| It seem we hear about how expensive health | | | | you pay out of your own pocket. There you |
| care system in the United States. We hear it | | | | have it is a simple math. The cost of actual |
| on TV, in the news paper, from people around | | | | catastrophic health insurance is actually |
| us. Health Insurance companies are aware that | | | | really cheap. It is all of those add-ons that |
| the monthly premiums and getting | | | | you have with a plan that make it expensive. |
| un-affordable for most people. Insurance | | | | |
| companies are getting more creative and | | | | Think about this if you have car insurance |
| coming out with new options and plans | | | | you know that it will only cover you if you |
| constantly, to make it more affordable for | | | | get in a car accident. Car insurance does not |
| everyone. The most important concept of | | | | pay for any "preventative" care. Car |
| determining your monthly health insurance | | | | insurance does not pay for your gas, oil |
| premium is similar to with all the insurance | | | | changes, upgrades to your car and |
| company. The differences will depend and how | | | | "check-ups". The reality is health insurance |
| efficiently insurance company is ran. | | | | is actually inexpensive in the Untied States |
| Therefore if you think are just getting great | | | | if you get health insurance for what it was |
| deal from one insurance company you are | | | | designed for, major events. The problem with |
| probably giving up some benefits that you are | | | | health insurance is not health insurance it |
| not aware of. It could be exclusion, | | | | is all the people that are leaving large |
| limitation on how much plan pays for | | | | corporate plans that did pay for everything. |
| something, deductible, co-insurance and many | | | | Well when you work for a company they either |
| more very creative ways that insurance | | | | pay 100% for your health insurance or a large |
| companies taking out benefits to make it more | | | | portion of it. Then the remainder that you |
| affordable. It is nearly impossible to | | | | have to pay they take it out of your check |
| compare plan from one company to a plan from | | | | once every two weeks, this way it does not |
| another. Insurance companies have to compete | | | | look that much. If you get used to the way |
| and almost never have plan designs as the | | | | your large company group plan worked, that |
| competing insurance companies in your state. | | | | the company played for, and you are out there |
| For example in California Blue Cross and Blue | | | | looking for the similar plan on your own, of |
| Shield are two separate insurance companies | | | | course it is going to be expensive. |
| that are competing against each other. Both | | | | |
| Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of | | | | Today's individual health insurance plans are |
| California what might look like have same or | | | | designed that you can get that benefits that |
| similar plans. That what you might think and | | | | you are going to use. With most companies you |
| make your purchase decision on price alone. | | | | have option to pick your hospital deductible, |
| Most people when shopping for health | | | | your doctor office visit co-pay, the type of |
| insurance are only looking at deductibles and | | | | prescriptions that you might want to |
| co-pays. What is going to make a big monthly | | | | use(generic or brand name) and your maximum |
| price of health insurance is the plan design | | | | out of pocket (make sure to you know what it |
| it self. | | | | is when you are comparing health plans). |
| | | | There are few more options on how insurance |
| First is you really have to think about your | | | | companies add additional fees that are not |
| past usage of your health insurance. Past | | | | part of your deductibles and co-pays. Some |
| references you should only use for your | | | | insurance companies have co-pay for emergency |
| preventive care, things like; doctor visits | | | | room visits some do not. Some insurance |
| and physical exams. If you are some one that | | | | companies have called "daily facility fees" |
| does not go to a doctor that often than in | | | | on to of your deductible. Keep in mind your |
| most cases there is no reason for you to have | | | | main concern would be is catastrophic |
| a plan with a low co-pay to go to a doctor. | | | | coverage. That will keep you from going |
| In some cases you can have plan that does not | | | | bankrupt not the $55 doctor office visit. No |
| cover doctor office visits. This way you can | | | | one has ever gone bankrupt because they were |
| just pay for the visit out of your own pocket | | | | not able to pay $55 out of their own pocket |
| and it will run you anywhere from $55 to $65. | | | | for the doctor visit. If you look for health |
| In some cases you can have exact some plan | | | | insurance for what it was designed for than |
| except one would cover doctor office visits | | | | it is cheap. If you were looking for car |
| and one would not and you will same your self | | | | insurance that covered your gas, oil changes, |
| up $100 per month. If my math adds up, if you | | | | basic maintenance and checkups, the cost of |
| take a plan that does not cover doctor office | | | | that coverage would be astronomical. When |
| visits and you will go to a doctor once per | | | | looking at the plans all you should be |
| month well that's $100(your monthly savings) | | | | concerned with is the worst case scenario |
| minus $65(cost of a doctor office visit if | | | | that I can be out of pocket with this plan. |