HMOs or PPOs?
You want to get health insurance as soon as possible. Many bankruptcies are caused by unpayable medical costs.
An Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is for people who:
- Want to holding down premiums by limiting medical choices
- Don't travel
- Don't want to fill out forms or keep receipts
- Want insurance that fully pays for routine and preventive care
- Don't mind waiting for an appointment
- Depend on their doctor entirely to recommend a specialist
- Are willing to give up some choices to hold down their medical costs
A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is for people who:
- Want to go to a specialist regardless of their doctors opinion
- Want freedom to choose doctors and hospitals even if it costs more
- Travel a lot or have children that live in other states
- Don't mind possibly filling out forms or keeping receipts
- Don't mind paying a percentage of office visits, checkups, shots, etc.
- Don't want to wait for an appointment
Questions to ask about a health insurance plan:
With health insurance, it's imperative you enroll as soon as possible. Health problems and accidents develop out of nowhere, especially when you don't have coverage! If you are declined by a company because of health issues, only the state high risk fund or temporary health coverage may be available to you.
- Are there many doctors to choose from?
- Which doctors are accepting new patients?
- How hard is it to change doctors?
- How are referrals to specialists handled?
- Is it easy to get an appointment?
- How far in advance must routine visits be scheduled?
- How does the plan handle emergency care?
- What preventive services are provided?
- How convenient to your home and work are the facilities?
- How do you get medical treatment out of town?
- What are the annual premiums?
- What are the copayments for office visits, prescriptions, etc?
- What services are covered?
- Do they pay anything if you use a doctor outside the plan?
- Is there a deductible and coinsurance rate?
- Is there an annual maximum you pay out of pocket?
|
