HealthInsurancecbe

 What are Some Types of Health Care Coverage?   Health care coverage is often grouped into two general categories: private and public. The majority of people in the U.S. have private insurance, which they receive through their employer (which may include non- government employers or government employers at the federal, state or local level), buy directly from an insurance company, or buy through a Health Insurance Marketplace®.1 Some people have public health care coverage through government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or the Veteran’s Health Administration. Health care coverage can also be categorized by the scope of benefits it offers or how long the coverage lasts. Health insurance often includes a wide range of covered services, including emergency and non- emergency services as well mental health benefits. Some people have very limited insurance plans, such as plans with benefits for only specific conditions or diseases (included in the list of “excepted benefits...

 What is a Health Insurance Plan (also called a health plan or policy)? A health insurance plan includes a package of covered health care items and services and sets how much it will pay for those items and services. In other words, a health plan will describe the types of health care items and services it will cover (help pay for), how much it will pay for those items and services (or groups of items and services), and for how long. Plans are often designed to last for a year at a time (known as a “plan year” or “policy year”). A health plan may be a benefit that an employer, union, or other group sponsor provides to employees or members to pay for their health care services

 What is Health Insurance and Why is it Important? Health insurance is a legal entitlement to payment or reimbursement for your health care costs, generally under a contract with a health insurance company. Health insurance provides important financial protection in case you have an accident or sickness. For example, health insurance may help to pay for doctors’ services, medications, hospital care, and special equipment when someone is sick or injured, often in exchange for a monthly premium. It may help cover a stay at a rehabilitation hospital or even a portion of home health care. Heath insurance can also keep a consumer’s costs down when they are not sick. For example, it can help pay for routine check-ups. Most health insurance also covers many preventive services at no cost, such as immunizations and cancer screening and counseling  

 Health Insurance Basics This document explains key health insurance concepts that may be helpful to consumers in understanding their health coverage as well as to consumer advocates who help individuals resolve medical billing problems. This resource is not intended to describe everything that is important to know about insurance. For more complete information, see the Coverage to Care resources developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services   What is Health Insurance and Why is it Important? What is a Health Insurance Plan (also called a health plan or policy)? What are Some Types of Health Care Coverage?