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  What Types of Health - Medical Insurances Are Available?
  
  Major Medical Plans
  
  This type of policy is usually effective in covering serious illness or injury where costs are high. Hospital care, drugs and doctors' visits are generally covered. These benefits can be delivered in several different ways:
  
  Compare health insurance quotes and where to get health insurance your area below.
  

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  Indemnity plans - These plans usually provide the most flexibility in choosing where to receive care and typically have a deductible; i.e., the amount you pay before the insurance company begins paying benefits.
  Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans - In these major medical plans, the insurance company enters into contracts with selected hospitals and doctors to furnish services at a discounted rate. As a member of a PPO, you may be able to seek care from a doctor or hospital that is not a preferred provider, but you will probably have to pay a higher deductible or co-payment.
  Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans - These major medical plans usually require you to choose a primary care physician (PCP) from a list of network providers. If you need care from any network provider other than your PCP, you might have to get a referral from your PCP to see that provider. You must receive care from a network provider in order to have your claim paid through the HMO. Treatment received outside the network is usually not covered, or covered at a significantly reduced level.
  Point of Service (POS) plans - These major medical plans are a hybrid of the PPO and HMO models. They are more flexible than HMOs, but require you to select a primary care physician (PCP). Like a PPO, you can go to an out-of-network provider and pay more of the cost.
  Limited Benefit Plans
  
  These types of policies provide limited coverage for a particular health care setting, ailment or disease. Here are some of the options that might be available to you:
  
  Basic Hospital Healthcare Expense Benefit Coverage - Covers a period of usually not less than 31 days of continuous in-hospital care and certain hospital outpatient services.
  Basic Medical-Surgical Expense Benefit Coverage - Covers costs associated with a necessary surgery, including a certain number of days (usually not less than 21 days) of in-hospital care.
  Hospital Confinement Indemnity Coverage - Covers a fixed amount (usually not less than $40) for each day that you are in a hospital. The benefits paid are not based on your actual expenses.
  Accident Only Coverage - Covers death, dismemberment, disability or hospital and medical care caused by an accident. Specified accident coverage that covers only certain accidents may also be purchased.
  Specified Disease Coverage -- Covers diagnosis and treatment of a specifically named disease or diseases; such as cancer.
  Other Limited Coverage - You may purchase insurance covering only dental or vision or other specified care.
  Discount Plans and Risk-Sharing Plans
  
  Discount plans and risk-sharing plans are not insurance plans! Before signing, be sure to understand how the program works, and what benefits it offers you or your family.
  
  Discount medical Plans - You might receive advertisements from plans offering discounts on health care for a monthly fee. These are not health insurance plans and participants do not have the same protections as under licensed health insurance plans. Insurance commissioners strongly recommend that you thoroughly investigate any plan promising deep discounts for a "low" monthly fee and weigh the benefits against the cost carefully.
  
  Non-Licensed healthcare Risk-Sharing Plans - You may receive offers to join a benefit group or association that will take your monthly payments, put them in a savings account (or trust) with other participants' money, and then help pay some of your health care costs, as needed. Such arrangements are not insurance and the participants do not have the protections available to purchasers of licensed insurance plans. State insurance regulators strongly recommend that you thoroughly investigate such plans before joining.
  State Consumer Protections
  
  States provide a variety of important protections through state law. These might include:
  
  The appeal of coverage decisions within the insurance company;
  The appeal of coverage decisions to an impartial external reviewer;
  Prompt payment of claims;
  Access to certain specialists and health care providers;
  Coverage of specific treatments and services.
  If you have questions about protections in your state, contact your state insurance department. A link to their Web site can be found at www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm.
  
  Other Important Consumer Protections
  
  COBRA Healthcare Insurance Continuation Coverage - If you purchase insurance coverage through your employer and your employer has 20 or more employees, when you leave your job, you are entitled to continuation coverage by the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Your state may also require continuation coverage to be offered by smaller employers. You can find out more about COBRA continuation of group health benefits from the federal Department of Labor, Office of Employee Benefits Security Administration Web site, www.dol.gov/ebsa/.
  HIPAA - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 limits insurers' power to deny or delay claims, reduces your chances of losing existing coverage, makes it easier and less risky to switch health plans, and prohibits insurance discrimination based on health problems. You can find out more about HIPAA from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web site, www.cms.hhs.gov/.
  Some Final Tips on Buying Health Insurance
  
  Make sure you feel confident in the insurance agent and company. It is a good idea to contact your state insurance department and make sure the agent and the company you are dealing with are licensed in your state.
  Learn what kinds of policies will provide what you need and pick the one best for you. Don't hesitate to shop around and ask a lot of questions.
  Do not sign an application until you review it carefully to be sure the answers are complete and accurate. Make sure that the word "insurance" is actually used and that there is no disclaimer stating that, "This product is not insurance, nor is it intended to replace insurance."
  For more information about health insurance options, and tips for choosing the coverage that is right for you and your family, go to www
  

  HEALTHINSURANCE

  We know the time and effort involved in finding the right policy. Thats why weve located the best insurer consumer connector in the industry, to make your search for health insurance successful. One simple application matches you with numerous local health insurance providers from the network&simultaneously.

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  How can I get the best Health Insurance coverage?

  • Evaluate plans carefully: Read the fine print to make sure all the coverage you need is contained in the policies you're offered.
  • Compare prices between at least three insurers: You'd be surprised how many companies offer the same or similar coverage at a wide range of prices.
  • Talk to family and friends: Find out if anyone you know has used an insurer you are considering and, if so, whether or not they would use them again&and why.
  • Check out customer service ratings: The Better Business Bureau or independent companies like Weiss Ratings, Inc. can inform you of consumer complaints and service ratings.

  When considering your options, know what you're getting medical insurance or a medical discount plan. If you're not sure, check with your state insurance commissioner to see if the company offering the plan is registered to sell insurance in your state. If the company is not registered to sell health insurance and you want to buy health insurance, consider shopping elsewhere. Remember that if you buy a health insurance plan, it generally covers a broad array of services, and pays you or your health care provider for your medical bills. If you buy a medical discount plan, you generally are paying for a list of providers and sellers who may be willing to offer discounts on some of their services, products or procedures. If youre interested in buying a medical discount plan, you should investigate the details before you pay any money. For example,
  
  Look for a telephone number or website of the company you're considering doing business with so you can get more information.
  
  Before you pay any money, ask the company for a list of providers who participate in its plan. Call the providers and ask about the services and discounts they're offering.
  
  If the plan doesnt provide a list of providers promptly, consider taking your business elsewhere.
  
  Investigate the details of any plan carefully. Read the fine print, paying special attention to the refund policy. If a plan doesnt readily provide information and answers before you buy, it isnt likely to be responsive once they have your money.
  
  If your usual medical or dental providers dont participate, see whether other doctors in your area accept the plan and will give you the discount the plan promoters promise. Some legitimate plans offer a get acquainted or initial consultation visit so you can meet a practitioner who participates in the plan before you commit to becoming a member.
  
  Do the math. Try to calculate what your total payment for a discount plan will be for a given amount of time. You could be responsible for paying a substantial amount up front, in addition to monthly fees and other costs. The costs of the program may total more than the savings you anticipate. Indeed, you may be able to negotiate a similar discount directly with your provider, without having to join a medical discount program.
  
  Call your local consumer protection office, state Attorney General, or Better Business Bureau to find out whether there are complaints about the business offering the discount plan.
  

  Medical Discount Plans: Theyre Not Health Insurance policies.

  
  Affordable Health Care Plan
  Pre-existing conditions? No problem!
  No Deductible or Co-pays
  Thousands of providers in our PPO network
  Discounts up to 60%
  
  Claims insurance like these in magazines, on television, or on the Internet may sound like theyre selling health insurance. Probably not. Most of the time, theyre pitching a medical discount plan, card, or program, and chances are, theyre aimed at people who are in the market for ways to reduce the cost of health care.
  
  Medical discount plans can be useful for some consumers looking to save money on health care. But theyre not the same as health insurance. Medical discount plans dont pay any of your health care costs; instead, they require you to pay a fee for a list of health care providers and sellers of health-related products who are willing to offer discounts to members of the plan.
  
  According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nations consumer protection agency, some medical discount plans claim to provide big discounts from hundreds of providers for a wide range of services, from doctor visits and dental exams to hospital stays and prescription drugs. But many plans fail to make good on those claims. The FTC and many states have found that although some medical discount plans provide legitimate discounts that benefit their members, many take consumers money and offer very little in return.
  
  

  HRSA's Consumer Education Program provides health-related information which will help you and your family live healthier lives. Whether you are a mom, dad, teen, grandparent or young adult, HRSA has information and resources that can improve your health and make a difference. HRSA also has information to assist care givers and health care providers. Living healthy really is an educated choice!

  Health Literacy
  HRSA's health literacy activities strive to educate and increase awareness about the need to improve health literacy among health care providers and patients. Understanding health information and communicating well with your health care providers will help assure a healthier tomorrow. Please visit HRSA's Health Literacy Web for more information.

  Finding Health Care
  For information about your state's program offering free or low-cost health insurance for your child or teen go to Insure Kids Now.

  HRSAs Health Center Locator can help you find a health center in your community. These health centers serve all who walk through their doors, regardless of ability to pay.

  Free or reduced health care is also available at some facilities nationwide through HRSAs Hill-Burton program.

  Staying Healthy
  On the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality's Consumers & Patients page, the publication entitled The Pocket Guide to Staying Healthy at 50+ has information on checkups, immunizations and adopting healthy habits for people over 50. HRSA's publication Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides information for families and children about how to stay healthy and active.

  Promoting Organ Donation
  You can give the Gift of Life by becoming an organ donor. More than 75,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant because too few of us are willing to be organ and tissue donors. HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has launched an Organ Donor initiative to promote organ donation and encourage people to make an informed decision about organ donation.

  Promoting Health Careers
  If you are interested in a health profession, HRSA's publication entitled The Allied Health Professions: Opportunities for Minority Students -- A Career Guidebook, 2000 may be helpful to you. This guidebook introduces students to allied health careers and provides information for those interested in pursuing such a career.

  HRSA's Kids Into Health Careers campaign has information about encouraging children and young adults to pursue a rewarding career in the health care field. Financial aid information is also included.

  Caring for People with HIV/AIDS
  HIV/AIDS continues to be a major health problem facing us all. HRSA provides HIV/AIDS information for clinicians who care for people living with HIV/AIDS. HRSA's Ryan White CARE Act program developed A Guide to the Clinical Care of Women with HIV.

  Raising Healthy Children
  To help parents raise healthy children, the HRSA-supported Bright Futures initiative provides expert advice and guidelines on practical ways to supervise the health of infants, children and adolescents ages 0-21. Bright Futures includes information on nutrition, oral health, mental health, physical activity and healthy families.

  Preventing School Violence
  Violence in our schools is a serious problem and bullying behavior is part of the problem. HRSA has created a "Lend A Hand - Stop Bullying Now" campaign with a Web site specifically designed for children to help educate them, their parents, and teachers about recognizing and understanding what bullying is and how to stop it.

  Improving Mental Health
  Information on improving the mental health of children, young people and their families is available from the HRSA funded Center for School Mental Health Assistance at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Center for Mental Health in Schools at the University of California in Los Angeles.

  Prenatal and Newborn Care
  Order your free Health Diary: Myself, My Baby from HRSA Information Center. It contains information on fetal and child development, prenatal and newborn care and an immunization table. There is also a section where you can record and track your prenatal and pediatric appointments.

  Diabetes
  HRSAs Bureau of Primary Health Care has developed the Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program also known as the LEAP Program. Learn more about the steps you can take to reduce your risk of lower extremity amputation.

  More Health Links

  Government Sites:

  FirstGov
  FirstGov is the official government gateway to Federal, state, local, and tribal information, programs, funding, news releases, phone directories and more.

  Health Information
  Healthfinder is a free guide to reliable health information where you can select online publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, support and self-help groups, as well as other government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.

  AIDS
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the National Prevention Information Network which provides information and resources on HIV disease and treatment. They can be reached toll free at 1-800-458-5231 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-458-5231 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. The HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service which is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, provides up to date HIV/AIDS treatment information and referrals including clinical trials. They can be reached toll free at 1-800-448-0440 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-448-0440 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

  Alzheimers Disease
  Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimers Caregiver Health) develops and tests new ways to help families manage the daily activities and stress of caring for people with Alzheimers disease.

  Closing the Health Gap
  HHS's national campaign Closing the Health Gap offers information about bringing the best health information to African American communities.

  Drug Abuse
  The National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, produced a very informative web page, Mind Over Matter Index, which explains to children in grades 5-9 the effects of drug abuse on the body and brain.

  Food Safety
  The Food and Drug Administration has good advice and information on a variety of consumer issues including food safety, foodborne illness, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and more. Visit the FDA Consumer Advice web page.

  Medicare and Medicaid
  Visit HHSs Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to learn about how these programs work and the services they provide.

  Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  Should you need or want information or assistance for a mental health or substance abuse problem, HHSs Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help.

  Safer Health Care
  Each year its estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die in U.S. hospitals because of lapses in patient safety. A Task Force, led by the Agency for Health Care Quality and Research, has developed Five Steps to Safer Health Care to help patients avoid medical errors and misunderstandings. They are:

  1. Speak up if you have questions.

  2. Keep a list of all medicines you take.

  3. Make sure you get the results of any test or procedure.

  4. Talk with your doctor and health care team about your options if you need hospital care.

  5. Make sure you understand what will happen if you need surgery.

  Non-Government Sites:

  Alcohol Addiction
  The Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc is an international organization dedicated to the support and recovery of families and friends of alcoholics. This self-help program is based on 12 steps towards personal growth and change. You can locate the nearest support group through this sites locator service.

  Birth Defects
  The March of Dimes has resources for reducing infant mortality, birth defects, prenatal care, and more.

  Cancer
  The American Cancer Society provides information, support, and resources to answer your cancer related questions.

  Diabetes
  The American Diabetes Association can explain the difference between juvenile and adult diabetes, the warning signs, and the important role your diet and exercise play in avoiding and improving this diagnosis.

  Heart Disease and Stroke
  The American Heart Association has information on how to fight heart disease and stroke and even get lessons on CPR.

  Mental Health
  The National Mental Health Association provides helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. Find a local mental health association or health facility or browse news and events.

  Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
  Administered by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, this public service will instantly connect you to the nearest poison control center.

  
  

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