Monday, January 19, 2009

Knowing the Basics of Health Insurance

By Jeff Cline

Individual health insurance is not an easy subject to comprehend for many consumers. In order to make educated choices in finding good insurance that meets your expectations you need to educate yourself on 7 simple basics. These basics are all you need to get you started.

When going down the list of basics naturally the total amount the insurance carrier will pay is a huge factor. This is what they call the Lifetime Maximum. It simply means that they will never exceed that amount if you should reach it. On average they are $3-$5million. When thinking in terms of a major critical illness that can easily cost millions, this amount could be your deciding factor.

Deductibles also make a significant difference. The deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before the insurer will share any cost. A general rule is the higher the deductible the lower the premium will be. When you hear the term "Total out Of Pocket' it is referring to your deductible plus your co insurance.

After meeting your set deductible you may the start paying a percentage of your occurred medical expenses. This is what insurance companies refer to as co insurance. You may have a 70/30 plan with a maximum of $2000. So the insurer would cover 70% while you cover 30% until the maximum was met, at which time the insurer would pay 100% for the remainder of the year.

I am sure you have heard people say I only pay $25 when I go for an office visit. What they are referring to is the plans office visit co pay. Co pays are simple really for the life time of your term if you should have an office visit you can expect to only pay that predetermined amount. The only exception is if the plan states that labs and x-ray in an office visit is not covered.

Many insurance plans include what is called a Preventative exam. As a general rule the benefit allows one preventative exam a year. One thing that baffles consumers when they get an unexpected bill is the limits. Many have a maximum pay out. So if you went for an exam and the expense was $500 and the insurer pays a maximum of $300 you should expect a bill for the remaining balance.

One basic that is detailed in clear is the limitations. These are sometimes overwhelming to consumers and overlooked. But you need to take the time to know the limitations. They may restrict how much the pay for certain illnesses or treatments. They may only pay for 2 office visits a year.

Getting your prescriptions covered is important to many due to the high cost of prescriptions. So knowing how your prescription coverage works is very important. One plan may cover a generic at one co pay and a brand name at another. You might also have a cap. For instance the carrier may only agree to pay $500 a year in Brand name. - 16928

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