Health Care Discount Plans
With the rising costs of health insurance these days, more and more companies are opting to either pay only a portion of these costs or forego offering health insurance at all. A growing number of companies that do offer health insurance to their employees choose a plan that leaves a yearly deductible of anywhere from $600 to $1200. What this means to the employee is that, on top of the co-pay expected for each doctor visit, the employee has to pay off this deductible before the real benefits kick in. This is where having a good health care discount plan could be useful when used in conjunction with your health insurance.
A discount health care concept is not the same as health insurance. What a plan like this offers is a group of medical professionals that agree to provide service to plan members at a discounted rate. An example of this discount would be paying $35 for a routine office visit as opposed to the $75 that most doctors charge. It might not seem like much of a savings but, over time, it adds up. As with any health plan, you should evaluate your family’s needs and shop around. There are several health care discount plans out there to resolve from and you want to choose the proper one for you.
Make sure that the health care discount plan you choose has providers in your area. This is very important. Not all areas are covered by all plans. There should be a provider list available online. If you can’t find a provider list online, call the customer service number provided and have them mail you one. Call the providers on the list to make sure they aloof participate in the discount plan. Never buy a plan without verifying that they have participating providers in your area.
Determine whether the discounts you receive will be worth the cost of the plan. Consider whether the cost of the plan will be more than the discounts you will receive. The plan provider should disclose a full list of discounts and benefits as well as a break-down of all the costs and fees interested with purchasing said plan.
Additionally, be sure to get a definite explanation of the payment rules from the plan provider. Find out if you are given the discount at the time of service or if you will have to pay in full and wait for reimbursement. Also, ask if the plan has rules for pre-authorization before hospital stays. It is crucial that you understand how your plan will work before you execute a decision to buy.
Health care discount plans are not a cure all for an uninsured/underinsured America, nor were they ever intended to be. They can, however, be a band-aid if properly utilized.