Wednesday, February 2, 2011

What is the best health insurance?

I'm 35 yrs. old, and looking to get some health insurance for myself and my husband. What would be the best and reasonable insurance to look into?
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There's no such thing as "best". Every plan is a trade off between benefits and premium. The better the benefits, the more it costs. Generally speaking, and indemnity plan will cost more than a PPO plan, and a PPO plan will cost more than an HMO plan. A group plan will always be cheaper than an individual policy, so if you can join a group, do so. Plans through your job are usually ok, especially if the employer picks up some of the cost. It depends on your needs, the type of plans each offer, and the location of the providers. HMO's are usually center based, but may have individual provider agreements. Typically, you MUST use one of the HMO's provider's, or you won't be covered. Therefore you need to knwo that they have a center or providers near your home or work. The quid pro quo is that these are usually the cheapest plan, and are available to individuals or groups. PPO's are typically available only to groups, but may be available on direct subscription. You would normally get a much higher level of benefits using network providers, but would get SOME coverage out of network. It usually doesn't pay, so again, make sure that there are providers near your home or work. PPO plans typically cost more than HMO plans, but less than indemnity plans. In any case, make sure the plan covers your needs, has providers near you, and a good reputation. And shop around... rates really vary.
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