| Individual health insurance plans and family health | | | | What Are Family Health Insurance Plans? |
| insurance plans, while basically the same, differ in | | | | As the name implies, family health insurance plans |
| degree of coverage as well as cost. Learn the | | | | are designed for families. However since these |
| difference between the two types of insurance | | | | family health insurance plans are covering more |
| products. | | | | than one person, the cost of these plans will be |
| Individual Health Insurance Plans and Family Health | | | | higher. As you may already have guessed, the |
| Insurance Plans - Do You Know the Difference? | | | | larger the family the larger the price tag. In |
| Trying to locate the right health insurance plan to | | | | addition, factors such as the ages, gender, and |
| fit your budget isn't always the easiest thing to do | | | | habits such as smoking or tobacco use in general |
| especially with the growing cost of health care | | | | etc. will largely determine how much this policy will |
| here in the United States. Determining what you | | | | cost you. As with individual health insurance |
| want a health insurance plan to accomplish for | | | | plans, there are indemnity plans that are available |
| you and your family and determining the needs to | | | | for families. And since these indemnity plans |
| be covered will help you decide what health | | | | offer the same freedoms as they do for the |
| insurance plan may work best you and your | | | | individual plans, these plans can be a real help |
| family. | | | | when having to deal with the health care needs of |
| What are Individual Health Insurance Plans? | | | | multiple people. |
| The first place to start our discussion is with the | | | | Family health insurance can also come in the |
| individual health insurance plan. An individual health | | | | managed care variety as well and pretty much |
| insurance plan is basically what it says it is. An | | | | work the same way as do the individual managed |
| individual health insurance plan is a health insurance | | | | care health insurance plans. The cost of the |
| plan for one person. If you find you have no | | | | family managed care plans will be higher than that |
| one else to insure with a health insurance policy | | | | of the individual managed care plan, but will cost |
| then this will be your best option from a cost | | | | less than a family indemnity plan. |
| standpoint. Keep in mind however that individual | | | | What Are Group Insurance Plans? |
| health insurance plans may vary widely in | | | | Many companies are now offering their |
| affordability depending on the type of coverage | | | | employees group health insurance coverage. |
| you choose for yourself. | | | | These employers may pay the bill for some of |
| The more traditional individual health care plan is | | | | the premium. Since many of these employers |
| called an indemnity plan. The indemnity plan | | | | now offer both types of health insurance |
| normally covers your visits to the doctor of your | | | | coverage, the type of policy you choose will |
| choosing and will cover the procedures that this | | | | determine your out-of-pocket costs. Generally |
| doctor may prescribe for you. The cost for this | | | | these group health insurance plans will cost you |
| indemnity plan will vary depending upon a | | | | less than a plan you were to purchase on your |
| deductible you choose for herself as well as your | | | | own. If this type of group insurance plan is |
| out-of-pocket limit. Keep in mind though that | | | | available to you at your workplace, you'll definitely |
| overall this type of health insurance plan is the | | | | want to take advantage of it. If it is not offered |
| more expensive of the individual health insurance | | | | at your workplace, perhaps you could suggest |
| plans but does offer you the most freedom of | | | | that your employer consider offering a group |
| choice. | | | | health insurance plan. |
| Individual managed care plans such as HMOs are | | | | If your plan at work does not include a health |
| less expensive than the indemnity plans but you | | | | insurance benefit or you are self employed or |
| need to be aware that you do give up some of | | | | simply looking to provide health insurance |
| the freedoms that are offered by the indemnity | | | | coverage for yourself and your family outside the |
| plan. Your freedom to choose your doctor is | | | | workplace environment, a great place to start |
| limited to the doctors on the HMO's approved list | | | | your research is Blue Cross Blue Shield (www dot |
| and any specialists that you may need to see will | | | | BCBS dot com) or Aetna (www dot aetna dot |
| have to be referred by this primary doctor. If | | | | com). This is not necessarily an endorsement but |
| primary yearly checkups and the occasional | | | | is a good place to start in understanding the types |
| antibiotics describes your current health care | | | | of health insurance plans available out there today. |
| needs, this plan may be the one for you. This | | | | These two large providers operate in most of our |
| plan will cover health emergencies but there may | | | | 50 states so your likelihood of learning about the |
| be just a few more hoops you have to jump | | | | types of health insurance plans available in your |
| through than with the Indemnity health care plan. | | | | state from different insurers is high. |
| Both of these health insurance plans, the | | | | As always, seek the advice of a professional |
| indemnity plan as well as the individual managed | | | | financial planner before deciding on a course of |
| care plan, may include dental coverage and | | | | action that you do not fully understand. |
| prescription coverage at an additional cost. | | | | |