Health Insurance at a Glance

So much information, so little time
Student Resources understands the busy schedule of both parents and kids, no matter what the age. With that in mind, here's a no-frills, easy-access guide to health insurance of all types.

Understanding Health Insurance
No single plan will cover all costs associated with medical care, but some cover more than others. Want to unlock the differences between plans? Here's your key ...

Types of Coverage
Fee-for-Service (or Indemnity) Plans
With this traditional plan, you can make an appointment with almost any medical provider. After your visit, you or your provider sends your claim to the insurance company. If you have met your deductible for the year, then the Fee-for-Service plan will pay a percentage of the bill - usually 80%. You pay for the other 20%, known as coinsurance. Few purchase this traditional type of plan. Why? Because it's expensive.

Managed Care
This term refers to types of health insurance plans that provide health care services at a lower cost. The key to these lower costs? Members of managed care plans must adhere to certain rules designed to lower the cost of medical care.

Types of Managed Care
Health Maintenance Organizations (or HMOs)
With an HMO, you receive a range of health benefits for a set fee. Generally, there are no deductibles - but most plans require a small copay per office visit (around $10-25). You must choose a primary care physician from the plan's list. This doctor becomes your "gatekeeper" for all your medical needs. This is the doctor you call or see when you are sick, and he or she will refer you to a specialist or other providers within the HMO network. With most HMOs you will not receive benefits if you go out-of-network, except for emergency care.

Types of HMOs
Staff Model HMO
A form of HMO in which doctors are employees of the HMO and you see them at a central medical facility.

Individual Practice Associations (IPAs)
Here, an HMO contracts with outside physician groups or individual doctors who have private practices. This means the HMO network will include doctors in various locations rather than only at a central facility.

More Types of Managed Care
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
This isn't an HMO, but it is another type of managed care. In this system, you may seek treatment from an approved network of providers, or may see other providers outside the network. Usually, you will pay small copay and satisfy a deductible before benefits are paid. Then you'll pay a set coinsurance amount. It's less expensive to visit one of the providers in the plan's list. You can go outside the plan's list, but your share of the bill will be higher.

Point of Service (POS)
A hybrid of the HMO and PPO is known as a POS plan. Like a standard HMO, your primary care doctors make referrals to other providers within the plan. But if you want to go to a physician outside the network without consulting your primary care doctor, the POS plan will pay a predetermined amount of the bill and your share of the bill will be higher than it would if you stay in-network. These plans usually cost more in monthly premiums than straight HMOs, but they give you the flexibility to call any doctor - within the plan or not.

Choosing wisely
If you have a choice from more than one plan, compare how each plan handles the following:

Coverages
Co-payments
Coinsurance
Deductibles
Pre-existing conditions
Limitations on devices, drugs, and access to specialists.
Wondering about some of the terms used in health insurance?
Here are some common terms and definitions.

Copay: A fixed dollar amount you pay at the time services are rendered. Typical copays are for office visits, prescriptions, or hospitalizations.

Coinsurance: A specified percentage of the cost of treatment the insured is required to pay for all covered medical expenses remaining after the deductible has been met.

Deductible: The portion of your health care that you pay before insurance starts covering it. Typically, the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums.

Pre-existing condition: An illness, disease or condition an individual has at the time of enrollment in a health care plan.

Premiums: The monthly or quarterly payments paid for health insurance.

Catastrophic coverage: This plan pays hospital and medical expenses above a certain (usually high) deductible. The maximum lifetime limit may be high enough to cover the cost of a catastrophic illness.

Long-term care policies: These cover medical care, nursing care and certain in-home care if you ever become unable to care for yourself due to an extended illness or disability.

Disability income insurance: This plan will provide you with an income if you become unable to work due to an injury or illness. Benefits are usually 60% of your income at the time of disability.