Health insurance is essential to all families because it saves them time and money in the event of an illness or death of a family member. But how does one choose the right health care plan for their family? There are many health care plans today and these are run by health care providers such as hospitals and also insurance groups such as Aetna and Cigna. When choosing the right health care plan for your family, certain considerations must be taken into account:
A) Cost
B) Convenience
C) Quality of care
Cost
There are different health care plans; indemnity plans and managed care. When choosing the right health care plan for your family, remember that indemnity plans involve direct payment to the provider and payment is not subsidized or discounted. Managed care such as HMO or PPO is have reduced rates which are enjoyed by all members. These providers are able to slash their rates and pass the savings onto their members because they are run by a consortium of many doctors, large hospitals and these enjoy collective benefits and sharing of responsibilities and costs so the members end up with lower out-of-pocket charges.
Convenience
HMOs have most of their tasks automated and therefore there is less paperwork to deal with on the part of the patient. On planning a doctor's visit, the patient can easily log on to the provider website and download and fill all the necessary forms and send them to the doctor prior to the visit. This speeds up the visit when the patient finally gets there.
Quality Care
Managed care plans such as HMO and PPO are very adamant about quality and thus their members enjoy a high degree of quality health care. The doctors are strictly professional and must have passed all the necessary examinations and possess all the required licenses to practice in their individual states.
The downside of managed health care plans such as PPOs is that the patient has to choose a particular doctor, called a PCP (Primary Care Physician) who is their point of reference for all their health needs. In most cases, the patient cannot see a specialist without a written or faxed referral from their PCP.
Managed care health care plans are mostly for people who possess health insurance; either privately or through their employer. Indemnity plans, which require the patient to pay outright for medical services, are mostly for persons who do not have health insurance or do not want to be tied to any monthly or annual premiums. Plans vary based on zip code and area as well.
