How to Find Health Insurance
Without health insurance you can wind up spending thousands of dollars on hospital bills. Unwilling or unable to pay for health insurance, many go uninsured, leaving their financial future up to fate.
In 2006, there were 47 million people, roughly 16% of the population in the United States, who were without health insurance for at least part of that year. Spending for health care services continues to rise, with an estimated $3 trillion projected for 2012. For those who are willing to look, finding health insurance to cover rising health care needs is available to every American.
Things to Consider When Looking for Health Insurance
When purchasing health insurance, it's important to remember that you want to buy the broadest coverage possible. A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan is the most restrictive type of managed care and uses a Primary Care Physician.
With an HMO, you'll need to choose your primary care physician (PCP) from among the plan’s network of doctors. Generally HMO’s offer lower rates but more limited coverage. These vary from state to state so doing your research definitely pays off.
Tip: Something you want to avoid when purchasing insurance are most indemnity policies. They pay you a flat rate, sometimes a measly $50, for every day you spend in the hospital. Considering most hospital rates just for the day are over $500, that's not going to get you very far.