Buying Individual Health Insurance? Be Sure to Check the Network
More and more consumers are shopping online for individual and family health insurance. As a result, many buying decisions are mistakenly made solely on the basis of cost and benefit design. Ignoring the Insurance Company’s hospital and physician network can adversely affect the quality of care and the cost for that care. Not all Provider networks are the same.
Once a prospective buyer thinks they have found the medical insurance plan that is right for them, they need to take a look at the network. Most online health insurance quote sites have a link next to each plan that allows you to search the network directory. Make sure your Primary Care Physician is there as well as any Specialists that you or a family member sees on a regular basis. Some plans such as HMOs require you to select a Primary Care Physician from their network to act as a gatekeeper to other levels of care. You will also want to look at which Hospitals are in the network near where you live. Except for very rural areas, there should be a network hospital within 10 miles of your home and work locations. You should also make sure that the hospitals are in network, where you’re Primary Care Physician and any Specialists you see have admitting privileges.
Categories: Health Insurance Tags: family health insurance, Health Insurance, Individual Health Insurance
