Health Insurance Plans and their Differences


Health insurance plans have changed dramatically over the past ten years, and American's currently have several different options to choose from- including HMO's, PPO's, fee-for-service plans, MSA's and major medical. There are two main categories of health insurance plans that each of these policies is classified as; managed care plans and indemnity care plans. The differences between each of these plans mean the differences in how you will receive health care when you need it.

Managed care health insurance plans, mostly the HMO's, focus primarily on prevention, and people with these types of policies pay less for their coverage. The drawback is that you are limited to specific health care providers. Indemnity plans, also known as fee-for-service plans, will cost you more- but you are completely covered no matter what illness or accident might occur. Indemnity plans place an emphasis on patient choice, allowing you to choose where and when you are treated.

The newest options in health insurance plans include the PPO (preferred provider organization) plans. These are somewhat a hybrid between the managed care and indemnity categories. Due to their flexibility, these plans are becoming the most popular. PPO plans are similar to managed care plans in that they encourage preventative care, such as routine check ups which are covered under the plan, but you are allowed more of a choice over what doctors you can see.

So how do the different plans effect how you receive health care? When you are part of an indemnity plan, you are typically able to choose the doctor you want to see when an unexpected illness occurs. You will have to fill out paperwork to submit claims, and keep track of your receipts and medical bills. If you are covered under the managed care health insurance plans, you have a higher chance of having your routine check ups covered, since they believe strongly in preventative medicine. You typically are required to choose a health care provider from a list of participating providers, but most of the paperwork required to process your claim is the responsibility of the insurer.

***************************************
Brad Triggs provides more information and
free insurance quotes at his website:
My-Insurance-Quotes.com - Health Insurance Plans
***************************************







Related News



Popular autism treatment often goes uncovered - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Popular autism treatment often goes uncovered
Seattle Post Intelligencer -9 hours ago
None of it is covered by the family's health insurance plan. Insurance industry representatives such as Susan Pisano, spokeswoman for the national industry ...


Aegon China insurance JV wins approval to open Tianjin unit - Forbes

Aegon China insurance JV wins approval to open Tianjin unit
Forbes, NY -1 hour ago
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - The China Insurance Regulatory Commission said it has given its approval to Aegon-CNOOC Life Insurance Co to open a branch in Tianjin, ...
No assurance of successChina Daily
all 5 news articles

Variable-Annuity Business Is Adding to Life Insurers' Woes - Wall Street Journal

Reuters

Variable-Annuity Business Is Adding to Life Insurers' Woes
Wall Street Journal -2 hours ago
By LAVONNE KUYKENDALL Variable annuities, whose sales fueled profits at life-insurance companies in recent years, are starting to drag profits as the stock ...
Despite the Turmoil, Insurance Companies Appear SafeTIME
Market Place Insurance Industry Joins Banking Giants on the Hot SeatNew York Times
Consider Staking a Claim in AllstateBarron's
Forbes - CNNMoney.com
all 51 news articles

Unemployment insurance fund headed for insolvency - Alameda Times-Star

Unemployment insurance fund headed for insolvency
Alameda Times-Star, CA -6 hours ago
The Assembly Insurance Committee and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration held a joint hearing today to examine why we're in this fix ...

EDITORIAL: Stock markets on ropes - Asahi Shimbun

Telegraph.co.uk

EDITORIAL: Stock markets on ropes
Asahi Shimbun, Japan -4 hours ago
Adding to this unpleasant economic news, Yamato Life Insurance Co., a midsize firm that invested heavily in REIT and other high-risk US financial ...
Japan's Yamato Life Insurance files for bankruptcyHindu
Japan in desperate effort to halt its own downward economic spiralTelegraph.co.uk
Japanese insurance co Yamoto collapses; files for bankruptcyHindu Business Line
Financial Times - The Daily Yomiuri
all 432 news articles

Legislation levels the insurance field for physical or mental ... - The Free Lance-Star

ChattahBox

Legislation levels the insurance field for physical or mental ...
The Free Lance-Star, VA -Oct 11, 2008
FOR THOSE WHO suffer from a mental illness, and those who love them, the question has long been this: Why does the guy next door with diabetes get ...
Sen. Pete Domenici on Mental HealthTIME
Law Equalizes Coverage For Mental, Physical CareWashington Post
Mental Health CoverageNew York Times
Kansas City Star - The Herald-Times (subscription)
all 186 news articles

Voters want solutions as health insurance costs rise sharply - Kansas City Star

Wall Street Journal

Voters want solutions as health insurance costs rise sharply
Kansas City Star, MO -Oct 11, 2008
By SUZANNE KING Dave Coffman of Lee’s Summit has been working two part-time jobs since he retired so he can afford long-term care insurance, ...
Video: McCain, Obama Differ Dramatically on Health CareAssociatedPress
Health care: Curing what ails usSt. Charles Sun
McCain health care gives us hopeUW Badger Herald
Food Consumer - eFluxMedia
all 987 news articles

Fidelity, Vanguard join money-fund insurance plan - Seattle Times

ABC News

Fidelity, Vanguard join money-fund insurance plan
Seattle Times, United States -23 hours ago
Fidelity Investments have joined the US Treasury's emergency insurance program for money-market mutual funds, pushing the participation rate to more than 95 ...
Funds Turn To Treasury GuarantyWashington Post
Worried about the economy?The State
Money Market Mutual Funds Apply for Treasury's Insurance ProgramOn Wall Street
Wall Street Journal - Dallas Morning News
all 285 news articles

Ahead on health insurance - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Ahead on health insurance
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ -3 hours ago
Both presidential candidates have promised health insurance action on the national level. Given the way Washington works, it is not likely that any ...
Report: Ind. workers losing job-provided coverageChicago Tribune
Fewer Americans get health cover through employersBusiness Insurance
Health-care system needs new thinking, rules and initiativesAkron Beacon Journal
all 19 news articles

Learning the hard way about FDIC insurance - San Francisco Chronicle

CBS News

Learning the hard way about FDIC insurance
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA -Oct 11, 2008
That experience motivated Quittel to mount a campaign urging the FDIC to require banks to warn depositors if their account balance is over the insurance...
Elder Law: Pay attention to FDIC insurance rulesThe News-Press
FDIC approves $250000 insurance limitInternational Herald Tribune
FDIC and Clayton St. set PTC seminar on protecting your moneyThe Citizen.com
Tampa Tribune - Seattle Times
all 610 news articles