Florida Health Insurance
2007 ARCHIVE SITEMAP

Florida Health Insurance -- 2007 ARCHIVE SITEMAP

•  2007 Florida Health Insurance Archive

FLORIDA HEALTH INSURANCE
OUR MONTHLY ARCHIVES

Florida Health Insurance News

Floridian's today receive a barrage of health insurance information from every direction. Pundits speak of the national health care crisis; Medicare now offers additional options; and employee benefits officers often speak in a jumble of letters from HMO to PPO. For the average consumer, choosing a health insurance plan in Florida can be quite confusing.

Florida health insurance is fairly easy to find - but is it not "one size fits all." Depending on your current state of health, your budget, and individual needs, the best insurance for you may be far different than the best insurance for your friend or another family member. A basic understanding of the various types of insurance that are available in Florida, and what each does and does not cover, can be helpful in determining which plan will work best for each person. Before you buy insurance for any purpose, a talk with a Florida health insurance consultant can save you thousands of dollars per year.

Which policy to choose, how much deductible is right for me, are my prescription drugs covered; these are the things that are on most people's minds when they look for health insurance. In Florida there are many insurance agents, selling their special type of health insurance policy. These policies vary from agent to agent, even in the same city, so the best bet is to search all available health insurance companies through an insurance "portal" like www.FloridaHealthInsuranceWeb.com. These "all-in-one" insurance portals search all available policies, compare prices and benefits, and then offer you the best overall health insurance plan available in Florida.

The first step in selecting health insurance is knowing what each type of policy is, and what they cover. Traditional health insurance, also called "fee for service" or 80/20, is the type of insurance that most of us grew up with. With that type of health insurance, you are entitled to visit any doctor you choose, and the insurance company pays 80% of the bill.

This (80/20) type of insurance offers the greatest flexibility, but carries the highest out of pocket expenses. One thing to remember...a deductible must be met before the insurance company will pay a dime. Another point to remember about buying health insurance; the lower your monthly premium, the higher the deductible will be. The insurance company usually reserves the right to cap payments if, in their opinion, the doctor's fees are higher than what is thought to be "reasonable and customary" in your area. This is an excellent type of coverage to have if you become extremely ill and require a network of specialists, or if your medical bills are astronomical. Once your expenses for the year reach a certain level, the insurance company will take over and pay 100%.

Many healthy people do not need "fee for service" medical insurance. They find that their out of pocket expenses are much lower with a "managed care" plan. There are two basic types of managed care - HMO and PPO.

With a Florida HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, you pay a monthly premium in exchange for comprehensive medical care. There is usually a small co-payment for doctor's visits (usually ranging from $5 to $25), and a somewhat higher co-pay or deductible is needed for hospitalization. The upside to this HMO Plan is: Your out of pocket expenses are significantly easier to predict and manage with an HMO rather than a fee for service plan. However, the downside of this plan is: an HMO introduces the concept of a "gatekeeper." In an HMO, you must choose a primary care physician. That doctor, working in tandem with a risk management insurance officer, will determine your access to specialists. Finally, a Florida HMO plan requires you to use doctors that are part of the Florida HMO's network. If you travel a lot, be sure to find out what the provisions are should you require an out of network doctor.

The other type of plan is the PPO. A PPO, or (Preferred Provider Organization), can be considered a blend of HMO and fee for service plans. You will choose a primary care physician in Florida, and generally use doctors that are part of the organization. However, a PPO lets you see doctors who are not part of the network for a somewhat higher fee. This increased flexibility is excellent for those who travel frequently, or for those whose current doctor is not a member of the organization.

Many other options exist for covering your medical expenses. A Health Savings Account allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars each month. Catastrophic insurance carries a low premium with a high deductible, and is designed to cover you if you develop a serious illness or injury. However, for the average consumer, the choice is generally between fee for service and managed care. All types of plans carry their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to understand what these are in order to make the right decisions for your family. Find out more about you available choices for health insurance from Florida Health Insurance Web.

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