Health Insurance Quotes in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Compare Health Insurance Plans in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Health insurance is about as personal as it gets. It is one of the most intimate and particular types of insurance. Plans available in Mountlake Terrace, WA vary in the type and the amount of coverage, as well as the amount of accompanying fees. Generally, plans with lower monthly payments (premiums) tend to have higher co-pays and minimum amount of money that the insured must pay before benefits become active (deductibles), and offer limited coverage. This means that the insured will be responsible for a larger portion of the total bill. Plans with higher monthly installments will have lower co-pays and deductibles and offer more complete coverage. The insurer assumes responsibility for a larger portion of the bottom line.

The primary step toward obtaining health insurance in Mountlake Terrace, WA is to determine what the insured may need in the coming year, since the opportunity to adjust a policy comes at least once a year. History of behavior and health issues along with what will most probably happen in the near future must be reconciled in order to anticipate what care the insured may realistically need.

For example, if the insured is usually healthy and does not have pre-existing chronic ailments, then a good option would be a policy that covers preventive care visits and/or fairly reasonable premiums and deductible to accommodate visits to primary care facilities. If the insured travels regularly or spends a significant amount of time in harm's way, then a good policy for him or her would cover frequent ER visits and regular doctor visits. If the insured suffers from a chronic condition or disease, then a good policy for him or her would cover regular doctor visits along with preventive care and possible hospital visits and medication. Policies that focus primarily on catastrophic situations requiring emergency hospitalization have the least probable premiums. Let MyRatePlan help you find the best health insurance in Mountlake Terrace, WA for your needs.

The Different Types of Health Insurance Policies in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Quite a few different types of health insurance plans are available in Mountlake Terrace, WA. While these types can have similar levels of coverage, other factors, including how convenient they are to use and their flexibility, will vary considerably. Common plan types include health management organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), point of service plans (POS), health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs), flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and medical savings accounts (MSAs).

HMOs in Mountlake Terrace, WA are popular and often affordable options for health insurance. These include a network of providers, and the individual picks one doctor from that network as his primary care physician. The primary care physician is essentially a gatekeeper for any health needs that patient has. If the patient needs to visit a specialist, he first goes to his primary care physician, who chooses whether to approve it and provides a referral. Although HMOs typically have lower premiums, their networks can be more limited than other plans. On the plus side, out-of-pocket costs tend to be reasonable and these plans don't have deductibles.

A PPO also has a network of providers, and the individual can visit any doctor within this network in Mountlake Terrace, WA. He can also see specialists without getting a referral first. For the best financial coverage, the individual must go to healthcare facilities within his network. He can typically get partial assistance for costs incurred at out-of-network providers. With a PPO, policyholders have deductibles and co-pays, along with limits regarding yearly out-of-pocket spending.

A POS plan blends how HMO and PPO plans work. The individual chooses a primary care physician from the plan's network, which is usually a decent size. Visits to providers within the network have low co-pays and no deductible, but visits outside the network will have high deductibles and co-pays.

The remaining types of plans are nontraditional and far less common than the three described above. HSAs, HRAs, FSAs and MSAs all involve either the individual or his employer putting money into a tax-exempt savings account, which is then used for all medical expenses, such as doctor's visits, surgeries, prescriptions and sometimes even over-the-counter medications. These plans tend to be flexible and some let the policyholder roll over unused funds to the next year.

Breakdown of Health Insurance Costs in Mountlake Terrace, WA

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 Mountlake Terrace, WA 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 Mountlake Terrace, WA. 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 Mountlake Terrace, WA 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 Free Online Health Insurance Quote in Mountlake Terrace, WA

Shopping for health insurance may feel overwhelming, but having coverage is a liberating sensation. Knowing you can protect your health is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your family. So sit down, take a deep breath, and let MyRatePlan help you navigate your Mountlake Terrace, WA healthcare choices. Just give them your zip code and let them do the rest.