| Health insurance is a necessity for all. With medical | | | | office or for a doctor's hospital visits. |
| expenses soaring every day higher than a hang glider, | | | | -Major medical insurance offers tremendously wide |
| paying for them could have you digging deep into the | | | | insurance coverage with a very high maximum benefit |
| pockets of your jeans. | | | | that's designed to protect you against losses from |
| What types of health insurance are available? | | | | catastrophic illness or any injury. |
| Health insurance plans usually falls into one of two | | | | Where can I get health insurance? |
| categories: indemnity plans (also known as | | | | You may get health insurance through a group |
| reimbursement plans) and other one managed care | | | | insurance plan at work or through another group |
| plans such as health maintenance organizations | | | | affiliation (a school, a club, etc.) or by purchasing an |
| (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and | | | | individual insurance plan on your own. By purchasing an |
| point of service (POS) plans. | | | | individual insurance plan on your own, you might even |
| An indemnity plan gives the privilege to choose your | | | | be able to modify the health plan. Shop online to |
| own doctors and pays for your own medical | | | | compare rates from numerous companies to find the |
| expenses totally, in part, or even up to a specified | | | | best plan and rate to meet your needs. |
| amount per day for a specified number of days. | | | | Which plan is best? |
| Managed care plans generally provide wider coverage, | | | | The best health insurance plan for you is the one, |
| but they all have an arrangement between the insurer | | | | which gives you the greatest flexibility and the most |
| and a selected network of health-insurance providers | | | | payback for the lowest cost. You'll need to shop |
| (doctors, hospitals, etc.). For example, an HMO would | | | | around and get several quotes before selecting a plan. |
| require that a primary care physician in the network | | | | Here are a few points to consider: |
| coordinate all of your care and also refer you to | | | | -What co-pays, deductibles, and other coinsurance |
| specialists in the network. | | | | requirements apply? |
| No matter which type of health insurance you buy, | | | | -How much freedom do you really have to select your |
| you'll should to make sure it offers the right kinds of | | | | own health-care providers? |
| insurance coverage. | | | | -Does the plan cover the health services, which you |
| What should be covered? | | | | need? |
| -A good health insurance policy holds several types of | | | | -Does the plan cover the health-insurance providers |
| coverage. | | | | you're currently using? |
| -Hospital cost insurance pays your room, board, and | | | | -Does the plan offer family, individual coverage as |
| other incidental services costs if you're hospitalized. | | | | well? |
| -Surgical expense insurance covers surgeons' fees | | | | -Does the insurance plan cover pre-existing conditions? |
| and all the related costs associated with surgery. | | | | If so, is there a waiting period? (The average waiting |
| -Physicians cost insurance pays for visits to a doctor's | | | | period is three months to one year. |