10 Vital Questions That You Should Ask If Your Are Buying Health Insurance
If you are considering getting a health insurance quote the details of the plan are critical and there a variety of questions that you should always ask.
Simply considering the premium which you will have to pay is insufficient and you must look at a variety of different things including any limitations, restrictions on where treatment can be received, additional payments and fee requirements, exclusions and one ot two other things.
l Here are several important things that you must always consider whenever you are purchasing a health insurance plan: 1.
What out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles am I going to have to pay? Your premiums are merely the start and the majority of plans will require you to cover your bills up to a specified figure before your insurance plan kicks in.
After that, you will normally also have to make a payment towards the cost of each medical bill.
2.
Does the plan include cover for health screenings and medical examinations? Examine the plan to find out whether the plan includes cover for routine health examinations including such things as breast exams, mammograms and pap smears for women.
3.
How are referrals and specialist care treatments dealt with? Look at the procedures to be followed if you have to be referred for specialist care and whether there are any special provisions for meeting the cost of such treatment.
4.
What cover is given for hospital treatment or emergency care? {Take a look to see whether you will need prior approval for hospital or emergency treatment.
It might seem strange but a lot of policies will not allow you to seek emergency care without the prior approval of a specified physician.
5.
Is cover given for prescription drugs? A lot of plans will limit the drugs that can be prescribed frequently stating that a list of generic drugs rather than brand name drugs must be prescribed.
You also need to look carefully at what proportion of any cost which you will have to meet for drugs.
6.
Is dental and vision care provided? Many plans do not cover vision and dental care at all although some limit care to just routine annual eye and dental checkups.
7.
Is psychiatry, psychotherapy and other mental health care cover provided? Not all insurance plans will cover mental health care and where cover is given you must look carefully at just what cover is being offered.
8.
Is hospital, nursing home and home care covered? It is important to look at the extent to which cover is given for care in a nursing home, hospital or at home and whether there is a limit on your cover.
9.
Is physiotherapy and rehabilitation cover given? Accident or illness frequently leads to a need for rehabilitation or physiotherapy and so it is important to see the extent to which such treatment is covered.
10.
Is alternative therapy covered? As an increasing number of us are turning to alternative treatments like the use of holistic treatments or acupuncture you should check to see whether or not these are covered if this is something that you want to make use of.
The premium which you are paying for any health insurance plan is of course important but you have to bear in mind that it is just one small element of the total package which you are purchasing.
Simply considering the premium which you will have to pay is insufficient and you must look at a variety of different things including any limitations, restrictions on where treatment can be received, additional payments and fee requirements, exclusions and one ot two other things.
l Here are several important things that you must always consider whenever you are purchasing a health insurance plan: 1.
What out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles am I going to have to pay? Your premiums are merely the start and the majority of plans will require you to cover your bills up to a specified figure before your insurance plan kicks in.
After that, you will normally also have to make a payment towards the cost of each medical bill.
2.
Does the plan include cover for health screenings and medical examinations? Examine the plan to find out whether the plan includes cover for routine health examinations including such things as breast exams, mammograms and pap smears for women.
3.
How are referrals and specialist care treatments dealt with? Look at the procedures to be followed if you have to be referred for specialist care and whether there are any special provisions for meeting the cost of such treatment.
4.
What cover is given for hospital treatment or emergency care? {Take a look to see whether you will need prior approval for hospital or emergency treatment.
It might seem strange but a lot of policies will not allow you to seek emergency care without the prior approval of a specified physician.
5.
Is cover given for prescription drugs? A lot of plans will limit the drugs that can be prescribed frequently stating that a list of generic drugs rather than brand name drugs must be prescribed.
You also need to look carefully at what proportion of any cost which you will have to meet for drugs.
6.
Is dental and vision care provided? Many plans do not cover vision and dental care at all although some limit care to just routine annual eye and dental checkups.
7.
Is psychiatry, psychotherapy and other mental health care cover provided? Not all insurance plans will cover mental health care and where cover is given you must look carefully at just what cover is being offered.
8.
Is hospital, nursing home and home care covered? It is important to look at the extent to which cover is given for care in a nursing home, hospital or at home and whether there is a limit on your cover.
9.
Is physiotherapy and rehabilitation cover given? Accident or illness frequently leads to a need for rehabilitation or physiotherapy and so it is important to see the extent to which such treatment is covered.
10.
Is alternative therapy covered? As an increasing number of us are turning to alternative treatments like the use of holistic treatments or acupuncture you should check to see whether or not these are covered if this is something that you want to make use of.
The premium which you are paying for any health insurance plan is of course important but you have to bear in mind that it is just one small element of the total package which you are purchasing.