Health Insurance Quotes in Great Falls, SC

Compare Health Insurance Plans in Great Falls, SC

Shopping for and comparing health insurance plans in Great Falls, SC 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 Great Falls, SC, 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.

Types of Health Insurance Plans in Great Falls, SC

Many types of insurance plans are currently available in Great Falls, SC. However, they vary based on convenience and flexibility. Among the most popular plans are PPO, HMO, POS, HRA, MSA, HSA and FSA.

A Health Maintenance Organization, also called an HMO, is a network that requires the customer to choose a primary doctor who acts as gatekeeper. When the customer needs to see another doctor or any type of specialist, that customer must go through the primary care doctor first. The primary care doctor must assess the patient and determine if he or she needs to see a specialist. If so, the primary care doctor makes the referral to the specialist. A benefit of HMOs is that they are more affordable in that they require low monthly premiums, no deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses are reasonably priced. One drawback is that the patient is generally only seen by a small network of doctors, and this is because many healthcare facilities do not accept HMO plans.

Another popular health insurance plan in Great Falls, SC is the Preferred Provider Organization, also called a PPO. Unlike HMO plans, PPOs generally have a large network of participating providers. The insured person may choose whichever in-network doctor they desire, and specialists can be seen with no referral requirement. Choosing an in-network provider rewards the insured by giving them more coverage to see the in-network doctor. However, going out of network is not a complete loss to the customer, as PPO plans also offer partial assistance for expenses paid to out of network healthcare providers. PPO plans also have drawbacks. While they do limit the yearly out of pocket expenses to the insured, they also require deductibles and co-payments.

A POS, also called a Point of Service plan, utilizes a combination of PPO and HMO services. A POS plan offers a moderately-sized network of physicians as options for primary care doctors. The insured pays no deductibles and pays low co-payments, but only if the insured stays in network. However, the insured must pay a much higher price for co-payments and deductibles whenever treated by an out of network doctor.

In addition to the above options, consumers in Great Falls, SC, also have the option of purchasing a less traditional insurance plan, such as a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), a Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Medical Savings Account (MSA). These four options all require the insured or the insured's employer to set money aside for medical expenses in a tax-exempt savings account. The money is then used to pay for doctors, surgical procedures, prescriptions and other medical expenses. One benefit these plans all have in common is the flexible of how they can be used. Some of the plans even permit the insured to roll the money over and use it the following year.

A person's employment status is a huge factor in determining the type of health coverage offered. Large companies can typically offer a group plan, which is less expensive than a single health insurance plan. However employees are not bound by law to enroll in a group plan.

Unemployed and self-employed people in Great Falls, SC may choose to buy an individual or private plan. Unemployed senior citizens can get Medicare from the federal government, which provides financial assistance. Some people qualify for Medicaid if they have a very low income. Medicaid is a type of government assistance designed to benefit the poor.

Breakdown of Health Insurance Costs in Great Falls, SC

When paying for health insurance in Great Falls, SC, the monthly amount that an individual pays to the insurance company is called the premium. The individual will not be reimbursed for this money, regardless of whether he or she uses that insurance. A deductible, by contrast, refers to additional expenses that individuals are required to pay to the healthcare provider before the insurance company begins to chip in.

Deductibles differ from out of pocket costs, insofar as deductibles refer to the amount individuals are required to pay before their insurance company will help with expenses for a particular purchase, while an out of pocket cost refers to the total amount of medical expenses individuals will have to pay before the insurance company will cover the rest of their expenses. In other words, an out of pocket cost covers nothing until the individuals reach a certain payment cap, after which the insurance company will take over the rest of his or her medical bills for the allotted time.

Deductibles and out of pocket costs usually reset at the beginning of each year. Normally, money spent one year will not roll over into the next, so if an individual spent $1200 out of pocket against his or her $3000 deductible, this will reset to $0 at the beginning of the year, with the $1200 expenditure from the previous year having no impact on the individual's costs. In Great Falls, SC, however, some plans offer consumers an alternative to this annual reset by putting these out of pocket expenses towards the deductible for the first quarter of the new year.

There are also co-payments and co-insurance, terms that refer to the financial responsibility of the individual patient after receiving medical treatment. If an individual has a $10 co-payment for seeing a physician, this means he or she will have to pay this amount at every visit to the doctor's office. After the co-payment, the insurance covers the rest. Co-payments do not count towards the annual deductible.

Also, some insurance companies in Great Falls, SC have a maximum lifetime benefit, which sets a limit on the total amount of money the insurance company will pay for an individual person's healthcare. If an individual reaches this limit, the insurance company will no longer pay his or her medical claims.

An individual's coverage options largely depend upon his or her current employment status. Large companies often provide employees with a group insurance plan, one that usually provides employees with a more affordable option than other plans, but isn't mandatory upon employment.

Those who are self-employed or unemployed, however, will have to seek insurance from a health insurance company for private individuals. For unemployed or retired seniors, coverage options are available through Medicare. Likewise, if an individual has a low income, he or she can sign up for Medicaid.

If an individual wants to keep his or her current primary care provider, the person should check to see which of the available Great Falls, SC healthcare plans are accepted by that physician. On a similar note, everyone should make sure to tell their doctors after changing their insurance company, checking with the insurance company to find answers to any specific coverage questions they may have.

Get Quotes On Health Insurance Plans in Great Falls, SC Online

Health insurance is one of the most important decisions you can make for yourself and your family. Make sure you take the time to consider all of the health insurance options available to you in Great Falls, SC. As you assess all these factors in choosing a health insurance plan, MyRatePlan can help simplify the process greatly. Just enter your ZIP code above and see many ways in which you can save money on your health insurance policy.