| In these days of spiraling medical costs, it is important | | | | your needs. You'll get an idea of the policies available in |
| to buy a health insurance policy. You may not get the | | | | the market, their cost, and the diseases they cover. |
| best out of the deal if you don't do some groundwork | | | | You also need to decide whether you want individual |
| in advance. You can achieve this by doing a | | | | health insurance coverage, or coverage for the entire |
| comparative study of the policies available in the | | | | family. |
| market, their prices and coverage, and also the | | | | Most companies offer free online brochures, and you |
| companies that are selling health insurance policies. | | | | can download them on your computer. You can then |
| Visiting all the companies in your locality may not be a | | | | study the rates and the health insurance plans. For |
| feasible option in terms of time, money, and energy. | | | | example, there are fee-for-service plans, managed |
| One option could be to talk to your friends who have | | | | care plans, HMOs or health maintenance organizations, |
| bought health insurance policies and get their feedback. | | | | PPOs or preferred provider organizations, and POS or |
| A drawback can be that your friends may not have a | | | | point of service plans. If you opt for managed service |
| policy that would suit your needs. Another option could | | | | plans, also called pre-paid plans, you can get |
| be to visit the health insurance department and get | | | | comprehensive heath service individually or for the |
| their list of reputable companies. If this is not possible | | | | entire family. As is evident from the word 'prepaid,' the |
| for you to do, then the best option would be to do a | | | | payment to the health provider is made in advance. |
| search on the Internet. | | | | PPOs and POS plans are also managed care plans |
| Search the net and you will find many companies | | | | and they also provide the services offered under the |
| offering health insurance. Browse through the websites | | | | fee-for-service and HMO plans. But you have to pay a |
| to find the companies offering policies that best meet | | | | higher premium to avail these plans. |