| One of the most widely publicized and hotly debated | | | | eye health are usually covered. At this time LASIK or |
| forms of insurance in America today, health insurance | | | | other corrective procedures are rarely covered. |
| is the subject of intense political and social debate. A | | | | Managed Care |
| rapidly evolving and extremely complex subject, health | | | | One of the biggest trends in medical insurance over |
| insurance is also one of the most important benefits | | | | the past two decades in the United States has been |
| offered by many employers. | | | | the rise of managed care as a primary delivery model |
| Types of Insurance | | | | for medical care. Based on the concept of centralized |
| Medical Insurance typically covers and specifies | | | | decision making, pooled resources, and efficient |
| payment levels for doctor visits and treatment, | | | | delivery of services, Health Management |
| medications, hospital stays, emergency room visits, | | | | Organizations, or HMOs, do offer economical |
| surgical treatment, and so forth. There are wide | | | | coverage, often at much lower premiums than |
| variations in coverage plans, with numerous | | | | privately managed insurance plans. Critics, however, |
| combinations of covered and excluded items, different | | | | point to longer wait times for appointments, fewer |
| coverage levels, deductible amounts, and other | | | | physicians from which to choose, and often the need |
| variables that make it impossible to offer a general | | | | for specialist referrals as weaknesses of the HMO |
| statement regarding all coverage plans. | | | | mode. |
| Many employers offer an open enrollment period | | | | Regardless of the advantages or disadvantages of |
| annually, during which employees may select from | | | | HMOs, it seems certain that this organizational model |
| different coverage plans. Careful selection of the | | | | will continue to grow in popularity. |
| appropriate plan for each individual is a critical task. | | | | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Dental Insurance is sometimes included in medical plans, | | | | The United States government has, for many years, |
| but more often it is a separate policy. Virtually all dental | | | | funded two particular programs to help extend medical |
| plans cover annual or semi-annual cleanings and | | | | coverage to individuals who may not be able to |
| check-ups, with many plans increasing the covered | | | | otherwise access the necessary health care. |
| percentage with regular appointment attendance over | | | | Medicare is designed to help elderly Americans pay for |
| time. Routine treatments such as cavity fillings, bridges, | | | | their health care. |
| and the like, are also typically covered, though the | | | | More recently, the Medicare Part D program was set |
| amount of coverage can vary. Braces are sometimes | | | | up to help the elderly pay for prescription drugs. |
| covered for minor dependents, and more rarely for | | | | Medicaid is intended to help impoverished Americans |
| adults. Cosmetic procedures are typically not covered. | | | | obtain health care; however, with high administrative |
| Vision insurance is often offered as a separate plan to | | | | costs, low reimbursement rates, and an often |
| go along with medical insurance. Vision plans typically | | | | complicated set of restrictions and requirements, the |
| cover an annual check-up, with glasses or contacts | | | | number of physicians who accept Medicaid has |
| covered to a pre-determined limit every year or two. | | | | decreased steadily over the past several years. |
| Necessary medical procedures to protect or correct | | | | |