| Deciding which individual and family health | | | | at a pre-set price, the care will cost less |
| insurance plan is just right for you and your | | | | out-of-pocket for the consumer. The paperwork |
| family can seem as challenging as judging | | | | is generally taken care of by the health care |
| which apple is the very best out of an entire | | | | provider instead of the policy holder, and |
| barrel at the supermarket. The apples are all | | | | the care is covered with only a low |
| different sizes, shapes and colors, and the | | | | percentage coinsurance or set co-payment |
| health insurance plans all offer different | | | | amount required from the policy holder. |
| fees, types of benefits, and levels of | | | | |
| coverage. | | | | There are three types of managed-care plans: |
| | | | HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans. These options are |
| For many people, the group health insurance | | | | all based on provider networks and require |
| plan sponsored by their employer offers them | | | | their policy holders to pay for their health |
| the most affordable coverage. Group health | | | | care depending on their tendency to seek care |
| insurance is exactly what it sounds like: a | | | | from in-network or out-of-network providers. |
| health insurance plan or plans offered to | | | | |
| groups of people through their employers. | | | | In each category, there are dozens of |
| Individual and family health insurance, on | | | | available plans offering different levels and |
| the other hand, is offered to individuals and | | | | types of coverage that allow users to choose |
| families instead of employer groups, and it | | | | based on personal needs. Many plans require a |
| can be a much more attractive and affordable | | | | deductible amount to be met for each plan |
| option than many people believe. | | | | year before coverage begins, and monthly |
| | | | premiums are likely to be lower for plans |
| Because individual and family health | | | | that have higher deductibles. This along with |
| insurance is not offered through an employer, | | | | other factors affects how much the plan will |
| those who choose this type of insurance will | | | | cost the consumer to use. Therefore, a person |
| pay the entire cost of the regular premiums. | | | | who expects to seek health care only a few |
| However, there is a wide range of plan types | | | | times a year will likely benefit by choosing |
| available, allowing smart consumers to | | | | a plan with a lower monthly premium. On the |
| maximize the coverage they are receiving for | | | | other hand, those who seek routine care and |
| the money theyre investing in the plan. In | | | | have a history of more physician visits, and |
| some situations, they may even be able to | | | | or who regularly fills expensive |
| save money compared to what they would have | | | | prescriptions, can best serve their medical |
| spent in premiums for an employers group | | | | needs with a plan requiring a higher monthly |
| health insurance plan. Either way, consumers | | | | premium and low or no deductible. |
| should never forget that the money theyre | | | | |
| spending each month for health insurance is | | | | These are not the only factors that should be |
| 100% tax-deductible. | | | | considered when choosing a plan. Someone who |
| | | | travels often may want to consider the |
| There are two basic types of individual and | | | | possibility of needing to seek care while far |
| family health insurance plans: indemnity and | | | | from home and the advantages of an indemnity |
| managed-care. An indemnity plan gives its | | | | or a more flexible managed-care plan, so that |
| policy holders more freedom to choose the | | | | unexpected out-of-network expenses can be |
| source of their health care, allowing them to | | | | covered. Women who expect to become pregnant |
| receive treatment where and from whom they | | | | during their plan year must carefully study |
| choose. It is also likely to require them to | | | | the coverage offered to them during pregnancy |
| pay out-of-pocket for the services they | | | | and delivery. No plan is right for everyone; |
| receive and file the paperwork themselves in | | | | thats part of the reason there are so many |
| order to be reimbursed. Many indemnity plans | | | | from which to choose. |
| also require higher deductibles that must be | | | | |
| met before the plan coverage will begin, and | | | | Making a smart choice requires thorough study |
| they also pay claims based on a percentage of | | | | of the plans available. The needs of every |
| the cost for the care. Managed-care plans, on | | | | person who will be covered by the plan should |
| the other hand are usually based on a network | | | | be taken into account. With careful |
| of approved health care providers from whom | | | | consideration and planning, those needs can |
| their policy holders can receive treatment. | | | | all be met affordably through family and |
| Because this network of providers has, in | | | | individual health insurance. |
| most cases, agreed to provide the treatment | | | | |