Thanks to rising medical costs, health insurance rates are at an all-time high. But there are places where you can get cheap health insurance in Ohio.
The first thing you need to look at when considering health insurance in Ohio are the types of insurance that are available. There are four basic plans:
1. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) – These plans set you up with a network of doctors and hospitals who provide your health care. You must choose a primary health care physician who oversees your care and refers you to specialists, and you are only allowed to see physicians within your network.
HMOs are the cheapest of all the health care plans. They have low co-payments, usually $5 to $10 per doctor visit, and involve the least amount of paperwork.
2. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) – Similar to HMOs, these plans set you up with a network of health care providers, but unlike HMOs you may see specialists within the network without getting permission from your primary care physician. If you see a non-network physician you may have to pay the bill yourself and submit it for reimbursement.
PPOs cost slightly more than HMOs, and co-payments average $5 to $10 per doctor visit.
3. Point of Service Plans (POSs) – These plans also set you up with a network of health care providers, but, for an additional fee, you may see a physician who is not part of the network.
POSs generally cost more than PPOs but are more flexible. Co-payments average $5 to $10 per visit.
4. Indemnity Plans – These plans let you choose your own doctor and hospital, and you can visit any specialist you choose. You pay a deductible, usually $500 to $1,000, before your insurance company will begin paying claims. After you pay your deductible, your company will pay most of your medical bill, usually 80%, and you pay the remaining 20%.
Indemnity Plans are the most expensive health care plans and involve the most amount of paperwork.
Low Cost Health Insurance in Ohio
In order to get the best rate on your health insurance policy you need to compare rates from different companies. The fastest way to do this is to visit an insurance comparison website where you’ll not only get multiple rate quotes, you’ll also be able to get advice from insurance experts who can help you find the best policy for your needs. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s free.
By: Brian Stevens
Posts Tagged ‘Network Physician’
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Types of Health Insurance
There are four basic types of health plans:
Indemnity Plans – These plans let you choose your own doctor, and it pays all of your medical bills up to a specified daily amount for a specified number of days.
Indemnity plans are the most flexible health care plans, but they are the most expensive plans and they involve the most paperwork.
HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) – With these plans you pay a monthly premium to join a network of physicians and hospitals. You must choose a primary care physician within the network who oversees your medical care.
HMOs are the most restrictive of all the health insurance plans, but they’re also the cheapest plans. Co-payments are either very low ($5 to $10) or are free.
PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations) – With these plans you also pay a monthly premium to join a network of physicians and hospitals. You can choose to see whatever doctor you prefer, but if he or she is not part of the network you’ll need to pay an extra fee.
PPOs cost a little more than HMOs, but a lot of people prefer them because they are less restrictive. Co-payments average $5 to $10.
POS (Point of Service plans) – These plans are a combination of HMOs and POSs. You must choose a primary care physician to oversee your healthcare treatment, but you can see a non-network physician without having to pay extra fees if your primary care physician refers you to him.
POS plans cost a little more the PPOs and HMOs, but are more flexible. Co-payments are about the same as for HMOs and PPOs.
Which Plan is Best?
In order to determine which health insurance plan will best meet your needs, you need to find out the following:
* Does the plan cover the services you need?
* What co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurances does the plan have?
* How much freedom do you have in choosing your own physician?
* What is the waiting period for pre-existing conditions?
Inexpensive Health Insurance
In order to get the best rates on health insurance you need to comparison shop. Thanks to the Internet, you don’t have to spend hours on end calling local insurance companies or surfing single-company websites to get quotes. Now you can go to an insurance comparison website, fill our a simple questionnaire, and get quotes from multiple comapnies.
The best comparison sites only deal with A-rated companies so you know the company you choose will be reliable and will give you good service. Theses sites also have an insurance expert on hand to answer any insurance questions you may have. (See link below.)
By: Brian Stevens
