Health Insurance Quotes in Mercer, TN

Health Insurance Quotes and Plans in Mercer, TN

Health insurance covers part of the insured person's health expenses. Some surgical costs as well as other medical expenses are covered under health insurance. Various health insurance plans exist. Some plans require the insured to pay their own expenses and then get reimbursed by the insurance company. Other health insurance plans require the insurance company to pay the medical treatment provider directly.

In Mercer, TN, health insurance is typically provided by full-time employers and also through private insurance plans. Medicaid and Medicare, both of which are federal programs, offer low-cost health insurance to the poor and to elderly citizens, respectively.

Consumers can choose from many levels of health insurance coverage. In general, the more expensive plans offer more coverage or even full coverage. The least expensive plans only cover major health problems and events. MyRatePlan allows consumers to compare various insurance plans in Mercer, TN, and get a free quote online.

Types of Health Insurance in Mercer, TN

There are several different types of health insurance in Mercer, TN you can receive. They all offer varying levels of coverage, flexibility, and ease of access. A few common insurance types are preferred-provider organizations, health maintenance organizations, and point of service plans.

A preferred-provider organization (PPO) has a high level of flexibility and allows you to select your physicians from a wide array of choices, both in and out of their extensive network. With a PPO you also have the ability to see specialists without a referral from your primary care physician. Premiums and deductibles are high for this type of insurance, but if flexibility is your priority or you use healthcare regularly then this type of insurance may be for you.

A health maintenance organization (HMO) in Mercer, TN has lower premiums than a PPO, but less flexibility. You must select one primary care physician that will organize the rest of your healthcare. Your primary care physician will be the one to refer you to specialists that are found within the network. HMO networks are often limited, but if affordable cost is more important to you than flexibility than this insurance is an option. An HMO could also be an option for you if your primary care provider is already serving in an HMO network or if you don't need referrals to see specialists often.

A point of service plan offers a large list of healthcare providers like a PPO does but it has low deductibles and co-payments. The plan also allows the insured individual to see doctors from outside their network but at higher costs. Primary care physicians are required to be selected from within the network, but specialists don't require a referral and can be seen outside of the network. The insured must file a claim in order to see a doctor outside the network. A POS might be the right choice for you if you want higher flexibility than an HMO and you can afford the higher costs.

People are also free to select from some additional options for health insurance in Mercer, TN that can be provided. There are several forms of health spending accounts that can supplement an insurance policy, including a health savings account, a health reimbursement account, a flexible spending account, and a medical savings account. These health spending accounts are like tax-exempt savings accounts that you put money into over a period of time to help pay for medical expenses.

A health savings account allows you to put money into an account before taxes are taken out of your paycheck and you can access the funds at any time. A health reimbursement account is owned by your employer and they can deposit funds for medical care not covered by your insurance. A flexible spending account is also set up by your employer but you are allowed to contribute and you can decide when to use the funds.

Breakdown of Health Insurance Costs in Mercer, TN

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 Mercer, TN 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 Mercer, TN. 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 Mercer, TN 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 Quotes On Health Insurance Plans in Mercer, TN 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 Mercer, TN. 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.