| Years ago choosing a health insurance plan was not a | | | | care or indemnity plan through a group policy. The |
| big trouble. Of course there were less health | | | | policy can be offered by your employer or through |
| insurance plans to choose from but also people were | | | | the job of a member of your family. |
| able to go to almost any doctor and hospital to | | | | If your company doesn't offer group policies or if |
| receive medical care. | | | | you are self-employed, you can get an individual |
| Today things are a bit more complicated not only | | | | health insurance policy. Another option is to check if |
| because there is a wide choice of different insurance | | | | your professional organization is offering group |
| schemes, but because of the restrictions each one | | | | policies. Keep in mind that individual health insurance |
| hides. Moreover almost all of the health insurance | | | | policies are likely to cost more than the group |
| plans available have some managed care policy that | | | | insurance policies. |
| means that it is not possible to use any doctor, any | | | | Old people can apply for a federal insurance program |
| hospital and even a medical service of certain costs. | | | | called Medicare. A choice between a fee-for-service |
| For the average American picking up the right health | | | | and managed care plan is available. Low-income |
| insurance plan is a bit complicated especially if he | | | | people can also benefit from a federal health |
| doesn't know much about the plans available. In | | | | insurance program called Medicaid. It is very popular |
| general there are several insurance schemes | | | | among children and pregnant women and offers |
| Indemnity plan (also called fee-for-service plan), | | | | managed care health insurance plans. |
| managed care, Health Maintenance Organization | | | | The best way to compare health insurance plans is |
| (HMO), Point-of-Service plan (POS). each one of | | | | to ask yourself some questions that will show you |
| these has it advantages and disadvantages so it is | | | | the right way. What services are offered by each |
| best to read about them and see which conditions | | | | plan? What will be the chose of doctors, hospitals |
| are best for you and your family. | | | | and other medical care institutions? Where you will |
| The next question that might bother you is where | | | | have to go to receive care? What are the costs? |
| you can get one of these plans. The first resource is | | | | Once you have the answers of these basic questions |
| the group policies. Usually you can get a managed | | | | the right health insurance plan will become obvious. |