| In the market for individual medical insurance? Here's | | | | In addition to your premium, you may have |
| how to get the best rate with an A-rated company. | | | | out-of-pocket costs such as: |
| Individual Medical Insurance | | | | * A deductible - the amount you pay before your |
| There are two types of medical insurance - indemnity | | | | insurance company pays a claim. |
| plans, and managed health care plans such as HMOs | | | | * A co-payment - the portion of the physician's fee |
| (health maintenance organizations), PPOs (preferred | | | | you pay before the company pays. |
| provider organizations), and PPOs (point of service | | | | * Coinsurance payment - the percentage of medical |
| plans). | | | | expenses you pay after your deductibles are met. |
| Indemnity plans let you choose your own physicians | | | | Which Plan is Best? |
| and hospitals, and they pay all or part of your medical | | | | The best individual health insurance plan is the one that |
| costs. They're the most expensive plans, involve the | | | | gives you the most coverage for the least amount of |
| most amount of paperwork, but offer the most | | | | money. Before you purchase a plan you should ask |
| flexibility. | | | | the following questions: |
| Managed health care plans set you up with a network | | | | 1. Does the plan cover the medical services you need? |
| of physicians and hospitals, and assign you a primary | | | | 2. Are there pre-existing conditions that may make |
| care physician who oversees your medical care. | | | | you ineligible or make you wait to get coverage? |
| They're the least expensive plans, involve the least | | | | 3. What are the co-payments, deductibles, and |
| amount of paperwork, but you cannot choose your | | | | coinsurances? |
| doctors or hospitals. | | | | 4. Is the insurance company reliable and will it give you |
| What's Covered? | | | | good service? |
| A good individual medical insurance plan should include | | | | How to Get Cheap Individual Medical Insurance |
| the following: | | | | The best way to get cheap individual medical |
| * Physician coverage - pays for your doctor's visits. | | | | insurance is to compare rates from different insurers. |
| * Prescription drug coverage - pays for your | | | | There are insurance comparison websites you can |
| prescription drugs. | | | | visit that will give you quotes from different A-rated |
| * Hospital coverage - pays for your room and medical | | | | companies. The best comparison sites feature online |
| services. | | | | chat services so you can get answers to all your |
| * Surgical coverage - pays for your surgeon's fees | | | | health insurance questions from insurance |
| and surgical costs. | | | | professionals (See link below. |