| A woman from Las Vegas thought she was buying | | | | coverage at great rates. Managed care plans are the |
| health insurance. It looked and sounded like health | | | | way to go for those who are limited on funds. They |
| insurance. The Las Vegas woman is not 65 yet, which | | | | offer the best policies for the least amount of money. |
| means she can't get Medicare. So, she went online | | | | Most of these plans are available to anyone and can |
| looking for health insurance. She ended up finding | | | | save you a ton of cash. You can make the plan even |
| something called Healthcare Advantage, and signed up | | | | more affordable by asking for a deductible, which will |
| after paying $100. Come to find out, this was not | | | | lower your monthly expense. Most HMO's do not have |
| medical insurance at all and the sales representative | | | | one at all but, you can request one, and most basic |
| never told this poor lady. She found that out when her | | | | PPOs and POS only have a small one, usually $200 to |
| cards arrived in the mail. In tiny writing at the bottom, it | | | | $500 per year, which you can also asked to raised. |
| read, "not an HMO, PPO insurance or managed care | | | | The co-pays are also very reasonable with these |
| company". This was a discount plan. These plans do | | | | types of plans. If you choose to purchase an HMO, |
| not have the same coverage as a full medical health | | | | expect to pay about $5-$10 per office visit and per |
| insurance policy. Make sure you know what you are | | | | prescription. With PPOs and POSs you will have a |
| getting and if it fits your needs. | | | | 20% co-pay with both visits and medications. The |
| So what is a discount plan? The plans claims to save | | | | differences are how strict they are and you pay more |
| people money by offering discounts on physician visits, | | | | of a co-pay to have extra flexibility. Usually a PPO or |
| prescription drugs, dental work, eye care and other | | | | POS plan is less expensive and you have more |
| treatments for a monthly fee. Unlike normal health | | | | freedom to see whom you want so the insurer makes |
| insurance, which is very costly and very selective | | | | you more responsible for payment. HMOs tend to be |
| about who it covers, a discount health plan accepts | | | | the least expensive and best policies for people with |
| everyone, no matter what health conditions they may | | | | fixed incomes. |
| have. You will use a list of doctors that are willing to | | | | Make sure you know what your needs are and |
| charge discounted rates to the subscriber. Discount is | | | | double-check what you are getting. If you need full |
| not the same as coverage, and so you will pay more | | | | medical coverage with low co-pay then a discount |
| for visits and other services that you wouldn't with a | | | | plan will not work for you. If you are already covered |
| regular medical plan. The average savings is only 25% | | | | by a medical group but have a large deductible then |
| that could be very expensive if you have to see a | | | | you might benefit from the extra savings a discount |
| specialist or require surgery. These networks claim to | | | | plan can offer. Also, ask whether the plan is insurance |
| have as many as 400,000 doctors and 50,000 | | | | that covers your treatment, or is a discount plan that |
| hospitals available to choose from, but what if none of | | | | still requires you to pay all medical bills yourself. |
| them are near you? You can get a savings of up to | | | | Beware of slippery sales pitches. Make sure you |
| 30% on both generic and brand name drugs, which | | | | know what's being offered. Discount health plans may |
| can also be costly if you have multiple prescriptions or | | | | only sell you access to a large mailing list of medical |
| they are costly ones. So if you have a health plan | | | | providers that it purchased commercially. Don't assume |
| already but have a high deductible, this extra plan may | | | | you're getting access to a large provider network just |
| help save you some money. But to use as a complete | | | | because your discount card displays the network's |
| health plan, it really isn't designed for that and will cost | | | | name and logo. If you plan to use a specific listed |
| you more than a great HMO. | | | | doctor, hospital, pharmacy or other provider, ask a few |
| HMOs and other medical plans can offer full medical | | | | questions before you sign up. |