Copays and Deductibles - How Are They Different?

The features and benefits of health plans are confusing. Many people think that they have to hit their deductible before they can use their copays. They do not have to hit your deductible before you can use your copays.

There are two separate buckets. One bucket is a hospitalization and out-patient bucket. The second bucket is a copay bucket. They are completely separate buckets. Let's look at the first bucket - the deductible and coinsurance bucket:

For example: If you need to have your appendix removed, you will go to the hospital. Perhaps it will cost $30,000 for the operation. What do you pay? You will pay your deductible and your coinsurance. The remainder that is due is paid by the insurance company.

Coinsurance? What is that? You have never heard of that! You and Blue Cross co-insure the first $10,000 of the $30,000 operation. If you have a 70/30 plan, you will pay 30% of the first $10,000 or $3,000 and Blue Cross will pay $7,000. After you have paid your deductible, of let's say $2,500 and your $3000 coinsurance, you do not owe any more. It doesn't matter if it was a $1,200,000 operation, you don't have to pay any more than the $5,500, ($2,500 + $3000). If anything else happens to you the entire year, you don't pay anything more for deductibles or coinsurance. You may have copays to pay if you visit a doctor.

Now, let's look at the copay bucket:

For example, you wake up with a head cold that is really hurting you. You know that if you don't see a doctor, this problem could progress to a more serious illness. When you go to the doctor, you will have to pay the copay  typically $30. Who pays the rest? The insurance company pays the doctor the difference between the copay you paid and the total charge.

They are separate:

The (copays) and (deductibles and coinsurance) are separate. If you are hospitalized, copays do not apply. You will pay your deductible and coinsurance.

On the other hand, if you go to see the doctor for a sick visit, you only pay a copay  no deductible and coinsurance involved here.

So, you can see that copays are very different from deductibles and coinsurance. Copays are available to use immediately, and that probably makes you happy.

RichDayHealthPlans.com is dedicated to educating individuals and families in the various terms, and concepts involved in purchasing health insurance. There are many videos available on the blog which makes it easy and quick to learn. Click to access Health Insurance Training Videos

Health Insurance For Those With Pre-Existing Conditions

Have you been rated up or declined for health insurance recently? Do you know that it is probably because of your pre-existing conditions?

There are many people that are uninsured, underinsured, or not even able to get insurance and are facing very serious health issues. These includes heart attacks, diabetes, strokes, liver disease, HIV, pregnancy, kidney disease, and many other horrible things. If you have any of these pre existing conditions you might be declined for health coverage or it might be too expensive for you. Even overweight individuals are starting to be turned down.

There are choices for those that have pre existing conditions, even if you have been turned down before you do have options. Here are some of the options you have.

- Discount health cards

- State risk pool (available in some, but not all states)

- Health Insurance with a Guaranteed Issue

- Employer-sponsored group health plan

- Individual health insurance

You should be warned, though. Your health insurance is going to be high enough that it will have an impact on your lifestyle. Insurance companies do not really care about you. They care about the bottom line and they have to protect themselves from losing money.

If you have pre existing conditions and you are struggling to find health insurance, then check out the options above, and you can even talk to someone in the chamber of commerce to see if they have a solution. They usually have many contacts and this can lead to exactly what you are looking for.

Discover the best ways to get Health Insurance here:

Health Insurance

How to Compare Medical Insurance Quotes Quickly

Most Americans need health insurance and finding a great plan at a low price can take time. One great benefit about the Internet is that you can use it to find and gather information quickly. Using it to your advantage, you can find the right insurance plan and the best price quickly. You don't have to visit a health insurance agent or go see an insurance company. Instead, usually you only need to fill out a short to medium sized form or application in order to receive a quote. Besides price, when considering online medical insurance quotes, there are certain medical insurance details or factors you need to consider in order to effectively compare medical insurance plans or quotes.

There are three ways by which you can apply for a medical insurance policy. You can contact insurance companies by phone, use a broker or by just use your computer online. Out of theses three ways, getting a quote online is the easiest. In order to get the best medical insurance quotes, you usually fill out form on websites in which you will be asked specific questions. Try to use forms that ask you many questions, because that means the quotes are more tailored to the type of plan you will need and therefore the price is more accurate.

There are many factors to consider as well when shopping for medical insurance online. When you do get an insurance quote online, in order to effectively compare health insurance quotes you need to make sure the the companies you are comparing have similar plans for your needs. Understanding how emergency visits are covered, in patient and out patient costs, deductibles and copays and other medical insurance details is important. You need to compare all aspects of a plan and not base your decision solely on price or premiums. Overall, Before choosing a plan, make sure that it provides the necessary coverage at an affordable price.

You will notice that with any medical insurance company you work with, they will ask you about your medical history any preconditions you may have. Usually your monthly cost or premium amount can be reduced if your state of health is good.

Overall, there are a few advantages to shopping for medical insurance online. First you can quickly obtain quotes for different medical insurance companies which saves you time. Second, the access you have to quick quotes actually saves you money because you can peruse different plans from many companies quickly. Another advantage of using online insurance quote is that you can avoid the agents and brokers who stand in between you and the insurance company. Last but not least, make sure you do your due diligence in comparing any plan. Some people go for the cheap insurance quotes. Be weary of insurance priced way below competitors with similar plans. A good general rule to is that when comparing plans deductibles usually go up and your copay goes down.

MedicalDebtHelp.com is a company that provides articles, advice and resources to help keep your medical bills and Medical Debt low. We also provide expert advice and recommended medical insurance companies

Discount Plans Offer Viable Alternative to Health Insurance For Small Business Owners

In light of recent events with the economy, small business owners have many things to consider when managing their business finances. One of those considerations is providing health benefits to their employees. Providing health and dental benefits can be costly; however, surveys consistently show that insufficient availability of health benefits is second only to bad working conditions as the reason that employees change jobs voluntarily. It's a fact that companies with health benefits have higher employee retention rates. While the cost of healthcare and health insurance continues to rise and businesses are looking to reduce their overall costs, small business owners are confronted with the dilemma of providing affordable benefits.

Consumer-driven healthcare plans are an increasingly popular option in the healthcare industry, especially among small and medium size businesses. The basic concept behind consumer-driven healthcare is that although deductibles will be higher, monthly premiums will be significantly less, therefore substantially reducing healthcare costs over the long run. In fact, a new survey by employee-benefit advisory company, United Benefit Advisors, Inc., shows that the total number of consumer-driven plans has increased this year by 43%, now accounting for 13% of all plans offered by employers. Since monthly premiums are considerably less than traditional insurance, it allows employers to provide benefits to their employees while saving them substantial amounts of money. They can be set up as contributory or non-contributory plans and can be offered to both full time and part time employees, unlike traditional insurance, where the cost of providing benefits to part time employees would be prohibitive.

The various benefits of discount plans over traditional insurance are many. For example, there is typically no waiting period, no limit on the number of services or visits, no age restrictions or physicals, no paperwork or claims, and ongoing medical conditions are accepted. In many cases, especially with dental insurance, consumers could pay less for services received with discount plans than with conventional insurance due to plan limitations, deductibles and caps.

For small and medium size business owners looking to provide affordable benefits for their employees or are simply looking to reduce costs, discount plans are an option worth looking into.

For more information about discount plans, visit http://www.ameriplanusa.com or call 847-590-0192.

Christine Andersen,
Benefits Specialist
847-590-0192
CAndersen@ameriplan.net

Mental Health Insurance and Parity

Mental Health Insurance will soon be treated the same as medical and surgical benefits. Addiction Treatment benefits will have the same rate of return as those as a surgical procedure. When the congressional economic recovery package was signed on October 3rd the Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act was a rider on that package.

This Act will lead to wholesale changes in the way insurance benefits are written for those suffering with mental health problems and addiction problems. Since 1973 when HMOS started limiting the treatment benefits for addicts and alcoholics the number of days allowed in drug rehabs has dwindled to what it is today. Some policies allow only detox with no reimbursement for any continuing care or aftercare.

Families faced with the financial cost for addiction treatment often felt betrayed by the provider when the coverage just wasn't there. Some people would mortgage their homes others would be forced to put the bill on their credit cards and still others just went without treatment.

The Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act will impact over 100 million people enrolled in state regulated or employer-funded plans. The bill will go into effect in January 1, 2010. This is not a free pass for drug rehab centers and eating disorder treatment programs to bill providers outrageously. Benefits will continue to be managed and medical necessity will still have to be proven. What this bill does accomplish is group health plans will be required to raise the cap to match the medical surgical plans giving the coverage necessary for addicts, alcoholics and those with mental health problems to receive the help they deserve.

Dan C's career in the addiction field spans twenty-five years. He has held positions in all phases of administration and clinical services in Treatment Facilities throughout the state of Florida. He is currently employed by http://www.recoveryconnection.org

Comparing Individual and Family Health Insurance

If you are working to have your family covered by a health insurance plan, you may be looking at a number of options for how to best get everyone the coverage they need.

Generally, there are two ways to go - individual health insurance plans or family health insurance plans. An individual health insurance plan will do just what you would expect, insure just one individual, by name. A family health insurance plan on the other hand will cover all the members of your immediate family, usually two parents and all their children.

If you have a large family, what you need to have may be a no-brainer - have family insurance that will cover you, your spouse and all the kids. But what if there aren't as many of you? Today's families come in all sizes. Some couples have only one child. Other families have only one parent with a child or two. In these cases, a family plan may not be the best deal out there.

For the most part the price of a family plan is meant to cover two parents and two children. If your family is smaller than this, it is a good idea to compare the price of individual policies for the members of your family as well as the price for a family plan.

There are some important considerations to make before you decide what type of plan you want to go with other than what the premiums will be.

What are the deductibles? The premium is just one part of what you will pay for health insurance. You also need to know what the deductible will be once you need medical attention. If your deductibles are too high, you may always feel like you are paying a fortune in medical bills before the insurance ever kicks in.

Is your doctor included? If you are very fond of your particular doctor, you need to make sure that person is in the plan that you go with. Different insurance companies have different networks of doctors that they approve of. Make sure your doctor is included.

Are there preexisting conditions? If anyone in your family has preexisting health conditions, you could be in for trouble. Many insurance companies will not accept individual policies for those who have preexisting health conditions like diabetes or cancer. In this case you will have to look back to a family plan that must accept all the members of the family.

Do you have high-risk habits? Health insurance companies are keeping an eye on a lot of health conditions these days to see who is at risk and who is likely going to be less of an expense to them. Two of the things they look at are if the candidate is a smoker or overweight as both of these are linked to medical conditions down the road.

Steve Sikes is an MBA and writes articles on insurance and other financial products. To read other educational articles on insurance at the InsuredItAll Learning Center or to get free insurance quotes for auto, home, health, life or long term care insurance, you will want to visit http://www.InsuredItAll.com

Importance of Group Health Insurance

Term group plan means that all the employees must compulsorily accept the coverage despite of physical condition. Usually the employee has to pay the first premium within 30 days of employment or he will be forfeited from the right to automatic coverage. Group health plans include employer sponsored ERISA plans - both insured and self insured and non- ERISA plans such as church plans. Group insurance is generally the least expensive kind. Some organizations offer only one health insurance plan and others offer a variety of plans like indemnity plan, health maintenance organization (HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO). This type of group health insurance is famous in California.

Indemnity health insurance plans gives you the benefit of choosing a licensed doctor of your choice and then pay him for the services at the time of the visit. To receive payment for medical expenses you have to fill a form and send them to insurer. Sometimes your doctor may do this for you. You also have to keep receipts for prescription drugs. If you want this type of insurance you have to keep track of all your medical expenses. This type of plan is mostly found in rural areas. Certain features include your choice of deductibles, coinsurance levels, maximums and benefit levels.

In health maintenance organization (HMO) you have to pay a monthly fee called a premium. But you can't choose a licensed doctor of your choice in this type of health insurance. The health insurance company has a huge number of physician networks who provide a wide variety of medical benefits. From this network, you choose a primary care physician who will take care of your health related problems. The choice of doctors and hospitals are limited those within the network since they have agreements with the HMO to provide your health care. The health care services generally require you to make a co-payment. If the HMO is efficient and keeps its members healthy, it will make a profit. But if there are too many members who need care its profits are smaller or it may lose money.

Preferred provider organizations are made up of physicians, hospitals, or other providers which provide health care services at a reduced fee. PPOs offer more flexibility by allowing members to meet a licensed doctor who are out of network at a greater expense to the policy holder. But if visits are made within the network it requires only a small fee. There is often a deductible for out of network expenses and a higher co-payment.

Peter is a seo copywriter for artificial grass. Eco Alliance Synthetic Grass specializes in the distribution and installation of synthetic grass for commercial and residential applications .Contact her through mail at brayan.peter@gmail.com

Free Health Insurance Leads - Exclusively For Your State

Everywhere I look on the internet I see that when it comes to looking for health insurance leads, that typically you will have to pay anywhere from $5 a lead all the way up to $20 or more if they are exclusive health insurance leads.

The lower end priced leads are lower for a reason because they are shared. A typical shared lead is resold about 3 - 5 times and then in some cases I have found these leads to be resold up to 10 times which not only puts a bunch of stress on the health insurance agent, but also on the consumer because they were definitely not expecting that many phone calls to their house.

The higher end priced leads are typically exclusive meaning that if you were to purchase these leads it will cost you anywhere from $15 up to about $25. The companies claim that you will have a higher percentage of closing this type of lead simply because you are supposed to be the only person that gets it. In most cases this is true, but every once-in-awhile you will find that still the person fills out more then just 1 form and so you could be back in the same situation as with a shared lead.

Now what if I were to tell you that you could have the best of both worlds and even for free? You probably would think that this would be some type of trial period or the first "X" amount of leads are free, but then it's "X" amount per lead afterwords. I totally understand your skepticism as not only you, but I have experienced disappointment after disappointment for trying to get good leads at a good price.

Now let me share with you how you can obtain these free health insurance leads. I have put together a site that will allow everyone to win. This site will no doubt be able to do what I claim as long as we work together. I really don't need your money, but I will need something else from you.

To see how you can obtain exclusive rights for health insurance leads in your state I want you to visit my site and click on "agents" and then contact me if your state is still available because no one else is doing what I'm doing.

I look forward to hearing from you and working with you!

Steve Blanchard

http://mymedquote.net

Discount Plans Offer Viable Alternative to Traditional Health Insurance

In light of recent events with the economy, consumers are searching for more affordable ways to save on the increasing costs of healthcare and health insurance. The average cost of a family insurance policy has topped $12,000 a year. While most families are fortunate enough to be part of group plans and therefore are only paying a portion of that premium, the premiums continue to rise resulting in a larger amount workers have deducted to pay for health coverage. For those not covered by their employers, these premiums must be paid completely out of pocket, not to mention the co-pays and deductibles associated with insurance plans. For the unfortunate 47 million Americans without any type of health coverage and another 100 million without dental coverage, the costs of healthcare for themselves and their families can be astronomical.

Consumer driven healthcare plans are an increasingly popular option in the healthcare industry. The basic concept behind consumer driven healthcare is that although deductibles will be higher, monthly premiums will be significantly less, therefore substantially reducing healthcare costs over the long run. Discount health and dental plans fall into this category. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars in monthly premiums, the cost of discount plans are a fraction of the cost. When members go to a provider (doctor, dentist, chiropractor, etc) instead of paying full price, as they would without any type of coverage, the consumer pays at discounted rates.

The various benefits of discount plans over traditional insurance are many. For example, there is typically no waiting period, no limit on the number of services or visits, no age restrictions or physicals, no paperwork or claims, and ongoing medical conditions are accepted. In many cases, especially with dental insurance, consumers could pay less for services received with discount plans than with conventional insurance due to plan limitations, deductibles and caps.

For those who cannot afford insurance, those who cannot obtain traditional plans because of pre-existing conditions or those in need of supplemental benefits, discount health and dental plans might be a viable alternative. The discounts will vary from company to company and therefore it is important to research the various discount plans available.

For more information about health and dental discount programs, visit http://www.ameriplanusa.com or call 847-590-0192.

Christine Andersen,
Benefits Specialist
CAndersen@ameriplan.net

Medical Care Options For Uninsured Americans

These days, with the economy, job loss, and numerous other financial problems, the problem of no health insurance is on the minds of many Americans. This is not a new problem, but with so many people facing this question, it's come to the forefront once again.

So what are the options for people who don't have health insurance? What happens when they get sick, have an injury, or just need a regular check up? The price of healthcare is not going down, but the need for healthcare hasn't diminished either. A mother with a sick child can't very well dismiss the need to see a doctor because she has no health insurance, so what does she do? An elderly man may have Medicare, but that is not always sufficient for all his needs.

This healthcare crisis is very real in our country and unfortunately it doesn't look like it is going to get any better. One of the two presidential candidates promises to deregulate healthcare and give individuals and families with employment health insurance the option of buying their own insurance on the open market.

Employers will be required to pay taxes on the insurance they purchase on behalf of their employees. This proposed measure is sure prompt employers to stop providing health insurance. The result will be millions of people without health insurance who are forced to seek insurance on the open market. Insurance cost, due to deregulation is sure to increase, forcing many Americans to go without insurance.

How do the uninsured get medical care? In very creative ways if you take the time to search for them. There are three sources of medical care that the uninsured can tap into. These sources are not widely known but they are a blessing to millions of Americans who are desperate for medical attention. Colleges and Universities, Community/Public Health Clinics, and Medical Study Participation are the three sources of medical care that individuals and families without health insurance can use for their healthcare needs.

Colleges and Universities

Most college and university campuses that have a medical and/or dental program have a clinic. Students in these programs must have practical experience so the school establishes a lab. This lab is the place for students to practice what they have learned for the last few months or years of study. The students must have patients to work on so this is where you come in. the process is simple for the most part and requires a standard application, appointment time and small fee.

A search through the phone book or website will give you the contact information you need. Call or email the clinic on campus for information and an appointment. If the clinic has a page on the school's website you should be able to gather the majority of the information you need from there.

Some clinics will have either an online application or a downloadable application that you can submit ahead of time or bring for your appointment. Appointment times may be easy to obtain or difficult depending on the popularity of the clinic. Sometimes the next appointment available may be weeks or months away, but don't let that discourage you. Make an appointment anyway and call periodically to see if there is a cancellation.

The fees are usually quite low and affordable for the average person. Depending on the services you may pay a fee of $25 up to $125. The clinic nearest you can give you exact amounts. Some clinics may have a sliding scale system where the fee is based on your income.

The students providing the services are upper level and provide care under the supervision of an experienced instructor. They are extra careful and take their time because their grade depends on the quality of service. You may spend a little longer than usual in the clinic because the thoroughness of the care takes priority over the swiftness you may be accustomed to.

Read about the other two ways to get healthcare if you don't have insurance here.

(c) 2008 Samantha Gregory

If you would like an article like this for your website or newsletter contact Samantha Gregory. Samantha is a freelance copywriter with 12 years of proven writing experience. She's written for NASA, Fortune 500 companies, and is waiting to add your company to the list. Visit http://www.samanthagregory.com to learn how Samantha can help you get your message across to the masses or your target audience.

Importance of Group Health Insurance

Term group plan means that all the employees must compulsorily accept the coverage despite of physical condition. Usually the employee has to pay the first premium within 30 days of employment or he will be forfeited from the right to automatic coverage. Group health plans include employer sponsored ERISA plans - both insured and self insured and non- ERISA plans such as church plans. Group insurance is generally the least expensive kind. Some organizations offer only one health insurance plan and others offer a variety of plans like indemnity plan, health maintenance organization (HMO), or a preferred provider organization (PPO). This type of group health insurance is famous in California.

Indemnity health insurance plans gives you the benefit of choosing a licensed doctor of your choice and then pay him for the services at the time of the visit. To receive payment for medical expenses you have to fill a form and send them to insurer. Sometimes your doctor may do this for you. You also have to keep receipts for prescription drugs. If you want this type of insurance you have to keep track of all your medical expenses. This type of plan is mostly found in rural areas. Certain features include your choice of deductibles, coinsurance levels, maximums and benefit levels.

In health maintenance organization (HMO) you have to pay a monthly fee called a premium. But you can't choose a licensed doctor of your choice in this type of health insurance. The health insurance company has a huge number of physician networks who provide a wide variety of medical benefits. From this network, you choose a primary care physician who will take care of your health related problems. The choice of doctors and hospitals are limited those within the network since they have agreements with the HMO to provide your health care. The health care services generally require you to make a co-payment. If the HMO is efficient and keeps its members healthy, it will make a profit. But if there are too many members who need care its profits are smaller or it may lose money.

Preferred provider organizations are made up of physicians, hospitals, or other providers which provide health care services at a reduced fee. PPOs offer more flexibility by allowing members to meet a licensed doctor who are out of network at a greater expense to the policy holder. But if visits are made within the network it requires only a small fee. There is often a deductible for out of network expenses and a higher co-payment.

Peter is a seo copywriter for artificial grass. Eco Alliance Synthetic Grass specializes in the distribution and installation of synthetic grass for commercial and residential applications .Contact her through mail at brayan.peter@gmail.com

Free Health Insurance Leads - Exclusively For Your State

Everywhere I look on the internet I see that when it comes to looking for health insurance leads, that typically you will have to pay anywhere from $5 a lead all the way up to $20 or more if they are exclusive health insurance leads.

The lower end priced leads are lower for a reason because they are shared. A typical shared lead is resold about 3 - 5 times and then in some cases I have found these leads to be resold up to 10 times which not only puts a bunch of stress on the health insurance agent, but also on the consumer because they were definitely not expecting that many phone calls to their house.

The higher end priced leads are typically exclusive meaning that if you were to purchase these leads it will cost you anywhere from $15 up to about $25. The companies claim that you will have a higher percentage of closing this type of lead simply because you are supposed to be the only person that gets it. In most cases this is true, but every once-in-awhile you will find that still the person fills out more then just 1 form and so you could be back in the same situation as with a shared lead.

Now what if I were to tell you that you could have the best of both worlds and even for free? You probably would think that this would be some type of trial period or the first "X" amount of leads are free, but then it's "X" amount per lead afterwords. I totally understand your skepticism as not only you, but I have experienced disappointment after disappointment for trying to get good leads at a good price.

Now let me share with you how you can obtain these free health insurance leads. I have put together a site that will allow everyone to win. This site will no doubt be able to do what I claim as long as we work together. I really don't need your money, but I will need something else from you.

To see how you can obtain exclusive rights for health insurance leads in your state I want you to visit my site and click on "agents" and then contact me if your state is still available because no one else is doing what I'm doing.

I look forward to hearing from you and working with you!

Steve Blanchard

http://mymedquote.net

Where to Get Cheap International Travel Health Insurance

Whether you're taking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or just another business trip away from your family, if you're traveling to a foreign country you need to buy international travel health insurance.

Here's how you can find a cheap policy that will still provide the coverage you need.

But I Already Have Health Insurance!

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all U.S. citizens who travel to another country have some sort of health problem during their trip.

Think you'll be covered if you need medical assistance? Well, you may have a great health insurance policy at home, but few insurance companies provide coverage when you travel to another country. Of course, you can always check with your own insurance company before deciding to buy an extra policy.

What Does This Type of Policy Cover?

This type of policy will help cover your medical expenses in case of an accident or medical emergency. In addition, policies can also offer the following coverages:

* Trip cancellation and interruption

* Medical evacuation

* Lost or stolen luggage

Some policies also offer 24/7 travel assistance services should you have any problems during your trip.

Choosing a Policy

Travel health insurance policies are relatively inexpensive, usually just a few dollars a day for the duration of your trip. You need to make sure that the policy you choose covers the length of time you will be away: some policies require trips be at least 15 days while other policies cover trips as short as one day.

Where to Get an Inexpensive Policy

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/health-insurance.html or click on the following link to get international travel health insurance quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more tips and advice in their Articles section, and get answers to your questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.

The authors, Brian Stevens and Stacey Schifferdecker, have spent 30 years in the insurance and finance industries, and have written numerous articles on travel health insurance.

Cheapest Health Insurance Buying Tips For You Now

With ever increasing medical expenses and higher health insurance premiums, the American health care system is becoming harder to access. But the cheapest health insurance is a must have, because without health insurance we are vulnerable to bankruptcy causing medical bills. This article has some tips to help you to have the cheapest health insurance you need.

Do whatever you can to be healthier. Exercise, eat right and follow your doctors advice. This is because healthy people incur fewer medical expenses. Health insurance companies know this, and they will offer lower premiums to those who are healthier. The insurers know that healthy people submit fewer claims, and cost the insurer less money.

What are your top priorities in medical care? Find a plan that fits our own personal priorities. Do you have a doctor that you have been seeing for a while, and do you like him or her? Well, be sure to get a health insurance plan that lets you choose your own doctors. Are you more concerned about lower costs than freedom of choice? Then consider joining a plan that has lower premiums in exchange for coverage limited to members of a network.

Take the time to run the numbers and compare the different plans that are available to you. Compare insurance companies online to see what their rates and coverage are. Consider using an insurance broker, as they will likely have access to insurers and plans that you may not find on your own.

You may save money by opting for a short term plan rather than a major medical plan, but there are trade-offs. Preexisting conditions may not be covered by the short term plan. If you develop a health problem while on the short term plan and decide to switch to a major medical plan, you may need to wait for a period of time until your condition is covered.

Shopping for lower health insurance premiums is important and easy!

Visit http://www.healthinsurancetrends.info/heath_insurance.php for more valuable tips that can get you cheap health insurance quotes right now!

Affordable Family Health Insurance Saving Tips You Can Use

With ever increasing healthcare costs, we all need to aware of every opportunity to save money on our health care expenses. Even saving small amounts can add up over time to big savings. In addition to being healthy as a means of saving money, this article will present some helpful tips to save money on health care. Affordable family health insurance includes watching for ways to save.

Prescription drug costs keep increasing, but there are some things that you can do to help control the cost. If you happen to live near the Canadian border, you may know someone who crosses the border to get their prescriptions filled in Canada. Look into using a mail order pharmacy, as this can reduce your copay and give you a larger number of pills per refill. In many cases, you may be able to use a generic drug instead of a brand name, and this can really save you a lot. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about generic options.

If you just left a job that provided a health insurance benefit, you may be eligible for COBRA coverage. COBRA coverage allows you to maintain your health insurance through your previous employer for up to eighteen months, provided that you pay the employers portion of the premiums. In some cases you may benefit by shopping around for individual coverage or affordable family health insurance that may be cheaper than COBRA.

You may be inclined to believe that you are required to accept the prices that your doctor charges, but this may not be the case. You can negotiate with your doctor to reduce fees for certain procedures and services. Even elective surgery prices can be negotiated, such as laser surgery, botox injections or plastic surgery.

Shopping for lower health insurance premiums is important and easy!

Visit http://www.healthinsurancetrends.info/helath_insurance.php for more valuable tips that can get you cheap health insurance quotes right now!