No one can go without this. Most people have it at
work, but if you don't you will really save big by going for a group policy.
When comparing policies, consider what are its deductibles and what is or
isn't covered. When given a choice, choose one that covers the huge,
debilitating conditions over one that is good about routine immunization,
but at the larger side, more expensive claims.
The Health insurance comes in
three types, although many policies mix and match all of the three.
Fee for service, the most expensive, allows you to go to
almost any provider and covers almost anything that is medically
necessary. You don't have a primary care physician who has to approve
visits to specialists.
Preferred provider options
allow you to self-refer to any provider in the preferred provider
options list and generally cover a wide variety of services recommenced
by those providers. Some preferred provider options cover other
providers, but with a larger co-payment.
Health
maintenance
organizations
are the least costly, but the most restrictive. They assign you (or let
you select) a primary care physician. That physician acts as a
gatekeeper in that (s)he decides what is medically necessary and when
you may see a specialist. Often the
health
maintenance
organization
itself has to permit certain treatment and can rule against your doctor
if it thinks the treatment is too costly.
