Health Insurance answers

Health Insurance – Eye-Catching Benefits You Can’t Pass Up!

Health insurance is a crucial package of benefits your pocket book can’t live without. Read on to learn why this coverage is important and what elements you should look for when you’re shopping for a health insurance policy.

A most basic definition of health insurance explains that if you purchase health coverage and are sick or injured, depending on what is covered in your policy, you will only be responsible for a certain percentage of the medical costs. This type of coverage is intended to help you manage health care and medical bills.

What should be in my policy?

The perfect health insurance plan will include FIVE vital components:

1. International coverage – Are you covered worldwide for non-emergency care?
2. Annual dollar limit you can afford out-of-pocket – Make sure your pocketbook can handle your policy’s annual maximum
3. Ability to see specialists without a referral – If you or your loved ones have a serious or life-threatening illness, you don’t want to have to beg for the best treatment.
4. Vast coverage limit that shouldn’t ever be exhausted, even for the most catastrophic medical expenses – A key idea to keep in mind when shopping for your health insurance policy is to find one with no limits, if possible. If this is unattainable, find a maximum policy limit of $1 million per claim or $2 million per lifetime.
5. No internal policy limits – Do not purchase a policy that has internal policy limits.

“What coverages should I have under my health insurance?”

Your health insurance policy should include several coverages…

Physician’s expense – covers your doctor’s office visit or hospital visit

Hospital expense – takes care of room, board and services while you’re in the hospital

Surgical expense – pays for any surgery related fees or costs

Major medical insurance – provides a very high maximum benefit formulated to protect you against losses from major injuries or illnesses

Perks of health insurance?

Double check your health insurance policy. It MIGHT include the following benefits…

1. Vision
2. Maternity care
3. Preventive care
4. Mental health benefits
5. Prescription drugs
6. Dental

I know I need health insurance, but my company doesn’t offer insurance packages. Where can I get a reasonable insurance quote?

There are several insurance comparison web sites that allow you to quickly get an insurance quote – whether you’re looking for health, life, home owner’s or auto coverage. To receive an insurance quote online, most of the comparison sites will ask for personal information. It is very important to answer truthfully when you are filling out these applications. Otherwise, your insurance quote may not be as accurate as possible.

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A Few Words About Health Insurance

If your health, well-being and pocketbook are three things that are important to you, you probably understand the significance of health coverage. “But I don't go to the doctor a lot,” you say. While you may not make many trips to the doctor, you never know when a medical emergency that could cost you thousands of dollars will occur; this is where health insurance steps in.

To help you better understand your health insurance policy, let's define some terms you will need to be familiar with.

Copayment - You are required to pay this amount towards medical bills according to your health insurance policy. Your policy will list whether or not this is a dollar amount or a percentage.

Deductible - total amount you will pay before your health insurance company takes over your insurance payments.

Excess major medical policy - This type of policy has a very high limit as well as a high deductible and could provide up to $2 million of financial protection. Other possible highlights include nursing home benefits or home health care.

Health maintenance organization (HMO) - HMOs encourage preventative care and strive to provide health care to its members at affordable prices. To do this, the HMO tries to stay away from deductibles or copayments. Most HMOs have their own private clinics and staff. Only visits to staff within the HMO network are covered by the policy.

Major medical - Severe or extreme health problems.

Major medical policy - This insurance policy covers most serious medical expenses up to a set maximum limit.

Managed care - Simply put, the purpose of managed care is to manage costs and make sure insurance premiums are affordable. Because cost efficiency is the main focus of managed care, medical decisions are made by the individual's insurance provider.

Out-of-pocket maximum - This figure is the greatest amount of covered medical and surgical expenses you might have to pay each year. It limits what you will pay at the end of the year between copayments and deductibles.

Preferred provider organization (PPO) - PPOs provide health care services at a reduced cost. PPOs are typically more flexible than HMOs and allow policy holders to visit out-of-network professionals. While HMOs own their own clinics, PPOs do not.

Glancing over these definitions will put you on the right track to understanding your health insurance policy. Still have questions? Be sure to contact your insurance provider if you're not sure about something in your policy. Uncertainties about your health insurance should never be neglected.

Health insurance is your key to financial security in the event of a medical catastrophe. Because medical emergencies are not predictable, it is important that you prepare for health coverage today!