Medical facility plaque
Important facts to consider about medical insurance coverage include variations in plans, costs, availability of group coverage, benefits and co-payments, and the effects of job loss on continuation of coverage.
Plans
You can find a wide range of health insurance plans, each with specific inclusions and restrictions on what kind of medical services they do and do not cover. You want to find a plan that's appropriate for the kinds of services you are likely to require.
Group Coverage
The most cost-effective means of getting and maintaining medical insurance is through group coverage, usually obtained through your employer. Group coverage provides medical insurance at reduced rates to a pool of individuals and families with some common factor, such as working for the same employer.
Benefits
The benefits that different insurance plans offer vary extensively. Plans generally cover hospital and doctor bills, within defined limits. A specific plan may or may not cover other medical costs such as glasses, prescription drugs, screenings (like mammograms) and immunizations.
Co-Payments
While many plans cover doctor and hospital visits, plans often require the insured to make a nominal payment, or co-payment, for doctor's office visits. Plans that cover prescriptions may also require nominal co-payments for prescriptions.
Job Loss
Federal and state regulations protect the insured's right to maintain medical insurance coverage in the event of a job loss. However, in many instances the ex-employee must maintain the coverage at a higher cost.
Tags: medical insurance, group coverage, insurance coverage, insurance plans, medical insurance coverage
