Health insurance has proven itself of great help and financial aid in certain cases when events turn out unexpectedly when you are ill. When your health is in grave jeopardy and finances seem incapable of sustainingr care, health insurance is here to the rescue. A good health insurance plan will make things better for you.
There are two types of health insurance plans. Your first option is the indemnity plan, which includes the fee-for-service, and the second is the managed care plan. The differences between these two are the providers’ choice, the number of bills the policyholder has to pay, and the services covered by the policy as you can always hear, no ultimate or best plan exists for anyone.
As you can see, some plans may be way better than others. Some may benefit your and your family’s health and medical care needs. However, amidst the sweet health insurance plan terms presented, there are always certain drawbacks that you may come to consider. The key is that you will have to weigh the benefits wisely. Especially since not among these plans will pay for all the financial damages associated with your care.
READ MORE :
- Redefining Health in the 21st Century
- 5 Ways to Control High Blood Pressure Naturally
- Your Options for a Retirement Plan
- Five Potential Solutions for Dealing with Acne
- Financial Tips for Newlyweds
The following briefly describes the health insurance plans that might fit you and your family’s case.
Indemnity Plans
Flexible Spending Plans – These types of insurance plans are sponsored when working for a company or any employer. These are the care plans included in your employee benefits package. Some of the specific types of benefits included in this plan are the multiple options pre-tax conversion plan, medical plans plus flexible spending accounts, tax conversion plan, and employer credit cafeteria plans. You can always ask your employer about the benefits included in your health care/insurance plans.
Indemnity Health Plans – This type of health insurance plan allows you to choose your providers. You can go to any doctor, medical institution, or other health care provider for a set monthly premium. The insurance plan will reimburse you and your health care provider according to the services rendered. Depending on the health insurance plan policy, some offer a limit on individual expenses, and when that expense is reached, the health insurance will cover the remaining costs in full. Sometimes, indemnity health insurance plans impose restrictions on services covered and require prior authorization for hospital care and other expensive services.
Basic and Essential Health Plans – They provide a limited health insurance benefit at a considerably low cost. In opting for this kind of health insurance plan, one must read the policy description, which focuses on covered services. Some programs may not cover basic treatments, certain medical services such as chemotherapy, maternity care, or certain prescriptions. Also, rates vary considerably since, unlike other plans, premiums consider age, gender, health status, occupation, geographic location, and community rating.
Health Savings Accounts – You own and control the money in your HSA. This is the recent alternative to the old-fashioned health insurance plans. These savings products offer policyholders a different way to pay for their health care. This type of insurance plan allows the individual to pay for the current health expenses and save for untoward future qualified medical and retiree health costs on a tax-free basis. With this health care plan, you decide how your money is spent. You make all the decisions without relying on any third party or a health insurer. You decide on which investment will help your money grow. However, if you sign up for an HSA, High Deductible Health Plans are required in adjunct to this type of insurance plan.
High Deductible Health Plans – Also called Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage. It is an inexpensive health insurance plan enabled only after a high deductible of at least $1,000 for individual expenses and $2,000 for family-related medical costs.
Managed Care Options
Preferred Provider Organizations – This is charged on a fee-for-service basis. The insurer pays the involved healthcare providers on a negotiated fee and schedule. The cost of services is likely lower if the policyholder chooses an out-of-network provider ad generally required to pay the difference between what the provider charges and what the health insurance plan has to pay.
The Point of Service – POS health insurance plans are one of the indemnity-type options. The primary health care providers usually make referrals to other providers within the program. If the doctors make referrals out of the project, that plan pays all or most of the bill. However, if you refer yourself to an outside provider, the program may also cover the service charges, but the individual may be required to pay the coinsurance.
Health Maintenance Organizations – It offers access to a network of physicians, healthcare institutions, providers, and various healthcare facilities. You have the freedom to choose your personal primary care doctor from a list provided by the HMO, and this chosen doctor may coordinate with all the other aspects of your health care. You may speak with your chosen primary doctor for further referrals to a specialist. Generally, you are paying fewer out-of-pocket fees with this type of health insurance plan. However, there are certain instances that you may be often charged with fees or co-payments for services such as doctor visits or prescriptions.
Government-Sponsored Health Insurance
Indian Health Services – This is part of the Department of Health and Human Services Program, offering all American Indians medical assistance at HIS facilities. Also, HIS helps pay the cost of the health care services utilized at non-HIS facilities.
Medicaid is a federal or state public assistance program created in 1965. These are available for people with insufficient resources to pay for health care services or private insurance policies. Medicaid is available in all states. Eligibility levels and coverage benefits may vary, though.
Medicare – This is a health care program for people aged 65 and older with certain disabilities that pay part of the cost associated with hospitalization, surgery, home health care, doctor’s bills, and skilled nursing care.
Military Health Care includes the TRICARE or the CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) and CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may also provide this service.
State Children’s Health Insurance Program – This is available to children whose low-income parents could not qualify for Medicaid.
State-Specific Plans – This type of plan is available for low-income uninsured individuals.
