MISSION, KS–(Marketwire – Jan 3, 2013) – (Family Features) Millions of working Americans are still without health insurance, and many more worry about whether they’ll be able to afford their existing coverage due to rising health costs.
“With the rising cost of care, individuals want more affordable options when it comes to health insurance,” says Scott Krienke, senior vice president, marketing and product lines at Assurant Health. “Consumers want coverage tailored to their budget and how they manage their health. Before choosing a health insurance plan, it’s important to understand all the options to find the best fit for your needs.”
What You Need to Know Whether you’re looking for additional coverage to supplement your employer’s plan, or want an individual plan because you’re self-employed or uninsured, here are a few tips to get you started.
Major Medical Under the Affordable Care Act, major medical plans now cover 100 percent of many preventive services. Many people are familiar with major medical insurance, which can be offered by employers and which is usually most comprehensive in covering serious illness or injuries. Major medical plans generally offer the broadest protection and protect against large, unexpected medical expenses.
Fixed-Benefit Plans In general, fixed-benefit plans pay a set amount of money when you have a covered medical service, regardless of the actual cost. For example, if the plan pays $50 when you have an X-ray, but it costs $125, after applying the plan payment of $50, you would owe $75.
Unlike a traditional plan that has deductibles, coinsurance and copays, fixed-benefit plans pay a benefit for covered services immediately. Some provide access to network discounts that can significantly decrease the total cost of care. These plans can cover a range of services from everyday office visits, preventive care and prescriptions, to hospitalization and surgery. Check to see if there are pre-existing condition limitations for the first 12 months of coverage.
Fixed-benefit plans can offer significant coverage. For example, hospitalization reimbursement can be as much as $6,000 per day depending on the plan. Some even offer tools to help manage costs, like guaranteed cost estimates for common services and treatments.
Analyzing Your Insurance Needs How do you decide what type of plan is right for you? It depends on your needs, what’s most important to you, and sometimes the tradeoffs you are willing to make to get the coverage you want at an affordable price. Here is information on those types of plans to help in your decision-making:
Fixed-Benefit Plan
- Gives you help with everyday, common medical needs that you are more likely to have.
- Helps you pay for immediate expenses that you are most likely to encounter.
- Gives you more control over your monthly medical expenses. You are willing to take the risk that out-of-pocket costs may exceed the amount of the fixed benefit, and that you would be required to pay remaining balances.
Major Medical Plan
- Provides major medical protection and coverage for your unexpected health care expenses.
- Protects your assets and income while you pay for everyday smaller costs.
- Helps you prepare for unexpected medical expenses. You pay premium, deductibles and coinsurance in exchange for knowing your costs are capped.
Identify Supplemental Insurance Plans You May Want to Round Out Your Plan Once a decision is made to purchase a major medical plan or fixed-benefit product, supplemental plans can be used to fill gaps in coverage and create additional protection. Supplemental insurance, which can be offered through the workplace or sold individually, offers limited coverage for specific health care needs such as in-hospital care, dental checkups or vision.
“Do your homework, and weigh your options — there are affordable plans that can fit into your budget and give you the coverage you need to help protect yourself and your family,” said Tim Knott, senior vice president of strategic markets and product management for Assurant Employee Benefits. “Supplemental insurance provides a wide array of benefits that can help employees cope with out-of-pocket expenses including those associated with serious accidents or illnesses.”
Plans may include:
- Dental – Provides benefits for dental checkups and treatment, which can contribute to better overall health. Many plans provide benefits for additional services such as crowns and orthodontia.
- Vision – Generally will cover vision exams and pay a portion of glasses and contact lens expenses. Some also provide network discounts.
- Accident – Provides benefits for medical care necessary due to an accident. Some also provide benefits for death expenses, dismemberment and disability.
- Critical Illness and Cancer – Provides benefits for diagnosis and treatment of specifically named diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. Many provide a lump sum payment upon diagnosis.
- Hospital Indemnity – Provides benefits for a period of continuous in-hospital care. Some provide benefits for certain outpatient services and costs associated with necessary surgery.
Learn more about choosing health and supplemental insurance plans at www.assuranthealth.com[1] and www.assurantemployeebenefits.com[2].
Comparing health and supplementary insurance coverage To do a comparison of costs and coverage with any plans you’re considering, it’s wise to look at:
- Premiums, which are the amount paid each month for your plan.
- Coverage/benefits.
- Access to doctors, hospitals and other providers.
- After-hours access and emergency care.
- Out-of-pocket costs.
- Exclusions and limitations.
How to design a custom, affordable health insurance plan that’s right for you
- Decide what’s most important to you — paying for everyday health care needs or catastrophic coverage that caps your costs.
- Check to see if a high-deductible plan with lower premiums is right for you. If you choose this option, you may want to look into the benefits of a pre-tax Health Savings Account to cover out-of-pocket costs.
- If you choose a higher deductible plan, you may want to use a portion of the money saved on premiums for supplemental coverage that can help pay your deductible or other expenses if you have a costly accident or critical illness.
- Consider a no-copay plan. Under the Affordable Care Act, major medical plans now cover 100 percent of many preventive services, so copays may not be worth the additional cost.
About Family Features Editorial SyndicateThis and other food and lifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com[3]. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.
References
- ^ www.assuranthealth.com (ctt.marketwire.com)
- ^ www.assurantemployeebenefits.com (ctt.marketwire.com)
- ^ www.editors.familyfeatures.com (ctt.marketwire.com)
Resources:
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Health Diet Tips To Keep Myself Skinny And Healthy? I am 115lbs and I am 13. I was wondering if anyone had any health tips to keep myself healthy.
I was looking into this diet where I would start with eating protein and gradually work my way into eating my fruits and vegetables. Does anyone know what this diet is called?
(Please, No comments with additude. Any other comments will be appreciated. Thanks so much!)
Also, I don’t want to be on a diet plan (Such as Weight Watchers). Thanks!
Water
Can You Give Me Some Health Tips? I need some health tips. You see I am making a health book. I want to give the world a medical health book. Therefore I need health tips.
What Are Some Basic Tips To Give To Kids About Staying Healthy? I’m trying to teach my 6 year old nephew how to stay healthy. I need tips from eating right, to being active and maintaining hygiene. Any health tips you expect a 6 yr old kid to understand.
You should tell them to eat lots of smaller meals and to eat slowly so that their bodies are more able to recognize when they are full. Also its important to drink lots of water and fruit juice rather than soda. Try and encourage him to stay away from junk food and eat fruit or something healthy when he wants a snack. Also teach him to be active, that playing sports and running around is good for you as well as fun. Also teach him the basics of hygiene like showering daily and brushing his teeth 3 times a day. Try and make it all fun for him though, as kids respond more to things that they find enjoyable.
Anyone Have Some Good Tips For A College Student Who Wants To Lose About 35 Pounds? Basically Im pretty lethargic due to the studying….I do a fair bit of walking and I dont eat fast food more than a coupla times a month, but I seem to keep gaining weight. Basically I need some health tips or some way of beginning to get rid of the buddha belly.
As a fellow student, I understand your struggle. My butt feels constantly glued to a seat and I don’t have the time or attention for planning healthy meals. It’s tough but I manage to control my weight and even lose weight every now and then with some pretty easy tactics. Since you want to lose it, you’ll have to get serious. I would highly recommend cardio workouts. Depending on your fitness level and personal tastes you could try at home workouts like Tae Bo or you can hit the gym (in which case walking or jogging on the tredmill mixed with weights would be effective). Basically, make yourself workout even when you feel tired from studying or a long day. Next thing you know, you’ll look forward to the stress relief. Remember to watch what you eat and consider counting calories…you may be surprised how much you eat daily! Get sleep. Lack of sleep stresses the bod out and you may compensate with food. And you definitely will have less energy for workouts. GOOD LUCK!
I’m Trying To Loose Weight, What Are Some Health Tips? I’m making a modeling portfolio, and I know I need to be slimmer. What are some health tips, such as eating veggies, and colors to dress in the make you look slimmer? What is skinny for height 5’8″? I am Indian (India) & German and I have blue eyes.
Unfortunately there are no easy ways to permanently lose weight and most people who lose weight regain it all.
A vegetarian or vegan diet for the rest of your life might perhaps be a good option as very few vegetarians or vegans are overweight.
If you want a life changing permanent weight loss you need to follow a maintenance diet for the rest of your life after you reach your target weight with one of the many diets you can choose from.
You can see further details in a web search for “how to lose weight and keep it off”.