| Discount health insurance may seem like a | | | | Some states offer low-cost or discounted |
| contradiction in terms, but there are plans and | | | | insurance for children through the SCHIP or State |
| policies offering varying levels of discounts. How | | | | Children's Health Insurance Program. This program |
| much you might be able to save will depend on a | | | | charges a small monthly fee along with a nominal |
| lot of factors however, and "discount" doesn't | | | | co-payment when care is rendered or |
| always mean what you might think it means. | | | | prescriptions are filled. Availability is based on |
| As health care premiums continue rise, nearly | | | | income, and generally only those earning low |
| everyone is eager to find more affordable health | | | | wages will qualify. |
| insurance. With this comes an increase in the | | | | If you're at the lowest-end of the income scale, |
| numbers and types of products trying to fill this | | | | you might qualify for Medicaid, an excellent |
| void. One product recently gaining a lot of | | | | program for those who qualify. Medicaid is free. In |
| attention is the "discount health card". | | | | addition, Medicare recipients may also qualify for |
| Unfortunately, these products are frequently | | | | additional assistance from Medicare. |
| positioned as health insurance products or policies, | | | | Even those who's medical health care is provided |
| which can be very misleading - often intentionally | | | | through Medicaid have choices. Visiting the US |
| so. | | | | Health and Human Services Department can give |
| Though it's often difficult to distinguish, it's | | | | you additional information. |
| important to understand the difference between | | | | For those who qualify and want to join the |
| health insurance and discount health cards. A | | | | American Association of Retired Persons, there is |
| discount health card is not health insurance, but | | | | help provided for those receiving Medicare. |
| rather more like a "discount club". These cards | | | | Discount health insurance may not be easy to |
| can save considerable costs, but they aren't | | | | find, but it isn't impossible either. As with so many |
| insurance. A legitimate card can provide discounts | | | | other things though, the burden falls on the |
| on some services, prescriptions, dentists, doctor | | | | consumer to find and understand what their |
| office visits, etc. | | | | options are. You'll have to make the effort to |
| Most discount health plans come through "health | | | | research what's available, and learn a little bit |
| maintenance organizations", the now-familiar HMO. | | | | about the health care industry in order to fully |
| An HMO lowers it's costs by using it's size, the | | | | understand your options, avoid falling prey to |
| number of active participants, to sign up | | | | scams, and understand exactly what you are |
| participating doctors, clinics, etc., and negotiate | | | | getting for your hard-earned money. With that |
| prices for services that can be considerably lower | | | | said, those who do take the time and make the |
| than "direct" pricing. | | | | effort may find themselves amply rewarded: |
| For employees, low-cost insurance comes through | | | | according to the US Health and Human Services |
| employer-provided group insurance plans. These | | | | Department, the difference in overall costs - |
| plans may include HMO's, and the underlying | | | | premiums and co-payments - between discount |
| cost-structure is the same: larger groups can | | | | health insurance and "full-retail" prices can be as |
| negotiate lower costs. | | | | much as 50% or more! |