Types of Health
Insurance:
There are
three main types of insurance coverage in the U.S.:
Most health
plans, no matter which type, require you to pay a monthly or quarterly
fee or "premium" to maintain the insurance coverage.
Some plans
also set a "deductible," or a certain amount of money which
you will need to pay before the insurer will reimburse for, or "cover"
more expensive treatment like inpatient hospital care.
Health
plans vary in their amounts of coverage for prescriptions, laboratory
tests, elective procedures like mammograms and plastic surgery, and
mental health care. Check several different plans in each category to
compare which is best for your needs.
!
Many health insurance plans do not cover vision or dental insurance.
Separate companies handle this sort of coverage.
!
Some
professional associations offer low-cost plans with extras like coverage
for complementary and alternative medicine like acupuncture, herbs and
massage.
Insurance
Costs:
Health
insurance companies usually offer a number of different payment levels.
Usually one pays a monthly premium linked to the cost of the deductible.
The higher the deductible, the lower the premium, and vice-versa. For
example, a $2000 deductible with a $65 monthly premium requires that
you apply $2000 of cash or health care services toward your deductible
before the insurance company will pay for hospital coverage. High-deductible
plans may be better for younger, healthier patients requiring less hospital
care, while a chronically ill patient may prefer a lower deductible
in order to be reimbursed for more frequent care.
Useful
Links :
Consumer
Reports Guides for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance:
Shopping
for your policy, problems with individual health care coverage
What
to do if you can't afford insurance (state safety-net policies)
