As health care costs continue to rise in the United States, millions
of Americans are still without health care insurance. Some people avoid
health insurance because they think they cannot afford it or because
all the California health insurance options are confusing. But, not
having health care for you and you family can be detrimental if an
unexpected illness occurs.
Choosing the right plan is not
always easy. Terms like PPO and HMO are confusing for those that are
not exactly sure what they offer to the individual. While you are
probably concerned with the cost of California health insurance, you
need to remember that quality and continuity of care is important as
well. With HMOs (health maintenance organizations), you pay a set
monthly fee. However, when you go to visit the doctor, you will have to
play very little deductible. The downside to HMOs is you usually have
to choose a doctor from their approved physicians list. If you are
already using a doctor, he or she may or may not be on the HMOs list.
With PPOs (preferred provider organizations), you get to choose your
own doctor. But you usually have a higher deductible and you have to
pay the doctor costs up front, then you are reimbursed by the PPO at a
later date.
If you are self-employed, work for an employer
that does not provide any type of California health insurance, or are
retired, it can be especially hard to choose a plan. You want good
coverage, but all the payment is coming out of your pocket, so you want
something good, but that is inexpensive. It may benefit you to enlist
the services of a health insurance broker. A broker knows the
California health insurance market well and while you will have to pay
him, you may save money in the long run if he can find you good,
inexpensive insurance.