Health Insurance Plan Types
Types of Policies


The main differences of policies lie in either coverage, terms of payment and medical procedures. Here's a list of common health insurance policies.

Indemnity:
This is one of the pricier health insurance policies, but is also one of the more flexible. It allows you to choose the hospital and doctor you turn to in times of health emergencies or sickness, with the option of covering the fees for reimbursement or having the hospital or doctor collect directly from the insurance company.

Preferred Provider Organization:
Much like the indemnity policy, only cheaper. Your choices with a Preferred Provider Organization health insurance are limited to preferred hospitals, doctors, clinics chosen by the insurance company. If you choose providers outside this network, you will likely have to file a claim and pay more deductibles.

Health Maintenance Organization:
This one is like a stricter Preferred Provider Organization health insurance. It requires policy holders to use only medical services provided by the hospitals and doctors they have on their network. A doctor may refer you to another if you find the service unsatisfactory, but to a doctor also within the same network. Only in emergency situations, which are stated in the contract, can you do otherwise. Normally, for Health Maintenance Organization health insurance, there are no deductibles and there is a limit to how much you can co-pay annually.

Point-Of-Service:
Primarily an option in a health maintenance organization health insurance, this allows you to be referred by your primary doctor to someone outside the network, with little or no cost.


Common Options

Health insurance companies will give you a proposal after you've settled with a plan and its terms. There are five important things this proposal contains:

Doctor Co-Pay:
Health Maintenance Organization, Indemnity Preferred Provider Organization health insurance plans can offer doctor co-payment options, wherein you pay a small amount, usually ranging $10-$40 for each visit. This charge isn't normally saddled with deductibles and co-insurance.

Prescription Card:
It's a card that allows your health insurance company to shoulder most of the prescription costs, the amount of which is dependent on the terms of your policy and whether you were given generic or branded medication.

Accident Supplement:
This option pays for medical treatment in an accident without a deductible, but only up to a predetermined amount. Anything over the amount will be subject to deductibles and co-payment charges.

Preventive Care:
Health insurance policies sometimes offer this as an inclusion or an option. This includes immunizations, test and physicals, which may be paid for by the insurance company without a deductible.

Vision:
Health insurance policies sometimes give special attention to your optical health, offering benefits like co-payment eye exams or discounts on glasses.

Dental:
Dental care is also one of the areas that get covered by health insurance policies. Basic dental services, like general cleaning and check-ups, can be included in your policy. But advanced procedures, extractions, crowns and fillings, may require co-payment.

These are the things you need to look into when choosing the type of policy you would like to subscribe to and what options they may contain. Examine them carefully so that you get the most out of your health insurance.