Individual Health Care Insurance: Frequent Questions Answered

How can I find an individual health insurance policy?

If health coverage is not offered through your employer, then you'll need to search for a policy that suits your budget and family's needs. This website is a great place to begin your search since professionals associated with our network search can assist you in quickly comparing prices on multiple policies within minutes. You can begin this process by requesting a free quote here.

Why should I buy medical insurance?

Health insurance protects you and your family financially. If you or a family member has a serious illness or accident, you can easily incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs. Health insurance also gives you easier access to medical providers like doctors and hospitals.

How do I find the best policy for my family?

Every family has different needs and preferences. Is it important for you to keep seeing a doctor of your choice? Do you have to provide insurance for children living in a different state? Do you like the flexibility of being able to see a specialist without first having to consult your family doctor? Your answers to these and other questions will determine what kind of policy you should buy.

What are managed care plans?

Managed care means the insurance company has some say in how and where you can spend your health care dollars. For example, you may need approval from your insurance carrier BEFORE you have an operation. Managed care plans are now part of most insurance policies.

What is a "fee for service" medical plan?

Fee-for-service is the traditional way of providing health coverage. You go to a doctor or other medical facility of your choice, and the insurance company pays for all or part of your bill. Usually you have to keep track of your medical bills and receipts, and there are often deductibles and caps on how much the company will spend on your medical care every year.

What is a "health maintenance organization"?

HMOs are health care plans that have put in place a network of doctors, hospitals and other health providers. Paying your insurance premium makes you a member of the HMO. You must get all your health care needs met within the network. There may be co-payments whenever you require care. The administrator of the HMO network keeps track of your bills. Usually your family doctor (primary care physician) is put in charge of your health. You are required to get this doctor's referral before seeing a specialist.

What is a "preferred provider organization"?

A PPO is a combination of fee-for-service and HMO. You choose from a list of providers who are members of the network. If you opt to go outside the network, you have to pay more for the service. A PPO allows for more flexibility than a HMO.

What are some of the advantages of these alternate plans?

Fee-for-service gives you more choices, but the premiums are usually the most expensive and you are responsible for more paperwork. HMOs limit your choices, and it may take longer to get appointments. However, if you need cheap coverage, a HMO may be your best option. No matter what kind of plan you choose, check out the list of providers. Do you live near a hospital that participates in the HMO or PPO you are interested in? What services and procedures are covered under each plan? What services are not covered?

What are some terms I should understand when I buy a health policy?

Deductible is the amount you pay yourself before your insurance company will begin reimbursing your medical bills. Exclusions are what the insurance policy will NOT cover. Co-payments are small charges you pay out-of-pocket when you use a medical provider. Premium is the amount of money you pay regularly for your health care coverage. Covered services are the ones listed in your policy that your carrier will pay all or a portion of. Whatever is not under covered services you will have to pay yourself.

Why should I use a professional agent when I buy health insurance?

There are no standard health care policies. Each one is unique so they can be difficult to compare. A policy may be the same price as another one, yet one may be better because it has a higher maximum coverage, it has no co-payments, etc. As a result, it is best to review them with someone who understands all of the language and terms.