3 Affordable Health Insurance Choices

What are your 3 affordable health insurance choices?

There are many different types of affordable health
insurance. Each has pros and cons. There is no one "best"
plan. The plan that's right for a single person may not be
best for a family with small children. And a plan that
works for one family may not be right for another. Blended
families may have a divorced spouse paying for the
children's coverage. Look at all angles upfront.

For example, if your family includes just two adults, it
may be less expensive for each of you to have individual
coverage than for just one of you to have a family plan. If
you have children, or if you might have children soon, you
need a family plan. If a child is going off to college, be
sure they are covered as most policies allow students
continued coverage. Because your situation may change,
review your affordable health insurance regularly to make
sure you have the protection you need.

Choosing an affordable health insurance plan is like making
any other major purchase: you choose the plan that meets
both your needs and your budget. For most people, this
means deciding which plan is worth the cost. For example,
plans that allow you the most choices in doctors and
hospitals also tend to cost more than plans that limit
choices. Plans that help to manage the care you receive
usually cost you less, but you give up some freedom of
choice.

Cost isn't the only thing to consider when buying
affordable health insurance. You also need to consider what
benefits are covered. You need to compare plans carefully
for both cost and coverage. Some of the newer plans will
offer high deductibles and a health savings account. For
healthy families, this is great benefit going forward.

Although there are many names for affordable health
insurance plans, the information here groups them as three
main types:

* Fee-For-Service (or Traditional Affordable health
insurance).

* Health Maintenance Organizations (or HMOs).

* Preferred Provider Organizations (or PPOs).

Which Type Is Right for You?

For each group, simply choose the statement 1 or 2 that
best describes how you feel (your spouse needs to be in on
this decision also):

1. Having complete freedom to choose doctors and hospitals
is the most important thing to me in a health plan, even
if it costs more.

2. Holding down my costs is the most important thing to me,
even if it means limiting some of my choices.

1. I travel a lot or have children that live away from me
and we may need to see doctors in other parts of the
country.

2. I do not travel a lot and almost all care for my family
will be needed in our local area.

1. I don't mind an affordable health insurance plan that
includes filling out forms or keeping receipts and sending
them in for payment.

2. I prefer not to fill out forms or keep receipts. I want
most of my care covered without a lot of paperwork.

1. In addition to my premiums, I am willing to pay for the
cost of routine and preventive care, such as office visits,
checkups, and shots. I also like knowing that I can get an
appointment for these services when I want one.

2. I want a health plan that includes routine and
preventive care. I don't mind if I have to wait for these
services to be scheduled for an available appointment with
my doctor.

1. If I need to see a specialist, I probably will ask my
doctor for a recommendation, but I want to decide whom to
go to and when. I don't want to have to see my primary care
doctor each time before I can see a specialist.

2. I don't mind if my primary care doctor must refer me to
specialists. If my doctor doesn't think I need a special
service that is fine with me.

If your answers are mostly 1: You want to make your own
health care choices, even if it costs you more and takes
more paperwork. Fee-for-service may be the best plan for
you.

If your answers are mostly 2: You are willing to give up
some choices to hold down your medical costs. You also want
help in managing your care. Consider a health maintenance
organization.

If your answers are some 1's and some 2's: You might want
to look for a plan such as a preferred provider
organization that combines some of the features of
fee-for-service and a health maintenance organization.

The differences among fee-for-service plans, HMOs, and PPOs
are not as clear-cut as they once were. Fee-for-service
plans have adopted some activities used by HMOs and PPOs to
control the use of medical services. And HMOs and PPOs are
offering more freedom to choose doctors, the way
fee-for-service plans do. By studying your affordable
health insurance options carefully, you will be able to
pick the one that provides you with the coverage you need,
no matter what it is called.

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