Health Insurance Quotes in Jonesboro, GA

Compare Health Insurance Plans in Jonesboro, GA

Shopping for and comparing health insurance plans in Jonesboro, GA is a daunting task. With so many different plans to choose from and various coverage options, it's hard to know what is best for you and your family. Some plans may be subsidized by your employer while others require you to pay the entire premium yourself. Some will pay your healthcare providers directly while others will reimburse you. Fortunately, MyRatePlan makes it easy to compare insurance plans and get a free online quote so you can make an informed decision about your healthcare coverage.

Health insurance comes from three primary sources. The first is from your employer. If you work full time in Jonesboro, GA, your company may offer you a health insurance plan. Some employers will buy this plan for you while others will help make the insurance affordable by paying a portion of it for you. In some instances, you will be asked to pay all of your premiums yourself, but will be offered a discount for being part of a large group who is buying insurance services together. Think of this as a type of group discount.

The second possible source of health insurance is the government. Medicaid and Medicare programs provide insurance for the elderly and those in certain income brackets. You may also provide yourself with health insurance by purchasing a policy from an insurance agent or directly from an insurance company.

Jonesboro, GA Health Insurance Types

People soon discover that there are many types of plans for health insurance to choose from in Jonesboro, GA. On first glance, they may appear to offer very similar levels of coverage but the flexibility of the different plans can vary. HSA, POS, HMO, MSA, FSA, HRA, and PPO are just some of the options people have to choose from. While confusing, it is important that people understand the differences in what these options have to offer before committing to a specific plan. Picking the wrong type of plan can have a devastating financial impact. Here is an explanation of some of the more common types healthcare insurance and how they work.

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. This type of plan will typically consist of a large healthcare provider network that enables the insured person to choose the doctor they want to see or visit with a specialist without the need for a referral. So long as the insured visits a hospital that is within the network, the covered person will receive the most financial coverage. However, when a visit is made to a hospital outside of the network, partial assistance for costs can be received. Co-payments and deductibles are typically associated with PPO's and there are limits on yearly out-of-pocket expenses.

Health Maintenance Organization, or HMO, is a healthcare network that requires the customer to select a primary care provider to serve as the main point of contact for all of the insured person's needs in terms of healthcare. This means that people insured with an HMO-type healthcare insurance will have to go through their primary care provider and get a referral before going to see a specialist. HMOs in Jonesboro, GA may have a lower premium than most other types of insurance plans, but many doctors do not accept HMO plans and means that the insured will have limited options. However, the plus side to HMOs is that there are no deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for the insured are usually very affordable.

Point of Service plans, or POS plans, combine features of both PPOs and HMOs. Along with a decent sized healthcare network, POS plans do not require the insured to pay deductibles and have very low co-payments, so long as the insured stays within the network. If the insured has to go outside of the network, deductibles and copayments can become very high.

Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA), Medical Savings Accounts (MSA), Health Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are non-traditional forms of health insurance plans that are also available in Jonesboro, GA. These types of accounts are usually arranged through an employer and an employee where they set tax-exempt money aside in a savings account for medical expenses. These types of plans offer flexibility and can be used for surgical treatments, prescriptions, and doctor's visits. Many of these plans will allow for unused money to be rolled over into the next year.

Breakdown of Health Insurance Costs in Jonesboro, GA

You may have heard the term "premium" when it comes to health insurance. A premium is the amount of money you pay monthly to have health insurance coverage. Whether you use your insurance or not, this money is never returned to you. Another familiar term is "deductible." This is the additional money you are required to pay to any healthcare providers before your insurance company starts to make their promised contributions for any medical costs.

Keep in mind that deductibles are different from out-of-pocket costs. A deductible is an annual financial responsibility but out-of-pocket refers to how much you have to spend before your insurance company will pay 100% of your bill.

Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs typically reset each year, with the previous year's expenses having no impact moving forward. So if you have a deductible of $5,000, for example, and you spent $3,000 out-of-pocket last year and your insurance renews with the sample plan in place, your out-of-pocket expenses are reset to $0 and that $3,000 from last year does not roll over. However, some plans in Jonesboro, GA offer an exception to this rule and allow a rollover of your paid deductible amount from the previous year into the first quarter of the new insurance year.

Co-payments, also known as co-insurance, refers to your financial obligation of a medical visit or service. If your co-payment for visiting a primary care physician is $25, then every time you see your primary care physician, you pay $25. From there the insurance covers the balance if the services rendered are within coverage on your plan. Co-payments are not applied toward deductibles.

You may also receive a lifetime benefit from your insurance company. This refers to the maximum amount of money that your insurance company will pay in total for your healthcare. Medical claims will no longer be paid by the insurance company once this maximum amount is reached.

Your employment has a significant impact on the health insurance plans that are available to you in Jonesboro, GA. Working for a large company will likely qualify you for their group health insurance plan. This is usually more affordable than getting individual healthcare, but no one is required by law to participate in these group health insurance plans.

Being self-employed or unemployed presents the option of purchasing private, individual health insurance. If you are a senior and do not work, you are eligible for government financial assistance through Medicare. Low income individuals can apply for government assistance as well, which is called Medicaid.

It is important to check with your doctor to see which health insurance plans they accept in Jonesboro, GA if you want to continue visiting a specific physician. Notify your doctors if your insurance plan changes, and be sure to check with your insurance company regarding any specific questions or concerns about your coverage.

Get a Health Insurance Quote in Jonesboro, GA Today

One of the most important things an individual can do, both for himself and for his family, is getting health insurance. A plan that covers his needs and the needs of his spouse and children will ensure that they can get healthcare services without paying it all out of pocket. There are all kinds of factors involved in health insurance plans and the rates providers charge. Fortunately, MyRatePlan simplifies the process of getting a health insurance quote in Jonesboro, GA. All consumers need to do is punch in their ZIP codes.

It's easy to save money on health insurance, and there are all sorts of ways to do it. But consumers should always avoid cutting coverages that they may need in the future. For example, if a couple plans on starting a family, it's in their best interest to sign up for a plan with maternity coverage now instead of waiting until later and possibly having trouble finding coverage. And if an individual needs a specific coverage, he shouldn't get rid of it just to save some money, because he'll end up paying far more in out-of-pocket costs later. Health insurance premiums may not be cheap, but paying the full bill at a healthcare facility will always be more expensive.

With MyRatePlan, consumers can find the best health insurance plans in Jonesboro, GA, compare all the different features those plans have, and get free quotes today to save the most on their health insurance coverage.