Compare Health Insurance Providers
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There are many private health insurance providers that offer various health plans to fit different needs. The key is to find a private health insurance provider that offers a plan that has the benefits you need, at a price you can afford. Go online to compare the offerings of health care insurance providers to easily find the right coverage for you and your family.
Visit eHealthInsurance, the leading online website for health insurance coverage, to compare plans from over 180 leading healthcare insurance providers. Quickly compare plans, get FREE, no-obligation quotes and apply for coverage when you visit eHealthInsurance.
Compare Health Insurance Providers
When you are comparing plans from health insurance providers, you need to consider what each plan has to offer.
- Coverage Period - There are short term policies and long term policies. Depending on your needs, you will choose a policy that best fits.
- Coverage - A health care insurance provider may offer plans that offer coverage ranging from just emergency care to comprehensive benefits. Evaluate your needs and your budget to determine how much coverage you need.
- Other Costs - A plan may offer a low monthly premium but require you to pay more when you use the policy, while another plan may charge you more each month but have less out-of-pocket expenses. Your frequency of use will determine which health insurance plan is best for you.
- Seeing Specialists - One healthcare insurance provider may require you to have a referral from a primary care physician in order to see a specialist, while another may let you see whoever you want, when you want, as long as they are in the network.
- Doctors and Facilities - Make sure your current doctor and favorite medical facility is in the network of a plan you are considering so that you will have coverage when you receive medical care.
- Maximum Costs - A private health insurance provider will typically have a cap on the amount you have to pay each year, after which they cover all expenses. See if you are comfortable with the maximum amount you may have to pay annually.
eHealthInsurance lets you make sense of health care insurance providers and their plans without having to call around and waste your valuable time. Easily locate the health plan that best fits your needs with eHealthInsurance.
Health Insurance Provider Quotes
Quickly get health plan quotes from leading healthcare insurance providers on eHealthInsurance's website. Compare plans and apply for coverage without getting up from your computer with eHealthInsurance's easy to use online interface.
Because health insurance premiums are approved by your state's Department of Insurance, no matter where you purchase a particular plan from, the premium will be the same. Shop for health coverage online with eHealthInsurance to easily find the best health insurance provider to meet your needs.
Instantly receive FREE, no-obligation quotes from health insurance providers with eHealthInsurance today!
How Health Insurance Works
Below is a video from eHealthInsurance using a hypothetical scenario to help explain how health coverage works.
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.
