If you are one of those who does not know the procedures in getting a health insurance plan or choosing the right insurance company, I've listed the steps below.
1. Signing - Your employer will most probably let you sign an insurance. Sign it after ready it carefully. It is almost the cheapest option you can see.
2. Investigate - Examine description under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985) if you've currently left your employer. You can continue your provision for 18 months beyond your separation date, though you have to pay the premium yourself.
3. Look for an Agent - Look for a health insurance agent to analyze plans and charges for you. The National Association of Health Underwriters can help you in looking for one.
4. Fee-for-service plan - Acquire a fee-for-service plan. The biggest addition is that you have complete domination upon choosing the doctor to see whenever you need a specialist. However, there is a relevant out-of-pocket charge for this type of care, the premiums are generally higher, and if your doctor charges more than what is considered usual, you may have to pay additionally for that care too.
5. Care Plan - Sign up for a managed care plan where your insurance provider specifies which doctors you can see.
6. Preferred Provider Organizations - Preferred provider organizations (PPO's) have a list of doctors when choosing a physician who will be your first contact for health care. If you see doctors in your insurer's organization, it will cost you low co-payment. However, your co=pay is higher if you see a physician not in the network.
7. Point-of-Service - Point-of-service (POS) networks are similar to PPO's, but your primary care physician will be the one making the decisions about which specialists you can and cannot see. You can still see a physician outside the POS network, but of course, it will cost you a higher amount.
8. Health Maintenance Organizations - Health maintenance organizations (HMO's) are the most prohibitive, yet cheapest managed care programs. Majority require that you see a doctor in their network, but allow low or no co-pays in exchange. Most HMO's also oblige you to see your primary care physician before getting accredited to a specialist.
9. Preexisting Conditions - You have to know if the benefits are limited for preexisting conditions, or if you have to wait before you're fully covered. Other plans may exclude entirely the coverage of preexisting conditions.
10. Compare - Analyze the prescription drug coverage given by different plans. Many plans have combined benefit systems, and commonly offer a suggested list of prescriptions that have a less expensive co-pay. Look for any medication you are taking on this list; drugs that are not on the list can have a co-pay that is twice as high. Also, check if any plans bound the amounts of new prescriptions or refills on a given medicine.
11. Check Your Doctor - You have to make sure that your regular doctors are on your plan's preferred provider list. Because of the modern technology, all plans provide a database of their provider on their website.
12. Examine the Delays - Examine the different delays you could experience. Some plans are infamous about keeping members waiting to see a doctor.
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