| We here in Utah have some of the best options | | | | plans that were available prior to PPO and HMO |
| for health insurance companies in the country. | | | | type plans. There is no network of doctors you |
| Those options are what we are going to discuss | | | | have to go to. You are able to pick whatever |
| here and how to navigate through everything. | | | | provider you wish and be treated in any hospital. |
| One thing to remember though is what may be a | | | | These plans are more expensive, but they allow |
| great provider and plan for your friend may not | | | | the freedom you may need. |
| be a great option for you. | | | | One thing to remember about companies here in |
| There are five main providers here; SelectHealth, | | | | Utah is the networks that they use. IHC hospitals |
| Humana, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Altius | | | | and facilities use only SelectHealth as an in |
| and Assurant. Let's go into a little detail on each, | | | | network carrier. What that means is that the |
| shall we? | | | | largest health care provider in the state only uses |
| The largest provider in Utah is SelectHealth. Most | | | | one health insurance company (their own) as able |
| people know them as Intermountain Healthcare, | | | | to use their facilites at the lowest rates. Now |
| IHC or by their plan names of SelectValue, | | | | many of the doctors that are IHC doctors are |
| SelectMed and SelectCare. They have over 3700 | | | | not necessarily only in network for SelectHealth |
| participating doctors and the most hospitals in the | | | | and you need to double check to make sure |
| state. They are also the administrators of | | | | what networks they are in. So if you find that |
| HIPUtah. They offer a number of different plans | | | | your IHC doctor is in a number of networks, and |
| that can include maternity coverage, dental and | | | | you find great coverage with a lower premium |
| vision. | | | | with another company, you will have to travel to |
| Another carrier here is Humana. Humana offers a | | | | an in network facility to receive the lowest cost |
| broad range of plan options and also have a very | | | | of care. The funny thing is that all non-IHC facilities |
| large doctor and hospital network. Since Humana | | | | will accept SelectHealth in network. |
| is a national insurance provider, their network is | | | | Each of these carriers has strong points that fit |
| available nationwide. What that allows for is if you | | | | for certain needs, health conditions and pricing for |
| are traveling out of state, you will be able to find | | | | each family. As we have said before, there is no |
| doctors that are in network there. That will help | | | | one size fits all. To help you sift through all of the |
| you keep your medical costs down. | | | | different providers and their numerous plans, I |
| Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield is a regional | | | | recommend speaking to someone who knows |
| provider that offers a network available in Utah, | | | | what would work for you, like a independent |
| Idaho and Washington. They offer many different | | | | insurance agent that is based in Utah. Since they |
| plan types, including HSA, PPO and traditional plans. | | | | are up to date on any changes or new plans that |
| Other similar carriers are Assurant and Altius. | | | | providers offer, and all the issues that we have in |
| They all offer a variety of plans to suit your | | | | IHC and non-IHC facilities, they can help direct you |
| needs, but they also offer what are called | | | | and make the process quite painless. |
| traditional plans as well. These were the types of | | | | |