Health Insurance Options- What’s Available to You

It can be a chore going through health insurance options. You shouldn’t have to crack your brains to get health insurance. It is a fact though that the technical terms can really be exasperating. If you want to understand your choices, you can start with a few basic concepts.

The most usual type of insurance offered is called managed care. Most people have this type simply because it is very convenient. Those with this type of insurance plan can take advantage of a network of cheaper medical services and providers. In other words, as long as a health care provider is within the network, an insurance plan holder can expect lower fees or costs. There are sub types of health insurance options under managed care.

1. The first sub type is popularly known as HMO or Health Maintenance Organization. People who get health insurance of this type are placed under a primary doctor. This doctor is in charge of monitoring your medical history. He is also in charge of referring you to other doctors who may specialize in any new condition you may have.

2. Among your health insurance options is Point of Service or POS. In this type, a doctor in charge of primary care will still be around. Patients however are not necessarily limited from choosing doctors that are not members of the managed care network. Of course, you may have to deal with higher costs.

3. You can also get health insurance under Preferred Provider Organizations or PPO. There are no doctors in charge of primary care in this type. Patients will be allowed to go directly to specialists without referrals. These specialist doctors however still have to be members of the managed care network.

Other than health insurance options under managed care, you can also opt for indemnity plans. When you get health insurance of this type, you simply have to pay for your medical costs and then file for a claim. Many health care providers now conveniently take care of the paperwork. Once your claim is approved, you can expect as much as eighty percent of your expenses to be reimbursed.

Health insurance options can seem difficult to understand at first. Starting with reading about basic information however should be able to put you on the right track of making good insurance choices.