Thursday, January 22, 2009

Your Family means too much to go without Family Health Insurance

By Jeff Cline

Annual visits to the doctor aid in keeping your family healthy. This is why family health insurance is so very important to your family. Not to mention the thousands of dollars you could lose for being uninsured in case of illness or injury.

Here we will offer some advice and resources for making the most of your family health insurance. To many people make costly mistakes by simply not understanding health insurance. Read on, do not be one of those.

First things first, once you have found a plan that you find satisfactory to your families budget and needs you will receive "evidence of coverage". This is a booklet of all the details of the plan and carrier. Taking the time to know these details is the one most important thing you can do. Not knowing can cost you money.

How would you like the insurer to refuse payment due to a small detail? It happens very often. That is why it is important to know the details. Exclusions, limitations, maxiumums, pre authorization and network benefits are all misunderstood if you do not know the details.

If you want to maximize a PPO benefit such as a copay and a low co insurance you will want to try to choose a in-network provider. Doing so can save you a bundle. In-network providers give you negotiated rates and the insurance companies have special benefits like sharing more of the cost.

If you just must stay with your current provider who is out of network you need to consider two facts. One, you will pay more out of pocket because the insurer does not share as much cost. Two, your out of network provider is not contracted to use the negotiated rates or "usual, customary and reasonable rates, leaving them free to charge anything.

You need tto know and follow the rules for pre authorizations. Basically, if you don't you can pick up all the expense yourself. So save yourself some money and get to know the details.

If you end up having questions or your just not sure pick up the phone and call your carrier. They are always willing to help you understand the details. You can always verify benefits and check to make sure your provider is in network before the fact instead of after as well.

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