Health Insurance Links

  • Looking for Health Insurance?
  • Get Instant Insurance Quotes!
    Health Secrets

  • Health Myths Exposed!
  • Natural Health Secrets
    Health Insurance Info

  • Indemnity Insurance Plans
  • Managed Care Plans
  • Insurance for the Unemployed
  • Health Insurance Information
  • Group Health Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • College Health Insurance Plans
  • How to Protect Yourself
  • Obtaining Health Insurance
  • Short Term Health Insurance
  • Types of Health Insurance
  • Health Insurance Living Abroad
  • Healthcare for Long Term
  • Choosing Health Insurance
  • Health Insurance & Retirement
  • Dental Benefits
  • Shopping for Health Insurance
  • Getting Married?
  • Avoid Insurance Fraud
  • Keeping Good Records
  • Other Options for Health Care
  • Why Get Insurance?
  • Paying for Health Insurance
  • What are HIPAA Laws?
  • Health Insurance Limitations

    		•

    Download The Health Insurance Guide for FREE!

    First Name
    Email Address

    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.

    Recent Health Insurance News
    Seeking For Cheaper Health Insurance Coverage? - Cheaper health coverage plans involve the cost of doctors' visit, medicines, hospital stay and other medical costs. Doctor visits and prescription costs are not covered by some health plans available. Thus each person must make sure that he chooses the correct basic coverage policy and that it suits his individual needs. [Read More...]
    Doctor's Orders - Expanding Medical Clinic Challenges Health-Insurance MogulsMore than a third of small businesses don't provide health insurance to their employees. And the number of small businesses that don't offer health coverage is growing. [Read More...]
    From the Doctor: I do not have health insurance - How do we justify having the most expensive health care system in the world.A story about how doctor's charge different amounts (different codes) depending on medical coverage. [Read More...]
    The plight of the uninsured affects a doctor - Dr. Kesani advises his patients not only on their health, but their health insurance. Get your coverage lined up before you see me for a diagnosis, he tells them. Dr. Kesani knows this better than anyone?he has diabetes, and he's uninsured. [Read More...]
    How much health care spending is discretionary? - Real, meaningful health reform, whether done on the terms of doctors, liberals, insurers or conservatives, has this fundamental question at its heart. Whether by cutting costs or increasing coverage, make some health coverage non-discretionary. [Read More...]
    Honda Criticized for Discriminatory Insurance Practices - BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctors and health care professionals at Alabama Fertility Specialists were caught off guard when they looked into Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) insurance coverage for one of their patients. ART... [Read More...]