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Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage
There are many different types of Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage programs, but they can be divided into basically three types of medical expense protection. The first type of protection is called conventional health insurance and generally provides for hospital, surgical, medical, major medical, comprehensive, catastrophic and dental plans. Commercial insurance companies, independent organizations, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provide this insurance. |
| Supplemental Medical Insurance offers voluntary employee health insurance benefits including
dental, accident, life, cancer, long-term care, and short-term
disability. |
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Rates depend on which plan you buy into, the level of coverage you and your employer choose, and whether you purchase individual or family protection. The second basic type of health protection is the prepaid health care plans. The major providers consist of HMOs or Health Maintenance Organizations, and Preferred Provider Organizations. |
There are several questions, which you must answer when checking your Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage. Does your insurance provide coverage for only a specified amount per day, or does it cover usual customary costs? Does the plan cover pregnancy? For the unmarried, or only insured and/or spouse? Does it cover newborns from birth? Does it cover hospital costs for as long as the injured needs treatment? Does it exclude coverage for specified illness or accidents? How long does it cover the insured's children? Does it pay for outpatient treatment and/or emergency treatment? Is there a time limit on submitting claims? There are many other questions in addition to these basic ones that you should check into when evaluating your insurance coverage. Check with your insurance agent or company office if you need any of these or other questions answered. Remember, consideration of your insurance needs is not a subject to be taken lightly. Accordingly, this information is not a substitute for the advice of an insurance professional.
There are groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals who have joined together to provide members with prepaid Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage. Instead of paying a premium, each member pays a flat monthly or quarterly fee. The last type of health insurance available is government health plans. These include Medicare and Medicaid. They are both federally funded, while the latter is administered by the state. Check with your local offices to see if you qualify. Remember, consideration of your insurance needs is not a subject to be taken lightly. Accordingly, this information is not a substitute for the advice of an insurance professional.
Long-term Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage for nursing home care and in-home care. There are currently around many companies nationally that offer this type of insurance. Premiums and benefits vary widely. Some policies only pay for care that is medically necessary. A good policy will not only cover nursing home care, but also home care and community services. Some policies will only pay if the patient comes directly out of the hospital to the nursing home or home care. In this case, Alzheimer's and dementia persons might not be covered. Since these disabilities also leave people unable to care for themselves, it's important that the policy cover their needs without an immediately preceding hospital stay. The policy should also provide for inflation protection. These policies are not inexpensive, however, the earlier you start, and the lower your rate will be.
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| Supplemental Medical Insurance does not cover eye and hearing exams, foot care, immunizations, or physical exams. |
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