| What health insurance is best for you? The | | | | different selections of benefits catering to |
| answer to that question depends on your | | | | different kinds of insurance needs. There are so |
| understanding of what health insurance is and | | | | many because health insurance is largely managed |
| what your particular needs are. First, it is not | | | | by private insurance companies regulated by |
| discounted health care. Generally speaking, | | | | Federal and State laws. Single payer health |
| insurance is a kind of risk management. Your | | | | insurance generally refers to a system where the |
| premium is your monthly payment to the | | | | government manages and pays on all insurance |
| company to assume the risk of expense. In one | | | | claims. Medicare would be an example of a single |
| sense, this is a sort of gambling. In this case, the | | | | payer insurance managed by the Federal |
| health insurer is betting that you will not need | | | | Government. |
| care, and the premium you pay every month is | | | | Now, the issue of which health insurance is best |
| your hedge to offset the consequences should | | | | for you is answered in part by what specific |
| you face large medical expenses. Your health | | | | health care needs are in question. There are many |
| insurance benefits are what you get when the | | | | different kinds of policies, and the choices can be |
| company "loses" and has to pay out. | | | | overwhelming. For example, there is disability |
| Now that we know that a health insurance policy | | | | insurance, accident and dismemberment insurance, |
| is a way to manage risk, it is important to | | | | temporary health plans, continuation of coverage |
| understand that there are a number different | | | | insurance, hospital only insurance, catastrophic |
| kinds of agreements, or policies, available | | | | coverage, disease specific, long term care, |
| depending on your needs. Generally, the subject | | | | supplemental, and fee for service and managed |
| of health insurance brings to mind questions about | | | | care polices. |
| doctor and hospital care available for individuals | | | | How you choose a health insurance policy |
| and families through privately purchased policies, | | | | depends on your assessment of your costs, |
| and/or employees through an employer group | | | | needs, and circumstances. If you need doctor and |
| health insurance plan. When choosing a health | | | | hospital coverage for specific period of time, |
| insurance policy, you (or an employer) must | | | | them you might seek a temporary policy from |
| decide what your tolerance for risk is and how | | | | Blue Cross or Humana, for example. If you need |
| much risk you want managed. To that end, there | | | | family health coverage, then you might, |
| are many private companies selling insurance plans. | | | | hypothetically, seek a comprehensive medical plan |
| Some examples of household names that you are | | | | from Wellmark, Aetna, or John Deere. Some |
| sure to recognize are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue | | | | people take out a policy, to provide another |
| shield, Humana, United Healthcare, Sterling, and | | | | example, from United Healthcare (or some other |
| Mutual of Omaha. Insurance companies are are | | | | insurer) to pay only in the event of hospitalization |
| also known as "payers" because they are | | | | as result of cancer. Other people, who work in a |
| responsible for paying out on your insurance | | | | high risk environment, might take out a policy to |
| claims when need arises. Though there may be a | | | | pay in the event of dismemberment occurring |
| relatively small number of companies with instant | | | | under certain, specified circumstances. The policies |
| name recognition, there are literally hundreds upon | | | | can be quite specific and written to answer your |
| hundreds of health insurers, and these are all | | | | specific needs. |
| separate payers offering different policies with | | | | |