Health Insurance Questions

Health insurance is a sure way to have your medical bills covered when things get rough. They are there to protect you from debt in case your medical expenses are too high. It provides payment of benefits caused by illness and injury. Health insurance has different types of coverages, namely: accident insurance, medical expense insurance, and medicare supplemental.

So, now that you know what health insurance is, you might have some questions regarding this topic. Well, you’re not alone. Here, we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions that people ask about health insurance.

What is open enrollment all about and why is it really important?
Will my Doctor change if my health insurance changes?
What should I take into consideration when purchasing a health insurance plan?
How do I know if my prescription drug is covered by my health insurance plan?
Is dental care included in the health insurance?
Co-pays and deductibles, what are they and how do they work?
What is a pre-existing condition?
Is it possible to get health insurance coverage if you have a pre-existing condition?
What is COBRA?

What is open enrollment all about and why is it really important?
It is the time of the year wherein employees review their current health insurance plan and may decide on whether to continue with their insurance coverage or not. If you miss open-enrollment you may have to purchase an individual or family health insurance plan which could be more costly than going with your group plan at work.

Will my Doctor change if my health insurance changes?
It would be best to check if your current doctor is still recommended by your prospective insurance provider. But in most cases, resident doctors are affiliated with almost all insurance companies in a certain area.

What should I take into consideration when purchasing a health insurance plan?
Most health insurance plans cover different services that might be useful to you depending on your unique circumstances. When purchasing a plan, we should always look for coverages, deductibles or copays and the premium.

How do I know if my prescription drug is covered by my health insurance plan?
Ask your insurer about drug prescription benefits. Most companies offer prescription drug coverage but might be limited to medicines which are for the treatment of the patients. Contraceptives are not covered.

Is dental care included in the health insurance?
Most companies do not cover dental care or vision care as part of the plan. Additional plans may be purchased in order to cover these expenses.

Co-pays and deductibles, what are they and how do they work?
A deductible, copay or out-of-pocket expense is a dollar amount that is to be paid by the insurer at the onset of a visit or procedure.

What is a pre-existing condition?
This is the medical state that your body is in before you applied for health insurance. Usually considered as pre-existing conditions are chronic diseases like HIV and Cancer which you have acquired before applying for insurance. For diabetes patients, most insurance companies will not agree to cover payments for your insulin. However, it is possible to have a special agreement between two parties.

Is it possible to get health insurance coverage if you have a pre-existing condition?
Yes, there are health insurance companies who are willing to take the risk and offer you insurance coverage. However, the exact pre-existing condition will influence your potential. Some carriers will allow for pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, some do not.

What is COBRA?
This refers to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act which offers us protection and security to enable our health insurance be extended. This usually happens to those who are suddenly sacked from work or you are covered by an insurance of your spouse who just died. It allows policy holders up to 18 months to extend their health coverage.