Cheap Health Care Insurance Quotes
Compare Health Care Insurance Providers Online
There are health plans from leading health care insurance providers to fit just about any need. What is good for your situation may not be good for someone else, so it is good to have variety. However, you need to understand what each plan offers so you can properly compare your options and make a wise decision.
The Internet is the best place to find out about healthcare insurance with the leading online destination being eHealthInsurance. With plans from over 180 of the leading healthcare insurance providers, eHealthInsurance lets you compare plans, get FREE, no-obligation healthcare insurance quotes and apply for insurance right from your computer.
Health Care Insurance Options
Whether you are looking for cheap health care insurance, or a comprehensive plan, you need to consider your options when shopping for coverage.
- Types of Coverage - Health care insurance providers offer coverage ranging from plans used only for major illness or injury to plans that have comprehensive coverage that includes routine office visits and prescription drugs. Typically, the more comprehensive the coverage, the more expensive the monthly premium will be.
- Your Expenses - When comparing health care insurance quotes, you need to consider more than just the monthly premium. Some plans will require you to pay a copay or coinsurance when you seek medical care and may also require you to meet an annual deductible before they pay any claims. Fully understand what your actual out-of-pocket expenses will be for each plan you are considering.
- Doctor Choices - Today's managed health care insurance plans are based on utilizing networks of physicians and medical facilities that have contracted with the insurance provider to offer services at discounted rates. You have to see a doctor within a plan's network to take advantage of coverage from your health plan. Some plans are more restrictive regarding whom you can see, so make sure you are comfortable with a plan and their network before purchasing coverage.
The above bullet points highlight just some of the things you consider when you are comparing health care insurance quotes. Visit eHealthInsurance's website to learn more about what to look for when comparing medical insurance providers.
Health Care Insurance Quotes
By using eHealthInsurance's free website, you can research health insurance options, get instant quotes and apply for a plan via your computer. You will be receiving quotes that offer the lowest premiums possible for a particular plan because health plan rates are regulated by individual states. No matter where you purchase a particular plan from, you will be paying the identical rates.
Take advantage of eHealthInsurance's no-fee website to locate the best health plan. Get your instant, FREE, no-obligation health care insurance quote from 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.
