| Contrary to popular belief, affordable health insurance | | | | PPO. Like an HMO you do not pay a deductible and |
| does exist. Here's how to get an affordable North | | | | only pay a minimal co-payment. Like a PPO you may |
| Carolina health insurance plan with a reputable | | | | visit a non-network doctor or hospital, but you'll likely |
| company. | | | | have to pay a deductible and a larger co-payment. |
| Affordable Health Insurance Plans | | | | Affordable Health Insurance |
| The most affordable health insurance plans are called | | | | In order to get the most affordable health insurance |
| managed health care plans. there are three types of | | | | plan in North Carolina you're going to have to do some |
| managed health care plans: | | | | comparison shopping. You have the option of calling |
| Health Maintenance Organization Plans (HMOs) | | | | you local agents (which can take hours of your time), |
| HMOs provide health care for their members through | | | | visiting single-company websites (which can also take |
| a network of doctors and hospitals. You pay a | | | | hours), or visiting an insurance comparison website |
| monthly premium for their services and are responsible | | | | where you'll spend a couple of minutes filling our a |
| for a copayment for each doctor visit, usually $5 to | | | | simple form in order to get quotes from multiple |
| $10. You are assigned a primary care physician who | | | | companies. |
| oversee your care, and you must use the doctors and | | | | Some of these sites have an article section where |
| hospitals within your network. | | | | you can get money-saving tips, and an online chat |
| Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPOs) | | | | feature where you can get answers and advice from |
| PPOs also provide health care through a network of | | | | insurance experts (see link below). |
| doctors and hospitals, but insteand of paying a monthly | | | | Visit or click on the following link to get affordable |
| premium you pay for services when you receive | | | | North Carolina health insurance rate quotes from |
| them. Copayments are usually more than with HMOs | | | | top-rated companies and see how much you can |
| and you may be required to pay a deductible. You can | | | | save. |
| see a doctor outside your network for an additional | | | | The author, Brian Stevens, is a former insurance agent |
| fee. | | | | and financial consultant who has written a number of |
| Point of Service Plans (POSs) | | | | articles on how to get an affordable North Carolina |
| POSs combine the characteristics of an HMO and a | | | | health insurance plan. |