weight and knew that you could get these services at
no cost, wouldn't you take advantage of them?

If you wanted to quit smoking, wouldn't it be beneficial to know that you could
get the patch for free?

It is very wise to know what services are available to you through your
insurance company, and you will only know if you take the time to read through
your policy.

Health insurance is an expensive item; take advantage of every aspect of it
that you can, not only for yourself but for the members of your family.

By taking full advantage of the free benefits of your health insurance policy,
you will be healthier and possibly require fewer visits to your doctor.

Health Savings Accounts

If you are considering changing your health insurance policy, you should be
aware of the alternative of a Health Savings Account (HCA).

Health Savings Accounts started to become available (and legal) in 2004,
allowing people with high-deductible insurance policies to set aside tax-free
money to fund medical expenses up to the maximum deductible amount.

If you don't have to use the funds, it rolls over every year. Once you reach
age 65, you no longer are required to use it for medical expenses, although you
certainly can; you can withdraw funds under the same conditions as a regular IRA.

Although you will be penalized if you use the funds for non-medical expenses
prior to age 65, you can use the money for vision care, alternative medicine or
treatment and dental care.

For 2008, an individual may fund up to $2,900 tax free. The maximum deductible
would be $1100 and the maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $5,600.

For a family, the maximum tax-free contribution is $5,800 with the maximum
deductible of $2,200 and the maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $11,200.

Health Savings Accounts are certainly a viable way to shelter income while
providing catastrophic insurance coverage in light of the high cost of
low-deductible health insurance plans.

For healthy people, it deserves some research. Consult with your insurance
agent for all of the details involving this approach to managing your insurance
needs.

Prescription Insurance Policies

Some health insurance policies do not provide for prescription coverage and a
separate policy must be purchased for prescription medications.

This is an area where it pays to do some homework and research and find the
best policy for you.

Prescription coverage insurance is not a necessity; like health insurance
coverage, it is a calculated risk, although the risk is not as high.

Usually you can buy prescription insurance at any time, so if the doctor
determines that you need an expensive maintenance drug, you may opt i n at that
time.

It is important to know that if you presently have prescription insurance you
can usually only change it at a specific time of the year, although you can add
new prescriptions, you can't change plans.

The person who seldom takes prescription medications probably does not need
prescription insurance; however, a person who takes maintenance drugs for high
blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart disease or immune disorders most
likely needs insurance against the high costs of drugs.

Prescription insurance policies usually have "tiers", which usually means that
a generic drug is at a low or no co-pay, a tier 2 level may be the brand name
genuine, and a tier 3 may be a brand new expensive drug that the co-pay could
be a set high-percentage of the cost.

In choosing prescription insurance, you should first list the prescriptions
that you take and the retail amount of them. If you chose not to purchase
insurance, this would be your monthly cost.

Find out from the provider what the monthly premium for you would be, then what
the prescription co-pay amount would be and add these two figures together.
Which is the less expensive alternative?

Medicare

Medicare is a governmental program which provides medical insurance coverage
for retired persons over age 65 or for others who meet certain medical
conditions, such as having a disability.

Medicare was signed into legislation in 1965 as an amendment to the Social
Security program and is administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) under the Department of Human Services.

Medicare provides medical insurance coverage for over 43 million Americans,
many of whom would have no medical insurance. While not perfect, the Medicare
program offers these millions of people relatively low cost basic insurance,
but not much in the way of preventative care. For instance, Medicare does not
pay for an annual physical, vision care or dental care.

Medicare is paid for through payroll tax deductions (FICA) equal to 2.9% of
wages; the employee pays half and the employer pays half.

There are four "parts" to Medicare: Part A is hospital coverage, Part B is
medical insurance, Part C is supplemental coverage and Part D is prescription
insurance. Parts C and D are at an added cost and are not required. Neither
Part A nor B pays 100% of medical costs; there is usually a premium, co-pay and
a deductible. Some low-income people quality for Medicaid, which assists in
paying part of or all of the out-of-pocket costs.

Because more people are retiring and become eligible for Medicare at a faster
rate than people are paying into the system, it has been predicted that the
system will run out of money by 2018. Health care costs have risen
dramatically, which adds to the financial woes of Medicare and the system has
bee plagued by fraud over the years.

No one seems to have a viable solution to save this system that saves many
people throughout the country.

Disability Coverage

Disability insurance policies are designed to pay part of your wages should you
be injured in an accident or are unable to work because of illness. Here are two
types of policies available: long-term disability and short-term disability.

Short term disability pays a portion of your wages should you be out of work
due to injury for up to one year. Some employers pay for this benefit for their
employees, some offer it for employees to purchase.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, the time to enroll is during the
initial enrollment period when a medical exam is not required.

Replacement of wages is only partial; insurance underwriters, as well as your
employer, want you back at work as soon as possible. Usually there is a waiting
period of 14 days in which you will not receive payment.

Long term disability policies are purchased to replace what your potential
earnings would be from the time you become disabled until age 65 when Medicare
would be available.

For instance, if you are 55 and make $40,000 per year, you should purchase a
policy for $400,000.

You cannot get a long term disability policy if

(1) you are or are soon to be pregnant,

(2) make less than $18,000 per year,

(3) are unemployed, or

(4) you are required to carry a weapon for your job.

Typically, the waiting period for long-term insurance to kick is at least 60
days and as much as a year.

Disability insurance is an important aspect of your overall insurance coverage
plan, and if your employer offers it as a benefit you should definitely
consider it as a wise investment.

For College Students

The tuition arrangements are set up; the dorm room is assigned and your son or
daughter is headed off to college in the fall. In all of the confusion of the
paperwork, deadlines and financial arrangements did you remember to check on
their health insurance?

Many, but not all, insurance companies provide for health insurance for college
students under a family policy; do you know for sure that yours does?

With some insurance companies, coverage depends on whether or not the student
is a full time student. Review your policy or ask your insurance administrator;
if you have an HMO plan, will your student be covered if they go to the student
healthcare facility away from home?

Check the age limit as well; you may find that once your son or daughter
reaches a certain age they are dropped from the policy no matter what.

Ask your insurance company to provide an extra insurance card for your son or
daughter to carry with them; if there is an additional card for prescription
medications; make sure they have that too.

This preventative step will help eliminate confusion when they suddenly have to
see a doctor.

There are student health care plans that are available through most colleges
that are a reasonably priced alternative if your policy excludes your child.

Isn't college confusing enough without having to worry about whether your child
is covered should he or she need to seek medical attention? Take the time to
look into health insurance before they head off to college in the fall.

The Importance of Keeping Good Files

As in everything that involves money, it is important to keep good records of
your medical expenses for many reasons.

Keeping track of deductibles, especially for a family, can be time consuming,
but is an important task. Every policy has different deductibles for lab work,
hospital emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor visits and x-rays, and
it is often difficult to track.

Keeping track of your out-of-pocket expenses becomes very important when it
comes time to complete your taxes. It also comes in handy to know what your
expenses are for medical care when choosing to change companies or policies.

A file folder that includes a copy of the policy, copies of your medical bills
and copies of what your insurance company has paid on those bills is usually
all you will need.

When a bill comes for a provider, you will usually receive a statement from
your insurance company showing what portion of the bill they paid, and many
times providers write off the remainder, if it is not a large sum.

If you visit several doctors, you may want to have a file folder for each
doctor or provider.

Insurance companies do occasionally make mistakes, but they are usually on top
of their game. Having a copy of the policy handy makes it easy to check
deductible levels and whether a particular service is covered or not.

It also serves as a ready resource for telephone numbers, website information
and your contact at the insurance company.

Healthcare for Long-term Patients: Is this Insurance Right for You?

Long-term care insurance is not right for everyone. For a small percentage of
the population this coverage is an affordable and worthwhile type of insurance.
Determining whether or not long-term care insurance is right for you won't be
the only task at hand; looking for scams will also be a concern.

As you get older, the need for assistance in your everyday life increases.
Whether it is in-home care or residing in a nursing home for a few months you
will most likely need some way to pay for these types of services. In order to
maintain long-term care insurance you must pay for them each and every year
until death. Many policies are canceled by policyholders that are on fixed
incomes and are simply unable to pay for the increasing premiums as they get
older. If the only funds you are receiving were those from Social Security or
SSI, then it would be wise to not purchase a policy. Also, if you find that
every day purchases and paying for utilities makes you stretch your budget to
the limit, you probably should stay clear of this policy. This type of policy
is only right for someone who has significant assets they want to preserve for
their family, remain independent, or just to spare their family the expense of
a nursing home bill.

Comparing policies can prove to be difficult because every company is selling a
different combination of benefits and coverage. Many companies offer to pay a
fixed amount for each day you receive care, while others will cover a
percentage of the overall cost of care or supply a specified amount. Beware of
these types of policies unless they offer inflation protection. You see, if
they do not account for the increasing cost of nursing home costs, then you are
stuck with a policy that really does you no good.

Just like a standard healthcare plan, you will have to receive services at
designated locations. If you go outside of this network they will simply refuse
to pay for any care that you receive. If you have any type of mental disease or
nervous disorder then don't expect many carriers to accept you (the one
exception is Alzheimer's). There are more restrictions in this type of
insurance than any other health insurance.

If this type of policy is right for you, please make sure that the company is
reputable. There are many individuals who thrive on the fact that not many
people will make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing long-term
health insurance. Be sure to read the fine print and find out everything you
can about the policy before committing to a company and a long-term health
insurance plan.

Say Cheese: Dental Benefits

Dental insurance is often an afterthought when obtaining health insurance for a
number of reasons. Some people may simply dislike the dentist and use the lack
of dental insurance as a reason to not visit the dentist; others may feel that
dental insurance is not worth the added cost to their monthly health insurance
premium. Still others may simply feel that their teeth are in good shape and
there is little need to spend the extra money to cover a part of their body
that does not currently have any problems. Nevertheless, dental insurance is
important because of several benefits.

When people think of the cost of dental work or procedures, they often think of
costly bills. Even simple procedures like getting your wisdom teeth removed can
average in the hundreds of dollars per tooth! However, one obvious benefit to
dental insurance is the coverage of simple but costly dental procedures such as
getting a tooth removed. In the end, the slight increase in a monthly premium
may be worth it to avoid a high dental bill. Moreover, dental insurance also
helps financially if a dental emergency develops. Perhaps you are in need of a
root canal or dental implants -- both extremely costly procedures that you
often do not anticipate. Dental insurance will most likely cover a portion, if
not all of these expensive procedures.

Also, while many feel that brushing and flossing daily is all the dental care
they need this is simply not true -- even for young, healthy adults. Dental
disease is common and can affect your body in a number of ways. For instance,
some dental diseases left untreated can lead to more serious medical issues
such as kidney infections or even diabetes. Most people do now know of the
connection between dental diseases and other illnesses. Thus, having dental
insurance that covers routine visits to the dentist, which can help uncover
dental diseases early, is extremely important. Dental insurance is designed to
encourage preventative care, because spotting dental diseases or dental
problems early reduces the overall cost of treatment.

Dental insurance may seem like just another gimmick to get a few more dollars
out of you, but it is essential for your health. Your regular health insurance
plan, whether it is through your employer as a group plan or an individual
plan, should offer you the option of buying dental insurance coverage, and you
should consider this piece of the plan thoroughly when purchasing health
insurance.

Protection during the Golden Years: Health Insurance and Retirement

Health insurance for retirees or senior citizens can be confusing, especially
with so many options and requirements. However, health insurance is crucial for
retirees. As you grow older, your health obviously becomes more of an issue; you
may visit the doctor more, need to fill more prescriptions, or even receive
in-home care. Before you retire, prepare for health insurance to ensure that
you receive the best benefits.

The first step in planning your health insurance coverage in your retirement is
to see if your employer offers insurance coverage after you retire. If the
company does, you should certainly consider it. Look at the plan, the
deductible, and the coverage. Many near-retirees believe that Medicare will
cover their medical payments, but this is not always the case. With this sort
of coverage, you will most likely receive better health care but at a more
expensive cost. As a retiree, you will certainly have a health insurance budget
to maintain, and you will have to decide if the cost of your employer's
insurance is too expensive.

If your employer does not offer coverage, Medicare will be an important and
integral part of your health insurance if you are 65 years of age or older.
Medicare works like traditional health insurance plans in that you have been
contributing a small portion of every paycheck you earn into this plan. Once
Medicare begins, you will make co-payments for office visits or treatment.
Medicare will also cover the expense of certain medical equipment or needs.

However, Medicare did not cover a number of items that are typical of health
insurance. The government recently updated Medicare and divided it into three
parts: Part A, B, and C. Part A covers hospital care, such as home health care,
hospital stays, and hospice care. This part does not require a premium. Part B
covers the more routine medical expenses, such as office visits and laboratory
tests, while Part C enrolls you into a fee-for-service or managed care plan
that reduces your out-of-pocket costs. Despite these different options,
Medicare restricts your coverage by not covering certain kinds of care or
illnesses and diseases. Thus, there is also Medigap coverage, which helps fill
in the gaps in health insurance that Medicare leaves. Medigap coverage differs
from state to state and has different payments.

Beyond Medicare and Medigap, there are also long-term care insurance plans that
you can buy. You often see these plans advertised on the television at very low
prices. These plans can help cover the costs of a nursing home or home health
care. With so many different options and limitations, if you are retiring soon,
you should take a look at your budget and what you can afford as well as what
sort of coverage you feel you will need.

The Importance of Good Records

Keeping your own records of any medical care that you and your immediate family
have received is the only way to be sure that your insurance and bills are free
from mistakes. It may seem unimportant now, but later in life when you try to
get life insurance or get treatment that is appropriate for you, the importance
will be in the spotlight. Everything from your allergies to your payment records
with medical facilities can hurt you if they are wrong in your report. You could
be given improper treatment or even denied treatment at all. By keeping your own
records, you can dispute anything that is false.

Would you believe that you could be denied a job because of something erroneous
on your medical records? It is true; if you are reported to have a disability,
whether it is true or not, you could be turned down. You would be labeled as a
risk, especially if the company offers insurance; they would know that you are
going to cost more money to employ. The same goes
for applying for health insurance where your medical records show that you
would require prescription drugs, doctor visits, and increased chance of
emergencies. It is quite the ordeal if you do in fact have a disability, but
imaging if you did not have one at all-you would be turned down for insurance,
while also being completely ineligible for disability financial help.

An example of a mistake that could be made on your record would be a diagnosis
error. Perhaps you request that your doctor check a suspicious lump in your
breast. On the first visit he may suspect that it is cancer. Most people will
get a second opinion or go for a more thorough conclusive examination. If the
second doctor decides that it is only a cyst and has it removed, your personal
records would show that you are cancer-free. However, if this visit was
documented incorrectly, or not at all, you may have trouble getting insured and
not know why. If you had a record of the second visit that found the cyst, this
situation would be easily disputed and your record would be accurate.

Human error is simply a part of life, even on medical documents. It is
important to always keep your own records so that insurance companies get
accurate information about you and your health condition. If you are being
turned down for insurance and do not know why, you are best advised to be sure
that you are not being misrepresented within your medical records. This problem
can be cleared up quickly and easily if you are responsible enough to keep your
own personal records.

Traveling Alternative Roads: Other Options for Health Care

Health insurance can be expensive if you are not lucky enough to have it
provided by your employer. Even shopping around for the best quotes may not be
within your budget. Luckily there are alternatives to health insurance that you
can take advantage of so that you and your family will be safe even if an
emergency situation comes up. You can apply for the prescription discount card
program, which is a low monthly cost and works at most of the of corporation
drug stores that we all use. There are also programs that give you health care
but are not considered "health insurance".

The prescription discount card is great for anyone who has regular
prescriptions that need to be filled over a long period of time. The cost of
prescriptions without insurance is high and always rising. If you cannot afford
health insurance, there is no way that buying these full priced prescriptions
will come without difficulty. You can enroll in a discount card program on the
Internet or you can call around to try and find one locally. The reported
savings for each person is estimated to be at least 50%, and some programs will
enroll you for under $5 a month.

Health care programs are another popular alternative to expensive health
insurance. BeniCard, for example, is a highly acclaimed health care program,
and for a small monthly fee, you can have your immediate family covered. You
will not be turned down because there is no limit to who is eligible, even if
you have a pre-existing condition. It is not health insurance, but you will be
able to save money on doctor visits, vision and hearing care, dental services,
and prescription drugs. This is just one of the programs that can help you if
you cannot get health insurance due to expense or because you have been turned
down due to an illness.

No one should go without health care of some sort. Prescriptions are extremely
costly without insurance, and if you or someone in your family has an emergency
health situation, you could be left with a large debt for years. Insurance
companies are hesitant to accept anyone with a pre-existing illness because it
will definitely cost them plenty of money. For anyone who has been turned down
for health insurance or simply cannot afford to pay a deductible, health care
programs and prescription discounts are a low-cost alternative that could save
you money.

What are HIPAA Laws?

Your visit to the doctor now contains a page where you sign that you
acknowledge that the physician's office has notified you about their compliance
with HIPAA laws. More often than not, you probably read through quickly or
barely skim the authorization form before signing it. However, HIPAA laws are
important, and they are in place to protect you from identity theft, being
denied care, and/or health insurance coverage.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,
enacted in 1996. HIPAA laws created a new national standard in protecting your
health information. As you see different physicians or become admitted to
different hospitals, your health information should follow you. HIPAA
delineates the need to properly protect your health information as it flows
through to these different channels. As more and more transactions are
completed electronically these days, HIPAA laws focus on the protection of your
health information specifically through these channels.

So what does HIPAA protect? For you, HIPAA protects personally identifiable
health information, such as your Social Security number, birth date, address,
etc., as well as current, past, or even future physical and/or mental
conditions or treatment. Such information may not be disclosed except for
specific uses. Information that HIPAA does not cover must specifically be
personally non-identifiable. In protecting this sort of information, there is
more protection against identity theft and more recourse if such a thing should
happen.

HIPAA also protects how health insurance providers may use your health
information. These entities may use your information without your authorization
only if they are sending you information, using this information to provide the
best treatment or health care, or collecting payment on medical expenses, among
other things. If disclosure of your health information does not fall under these
categories, you must authorize the transfer of information in writing.
Furthermore, because the government understands that highly technical language
can be a barrier in understanding your health information privacy rights, any
authorization must be in plain language.

This may all seem like unnecessary paperwork, but beyond identity theft, HIPAA
laws also help those looking for health insurance coverage. Title 1 of the
HIPAA laws oversees the availability and range of health insurance plans for
those without perfect health. It outlaws any health insurance plan from
creating discriminatory rules to create premium rates or deny coverage. HIPAA
laws are quite extensive, but this gives you a look at how your health
information is being protected and used. Your department of health should be
able to give you further information, or you can search the government's Web
site for the entire HIPAA law.

Advantages to Indemnity Health Insurance Plans

Indemnity health insurance plans are more regularly known as traditional health
insurance plans. These health insurance plans can be costly but often cover most
health problems that may arise, while other insurance plans exclude some
illnesses or diseases from their coverage. Some disadvantages to indemnity
plans are that they do not usually cover preventative health care like
physicals, and traditional health insurance plans often cover only a percentage
of your bill. Research the advantages and disadvantages to indemnity health
insurance when you are considering health insurance options.

While the disadvantages may seem problematic, there are many advantages to
indemnity health insurance plans. You may have a higher monthly premium and you
may need to pay upfront costs and submit claims paperwork, but your deductible
will be more manageable and your coverage will be wider. Some health insurance
plans will not cover certain medical expenses or care, but indemnity plans
often do.

Another benefit of indemnity health insurance plans that many people desire is
the freedom to choose your own physician. While other health insurance plans
offered by the insurance industry limit your choice of physicians and hospitals
to a list of preferred providers, indemnity insurance will cover any physician
or hospital. This benefit may seem unworthy of mention, but there has been more
than one instance where a mother finds that her son or daughter's pediatrician
is not in their preferred provider network and has to search for another
pediatrician. This also means that you can see a specialist without having to
consult with your primary care physician first.

Overall, indemnity health insurance plans also offer you the best emergency
medical coverage in the industry. While preferred provider organizations (PPOs)
or point-of-service (POS) plans limit the physician you can see to a list of
network physicians and hospitals, the freedom of choosing any physician is
nationwide with indemnity health insurance plans. This means that if you are
traveling across the country and have an accident or a medical emergency, you
can go to the nearest hospital or see the closest physician without worrying
about the expense. There have been instances where hospitals or physicians will
either refuse to treat patients or treat them only minimally because the
hospital or physician is not inside the plan's preferred provider network --
meaning that the patient's health insurance will only cover a small part of the
expense and the patient is liable to pay the rest of the bill. This is a risky
financial situation for the physician and/or hospital since patients are often
unable to fully pay costly medical bills. With indemnity health insurance
plans, this is almost never the case. Consider this and the other benefits of
indemnity health insurance when choosing the plan that is right for you.

Advantages to Managed Care Plans

There are many different types of Health insurance plans out there. Picking the
right one for yourself can be troublesome in the beginning, especially if you
don't know what you are looking for. You might have trouble deciding which one
would be better for you.

Health insurance is divided into two large categories-indemnity and managed
care plans. Indemnity plans, also commonly called reimbursement plans, will
reimburse your medical expenses up to a certain limit. Under the Reimbursement
plan, the insurer pays a percentage of the total charges, regardless of how
much the charges are. With the indemnity plan, the insurer will pay a specified
amount every day for a specified number of days. The amount reimbursed does not
rely on the cost of medical care, but what you are reimbursed will never exceed
your expenses.

The other popular type of health insurance plans is managed care plans. The
three types of policies categorized as managed care plans are HMOs, POSs, and
PPOs. This type of insurance is more popular than the indemnity plan, as they
offer more flexibility. With these types of options you either pay a monthly
fee no matter how many times you see a doctor, or pay a co-payment but no
monthly fee. With managed care plans, you are given options of care. The plan
you choose and the amount of money you wish to pay determines how big of a
network of doctors and specialists you can see and still be covered under the
plan. Some managed car plans (most often PPOs) offer sponsorship programs from
a network of hospitals and medical services. You can often get this kind of
plan through your employer.

Managed healthcare plans are better for the average person due to the fact that
they are more cost effective. While indemnity plans may give you a lot more
freedom in cost, you will have to use the healthcare provider that the insurer
chooses. If you have a specific disability, this can present itself as a
problem. In the long run, a managed care plan will save you money, especially
if emergencies arise when you are out of town. These types of plans also are
more flexible in policy. Before you purchase any kind of health insurance, be
sure to research the many options available for you and your family to ensure
you receive the best coverage possible for the lowest monthly premium or
deductible.

Do You Need A College Health Insurance Plan?

When you are finally done with your high school education, there is no doubt
that you'll be enrolling into a college. Many times when a child reaches the
age of 20, they are no longer covered by their parents' insurance and this can
lead to a troubling situation if they are not working and just strictly going
to college. However, many colleges offer health insurance plans. Whether one of
these insurance plans are right for you or not takes a lot of deliberation.

College health insurance benefits are going to vary from campus to campus.
Although many people think that they are free, this is not true. While there is
usually no charge for an office visit and routine checkups, the student will
have to pay for lab work and other specialist type of visits. Benefits will
usually pay completely for only types of covered services at the campus health
center. In the event that you have to see an outside doctor then the student's
coverage can drop up to 70% and run the risk of being required to pay a high
deductible.

If you have a pre-existing condition, then you may have a problem with getting
treatment at the college health center. Having a pre-existing illness or
disability does not mean that you will be disqualified for obtaining a college
health insurance plan, but you may not be able to get treatment for that
pre-existing illness. This can lead to a number of problems if a new problem
arises and is a product of a pre-existing illness.

All plans are different, so be sure you find out everything you can about your
college's plan. Be sure to check if you or your child will be covered during
summer break when students are not taking classes. This is important because
you don't want to have an accident and find out that the insurance becomes
inactive when they are not in class. Many colleges have coverage during summer
break, but some do not.

Make sure you understand the plan. Is it an HMO, or can the member use any
provider they want? This is just as important because you want to know where
you can go in the event of an emergency, and there is nothing worse than
finding out after the fact that you will be stuck with paying the full amount
for a medical bill.

There really is no definitive answer as to whether you should or shouldn't
commit to getting college health insurance. Be sure that you understand your
plan fully so that no problems can arise in the event of an emergency. While it
is not free insurance, it surely will save you money in the event of an accident
or illness.

For the In-between Times: Short-term Health Insurance

When people think of health insurance, they think of traditional health
insurance, with office visits, co-payments, and prescription drug coverage.
However, such health insurance is not always available. Perhaps you are
transitioning from one job to another; or maybe you are employed part-time or
with a temporary agency that does not offer full health coverage; or you might
be attending or just graduating from school. In these situations, traditional
health insurance is sometimes not available. If you are unable to afford
traditional health insurance but would like some coverage in the case of an
accident or emergency, short-term health insurance is your best bet.

Short-term health insurance fills the gap in health insurance coverage that may
come about for a number of different reasons, including those listed above. The
idea of short-term health insurance is built into the name -- it is a
short-term solution offering short-term coverage, with the expectation that at
some point, you will begin or resume traditional health insurance coverage. It
is designed for those who would like some coverage in case of accident or
injury and covers only emergency or serious medical expenses, such as x-rays,
ambulance fees, intensive care, and a certain amount of hospital care. Though
policies vary, these are often standard in short-term health insurance
coverage. However, short-term health insurance does not cover regular physician
visits, nor do they cover pre-existing conditions. If you are looking for this
sort of coverage, you should consider obtaining a traditional health insurance
policy or looking into other options.

Short-term health insurance costs vary greatly; you will have a monthly
premium, ranging anywhere from $25 to $100, depending upon the plan's coverage
and deductible, which often begins at $250 and can increase to $5,000. Most
policies these days also offer a reasonable pay-out amount (often one or two
million dollars). Policies allow you to choose coverage for specific lengths of
time, from 30 days to 90 days or six months, but almost no short-term policies
extend past one year.

How do you find short-term health insurance? It is not as difficult as it may
seem. A simple Internet search will yield a number of companies that offer
short-term health insurance coverage. Searching online will also give you the
opportunity to compare different companies and different plans. Just be sure to
research each of the policies carefully to understand your maximum pay-out as
well as deductibles, coverage, and other terms of the agreement.

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance for You

With so many different types of health insurance plans and restrictions out
there, it can be difficult finding the best health insurance for you. However,
this process is not impossible to do well with a little research. There are a
few items to look for when deciding on health insurance plans, and by
considering them all you can make a good decision for yourself and your family
about health insurance.

The most important thing to look for is coverage. More often than not,
insurance will cover physician visits and fees. Your health insurance should
also cover hospital expenses such as room and board in case you are kept
overnight or longer for observation or treatment. Good health insurance should
also cover surgeries and any expenses associated with surgical treatment.
Beyond these typical items of coverage, health insurance plans can diverge
greatly. To really understand what coverage you would utilize and which plan
would save you the most money, you will need to make a list of items that you
want covered in an insurance plan. For instance, do you have glasses or
contacts? Then you may be more interested in a plan that covers vision --
either paying for your eye exam and/or partially paying for your glasses or
contacts. Though many people think that health insurance covers prescriptions,
prescription coverage is actually an optional benefit. If you know that you
often have prescription drugs to fill, finding insurance that offers
prescription coverage may be a must. If you are a woman and plan on having or
want to have children, maternity care or family planning services are also
optional benefits that you may want to consider. Once you make this must-have
list of optional coverage, you can begin looking for health insurance plans
that give you the opportunity to add these optional benefits.

Another item you should definitely consider is if your current physicians or
specialists are included in the health insurance company's preferred provider
network or if you have the opportunity to choose any physician (often the case
only with indemnity or traditional health insurance plans). If you would like
the freedom to choose your own doctor, traditional health insurance plans or
preferred provider organizations may offer more attractive plans -- though
these also cost a little more.

Lastly, consider price. After researching different coverage plans and
physician requirements, compare deductibles and monthly premiums to find the
best deal. Often, you can get group rates through your employer, or you may
find that artist organizations (for freelance artists) offer health care plans.
By researching price, as well as other health insurance options, you can make
the best choices for your family.

Easy as 1-2-3: Obtaining Health Insurance

Many people are often concerned about obtaining health insurance. They are
confused about their options or about how to obtain the best health insurance
for them or their family. There are several ways to obtain health insurance,
though, and some of them are not always obvious, but can be quite easy in the
end.

Health insurance is commonly obtained through an employer. Nearly all employers
these days offer some sort of "group" health insurance plan for employees. The
term "group" simply denotes that there is a large group of people on the plan,
which decreases the cost of the monthly premium for all members. These plans
can cover yourself, your spouse, and your family, depending on the specific
policy. Covering more than just yourself obviously increases your monthly
premium, but the ability to cover your family inexpensively is a huge benefit.
To obtain group health insurance through your employer, you should contact your
human resources department or whoever is in charge of benefits in your company.
You should be able to buy into the group health insurance plan at any time
during your employment.

If you leave an employer who offers group health insurance without first
finding other coverage, you can also use the COBRA law with your previous
employer's health insurance coverage. COBRA is a government act that allows you
to continue coverage under your previous employer, though at a more expensive
rate. If you had coverage for your entire family, COBRA will allow you to
continue this full coverage for a certain period of time.

There are several million people in the United States who are unable to
participate in any group health insurance plans, however. Health insurance
companies do offer individual plans for those who do not have coverage through
their employer, are self-employed, or are ineligible for government health
insurance assistance, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Individual health insurance
plans are more often than not very expensive in relation to group health
insurance plans. These plans can also cover family members and spouses for
additional costs. Finding individual health plans is not difficult. Almost all
health insurance companies offer individual plans; you can now search online
for individual health insurance plans. Some Web sites even allow you to compare
pricing and details of plans offered in your area -- much like shopping for car
insurance.

There is also federal health assistance available depending on certain
criteria. If you are over the age of 65 or if you have a disability or specific
condition (detailed by the government), you are eligible for Medicare. Medicaid
is another government health insurance program that is based on income.
Overall, it is simply important to be covered, no matter how you go about doing
it. Research your options of coverage and speak with a professional to find out
more about the health insurance options available to you.

Disability Insurance

We all know how important typical health insurance is, but did you know that
disability insurance is just as important? In the event that you are hurt on
the job, and cannot work, disability insurance will give you peace of mind-you
will still able to provide for your family. While we would like to think that
we always work safely, accidents do happen and you need to be sure that you
have every angle covered in the event of an accident. If you become ill or
injured on the job and as a result you are unable to return to work, there are
a couple of options that will replace lost income. These types of disability
insurance are not going to fully replace your income because they want you to
have an incentive for returning back to work once you get well.

Social Security benefits are paid to you when your disability is expected to
last for at least 12 months. Most of the time this is when no gainful
employment can occur and you must remain out of work for the entire duration of
your leave. Employer-paid disability is required by almost every state in the
United States. This type of disability insurance is deducted from your
paycheck, and is there for you in the event of an accident. When you are
looking at disability insurance policies, it is important to understand what
they mean. While the two available policies are both for disability, they both
cover a different amount of time you will be covered, and when you will start
receiving your compensation.

A short-term disability policy means that you will be covered for no longer
than 2 years. With this policy you may have to wait up to 14 days before you
start receiving compensation. A long-term disability policy is a little
different. The disability compensation will not kick in for several weeks,
sometimes a couple of months. However, long-term disability will cover you for
a longer period of time, and sometimes for the rest of your life.

Along with having the two different types of insurance policies, there are also
two different protection features. Protection is offered to you to ensure that
you are not going to be treated unfairly due to your inability to work.
Non-cancelable means that for no reason other than not paying your premiums can
your policy be canceled. With this type of policy you will lock in your premium
and will not risk a decrease in the benefits. On the other hand, a guaranteed
renewable policy means that the same benefits will be available every year. The
only way that your premium will be increased is if every policyholder within the
same rating class as yourself increases also.

While there are many options when choosing disability insurance as well, these
are the most popular selections. It is important to discuss all available
options when choosing a disability insurance policy to ensure that you know
what you will receive in the event of an accident or illness. Research your
options to find the best choice for you and your family.

Always on the Hunt for Knowledge: Information Sources on Health Insurance

Health insurance can be confusing, especially if it is your first time shopping
around with different providers. Terms such as deductible, co-payments, and
pre-existing conditions can be confusing if you do not know what they really
mean. There are many ways to find out more about health insurance so that you
are as knowledgeable as possible. You could talk to a health insurance company
who can give you an explanation and also an example to further your
understanding. The Internet is also a great informational tool when you have
any questions regarding information that you need to know about health
insurance.

Logically, you would assume that the experts at the insurance company would be
able to answer any questions that you have about terminology and any other
queries that you have. The best way to get in touch with them is to simply call
your provider and ask any questions that you have, no matter how general or
specific. They are there to help you, and this should be your primary concern.
Think about it-if an agent isn't helpful with your preliminary questions, just
how helpful will he or she be if you need to settle a claim? If you get your
health insurance through the company that you work for, there is usually a
person in charge of handling any questions. Usually their title is "benefits
administrator" and you would go to them with any questions regarding your
health insurance plan, such as adding a spouse or children to your plan.

For answers to general questions such as terminology confusion, an Internet
search engine can point you straight to your answer. This is a great options
available to anyone who does not want to call their health insurance company
just for a couple of simple questions. There may be information that you had
overlooked in the past when you quickly skimmed through your policy. Your
specific provider may have a web site where you can get facts about anything,
including anything that you may not have been clear on regarding any additional
benefits they offer. You can read all of the literature available at your own
pace and on your own time.

If you would like to know more about health insurance, rest assured that there
is a lot of information out there. You could make a call to your current
provider and ask away on any questions that you have. For those who would
prefer to learn the ins-and-outs of insurance at their own pace, the Internet
has limitless information that is available to you at any time of day. Health
insurance can be complicated at first, but the more you know the better off you
will be.

Attract Employees: Group Health Insurance

Many small business owners know that in order for them to be successful they
must offer an incentive to recruit employees to work for them. This can be any
number of things, but most often it is the benefit of offering group health
insurance. While this could be an excellent strategy for your small business to
take in order to recruit new employees, there are a few things that you must
know first before you dive into selecting a plan. Research group insurance
policies thoroughly before choosing one for your company.

A group health insurance plan can be obtained by any small business that has as
little as two employees to as many as fifty. There are two ways you can go about
supplying the health insurance to your employees; this will mainly be decided by
your own budget. Many small businesses that offer group health insurance help
contribute towards the cost of the plan. On the other hand if an employee wants
to have coverage for their families, the employer might offer to pay the
employees' premiums and have them pay the premium for their families.

Another aspect of the group health insurance plan will be deciding between
managed care or fee-for-service. Managed care plans include Health Maintenance
Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), or Point of Service
plan (POS).

An HMO will significantly reduce the cost that your members will have to pay
for medical care as long as they use the providers specified by the HMO. A PPO
will not require a referral in order for them to see a specialist. While the
PPO is more flexible it will bring higher costs to the per-visit and annual
deductibles. The POS plans are basically a combination of the features that you
will find in an HMO and PPO. Members get to decide whether to pay a flat fee for
offices in the network, or pay a deductible charge to see someone out of
network. The fee-for-service plan gives the employee the power to select health
care providers themselves. This means that they will have way more flexibility
with where they can go for medical assistance.

Adding an appealing Group Health insurance plan to your business could
potentially bring you more employees. This is just the basic information about
Group Health insurance; there are many options to consider when choosing a
plan. Be sure to investigate all options to create the best plan for your
employees.

Affordable Health Insurance for the Unemployed

Being unemployed can be a financial downside to say the least. You may be
dependant on someone else to cover your daily expenses such as a place to live
and food to eat. Health insurance is something that everyone needs and not
enough people have available because of these other financial burdens. Any
emergency such as a car accident or broken bone will require adequate medical
assistance. What do you do when you don't have insurance and can't afford
expensive medical bills? If you are unemployed, you need to find health
insurance to prevent this from happening.

COBRA is a law in which many people could be eligible to remain on an
employer's health insurance plan even after they lose their employment. The
most ideal person for this coverage is someone who is between jobs and is not
in need of long-term help. It can last at least a year to those who qualify,
but the premium amount is still an expense that some unemployed individuals may
not be able to take care of with their lack of income. If you are able to pay
the premium and are eligible, COBRA will also cover your spouse and children
who are dependent on you for insurance. The best way to determine if you could
receive health insurance is to contact your local employer's benefits
department and fill out the required forms.

You can also shop around for typical health insurance. Many free Internet
services are proven reliable by the Better Business Bureau Online. By speaking
with one of these insurance experts, you can get help finding the most
affordable health insurance that will fit your specific needs. They know the
rates of thousands of insurance companies and can fix you up with appropriate
coverage for your specific needs. If you have a spouse or children, having
health coverage is a necessity. Life is full of unexpected events and you
cannot ensure that everyone will stay completely healthy until you have
insurance again because accidents do happen. Finding an affordable coverage
rate on your own can be a hassle. The experts at these companies are offering
their assistance to you, often as a free service. Whether you need to find
something short-term or for an extended period, they are qualified and
dedicated to helping you.

If you find yourself unemployed at any time in your life, you are probably
without health insurance. This can be a nightmare whether you have a family or
not because medical expenses can put you into debt quickly. Luckily, there are
ways of finding affordable coverage providers that can keep your health, as
well as your finances, safe. A simple doctor visit can cost you significantly
more money than it would with insurance. Do not let yourself become one of the
many people who are unfortunately living life without proper insurance coverage.

Ways of Paying for Health Insurance

When it comes to health insurance, many people don't exactly know everything
that there is to know about the subject. That only stands to reason, it is not
something that is easily understood because of its complexity. For instance,
when you visit the doctor you may be asked to pay something that is called the
"co-pay", and other times you may not have to do anything at all depending on
your plan. Let's look at some of the ways that health insurance is paid for.

Often times, your employer will sponsor your insurance and you only have to pay
what is known as a "co-pay" or co payment. The co-pay is a set amount that is
determined by your insurance company when you receive covered services. This is
a significantly smaller fee than you would be paying without the co-pay. Many
companies offer this type of payment option because it is easier on the
employee to pay this way.

You may consider opening what is known as a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA).
This will assure that you always have a location in which to retrieve payments
for various medical expenses. The HSA is a pre-tax savings account where a
portion of your pre-tax income, determined by you, is deposited into an account
automatically. Since this account comes from your paycheck pre-tax, that means
it will lower your overall taxable income. This means you are saving money in
terms of taxes and saving lots of money towards your overall health care costs.

For certain disabled individuals and those above the age of 65, Medicare is
also another way to pay for health insurance. While they will not pay all of
your healthcare expenses, they will pay for most of them. Medicare, however,
doesn't cover prescription drugs and nursing homes. It is important that you
check the different types of restrictions that may apply. There are low-cost
prescription discount cards that have been proven to save people who require
costly medications on a regular basis over 50% of what they would have been
paying without any health care.

Paying for health insurance doesn't have to be complicated as long as you
understand just what is going on in terms of where you stand with your plan.
Discuss any questions you may have about the plan before committing to one.
While one plan may be right for many people, it does not always mean that it
will fit your specific needs.

Stay Legal! Avoiding Insurance Fraud

Everyone knows that the health insurance industry is continually raising
monthly premiums, and many feel this is unjust to you as the consumer. However,
the health insurance industry has had to fight increasing health insurance
fraud. The amount of money spent on investigating and prosecuting fraud is then
passed on to policyholders. Many people do not understand what health insurance
fraud entails, though. With reports estimating health insurance fraud is a $30
billion to over $100 billion industry per year, the topic should not be taken
lightly. Every health insurance policyholder should understand what health
insurance fraud is and its consequences. By doing so, you are more able to
recognize and fight fraud.

Health insurance fraud is typically defined as intentionally deceiving,
misrepresenting, or concealing information to receive benefits from the
insurance company. Essentially this means that you assert that you paid for
certain medical procedures or expenses out-of-pocket which you have not
actually received, and you are submitting claims to the insurance company to
receive reimbursement. Another example of member fraud is to conceal
pre-existing conditions or to alter medical documents so that non-policyholders
or ineligible members receive medical benefits under your policy. Perhaps your
sister does not have insurance and needs medical attention. Having her use your
name and policy to cover the expenses is health insurance fraud. While you may
think that this is a small issue in comparison to your sister receiving
treatment, it is actually very serious to your health insurance company and
industry, and will result in fines and possible imprisonment if your are caught.

Not only policyholders commit fraud, but providers (physicians, hospitals,
etc.) do as well. Since physicians and hospitals bill the insurance company for
services they provide for you, they are also receiving reimbursement from the
insurance company. When providers commit fraud, they may be billing the
insurance company at higher rates for services rendered or they may bill for
services you never received. In these cases, you will probably be asked to
cooperate in the insurance company's investigation.

Another type of health insurance fraud that has developed recently targets the
policyholder more than the insurance company. Schemes have developed where fake
insurance companies or agents sign unsuspecting customers for coverage at
surprisingly low premium rates. They often act much like a regular insurance
company for the first few months, paying for smaller medical claims like
physicians visits. But once you have a more serious medical condition that
needs treatment, the insurance company will disappear -- along with the money
you have been paying in premiums.

The rule with health insurance fraud is much like that of any other scam: if a
deal seems too good to be true, just remember -- it probably is. Remember to be
honest in your dealings with health insurance companies and expect the same in
the return from these companies, as well as your health care providers. Stay
legal to avoid fines and prison and to continue receiving health insurance
coverage.

Something Old, Sometime New: Insurance When You are Getting Married

Health insurance providers are not created equal. Before a couple is married,
the option of sharing coverage is extremely unusual unless one of your insurers
offers domestic partner insurance. As you become engaged, if you both have
separate insurance it is important to talk about the both of you switching to
the better plan once you are married. There are a few factors consider, which
include deductibles, co-payments, and the benefits of each separate plan.
Marriage is a big step, and it can be done with ease if the two of you settle
important decisions such as your health insurance plan before you take the big
leap.

Your deductible is the amount you must pay each year to start your policy. Once
this payment is made you will be responsible for whatever amount of co-payment
your insurance company requires for you to pay for the health expenses that are
covered in your particular policy. The amount of co-payments that you will be
responsible for is established at the time you agree to your health insurance
policy. It is going to be a certain percentage of health expenses; for
instance, you pay 10% while your insurer will be paying the other 90%. You and
your fiance should compare both of your plans and figure out which deductible
and co-payment plan seems most appropriate for the two of you.

Married couples are usually eligible for certain benefits that unmarried
couples are not. Being insured separately by the health care provider sponsored
by your employers may no longer be the most beneficial option for you. If you or
your fiance has insurance, and the other does not, once the two of you are
married they can be added to the other partner's plan. Cost of adding an
additional person is definitely something that should be examined. You should
not be required to pay more for adding a spouse or even a child in the future
because most plans are offered to immediate family at no extra cost. The best
way to compare policies is to estimate a yearly amount of normal health
expenses, emergencies, co-payments, and deductibles. Whichever plan has the
lowest cost to you will almost always be the best choice.

In addition to sharing health insurance with your new spouse, you may also want
to consider switching the rest of your insurance plans, such as the policies you
have for your separate automobiles. This is because most companies will give you
a discount on having more than one vehicle insured. You may also be interested
in finding a company that can insure you home, automobile, and health in one
place. If you carry more than one policy with a company, they will also usually
give you some sort of discount on them. It is important to sit down and discuss
insurance with your fiance because the two of you could be saving money and
stress by figuring out what decision is best before the time comes.

Health Insurance When Living Abroad

You may not know this already, but when planning on traveling abroad you cannot
take your local insurance with you. You will need to purchase an international
insurance plan offered by a multinational insurance company. While they may be
hard to track down, it is the best way to assure that in the event of an
accident or illness you will be able to acquire medical attention if needed.

Many of these plans will cover you up to six months in another country. When
you speak with the insurance company, be prepared to give an extensive list of
information to them. This will range from health problems you've had in the
past ten years, your hereditary conditions to substance abuse, and almost
everything else-if it has anything to do with your health be prepared to
disclose the information. If you are planning on traveling with more than one
family member, then be prepared to give information for each family member as
well.

Many times your basic coverage will include emergency treatment regardless of
which facility it is administered. This is not the case with minor medical
treatment. It is important to know whether you are buying an insurance plan
that is an HMO or PPO. If you are under an HMO or health maintenance
organization, then you will be limited to receiving care from only the
providers who are in their network. You can retrieve a list of all the
companies within your insurer's network upon request. If you are under a PPO,
or preferred provider organization, you will have the opportunity to pick the
best facility you see fit, but your insurer will only cover a portion of the
incurred cost.

If you plan on staying abroad for more than six months then you will need to
look into what is called expatriate health insurance. Only larger companies
supply this type of insurance, as it is much more extensive with the type of
options that can be applied to each policy. The type of treatment options that
are covered with expatriate health insurance are those that are labeled as
specialty treatments, like chiropractic therapy and acupuncture. There are many
options that can be applied to expatriate health insurance depending on your
family's needs and how long you plan on spending abroad.

There are many options for health insurance when you are traveling abroad.
While many individuals never consider purchasing insurance when traveling to
another country, this should be at the top of your list when planning for a
trip. Health insurance should not be taken lightly. Be sure you understand
every aspect of your policy before deciding with any one particular company.

Health Insurance for Every Need: Understanding the Kinds Available

In the United States, there are about five different types of health insurance
available: traditional health insurance; preferred provider organizations or
PPOs; point-of-service plans or POS; health management organizations or HMOs;
and most recently, health savings accounts or HSAs. With so many types of
health insurance, it may be confusing trying to figure out which one best fits
your needs, so thoroughly research each and speak with a professional if you
need clarification.

Traditional health insurance is the one that most people think of when they
think of health insurance. You pay the insurance company a premium every month,
and if you have an accident or need for health coverage, you have a deductible
amount you must pay and then the insurance company picks up the rest of the
bill. You often have an inexpensive office and/or prescription co-pay with
traditional health insurance.

With people living longer, health insurance companies began to look for more
ways to reduce their costs, developing different health plans such as PPOs.
PPOs are plans which will cover nearly all of your medical expenses as long as
you stay within a preferred network of physicians or hospitals. This network
creates a "preferred provider" list that you can choose from. Treatment outside
this network of providers is covered but only at a reduced rate, meaning you end
up paying more to see a physician outside the network. By limiting the
physicians and hospitals covered in their network, the insurance company can
control, to an extent, their costs and lower your premiums. POS plans work like
PPOs, but require you to have a primary care physician through whom you can
receive referrals for specialists. If you need to see a neurologist or a
dermatologist, you must first visit your primary care physician for an initial
diagnosis in order to receive a referral to a specialist for a more thorough
diagnosis. POS plans also have a preferred provider network, and if you choose
to visit a specialist or physician outside that network, your coverage will be
limited.

HMOs combine a stricter version of PPOs and POS plans. HMOs have a defined list
of physicians, often much smaller than PPO networks, which you may see. You will
not be covered at all if you see a physician outside your HMO network.
Furthermore, you must also get a referral from your primary care HMO physician
to see any specialist. However, these restrictions mean that you pay an extra
low or no monthly premium.

HSAs were recently signed into law by President Bush. You can deposit money
into a special non-taxed, interest-gaining savings account that must be used
for medical expenses. The ideal situation for an HSA is to combine the account
with a low-cost, high-deductible insurance plan. The savings account is
designed to allow you to cover the high deductible if you find the need to
cover expensive medical costs while the insurance company will pick up the rest
of the bill.

Again, it is important to carefully consider each option before choosing a
single health insurance plan. Your health is important-make sure it is
protected in the best way possible.

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