| One of the most widely publicized and hotly | | | | amount of coverage can vary. Braces are |
| debated forms of insurance in America today, | | | | sometimes covered for minor dependents, and |
| health insurance is the subject of intense political | | | | more rarely for adults. Cosmetic procedures are |
| and social debate. A rapidly evolving and | | | | typically not covered. |
| extremely complex subject, health insurance is | | | | Vision insurance is often offered as a separate |
| also one of the most important benefits offered | | | | plan to go along with medical insurance. Vision |
| by many employers. | | | | plans typically cover an annual check-up, with |
| Types of Insurance | | | | glasses or contacts covered to a pre-determined |
| Medical Insurance typically covers and specifies | | | | limit every year or two. Necessary medical |
| payment levels for doctor visits and treatment, | | | | procedures to protect or correct eye health are |
| medications, hospital stays, emergency room | | | | usually covered. At this time LASIK or other |
| visits, surgical treatment, and so forth. There | | | | corrective procedures are rarely covered. |
| are wide variations in coverage plans, with | | | | Managed Care |
| numerous combinations of covered and excluded | | | | One of the biggest trends in medical insurance |
| items, different coverage levels, deductible | | | | over the past two decades in the United States |
| amounts, and other variables that make it | | | | has been the rise of managed care as a primary |
| impossible to offer a general statement regarding | | | | delivery model for medical care. Based on the |
| all coverage plans. Many employers offer an | | | | concept of centralized decision making, pooled |
| open enrollment period annually, during which | | | | resources, and efficient delivery of services, |
| employees may select from different coverage | | | | Health Management Organizations, or HMOs, do |
| plans. Careful selection of the appropriate plan | | | | offer economical coverage, often at much lower |
| for each individual is a critical task. | | | | premiums than privately managed insurance |
| Dental Insurance is sometimes included in medical | | | | plans. Critics, however, point to longer wait |
| plans, but more often it is a separate policy. | | | | times for appointments, fewer physicians from |
| Virtually all dental plans cover annual or | | | | which to choose, and often the need for specialist |
| semi-annual cleanings and check-ups, with many | | | | referrals as weaknesses of the HMO mode. |
| plans increasing the covered percentage with | | | | Regardless of the advantages or disadvantages |
| regular appointment attendance over time. | | | | of HMOs, it seems certain that this organizational |
| Routine treatments such as cavity fillings, bridges, | | | | model will continue to grow in popularity. |
| and the like, are also typically covered, though the | | | | |