Understanding Health Insurance
Health insurance is a necessity for everyone who wishes to
maintain or improve their health. Whether you use your health
insurance for regular checkups, chronic and debilitating
illnesses or unexpected emergencies, you will find that carrying
an insurance policy can result in a significant cost savings for
you and your family. Those who carry health insurance often have
a difficult time understanding what is covered under their
policy and where they can go to obtain the services that they
require. Without this necessary information, it is likely that
many health insurance holders do not receive the maximum benefit
that their insurance provides.
We all need health insurance to receive financial assistance
for the maintenance and restoration of our health but we don't
all receive all of the assistance that we are eligible to
receive. Most of us are aware that our health insurance will
cover at least a percentage of certain treatments such as office
visits, hospital stays and surgeries and prescription drugs that
fall under their list of covered drugs but many of us don't know
what is offered beyond these basic services. Not all health
insurance plans cover the same treatments so the only way to
fully understand what is covered in your plan is to read your
policy carefully. Some examples of inclusions that are not well
known include speech classes, hearing aids, gym memberships and
a variety of other features. The only way to know for sure if
these items are covered is to review your policy carefully or
contact your health insurance provider. You may find a variety
of services or treatments that are covered under your plan that
could amount to a significant financial savings.
Knowing what is covered under your health insurance plan is
very important but it is equally important to understand what is
not covered under your insurance plan. You should review your
plan carefully to ensure that the services that you choose will
be covered by your health insurance plan. Sometimes treatments
that are deemed medically necessary by your doctor will not be
covered by your health insurance plan. In this case it may be
necessary to bear the burden of this expense in order to
maintain or restore your health. If your claim is denied because
your provider does not consider the treatment necessary, then
you have the right to file an appeal. You should carefully
review the provider's policy to ensure that you fully understand
the appeal process before filing your appeal. Your claim may
still be denied even if you follow proper procedure but the
possibility that you will lose your appeal as a result of
improper filing is greatly reduced. You should review your
insurance plan carefully before undergoing preventative
treatment to determine whether or not the treatment will be
covered. In an emergency you may not have the opportunity to
review your policy before authorizing treatment but you will
have the opportunity to appeal if the treatment is not covered.
Knowing which doctors you can visit can also be confusing. Some
health insurance policies allow you to visit any doctor you
choose while others limit you to the participating doctors in
their plan. Also, whether or not you can see a specialist is
often difficult to determine. Usually, the receptionist at the
doctor's office will be able to tell you whether or not they
accept your health insurance policy before you schedule your
appointment. You can also call your customer service
representative to inquire as to whether a specific doctor will
be covered.
Health insurance can literally be a life saver but
understanding your policy can be a nightmare. In most cases
carefully reading your policy to determine the covered
treatments as well as the exclusions and limitations may help
you understand your policy better. If after reading through your
policy you still have general or specific questions you should
contact the customer service representative for your policy.
They will be able to provide you with answers that will enhance
your understanding of your policy. Knowing what is covered and
what is not covered are the most common misunderstandings
involving health insurance. It is also important understand your
provider's appeal process in case you ever incur claims that are
denied. In all cases your health may necessitate treatment that
is not covered and you will have to make the difficult decision
of whether or not to authorize the treatment.
Ray Shelton is the editor and writer for
http://www.ww-health-insurance.com