A Beginners Guide to Health Insurance

Medical costs can add up quickly and strain your finances, causing them to go into debt or even file for bankruptcy. For this reason, you need a health insurance plan to protect your health and finances. Getting health insurance can be challenging, especially for the first time, whether through the federal marketplace, your employer, or directly with an insurance company. Luckily, this guide provides health insurance 101 to help you get acquainted with the coverage. Let’s get started.

What Is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is a contract between a person and a health insurance provider, usually an insurance company. The concept of health insurance 101 is the insurer protects you financially from high medical bills and healthcare service costs. Policyholders pay a premium periodically to get protection for a future event. For instance, you can access various medical services if you pay timely contributions.

As per health insurance 101, insurance is meant to help people deal with the financial risks of health care. Research by CNBC states that about 530,000 families file for bankruptcy yearly because of health problems and medical bills. Insurance acts as a safety net, ensuring users get the medical care they need without paying much. The insurance plans vary depending on cost, scope of coverage, primary care provider and hospitals. This diversity lets people choose the plan that fits their needs and budget.

How to Get a Health Insurance Plan

When looking for a health insurance plan, consider your budget, health and wellness needs, and unique medical conditions or treatments you need. This self-evaluation will help you determine the kind of insurance you should get. Luckily, insurance brokers can take you through the various options and help you choose the most suitable.

You can also get health insurance through your employer. According to the Affordable Care Act, companies with 50 or more full-time workers must give employees affordable health insurance. If your business meets this standard, you can join the company’s health insurance plan, which pays for all or part of your spouse’s or children’s health insurance. Family law expects parents to provide health care for their children. Couples in different companies can compare plans and sign up for the best coverage.

You can also get health insurance independently if you work for a small company part-time or are self-employed. Health Insurance 101: find various health insurance plans, and compare the prices and coverage details. Ideally, you should choose the most affordable without compromising on quality.

Handling Health Insurance Disputes

Getting health insurance is just part of health insurance 101 – the basics. Sometimes, things get complicated, and the insurance company may fail to pay for claims. Yet another problem comes when you are involved in accidents. Will health insurance cover the accident, or do you need personal accident insurance?

Accident insurance differs from conventional health insurance. Health caters for treatment and hospitalisation expenses, including treatment for injuries caused by accidents. This means it can cover surgical and dental expenses. On the other hand, accident insurance only compensates for expenses emanating from accidents. Therefore, accident insurance is supplemental. If you are caught in the middle, seek assistance from car crash attorneys.

Your lawyer will appeal against the decision and have it reviewed internally or externally. With external review, a third party comes into the picture, and the insurer has no say in the final decision. But that rarely goes without a fight. Therefore, you should seek representation from an insurance dispute lawyer for a favorable outcome.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost?

As mentioned, the costs for health insurance plans vary depending on the policy plan and coverage it offers. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, a single person’s average annual insurance cost is $7,911, and $22,463 for a family. When picking a plan, it’s also important to consider your monthly contributions and the deductible. If you choose a plan with a lower premium and a high deductible, you’ll pay massive medical bills before your insurance kicks in. Ideally, you want a with a low deductible and premiums.

Health Insurance Plans You Should Know

The importance of health insurance plans can’t be overstated. But which health insurance should you choose? To help you, part of health insurance 101 is the different types of health insurance, as explained below.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

HMO plans usually require policyholders to choose a primary care physician who works as a gatekeeper for specialist referrals. You can only get care from doctors and hospitals in the plan’s network unless it’s an emergency or with permission from the primary care provider. HMOs usually have lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, but they don’t give you much freedom when picking doctors.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

Compared to HMO plans, PPO plans give you more freedom. You can see the doctors you want, including those outside the network. You can also visit a specialist without a referral. Therefore, you get access to a larger network of doctors and experts. However, sticking within the network costs less. On the downside, PPO plans have relatively higher premiums.

EPO Exclusive Provider Organizations

EPOs are a mixture of HMOs and PPOs. They require policyholders to use providers in the plan’s network. You need recommendations from a primary care physician to see a specialist. EPO plans may have lower premiums than PPO plans, but you still have some freedom in picking your healthcare providers.

Point of Service (POS)

POS plans to blend parts of HMOs and PPOs. Policyholders must choose a primary care physician and get recommendations for specialist care. Like PPO plans, POS plans let members get care outside their network, but this usually means they have to pay more out-of-pocket. POS plans give you a good mix between saving money and getting the services you need.

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

Compared to traditional plans, HDHPs have lower premiums but bigger deductibles. According to Forbes, a plan with a high deductible costs $1,500 for single coverage and $3,000 for a family plan. These plans usually come with a health savings account, which enables you to save for medical expenses tax-free. HDHPs are a perfect choice if you are healthy and want lower monthly premiums but are willing to pay more for routine medical costs.

The Medical Services a Health Insurance Can Cover

Understanding health insurance 101 isn’t complete if you don’t know the various medical services health insurance plans cover. Details of coverage can vary by plan and insurance company. That said, below are some of the most popular medical services that health insurance can pay for.

• Consultations and doctor visits: This includes trips to primary care doctors, also called family doctors, and specialists such as audiologists, cardiologists, dermatologists, neurologists, and throat doctors. During these trips, you might get a regular checkup, preventive care, diagnostic tests, or talk to a doctor about a specific health problem.
• Hospitalization: Health insurance covers hospital stays, including room charges, surgery, anesthesia, medical tests, nursing care, and medicine given during the stay. Coverage may also include intensive care units (ICUs), visits to the emergency room, and transportation to a hospital in an emergency.
• Surgical operations: Most health insurance plans cover surgical operations, whether they are done in hospitals or outpatient surgical centers. It covers small and big surgeries, like replacing a joint, oral surgeries, or organ transplants.
• Prescription drugs: The coverage can differ regarding the covered drugs, tiered formularies which determine copayments for different types of drugs, and requirements like prior authorization or step treatment. There may be a network of pharmacies that insurance companies prefer, and customers may have to use these pharmacies to get the full benefits.
• Services for Preventive Care: Preventive care includes regular checkups, vaccinations, screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, and cholesterol checks, and guidance to keep people healthy and find problems early. Most people don’t have to pay much or anything for preventive care.
• Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests: Most health insurance plans cover lab tests, diagnostic imaging X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other diagnostic treatments. These tests help doctors make correct diagnoses and track how treatments are going.
• Mental Health Services: Health insurance plans offer mental health services, such as therapy and counseling for people with mental health problems. It could include meetings with qualified psychologists, psychiatrists, or therapists. The insurance could cover both outpatient and hospital mental health care.
• Care for pregnant women and their unborn babies: Most health insurance plans cover maternity care, such as prenatal checkups, ultrasounds, and giving birth. This coverage may also cover care for the mother and baby after birth, such as stays in the hospital and baby checkups.
• Rehabilitation and Therapies: Health insurance can cover physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. People recovering from accidents, surgeries, or long-term illnesses often need these services.
• Medical Equipment and Supplies: Some health insurance plans cover permanent medical equipment like wheelchairs, crutches, diabetic supplies, and home oxygen equipment. Coverage can differ based on what medical care is needed and how the plan is set up.

Remember that insurance plans and providers can offer different benefits. You should read their insurance policy papers, summary of benefits, and any coverage limits or exclusions carefully. That’s health insurance 101. The aim is to fully understand what medical services are covered and if there are requirements or restrictions.

Health Insurance for Pets

Health insurance for pets, also called pet insurance, is a type of coverage that pays for pet care. It covers the costs of medical care, surgery, medication, and other veterinarian services. Like health insurance for people, pet insurance is usually based on a reimbursement plan. It’s a vital part of health insurance 101 you must understand.

Pet owners pay the insurance company a monthly or annual premium for coverage. When a pet needs medical care, you send a claim to the insurance company and the vet hospital bills. You’ll be reimbursed for qualifying costs up to the coverage limits and per the policy terms.

Common Misconceptions About Healthcare

Problems can arise when people misunderstand health care insurance. For instance, many people think health insurance pays for everything. Luckily, health insurance 101 imparts you with the basics of health insurance and the misconceptions you must know.
Health insurance covers medical services but doesn’t pay for every treatment, drug, or operation. The policy for each insurance plan spells out the limits, exemptions, and coverage requirements. People need to look over the insurance details and understand what they mean.

Another misconception is that health insurance is expensive and unaffordable. Even though the cost of health insurance can vary, some choices are affordable, such as government programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid is a program run by the federal government and the states that caters to people over 65 or younger individuals with certain disabilities or health problems. It helps low-income people pay their medical bills.

Healthcare Terms You Should Understand

Understanding healthcare terms is part of health insurance 101. It helps you make smart healthcare choices. Here are some important words and phrases you should know.

• Premium: Your premium is the monthly amount you pay to your health insurance company to get benefits and stay on the plan.
• Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before your health insurance starts catering for your expenses.
• Copayment: Out-of-pocket fixed payments for certain healthcare services such as periodontics or medicines. It kicks in after paying the full deductible. Most of the time, the rates are flat, like $10 per doctor’s visit or $15 for some medicines.
• Coinsurance is another cost-sharing payment you may make out of your pocket when you get certain healthcare services or medicines. For example, let’s say you must pay 10% of the cost of a $100 visit to the doctor. For every $100 that your insurance pays for a doctor’s visit, you will have to pay $10.
• Out-of-pocket maximum: This is the most you must pay for qualified health care services during a certain period, usually a year. Once you hit this limit, your insurance will pay for all of the covered services you need.
• Preauthorization: Before your health insurance pays for specific medical procedures like oral surgery, treatments, or medication, some plans need you to get preauthorization first. Before getting a service, you must get preauthorization from your insurance company to ensure it meets certain coverage standards.

Health Insurance is crucial in safeguarding your health and financial well-being. Health insurance 101 imparts you with the fundamentals of health insurance, enabling you to select a plan that aligns with your preferences and financial capabilities. Seek guidance from insurance professionals to get coverage tailored to your health needs. Health insurance is essential to securing your well-being and peace of mind. Enroll for coverage today.