Affordable Health Insurance Plans

2009-04-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

When you are seeking affordable health insurance plans, you want to make sure that you have great coverage at an affordable monthly payment. Here are 5 secrets that can help you save money by making your health insurance and overall healthcare costs more affordable.

1. Get a discount health plan. The way this works is simple - you pay a little every month to get 20-40% discounts on the services you are provided when they are needed. Physicians within a discount health plan network have negotiated lower prices for office visits, checkups, and other medical procedures. So for example, if you have a medical procedure that costs $500, you will only have to come out of pocket for $300-400.

2. Start a Health Savings Account. A health or medical savings account (MSA) works like a bank account allotted to take care or medical expenses. First, you choose a healthcare plan with a very high deductible. This can range from $1700 to $2650 for an individual and $3500 to $5250 for a family. With a health savings account, you or your employer can deposit up to 75% percent of your deductible amount into it. The funds are held by a bank or your insurer and this money is free of income tax. Whenever you have a medical expense, your MSA can take care of your deductible. Your MSA can also be used to cover expenses that would not usually be covered by your insurance plan, like cosmetic procedures for instance. This account can be carried over between employers and can collect interest over time. It is important to note that this money can be used for non-medical expenses, however if it is, you will have to pay tax on it.

3. Drop maternity coverage. If you are not of child bearing age, or do not plan on having children at all, you may want to consider dropping your maternity coverage. Some plans do have an insurance rider that you can add on should you become pregnant, but it is not necessary to have that coverage in your plan the entire time. Maternity coverage can cost an additional $2500 a year so if you do not foresee a pregnancy happening, you could drop this coverage to save some money.

4. Check with your church. If you are a part of a congregation and there are several of you that are uninsured, you and your church members may be eligible for a group healthcare plan. The advantage is that most times group healthcare plans are cheaper than individual plans. You may find that you are not only helping yourself save money with a group plan, but other uninsured individuals just like you that are in need of affordable health insurance can save money too.

5. Use the power of the Internet. In our technology age, the world is literally at your fingertips. You should not have to settle for any insurance plan that does not meet your needs completely. Affordable health insurance plans are out there, and many plans can be customized to fit your life and lifestyle. There are websites ready to give you personalized quotes that you can compare for the best rate. Do not feel rushed or pressured into choosing something that is not right for you.

Visit http://www.LowRateSearch.com to find healthcare with low rates and affordable monthly payments. In a few clicks you can be on your way to being insured without breaking the bank.

Affordable Insurance Rates

2009-03-03T22:42:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

There are four common reasons why most people do not have health insurance or health plans. These four reasons are: (1) You are self employed. (2) You are unemployed. (3) Your current job does not offer coverage. (4) You have been released from your parents' coverage. Whatever the reason may be, it is important for you to get covered.

While doing some research on healthcare, you may come across two different types of medical coverage. The first is "health insurance" which includes HMO's, PPO's, and traditional coverage. You may also come across something called discount "health plans". These healthcare types are a little different from one another and you should understand what they are all about before making a final decision on what kind of coverage you choose.

Health Insurance
When choosing a health insurance plan you are going to need to choose between three different sub categories: PPO's, HMO's, and Indemnity Plans. There is not much difference between a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). They are both options that your keep your premium costs down by only allowing you to see doctors or visit specialists that are members of their provider network. For example, when you see a member doctor, the doctor charges full price for the visit. You pay a co-pay amount of $5-$25 - depending on your policy, and the insurance company is billed for the rest. You must visit a doctor in the network or the insurance company may not pay their share of your visit.
Indemnity Plans are a little different. Also called "traditional insurance", they allow you to choose whatever doctor, hospital, or specialist you want, and your visit is covered. You pay your co-pay amount and your insurer will pay the rest. These plans may or may not be more expensive, so it is important for you to compare quotes between indemnity plans and PPO/HMO plans.

Discount Health Plans
These are great alternatives to PPO's, HMO's, and traditional insurance, and are becoming increasingly more popular. These plans offer discounts on doctor visits, emergency care, and prescriptions with participating providers in their network, and membership comes with affordable monthly payments. They offer financial relief in your time of need by preventing you from having to pay for 100% of your medical expenses on your own. For example if you have a 50% discount plan, get sick, and see a participating doctor that normally charges $70 for an office visit, being a discount plan member means you will only have to pay $35 for that visit. Many discount plans are offered by major medical insurance companies and were created for people on a budget.

So if you are debating on health insurance vs. health plans, just know that either way having some coverage is better than having no coverage at all. Pick a plan that allows you to stay healthy without breaking the bank. Staying healthy should be the number one priority.

Ken S., Founder
http://www.lowratesearch.com/
© 2009

I can help you find quality health insurance and health plans you can afford. Join the thousands I have helped to get health insurance plans. In just a few clicks you can have affordable health insurance. Get medical, dental, and prescription coverage today without breaking the bank.

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