Health Insurance Policy Terms

(Best Syndication) Employer based health coverage is disappearing leaving many employed individuals to make their own health care insurance decisions. Due to the high cost of health insurance, many employers are either scaling back their coverage or eliminating it all together, according to a survey by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

So what are the differences in health care planes, and which one is best for you? This presentation will provide some information. But first: what is health insurance? Health insurance is a form of group insurance, where policy holders share the risk. Not everyone gets sick at the same time, so most of the premiums go to paying the expenses of those who are. For the most part, in the United States, health insurance is provided by private insurance companies who must make a profit. .

Here are some terms:

Premium: A premium is the amount of money the policy holder pays each month for their coverage.

Deductible: The deductible is the amount the policy holder has to pay out-of-pocket before the health plan kicks in and pays. If a policy holder has a $1,000 deductible, he or she must pay the first one thousand dollars. The expenses may include doctor's visits, medication, hospitalization etc.

Copayment: The copayment is the amount that the policy holder must pay for a doctor's visit or other service. For instance, a policy holder may have to pay a $10 co-pay for each doctor visit.

Coinsurance: Coinsurance is similar to a copayment, except this is a "percentage" the policy holder must pay for a service. A customer may have to pay 20% of the cost of surgery.

Coverage Limits: The coverage limit is the maximum an insurance company will pay for a procedure. For instance, if an insurance company only will pay a maximum $100,000 for heart surgery, but the hospital charges $120,000, the policy holder will have to pay the extra $20,000.

Maximum annual or Lifetime Coverage: The lifetime coverage is the maximum an insurance company will pay out in total over your lifetime. There maybe yearly caps as well.

Out-of-pocket Maximums: The out of pocket maximum is where the member's payment obligation ends. The health insurance company may pay all of the costs after this level is reached. For instance, some insurance policies will pay for every prescription drug after the $500 yearly threshold is reached.

Exclusions: The insurance company may exclude certain procedures or drugs. They may exclude experimental options.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• health
• insurance
• terms
• copayment
• exclusion
• Coinsurance
• co-payment
• lifetime
• benefits
• coverage
• limits
• Deductible
• out
• pock

[redstatepatrick]

most employers are not dropping their insurance. That is totally bogus! Want to stop over paying for insurance, GREAT - then stop the lawyers from winning the lotto every time a hospital or doc makes a mistake. that one act will lower price overnight.

[BruceGiron]

fucking prices are too high for surgery and pills

[5MinuteUpdate]

United Health and Wellpoint (Blue Cross Blue Shield) are two of the largest health insurance companies. I don't know of any non-profit health insurance company that is bigger than them.

[tmgibs34]

Several factual errors. Most insurance companies are non-profit and pay about 90% of revenues in claims. United Health, Wellpoint, & Health Net are the large exceptions to this rule.

[netinsurancequote]

Choosing a major medical health insurance plan can be challenging. THE BUYER'S GUIDE website is designed to make this decision easier. THE BUYER'S GUIDE provides valuable advice on deciding between personal health insurance plans, as well as provides you with easy access to an online health insurance quote.

[TimLoganKnows911623]

One payer system is the only way to go.

Private health insurance is a private tyranny that only exists in United States. It's a rather barbaric system that tells you you're health is only worth what you can afford.

People in United States should get behind, and support, HR 676. If you don't know what it is learn about it! GM & Ford are going bankrupt because of the rising cost of health care. If United States had single-payer system, the companies wouldn't have to worry about it.

[TheBestVideoViewer]

The problem I see is the insurance companies. They have no problem taking your money, but if you get real sick, they look for ways to deny your claim or better yet, cancel your policy. And then they hope you die before it makes it to court.

[gimmeabreak9]

Health Insurance For Dummies -- okay.

[TheBestVideoViewer]

It would be great to figure out a way to cut out the middleman insurance companies.

[NCAgentX]

etc? No wonder costs are out of control and employer provided health insuarance decreasing. Its time the government began providing care to everyone in the form of medicare. Not that crap about buying in, but "free" like sending your child to school. Distribute the cost across the nation. The govt will then have to limit how much it pays physicians and hospitals. In response they will invest less in technology, which drives costs. Those who prefer can buy medigap. No more insuarance companies