Health insurance is a plan or policy that covers a percentage of doctors’ visits, hospital bills, wellness programs, and so much more. It exists to help offset the costs of medical events, whether they are planned or happen unexpectedly. Health insurance plans differ by what providers you can see and how much you have to pay.
There are many different types of health insurance plans to fit different needs. Some include government plans like Affordable Care Act plans, Medicare plans, and Medicaid plans. Before choosing, it is best to review the various types to get a better understanding of which health insurance might work best for you.
Understanding that having health insurance does not mean that your health care will be free is important. There are certain key health insurance terms that you should be aware of that can help you interpret which services a plan will pay for and how much each visit or medication may cost.
- Deductible: This is the amount you will owe for covered health care services before your health insurance begins to pay.
- Copayment: The flat fee you pay when you use specific services. A copay will typically differ depending on the types of services.
- Coinsurance: Your share of the cost of a covered health care service, usually calculated as a percentage of the allowed amount for the service.
- Premium: The amount you pay for your health insurance each month.
- Network: The doctors, hospitals, or suppliers your health insurer contracts with to deliver health care services to their members.
Once insured, one of the best things you can do is to educate yourself on your benefits before you need to use them. Review your insurance policy so that you are clear about whether your policy includes the types of services you will require, the amount paid for these services, and which steps need to be taken in order to have what you need covered. It might not be as simple as reviewing the policy yourself. Make sure you reach out to your insurance company directly and speak with someone who can review your plan with you and clarify any questions you might have.
At Aloha Integrative Health, we want to help provide you with the best care possible but sometimes we cannot keep up with all of the different policies out there in the health insurance realm. We recommend you take the steps ahead of time to understand your coverage and this will greatly benefit you in getting the care scheduled that you need.