If you live in Colorado and need to purchase Colorado health
insurance, you need to know a little information about the plans
available to you. It is possible to find affordable, comprehensive
coverage if you do your homework.
What types of Colorado
health insurance plans are available? If you are employed by a company,
the chances are good they will offer you some type of health insurance
plan. If you see terms like HMO and PPO, don’t let them confuse you.
HMO stands for health maintenance organization. HMOs were designed to
create a network of providers. By having a contract with an HMO, health
care professionals can receive more patients by agreeing to provide the
services at lower rates. Either you or your employer will need to pay a
monthly premium, then when you visit your physician (usually chosen
from a list provided by the health insurance provider), you may be
required to pay a nominal fee (such as $25).
PPO (preferred
provider organization) are managed healthcare systems that also offers
great discounts to clients because of a network. However, with a PPO
plan, you can choose the doctor you wish to visit, but are encouraged
to visit doctors within the PPO system. You are also required to pay
the doctor, clinic, or hospital for its services, and then the PPO
reimburses you at a later date once all the paperwork has been
submitted and approved.
If you need Colorado health insurance
because you have recently been laid off work, you may qualify for
COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.
COBRA states that anyone terminated may continue insurance coverage for
themselves and their family by paying their own premiums until they can
get other health care coverage.
If you are a student in
Colorado, you can look into purchasing student Colorado health
insurance. This can be purchased through a health insurance company,
but often the college or university you are attending will offer
coverage to students.