The purpose of health insurance is to cover or offset the cost of health expenses, whether medical or surgical, for insured individuals. There are a variety of health insurance plans available. Some types require the individual to pay up-front costs (also referred to as out-of-pocket costs) and be reimbursed later while other plans involve direct payments to the provider. To simplify the process of determining which health insurance plan is best for you, Wirefly offers free online quotes for comparing health insurance options in Tupelo, AR.
Typically, health insurance plans in Tupelo, AR are offered through private companies or employers. Senior citizens can also receive coverage through a program known as Medicare while low-income individuals can be covered by Medicaid. Medicaid and Medicare are both offered at lower rates than private insurance plans.
It is possible to select varying levels of coverage in health insurance plans. Lower cost plans may only offer coverage for catastrophic events, while more expensive plans would offer more complete coverage. In most cases, individuals attempt to anticipate their upcoming medical needs prior to choosing a specific coverage plan.
For many individuals, one of the most difficult things about choosing a health insurance plan is not knowing what the future holds. You could end up with an insurance policy that doesn’t fulfill your healthcare needs. To ensure the best results, you should base your decision on your past medical history.
If you are a relatively healthy person, you could save money by choosing an affordable health insurance plan that only pays for the basics such as an annual check-up or the occasional sick visit. However, if you have a serious health condition that requires you to see your doctor on a routine basis, a health insurance company that offers various coverage options would be a better choice.
An affordable option for individuals in Tupelo, AR who only want health insurance for emergency situations would be catastrophic-only insurance. This is a good choice for those who rarely visit their doctor and only want health insurance if they are involved in a severe accident or have a sudden health issue that requires immediate medical assistance.
One thing to remember when comparing health insurance plans in Tupelo, AR is if you have higher monthly premiums, you will also have better overall coverage. This is something to consider if you currently have a health condition such as heart disease or diabetes, and need quality, ongoing coverage.
Your lifestyle is another factor to think about when enrolling in a new health insurance plan. If you are an avid traveler, enjoy adventurous activities such as skydiving or mountain climbing, you will want to find an insurance plan that will cover visits to the emergency room for accidents or injuries.
In Tupelo, AR, there are many different types of health insurance plans available. Although some of them offer the same level of coverage, they may afford varying levels of convenience and flexibility. HMO, PPO, POS, HSA, HRA, FSA, and MSA are some of the choices available. As confusing as it seems, realizing their fundamental differences is of great importance before selecting of plan.
With the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) network, the insured is required to select a primary healthcare physician to monitor all of their health-related needs. As such, if the insured needs to see a specialist, they have to go to their primary care physician first. The insured will only obtain a referral if the primary healthcare doctor thinks the consultation is necessary. Compared to the other plans, HMOs usually have a lower monthly premium. However, some healthcare providers don’t accept HMO insurance plans, and this means that the network of physicians available to the insured might be limited. Aside from the fact that the out-of-pocket costs featured are often reasonable, HMO plans do not have any deductibles.
A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan in Tupelo, AR usually involves an extensive network of healthcare providers. Because of the number of physicians involved, the insured can choose a primary health care provider from within the network and seek the services of a specialist without a referral. While visiting the hospitals and medical service providers involved in the network offers the best financial coverage, partial funding might also be available for costs incurred outside of the network. Typically, PPO plans have copayments, deductibles, and limits on the out-of-pocket amount spent yearly.
A Point of Service (POS) plan combines the benefits offered by the HMO and PPO plans. The Point of Service plans provides an appropriately sized network of healthcare providers from which the insured can choose a primary care physician. Aside from enjoying low co-payments, you won’t pay any deductibles if you stay within the network. However, the deductibles and copayments will be high if the insured sees a physician outside the network.
Some of the health insurance solutions available in Tupelo, AR are not conventional. These insurance plans include the Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), and Medical Savings Account (MSA). For all of these accounts to operate, an individual and his/her employer have to set aside some money for healthcare-related expenses. Additionally, the money has to be placed in a tax-exempt savings account. Participants can use the money to pay for prescription drugs, medical consultations, surgical treatments, and even over the counter medications in some cases. These health insurance plans allow a lot of flexibility when it comes to how the money is used. Depending on the program, you might be able to rollover any unused money to the next year.
Health insurance premiums are the amount paid each month to receive coverage. The premiums paid are not returned to you, even if the subscribers do not use the insurance benefits. Deductibles are additional money that must be paid to healthcare providers for services received where the health insurance company doesn’t cover the whole cost of the procedure.
Out of pocket costs are treated differently than deductibles. Health insurance providers require a minimum amount to be paid by a subscriber before they will begin to pay for services; this is what’s referred to as the deductible. Out of pocket refers to the amount of money that must be paid by the subscriber before their health insurance will pay 100% of medical costs incurred. Both the out of pocket and deductible amounts paid reset each time the plan renews, which is generally annually, and are not eligible to roll over to the next year. While this is a general rule, there are some health insurance plans in Tupelo, AR that allow an exception for deductibles paid in the previous year may count toward the deductible amount only for the first quarter of the new plan year.
Health insurance co-pays and co-insurance refers to the subscriber’s responsibility to pay certain amounts for a medical visit or for a given procedure. As an example, if the PCP co-pay on a health insurance plan is $25, then the subscriber can expect to pay $25 each time he or she visits their primary care physician. The insurance company will cover the balance of what the physician charges for a visit and the co-pay amount.
Most health insurance companies that provide coverage in Tupelo, AR will have an allowance for a maximum lifetime benefit under their plan. This amount is usually quite large and doesn’t come into play for most subscribers and is meant to protect the insurance company from being responsible exorbitant medical expenses. Once this maximum amount is met, the insurance provider will not make any further payments for the subscriber.
In today’s market, the subscriber’s employment status determines which health insurance plans may be available to purchase. Large employers will generally provide health insurance as a benefit of employment. The employer shares part of the premium costs making this method of access to insurance more affordable than most. Employees are not required to participate in the group plan sponsored by their employers, but it benefits them in most cases.
Self-employed individuals, or those who do not work, are able to buy health insurance in the private market. Seniors, low-income families, and unemployed individuals may be able to apply for and receive premium assistance through the government, usually under a service called Medicaid.
If a subscriber already has a family physician or a specialist they see for treatment in the Tupelo, AR area, it’s important to check with a potential new insurance provider to ensure the physician is in the plan’s network. The subscriber also must notify their physicians when coverage changes so the proper health insurance company can be billed for expenses.
Since it's impossible to predict what will happen from one day to the next, having health insurance is definitely a great decision that will benefit both you and your family. While it can sometimes be very difficult to ascertain which health insurance plan is the best, Wirefly can make the search very simple and hassle-free. Just by entering a ZIP code, you will receive a health insurance quote detailing the available plans in Tupelo, AR.
When deciding on a plan, make sure not to skimp on your specific health care needs. Though it's certainly possible to save some money if certain coverage types are excluded, it's essential that you don't eliminate coverage types that you'll actually need in the future. While the premiums for insurance plans aren't exactly affordable, the out-of-pocket expenses associated with medical care when not insured can be far higher. By using Wirefly, you can find the best insurance plan for your needs, which can save you a lot of time and money. Just enter your ZIP code for a free quote today.
