Catastrophic
Health Insurance
Many Americans live day to day without health insurance. And
while the cost of routine medical care won't ruin most of us
financially, the expense of a catastrophic illness certainly could.
If you're looking for low insurance premiums but want coverage
that picks up the slack when it comes to major medical concerns, a
catastrophic health insurance policy might be just what you need.
Read on for more information about this cost-saving health insurance
strategy.
Take Charge of Your Health
Also known as "high deductible" or "major medical" insurance,
catastrophic health insurance is designed to protect you from
ruinous medical costs while encouraging you to shop wisely for
routine health care.
Here's how it works:
- You choose a higher-than-normal deductible, usually between
$250 and $2,000, depending on your insurer. (The deductible is
what you pay out of pocket before your insurer starts paying.)
- You agree to cover your own medical costs up to that
deductible amount.
- Once you spend up to your deductible, your insurance company
covers 100 percent of your medical costs (with certain
restrictions).
As you can see, catastrophic health insurance leaves the choice
in your hands. You make the choices that fit you and/or your family
best; your insurance company rewards you for taking on a measure of
additional financial risk.
It's just that simple!
A Money-Saving Choice
Choosing a catastrophic health insurance plan can drop your
premiums significantly.
How? By agreeing to cover the expense of your own routine health
care costs, like doctor visits, medications and such, you lessen the
financial impact to your insurer—and that, in turn, lowers the cost
of your health care.
Meanwhile, you're empowered to live a healthy life, take care of
yourself and seek treatment only when necessary, cutting avoidable
expenses from your budget…and who among us can't afford to do a
little more of that?
Serious Coverage
So what is covered under a catastrophic health insurance policy?
Depending on the policy you choose, medical procedures that can
help diagnose, avoid or eliminate catastrophic illness are generally
covered. This includes medical processes such as x-rays, hospital
visits, lab tests, surgery and intensive-care stays, to name just a
few.
And what isn't covered? Usually, more routine events such as
doctor visits, medications, prenatal care and some preexisting
conditions are excluded from catastrophic health insurance plans.
Keep in mind there are always exceptions. So if your employer
doesn't offer health insurance coverage or you don't want to pay for
health coverage you really don't need, speak with a qualified health
insurance agent on the InsureMe network. There are many
high-deductible plans to choose from—and it certainly never hurts to
know your options!
Shopping Tips for the Novice
Before you buy a catastrophic health insurance plan, reflect on
these questions—while comparing policies—to help you decide if this
type of protection is well-suited to your and/or your family's
needs:
- How much is the deductible?
- How much are the premiums (payable monthly, quarterly or
yearly)?
- Are these calculations in line with my/my family's budget?
- How much coverage do I/we really need?
- Can I/we afford to cover my/our own doctors' visits and
prescriptions?
- Do I/we have any preexisting conditions requiring frequent
medical visits or treatments?
- Am I/are we a generally healthy individual/family?
- What is the lifetime annual benefit (the yearly limit your
insurer will cover)? Will this meet my/our needs?
Don't let the sometimes unsettling cost of health insurance leave
you unprotected. Consider a catastrophic health insurance plan, use
InsureMe to get quotes from agents in your area, and lower your
premiums.
It's a great way to save on health insurance—without sacrificing
essential coverage!
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