Affordable Family Health Insurance
Cheap Family Health Insurance - Family Health Care Insurance
Affordable family health insurance allows you and your loved ones to get the medical care you need to ensure everyone remains healthy. In order to find the best, cheap family health insurance you need to take your search online, where you can compare your options, instantly get quotes, and even apply for coverage.
eHealthInsurance is the destination when it comes to health insurance for families as they offer more than 10,000 health insurance products from over 180 leading providers. With their FREE, no-obligation service, you can find affordable family health care insurance that fits the needs of your family and fits within your budget. Visit eHealthInsurance to instantly get FREE, no-obligation quotes for the health coverage you need.
Family Health Insurance Plan Types
Many people have health insurance for family coverage through their work, but if this is not an option for you, it is imperative that you find a low cost family insurance plan so that your family is protected and can receive medical care when necessary.
Family health insurance comes in two varieties, indemnity plans and managed care plans, which are briefly explained below.
A traditional indemnity health care plan lets you visit almost any doctor or medical facility you wish, but you have higher out-of-pocket expenses and are required to handle a large portion of the claims paperwork. There are more affordable family health insurance options that require less paperwork that have become more popular with consumers.
Today, managed health plans are the most popular option when it comes to cheap family health insurance. Known as HMO, PPO or POS plans, managed health care plans offer a network of doctors for you to choose from, all of which have agreed to pre-negotiated rates for their services. This keeps your costs down and leaves you with very little paperwork you have to deal with.
Make use of eHealthInsurance's fee-free, no-obligation service to find the affordable family health care insurance option that is right for you. Their easy to use online interface makes finding health insurance for families a seamless process.
Affordable Family Health Insurance Quotes
Instantly get quotes for low cost family health insurance with eHealthInsurance and know that the quotes you receive from them are the best available for the particular plan. Health insurance premiums are regulated by your state's Department of Insurance, which means whether you purchase insurance from your local agent, directly from the provider, or through eHealthInsurance's easy to use website, you will be paying the same rates for the same plan.
Shop with confidence with eHealthInsurance for the affordable family health insurance plan your family needs. Get your instant, FREE, no-obligation family health insurance quotes today from eHealthInsurance!
How Health Insurance Works
Below is a video from eHealthInsurance discussing how health coverage works using a hypothetical policy and medical procedure.
Managed Care Plan Types Compared
| HMO | POS* | PPO | |
| Low Flexibility - HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) have the least amount of flexibility of the three managed care plan types as they require the insured to have a primary care physician who refers them to any other medical professionals. Care is all within the network of doctors that have contracted with the health insurance provider - this limits the provider options. If a medical professional or facility is not within the network, the insured will not have medical coverage if they choose to use them (unless it is an emergency). |  |  | |
| Moderate Flexibility - POS (Point of Service) plans are more flexible than the HMO plans, but not as flexible as the PPO plans. POS plans are a hybrid of both HMO and PPO, with the main component being a referral and co-pay based plan like an HMO where a primary care physician is picked, who then refers the insured to in-network medical professionals, and the insured is responsible for co-pays up to an annual out-of-pocket amount. A POS has an out-of-network option that is deductible, non-referral based that allows the insured to choose where to receive care, but expenses are out-of-pocket until the annual deductible limit has been met. This gives an option to a person that doesn't want to be locked into a totally referral based structure that an HMO provides. | | | |
| High Flexibility - PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans are the most flexible of the three managed care plan types. There is no referral necessary to see a medical professional, which means the insured can seek care from whomever they wish, including both in-network and out of network providers. Costs will generally be lower for in-network providers, as the medical professionals have a contractual obligation to provide care at a negotiated rate. While care can be sought outside of the network, the insured will be faced with higher annual deductible amounts, possibly higher co-insurance amounts, and generally overall higher costs. | | | |
| In-Network Only - Healthcare must be received from a medical professional that is part of the network that contracts with the insurance provider. This network of medical professionals has a contract with the insurance company that states they will provide services for a set rate (depending on the service rendered), thus providing care at a discounted rate. If care is received from a medical professional outside of the network, the insurance provider most likely will not pay for the coverage (except for cases of emergencies). | | | |
| In & Out of Network - The insured may seek medical care within a network of healthcare professionals that have contracted with the insurance provider to provide care at a reduced cost. The insured may also seek medical care outside of the network, but their out-of-pocket expenses will be higher as care is not provided at a reduced rate. Maximum annual deductibles will be higher for out of network providers, greatly increasing the costs to the insured, giving them incentive to only seek care from an in-network provider. | | | |
| Referral Based - The insured must pick a primary care physician who provides referrals to other medical care professionals as needed. If you see a specialist without a referral, your costs most likely will not be covered by the insurance provider. | | | |
| Non-Referral Based - The insured does not need a referral to seek medical treatment from a healthcare professional. They may see whomever they wish, though it is in their best interest to see in-network providers to keep their costs low. | | | |
| Co-Pay Based - The insured is responsible for co-pays (for office visits and medical procedures) until an annual maximum out-of-pocket expense limit is reached, at which time coverage is paid for 100% by the insurance provider. | | | |
| Deductible Based - The insured pays for care out-of-pocket (at rates negotiated by the insurance company) until an annual deductible is met, at which time the insurance company starts to pay. Once the deductible is met, there may be a co-insurance amount (up to an annual maximum), which is a percentage of the bill the insured pays, such as 20%, where the insurance company picks up the tab for the rest. Depending on the plan, you may have a co-pay for certain things such as doctor office visits, though many PPOs don't use a co-pay. | | | |
| Low Cost - An HMO typically is the least expensive health coverage option, but gives you the least flexibility. | | | |
| Moderate Cost - A POS plan's price usually comes in somewhere between that of a comparable HMO and PPO. This is because it offers a bit of the benefits of both, while trying to contain costs. People looking for the low cost benefits of an HMO, yet a bit more flexibility (like a PPO) should consider a POS plan. | | | |
| Higher Cost - A PPO plan is the most flexible, but is usually the most expensive. You pay for the ability to pick and choose your medical professional, without being locked down to a primary care provider. If flexibility is what you want, you will pay a higher monthly premium. | | | |
*POS Plans - The most popular type of managed care plans are HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations). POS plans, while available, are not as common as the other two, so as you are comparing plan benefits and costs via eHealthInsurance's website, don't be surprised if all you see are HMOs and PPOs.
