Make the Most of Your Health Insurance Plan
Health insurance is a social security system that ensures that those who pay token contributions at regular periods will receive needed health treatments.
It can be confusing, especially with all of the new requirements. You want to make sure that it is providing you with proper coverage at a fair price. You also need to be aware of any deadlines or preexisting conditions that may prevent you from obtaining insurance.
Health care is expensive and it’s not going to get any cheaper. The one thing that can change that is a good health insurance plan. If you have a good plan for your insurance , you can focus on regular preventative care and skip many emergency room visits. And if you have a regular source of income, then your premiums will stay the same each month. But if you don’t have a good plan or enough income, then what?
Even if you take good care of your health, you may find yourself in the hospital for a day or two due to unforeseen events. If you are unprepared and do not have enough health insurance coverage, you will lose a significant amount of money. As a result, it is critical that you select the greatest health plans that will assist you in the event of an emergency.
To begin, look into all of your health insurance alternatives. When choosing an insurance plan, keep your family’s health needs in mind.
Types of Insurance Plans
You can choose between two types of health insurance plans:
- Private Health Insurance
- Government-sponsored health insurance.
An individual must sign up for private health insurance on their own. When you are employed, you will also get health insurance. As part of your employee benefits, the company will provide you with coverage.
Other types of Insurance Plan include:
1. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of group health insurance coverage.
Employees with an HMO plan typically have lower out-of-pocket expenses, but they also have less flexibility in selecting physicians or hospitals than with other plans. Employees in an HMO may be required to select a primary care physician (PCP). Staffs will need to receive a recommendation from their primary care physician (PCP) in order to see a specialist.
HMOs, on average, cover a larger range of preventative care than other policies. Workers may or may not be obligated to pay a premium before their coverage begins, and they will almost always be required to make a copayment.
On an HMO, there are usually no claim paperwork to fill out. The essential thing to remember is that most HMO plans provide no coverage if employees leave their network without proper clearance from their PCP except in certain emergency scenarios.
2. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
This type of group health insurance policy is called a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).
Workers with a PPO plan are encouraged to use a network of doctors and hospitals that they know and trust. Members of a health insurance plan can receive services from these providers at a discounted or negotiated fee. A primary care physician isn’t necessary for most employees, but they have the option of seeing any doctor or specialist in the plan’s network.
Workers must meet an annual deductible before their insurance provider will begin to pay for their medical expenses. It’s possible that they’ll have a portion of their medical costs to cover, such as with a co-payment or co-insurance.
Using a PPO may result in a greater out-of-pocket expense for services performed outside of the PPO network.
If you have a small workforce, When it comes to selecting doctors and other service providers, it is important to have a wide range of options, Avoid the hassle of securing an appointment with an out-of-network physician, This mix of greater provider variety and cheaper prices is similar to, a PPO may be the best solution for you.
3. Point of Service (POS)
Point of Service (POS) is a type of group health insurance policy.
POS plans combine the benefits of an HMO with those of a PPO. A primary care physician (PCP) can be selected from a network of providers in a POS plan, much like in an HMO. The deductible for services provided by the primary care physician (PCP) is often not applicable.
In the event that an employee’s primary care physician (PCP) refers them to a covered service, they may be eligible for additional benefits. A deductible and reduced level of coverage may be imposed on them if they use non-network providers. Additionally, they may be required to pay up front and submit a claim for reimbursement.
If you have a small employee base, a point-of-sale system may be the best option for you.
When it comes to selecting doctors and other service providers, it is important to have a wide range of options.
We want primary care doctors to be involved in coordinating treatment.
This mix of greater provider variety and cheaper prices is similar to.
4. Exclusive Provider Organization (EPOs)
This type of health insurance plan is known as an EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization).
Members of EPO plans, like those of HMOs, must use a particular network of doctors unless an emergency occurs. In-network specialists will be referred to employees by their Primary Care Physician (PCP). Small co-payments and deductibles may be required for EPO members.
Your small business may benefit from an EPO if a business Like the trade-off of less provider options for reduced premiums.
Have workers who can benefit from working with a smaller group of vendors
Have staff who are willing to bear increased costs in the event of unanticipated circumstances.
5. Indemnity
This plans reimburse members on a percentage-based basis, rather than a flat rate, are sometimes referred to as “fee-for service” plans. Deductibles and co-insurance payments may fall on the individual plan’s subscriber’s charge card.
It’s common for members to make a payment out of pocket before filing a claim for reimbursement.
Your company may benefit from an indemnification plan if user of the services are willing to put up with the potential administrative load of increasing referral and claims paperwork
Medical and hospital staff should have individuals that require a high degree of flexibility.
6. Health Savings Account (HSA)
An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account that can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses when paired with an HSA-compatible high deductible health plan. Small companies can make a contribution to an employee’s health savings account (HSA) even if they don’t have a group health insurance plan.
An HSA allows for pre-tax contributions up to IRS-imposed quotas. Unused funds in an HSA account accumulate interest tax-free each year. It’s possible to utilize the money for something else, but there may be fees and interest associated with it.
If you own a small business, an HSA may be a smart alternative for you, if Health insurance through your employer is out of reach.
if you want to to be able to better manage your contribution to health benefits and if you want top Provide HSAs to a large number of your workforce
7. Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)
Rather than offering a health insurance plan to employees, employers might give health benefits through a type of health benefit called a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Employers can compensate their employees for health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses by using a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Employers can set a monthly allocation limit for the employees to use with each HRA account. Individual health insurance policies are then purchased by employees, who submit a receipt for reimbursement.
Some of the types of HRA includes Retiree HRA, Individual coverage HRA , Group coverage HRA, Excepted benefit HRA, Dental/Vision HRA and Qualified Small Employer HRA.
Health Insurance in the USA
In the USA, The government’s health insurance coverage may be available on a local, state, or national level. Medicare is an example of a national health insurance plan. People over the age of 65, as well as people with impairments, are eligible for Medicare benefits. Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and health care benefits for veterans and military personnel, as well as eligible American Indians, are all government-sponsored health insurance programs.
Health Insurance in Nigeria
In Nigeria, The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is a body corporate formed by the Federal Government of Nigeria under Act 35 of the 1999 Constitution to enhance the health of all Nigerians at a reasonable cost.
The purpose of the NHIS is to offer social health insurance in Nigeria, where contributors’ health care expenses are covered from a shared pool of monies provided by Scheme members.
It is a pre-payment plan in which participants pay a certain sum on a regular basis. The money is pooled, allowing Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) to pay for those who require medical care. It’s essentially a risk-sharing agreement that can help with resource mobilization and equity. It is, without a doubt, the most frequently employed type of health-care financing in the world.
HMOs’ private health insurance is likewise regulated by the NHIS.
If you wish to join up for a private health insurance plan, be sure you understand the coverage that is included in your contract. Read the coverage information and look for the exclusions sections. Avoid signing up for one that has a huge list of exclusions that will leave you with little coverage. More essential, make sure you have a copy of any contract you intend to sign. Make sure your personal information is up to date, and keep track of the coverage period. Overall, make sure you have sufficient health insurance coverage to use whenever you need it.
Health insurance is meant to protect us from unexpected medical expenses, but it usually doesn’t. The industry thrives on customers being caught off-guard by bills. What’s the solution? One way to take control of your health care plan is to switch to a high deductible health care plan so that you are forced to pay more upfront for healthcare.
Author: Simeon Bala
An Information technology (IT) professional who is passionate about technology and building Inspiring the company’s people to love development, innovations, and client support through technology. With expertise in Quality/Process improvement and management, Risk Management. An outstanding customer service and management skills in resolving technical issues and educating end-users. An excellent team player making significant contributions to the team, and individual success, and mentoring. Background also includes experience with Virtualization, Cyber security and vulnerability assessment, Business intelligence, Search Engine Optimization, brand promotion, copywriting, strategic digital and social media marketing, computer networking, and software testing. Also keen about the financial, stock, and crypto market. With knowledge of technical analysis, value investing, and keep improving myself in all finance market spaces. Pioneer of the following platforms were I research and write on relevant topics. 1. https://publicopinion.org.ng 2. https://getdeals.com.ng 3. https://tradea.com.ng 4. https://9jaoncloud.com.ng Simeon Bala is an excellent problem solver with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
