What You Need To Know About Health Insurance
Health insurance is a topic that is discussed often with regularity by individuals and families, but it can be difficult to understand the particulars. We'll break down some of the basics, so that you have a better understanding of your options and what's in store for you.
The post goes on to outline what are usually covered by health insurance plans, how much you can expect to pay for these plans, and offers factors that should be considered before making a decision on which plan suits your needs best.
A Few Words About Health Insurance: Health insurance is something everyone needs because it pays for unexpected medical treatment or even just routine doctors visits that will help maintain your good health. At the present time, there are three main types of health insurance plans:
Covered By Your Employer – This type of plan is most common, because companies in America usually offer this as a part of their benefits package.
Government Sponsored Plans – These are offered through programs like Medicare and Medicaid. They usually require that you be at a certain age to participate, however they will pay for all necessary treatments if you meet the requirements. Discounted Plans – These may also be called discount or budget plans and some states offer these plans exclusively. They are usually the lowest cost option, but offer limited coverage to the person who buys it.
Once you are able to understand the types of plans offered, the next step is to choose one. You need to think about your health needs before deciding on the right plan for you. Do you see a doctor regularly? How much will you have to pay for any treatment that insurance doesn't cover?
There are two types of plans: HMO or PPO. HMO stands for "health maintenance organization" and is a plan that only allows you to use doctors who work for the organization who is selling your plan. For the most part, this is a low cost plan because the doctor who runs it will only be paid for services while you are insured by the organization. The downside to this plan is that you have to see a doctor "in network" which means they usually don't cover any out-of-network treatment.
PPO stands for "preferred provider organization" and this type of plan allows you to use any doctors you choose, provided that they are in your insurance network. PPO plans usually have higher premiums than HMO's but they do provide some coverage for out-of-network care which can be very helpful in situations where there are no other options available or if none of your local doctors are covered by your insurance plan.
If you are currently covered by an HMO plan and you want to do something different, there are ways to do this. You can usually go to another HMO or switch to a PPO without penalty but you will lose any benefits or discounts that you have. This is something that should be discussed with your insurance company before making any decisions about changing your plan.
High-deductible health plans were created as a compromise between high premium plans and basic low cost plans like Medicaid and Medicare. The idea behind HDHPs was to provide some kind of coverage for most people, while having a lower premium price and higher out-of-pocket costs for the individual who is using the insurance.
The plans are usually purchased through employers, but can also be individually purchased. Because the premiums are lower than more traditional plans, you will pay more for each visit to a doctor. When you get your plan, you need to choose a deductible amount that is more affordable for you. This will serve as the maximum amount of money that you will have to pay for medical treatment before your insurance kicks in and starts to pay their share of any additional bills.
This type of plan isn't right for everyone and it is important to know what works best for you and your family members before applying. For example, you may want to find a plan that offers better coverage for expensive services that you need like cancer treatment or a heart bypass.
If you have questions about what is covered in your health insurance plan and how much you will pay for these benefits, it isn't too difficult to find the answers. You can get information about your health insurance by contacting your employer or searching the internet for information about plans offered by employers in your area.
If you have questions about what is covered in your health insurance plan and how much you will pay for these benefits, it isn't too difficult to find the answers. You can get information about your health insurance by contacting your employer or searching the internet for information about plans offered by employers in your area.
The post goes on to outline what are usually covered by health insurance plans, how much you can expect to pay for these plans, and offers factors that should be considered before making a decision on which plan suits your needs best.
Posted 17 August 2014 - 09:52 AM
When I was new to this country I had a really good experience with health care provider in Australia. I went for a check-up and the doctor told me my heart is healthy. I was relieved, but then his nurse gave me pills to take. No idea what they were about, but they were orange and I thought it was Vitamin C because of the flavor. At the time I started taking them, they had to be stored in the fridge and it took several days to kick in. When that happened, after a week or so I started feeling really nauseous and over the next week or so became very sick. It lasted for 3 weeks with 1 week of hospitalisation in ICU (sick bay) followed by 4 days on recovery ward back home before coming out again (perfect scenario). So they pretty much killed me in the first 5 days and I was pretty shocked. I was really dizzy and dazed. Later when it got better (but wasn't good), they told me it was a virus and I needed to take something to counter it. They also said they gave me antibiotics, but they had no effect. The nurses also said it was a virus and my immune system reacted badly to it. Who knows what kind of pills that doctor gave me? ...we lived in Australia for two years always using local doctors and paid via Medicare which covered everything (even ambulance trips). We had no insurance at all but never had anything we couldn't afford - It is free (with some exceptions) but you pay with tax afterwards...
Conclusion:
1) I was told it was a virus and the doctor didn't know how to treat it.
2) It took three weeks and I nearly had a heart attack.
3) When I was trying to recover in ICU, the doctor told me there is nothing he could do for me. He couldn't even find out what the pills were that they gave me.
I now live in another country with good doctors but my health is still not great... boohoo... 2 likes Reply Quote Share Guest #5190 on 09/18/15 @ 02:17 PM Posted Byon my friend has a family member who lives in florida,USA..and she recently had surgery..