Health Plans

Accidents, illness, disease, and unexpected medical emergencies can happen anytime. Therefore, it is important to have some type of basic coverage, even if it is cheap health insurance, otherwise, you could be putting your family’s health and financial security in jeopardy.

At TheHealthInsuranceQuotes.com, we provide information, resources, and free health insurance quotes to help consumers and patients find and compare the best health insurance plan for their needs.

Overall, personal health insurance plans may not be as cheap as group health insurance plans provided through your employer. This is because a portion of your plan premiums was paid by your employer, and group health insurance plans do not change rates based on your age or health history. In group health insurance plans provided by employers, health insurance companies average out the risks of the entire group, providing better rates for everyone.

Understanding Your Health Insurance Options and Plans

The following are the types of health insurance plans most commonly found:

HMO - A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan provides medical care services through a managed system of doctors who work directly for the managed care organization or HMO. You will determine a primary care physician who will direct and approve all health care services and procedures.

PPO - A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is health insurance coverage provided by a managed care provider who works with a preferred network of doctors, hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, and healthcare professionals of all specialties. A patient will pay a pre-set co-payment, one set by the health plan purchased, to see physicians within the network. In addition, a policyholder has a personal as well as a group deductible, if it is a family health plan. The deductible must be met before the health insurance company begins to pay for medical costs and procedures, usually covering only 80%. If a patient decides to use a physician or care provider outside of the network, the deductible will be higher and the percentage covered will be lower.

POS - A Point of Service (POS) is a health insurance plan that provides a combination of elements of PPO and HMO. With this plan, you select a primary care physician, like an HMO, but this doctor will be responsible for approving referrals to specialists when necessary. However, just as with a PPO, the patient does have the option of selecting specialists from outside the network, but the patient will be forced to complete their own paperwork and submit it for reimbursement. It’s almost like filing a health insurance claim.

EPO - Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) health plans expect patients to visit their chosen primary care physician within the network, pay a small copayment, have claims filed on your behalf, and pay a deductible. An EPO is similar to an HMO because it requires patients to visit a doctor within the network and visits outside the network will go without reimbursement. EPO health insurance rates are usually cheaper than HMOs. However, the disadvantage is that an EPO network tends to work with fewer doctors, and thus limits patient’s choices.

Cheap Health Insurance Quotes

To learn more about cheap health insurance plans, enter your zip code and compare a list of health insurance providers in your area. The best way to find cheap health insurance with maximum coverage is to simply request free health insurance quotes online in under 2 minutes.