COVERAGE

An essential element of choosing the correct health plan is determining what benefits are important to you and whether the plan offers them.
Do you require any of the following benefits in your health plan?

• Maternity coverage
• Prescription coverage
• Well child care
• Immunizations
• Emergency Visits
• Annual physicals (preventive care)
• Dependent coverage
• Physician office visits
• Specialist’s coverage (i.e. home care, surgeries, hospitalizations, vision, dental, speech, mental health, etc.)

The more benefits you select onto your health plan, the greater the premium or employee contribution is going to be.
Other aspects:

• Is your current physician included in the plan’s provider network?
• Where are the nearest hospitals you can visit with your plan?
• Is there a wide selection of primary care physician and specialists?
• What is the financial strength of the insurance company?
• What about pre-existing coverage or limitations? (Is there a waiting period?)

Make sure that the benefit coverage you require is available. Aside from costs, this is the other most important factor in selecting a health plan.

COSTS

The premium or your employee contribution will vary depending upon:

• The type of plan you choose (Traditional Indemnity, HMO, POS or PPO)
• The amount you accept for your deductible, coinsurance and co-payment
• The lifetime maximums you decide on
• The extent of benefit coverage on the plan

If you want the lowest costs, then an HMO plan with a higher co-payment of about $25.00 and a comprehensive, but not overloaded benefits package may be best. If you are more concerned with selection than price, but still want a good price, then a POS or PPO plan with a $250 or $500 deductible may be best. If money is no object and you want complete freedom on your health plan, choose a Traditional Indemnity Plan

COMPARE

After you have performed the above reviews on the proposed health plans, it is necessary to compare. Reviewing at least three or four plans will give you a good sense of price range, benefits coverage and other elements essential to you in a health plan.
To request a health insurance quote, Contact US

Options for “The Hard to Insure”

If it has been difficult finding a health insurance plan due to a pre-existing condition then you may do the following:

• You may be eligible for health insurance coverage through a professional organization, school alumni program or union
• Look for an HMO plan, as they are the least expensive, and request assistance from an HMO representative
• Review the policy on pre-existing conditions regarding exclusions, limitations or waiting periods before you sign
• Plans with lifetime maximums of less than $500,000 may not be very useful
• Plans that only offer hospital and surgical benefits are also not practical
• Accept the highest deductible, coinsurance and co-payment you can afford to reduce the premium payment
• Ask your State Insurance Department if they participate in “Risk Pools” for the “hard to insure”. (Our links page has a listing of all 50 state’s insurance departments for your convenience.)