Health Insurance Quotes in Scaly Mountain, NC

Compare Health Insurance Plans in Scaly Mountain, NC

Shopping for and comparing health insurance plans in Scaly Mountain, NC 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 Scaly Mountain, NC, 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.

Different Types of Health Insurance Coverage in Scaly Mountain, NC

You have several different options as far as types of healthcare plans available in Scaly Mountain, NC. While the levels of coverage offered may be similar, the flexibility and convenience of these plans vary greatly. Some choices include a PPO, an HMO, an HSA, a POS, an FSA, an HRA, and an MSA. As confusing as this may seem, it really is important to understand the basic differences before you select a plan.

HMO, which stands for Health Maintenance Organization, provides health services for a fixed annual fee. This kind of medical insurance organization provides or arranges managed care, serving as a liaison with healthcare providers on a prepaid basis. When you have an HMO plan, you must choose a Primary Care Physician (PCP) to be the gatekeeper for all of your health-related needs. You choose the PCP from a network of local healthcare providers in Scaly Mountain, NC who will then refer you to specialists or hospitals in the network when necessary. So if you need to see a specialist, you have to go to your primary care physician first and obtain a referral to a specialist if your primary physician deems it necessary for you to visit one. Some doctors do not accept HMO insurance plans, so although HMOs typically have lower premiums than other plans, there may be a limited network of doctors available to the insured. The best things about HMO plans are the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and the lack of deductibles.

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization, and this type of plan allows for more flexibility and more choices thanks to a large network of healthcare providers that participate. Individuals insured under a PPO plan can choose any primary care doctor within the network and see a specialist or go to a hospital without the need for a referral. This applies even when you travel. However, your out-of-pocket costs are lower when you go with an in-network healthcare provider. With that being said, you can still get partial financial assistance for out-of-network costs. With PPOs you typically have deductibles, co-payments, and yearly spend limits for out-of-pocket costs.

A Point of Service (POS) plan combines elements of HMOs and PPOs by offering a decent-sized network of options to choose your primary care physician from. As long as you stay within the network, you don't pay any deductibles and copayments are low. However, seeing a doctor that is out-of-network makes copayments and deductibles high. You can also consider some non-traditional approaches to health insurance in Scaly Mountain, NC. These options include a Health Savings Account (HSA), a Medical Savings Account (MSA), a Health Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), and a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). These plans come with a lot of flexibility and operate on the general idea of you or your employer setting money aside in a tax-exempt savings account for all medical-related expenses. This money can be used for doctor's visits, prescriptions, and surgical treatments. In some cases, this money that has been set aside can even be used for over-the-counter medication.

Health Insurance Cost in Scaly Mountain, NC

The premium refers to the amount of money that the insured person pays each month in order to keep their health insurance policy in Scaly Mountain, NC. The insurance holder never receives any of this money back; the use or lack thereof of the healthcare covered in the policy is immaterial. The deductible is the minimum amount that the insured person is required to pay to his or her healthcare provider before the health insurance company will begin covering any of the medical expenses accrued. Deductibles, therefore, are not the same as out-of-pocket payments. A deductible is the specific amount of money that an insured person is required to pay before coverage can begin for the year. Out-of-pocket expenses are those paid to the patient's healthcare provider before the health insurance company will pay the entirety of the patient's medical expenses.

With most medical insurance plans, both the deductibles and the out-of-pocket expenses are renewed on an annual basis in such a way that the costs paid in the prior year do not impact the deductible for the new year. In other words, there is neither any roll over for out-of-pocket costs nor for deductibles. There are a few exceptions to this general rule in some of the medical insurance policies available in Scaly Mountain, NC. Finding one of these exceptions means that the amount paid in the prior year's deductible will still count in the new year so as to lessen the financial burden prior to when the insurance company is able to pay its part of the expenses.

Some medical insurance companies offer maximum lifetime benefits. This means that the company has set a limit on the maximum amount of money they will pay for an individual insurance holder's medical expenses. Once that amount is hit, the company will no longer pay any amount of any claims.

One of the most important factors in determining which types of medical insurance policies are available to an individual in Scaly Mountain, NC is employment status. People who work for large companies may be eligible for group plans. These plans tend to be significantly more affordable than individual medical insurance plans. However, if such a plan is offered and some employees are satisfied with their present plan, they are in no way obliged to take part in the group plan offered through their company.

People who are either unemployed or self-employed may choose to buy a private, individual medical insurance policy. Senior citizens who do not work are eligible for governmental financial assistance through Medicaid. People with a low income may have a similar opportunity through Medicaid if the income level falls within Medicaid's parameters.

Get a Health Insurance Quote in Scaly Mountain, NC 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 Scaly Mountain, NC. 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 Scaly Mountain, NC, compare all the different features those plans have, and get free quotes today to save the most on their health insurance coverage.