subject: Understanding Your Options When It Comes To Health Insurance [print this page] Healthcare is definitely not what it used to be and long past is the day of local family doctors dropping by to see how their patients are doing. The good news is that there are many more tests and treatments to keep people healthier and with a better quality life but these treatments come with a cost and due to all the advancements in medicine over the past few decades the cost of health care and health insurance have skyrocketed, leaving a lot of people trying to find the cheapest way to get the coverage they need for themselves and their families. The following is a breakdown of the different health insurance options that are currently being offered to help you determine which one is right for your needs and budget.
HMO plan - The "Health Maintenance Organization" is a healthcare plan that is usually most often selected for a healthcare insurance choice specifically for anyone who needs to different services at the cheapest rate possible. The "H.M.O." option allows you to choose from a list of providers in order to select a physician as a primary doctor that you are required to see first and foremost for health problems or checkups with the exception of the event of an emergency. This primary provider will then transfer you to someone who specializes in what you need in the event you need special care. A lower premium as well as low co-pay is a big reason why people opt for this plan. Also, you will have well visit checkups or regular office visits, and hospital care or emergency are when necessary.
POS plan - A "Point of Service" healthcare plan is basically the same as an "H.M.O," but the "P.O.S." offers you the option to choose your providers. What this means is that when you have a healthcare problem you may pick out your option to handle how you deal with it. What happens is that you visit your primary physician, or choose any other doctor in-network, or even elect to go to an out of network physician.
PPO plan - A "Preferred Provider Organization" gives you a list of networked providers to that you can select, and provided you choose one of the "P.P.O." providers, then you will be able to get the most out of the benefits your plan offers. It is your choice if you want a "P.P.O." that allows you to go to any physician out of the network but of course you will have to lay out more money. This option is most chosen because many who have an existing healthcare issue that typically like to go to a specialist.
Indemnity Plan - This is a plan that is basic in that it pays your doctor for the services that are provided for your health care each visit. You have more options as a patient this way but these kinds of plans typically are offered along with a set deductible that must be paid before the benefits are attainable.
by: Ethan Kalvin
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