Health Insurance

Researching different Health insurance options can be daunting, frustrating, and confusing. There are so many options and plans to choose from with a seemingly endless number of choices and costs. But there are some simple things to consider that will help to narrow down those options. When considering your Health insurance needs, it’s best to consult one of the health insurance specialists in our agency. The following considerations can make your insurance consultation go smoothly:

• First determine if you can enroll in a Health insurance plan as part of an employee benefits program. If your employer offers Health insurance coverage, that group plan can often be more affordable than purchasing Health insurance on your own. Alternatively, if you’re 65 or older, you can enroll in Medicare. Or, Medicaid is available for those with low income regardless of age. If you don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid or if you’re unemployed or if your employer doesn’t offer health insurance benefits, then you can purchase Health insurance directly from private insurance companies by talking with a Health insurance expert in our agency.
• Once you decide that you need to purchase private insurance, either as an individual or to cover your family, you then need to determine what type of Health insurance policy best meets your needs. Some of the more common insurance plans are described below:
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan is one in which there are medical professionals that are part of the PPO network. Subscribers of this plan enjoy discounted services by the in-network healthcare providers. You can choose to go to a medical professional who is out-of-network but you’ll pay more for those services as a result. Most of these plans have a deductible and require monthly or annual fees.  
• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) policy is very similar to a PPO policy. Premiums are typically affordable and you must choose a medical professional from the network. The difference is that you aren’t able to choose an out-of-network provider with this plan. And you must choose a primary care provider who will then refer you if specialist work is necessary. Also, there are usually fewer providers to choose from within an HMO compared to a PPO. But if affordable premiums are more important to you than provider choice, then an HMO policy is a solid option for your medical insurance needs.
• Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plan is the third most common health insurance policy. It’s a hybrid between a PPO and an HMO.  Similar to an HMO plan, an EPO plan will require you to find a primary care physician within the EPO network. And services provided by medical professionals out-of-network won’t be covered. But similar to a PPO plan, a referral from your primary care provider won’t be required in order to visit a specialist within the EPO network. 

The best way to determine the Health insurance plan that’s right for you is to ask a licensed agent in our office. We can assist you with assessing your insurance needs and provide you with some quotes from several of the top insurance companies.