Sunday, February 15, 2009

Learn More About Your Health Insurance Options

By Tommy Hammerman

If you're out there searching for health insurance, you probably want a group medical insurance plan. This is the kind of plan that many are used to getting from a large company. For many years it was considered almost a guarantee to get this kind of insurance with any company you work with, but now with the way things are in the world that is not always the case.

Because of the slowdown in the economy, many companies are trying to find ways to lower expenses and many health programs are getting cut back or discontinued. These changes are happening rather quickly and you need to do something right away to know your options. Make sure you have a backup plan so that you are not left without medical insurance.

If your employer does not offer a kind of group medical insurance plan, or you are self-employed, unemployed, or employed only part-time, chances are you are going to have to search for an individual medical insurance plan, and that can be a daunting task. Finding an affordable individual medical insurance plan can be quite the scavenger hunt.

The two most popular ways to get a group medical insurance plan is through your employer and through an organization with which you are affiliated. Many organizations offer all types of insurance plans, from medical and life insurance to auto and home owners insurance, to their members.

If you are in the position that your organization offers these benefits, read up about the different policies available. Usually the process involves filling out forms, and providing them to a benefit department like a human resources department. Quite often you get your paperwork back in the mail and the benefits are effective immediately.

There are two main kinds of medical insurance plans. The first kind is a fully insured medical plan in which an organization pays for all of your health-related needs. You are probably familiar with this type of plan. Basically, you pay your monthly premiums, and then visit the doctor and pay a co-pay. Anything that's covered in the plan over and above the co-pay is handled by the insurance provider.

The second kind of plan is known as a minimum premium plan, or also known as an MMP, in which your employer or organization takes on the responsibility of paying a certain amount of your health-related services. Think of it as a cap. After that amount of money has been dished out, the insurer picks up the tab.

With this kind of plan, you are usually either given a basic group plan, or a major medical plan. Sometimes you see a combination of the two but that is not usually the case. Keep in mind, that as things continue to change we will probably see variations on these kinds of plans come into play.

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