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Four basic types of health insurance plans exist that offer everything you may require where your health care is concerned. These plans include point-of-service plans, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and fee-for-service plans. Based on your health care needs, you need to choose the best plan to suit the needs of yourself and your family. Each plan includes sub-plans or options to further personalize your health insurance plan.

Pre-paid hospitalization was first offered in the 1930s when it was offered by Blue Cross. Health insurance was invented because lost wages due to illness became a problem for many. Medical advances also caused costs to increase, making health care more expensive.

The most popular plan is a fee-for-service plan whereby medical costs are paid for by the insurance company. You can visit any doctors or hospitals. The policyholder pays a deductible before insurance payments resume. Unfortunately not all types of expenses are covered by this type of insurance. A claim form will have to be completed by yourself or by the doctor’s offices and sent to the insurer. As a policyholder it is your responsibility to keep a record of all medical expenses and remain below the ceiling of the plan. These plans offer basic and major insurance.

Pre-paid health care plans are offered by health maintenance organizations (HMOs). As with fee-for-service plans, HMOs offer extensive care for a wide variety of health care expenses. Services are offered by providers within the organization, but exceptions are made in situations of medical emergencies for example. The policy holder may have to make a contribution towards medical expenses, however the costs are very predictable. Members receive a membership card with all their insurance details, which means they don’t have to fill out claims forms.

Point-of-Service Plans (POS) are offered by many health maintenance organizations. This POS option is an indemnity type insurance whereby primary care doctors in the plan make referrals to other providers that are with the plan. The bulk of the cost of the bill is covered by the plan provided the doctor is part of the network. For service providers out of the network, you may refer yourself and still receive some coverage from the plan.

HMO and fee-for-service plans are combined in a preferred provider organization plan. The plan offers a group of health care providers and when you visit them, the plan pays for the bulk of the medical costs. You need to present your membership card when visiting a doctor who is part of the HMO network and pay a small set fee, whether it is for laboratory tests, immunization, hospital stay or x-rays.. If you have to go to a doctor who is not part of the group, you will have to pay the largest part of the bill and a claim form will have to be submitted.

Different types of health insurance plans are available. You need to weigh up the different options to see which plan would suit your family’s requirements the best.

Discover your Health insurance plans by looking online. Several choices of health insurance plan choices are out there to look at. Go online today and find out more.