Compare Major Medical Health Insurance Plans
Health Insurance Medical Plan Quotes - Major Medical Insurance
Determining what the best major medical health insurance plan is for you doesn't have to be hard. You just need to understand the different parts of a major medical insurance policy so that you can make an educated decision. Using the Internet to compare, analyze, and buy a health insurance medical plan is a great way to cut back on the amount of effort required.
The most favored online destination for comparing and purchasing coverage from major private medical health insurance companies is eHealthInsurance. With over 10,000 medical plans to choose from, represented by more than 180 top insurance providers, eHealthInsurance is your definitive online source for everything dealing with health insurance major medical plans. Getting FREE, no-obligation quotes to compare available plans allows you to choose the best major medical health insurance plan without ever leaving your desk.
Comparing Major Medical Health Insurance Plans
There are a few things to consider when comparing major medical health insurance plans, such as:
- Monthly Premium - To make a valid comparison of major medical insurance plan premiums, you have to make sure that the plans in question have the same, or very similar, benefits. Otherwise, you are comparing two policies that offer different coverages.
- Annual Deductible - The amount you have to pay out-of-pocket each year before your health insurance medical plan starts full coverage is called your deductible. Most times, a higher deductible will result in a lower premium.
- Copayment - Some types of private medical health insurance plans require you to pay a set fee every time you make use of your insurance coverage. This fee is called your copayment and is usually a small dollar amount, such as $25.
- Coinsurance - Some medical plans require you to pay a part of any medical procedure you have, which is called coinsurance. An example of this is when your plan covers 80% of a procedure, leaving the remaining 20% for you to pay.
- Out-of-Pocket Maximum - The amount that you have to pay out-of-pocket each year is usually capped at a certain amount. Once you reach this amount, your medical plan covers any further covered medical treatment for the year.
- Exclusionary Clause - A medical plan generally will not cover every possible medical procedure or ailment, and what is not covered is outlined in the exclusionary clause.
When it comes to picking the best major medical insurance plan for you and your family, there are many things to consider. You need to make sure you choose a plan that has the benefits you need at a price you can afford. This is where eHealthInsurance comes in, making it easy for you to compare available medical plans and get FREE, no-obligation online quotes to see which plan is right for you.
Getting Major Medical Insurance Quotes
The process of analyzing and comparing your options when it comes to a health insurance medical plan is made much simpler when you utilize eHealthInsurance, the leading online destination for medical insurance plans. By utilizing eHealthInsurance's advanced technology, you are able to find the best private medical health insurance plan for your situation without ever having to leave the comforts of your computer.
Medical insurance premiums are regulated by each state's insurance commissioner, so no matter who you purchase a particular insurance policy from, the premium will be the same. eHealthInsurance does not charge you any fees for using their service, so the only money you spend is the monthly premium amount.
Receive FREE, no-obligation medical health insurance quotes from eHealthInsurance today!
How Medical Insurance Works
Below is a video from eHealthInsurance discussing how medical coverage works using a hypothetical situation.
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.
