In this guide-

+ What types of health insurance plans are available?
+ What about short-term and catastrophic health insurance?
+ How to choose the best health insurance plan for me?

Health insurance background
Health care and health insurance is a major political, economic and social issue in America today. The costs of health care continue to rise and companies and individuals struggle to keep up with the rising costs. Many millions of Americans simply cannot afford any sort of health care, and are at risk to injuries and disease. This site was designed to give you a basic understanding of how health insurance works so that you know what to look for when searching for health insurance for you and your family.

What types of health insurance plans are available?
There are essentially two kinds of heath insurance - Indemnity/Fee-for-Service and Managed Care. Although these plans differ, they both cover an array of medical, surgical and hospital expenses. Most cover prescription drugs and some also offer dental coverage.

Indemnity/Fee-for-Service
Up until about 30 years ago, most people had traditional indemnity coverage (these days, it's often known as fee-for-service). Indemnity plans are a bit like auto insurance: you pay a certain amount of your medical expenses up front in the form of a deductible and afterward the insurance company pays the majority of the bill. Under this type of health coverage, you have almost complete autonomy when it comes to choosing doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. You can refer yourself to any specialist without getting permission, and the insurance company doesn't get to decide whether the visit was necessary.

On the down side, fee-for-service plans usually involve more out-of-pocket expenses. Often there is a deductible, usually between $200-$1,000, before the insurance company starts paying. Once you've paid the deductible, the insurer will kick in about 80 percent of any doctor bills. Fee-for-service plans often include a ceiling for out-of-pocket expenses, after which the insurance company will pay 100 percent of any costs. You may have to pay up front and then submit the bill for reimbursement, or your provider may bill your insurer directly. Under fee-for-service plans, insurers will usually only pay for reasonable and customary medical expenses, taking into account what other practitioners in the area charge for similar services. If your doctor happens to charge more than what the insurance company considers reasonable and customary, you'll probably have to make up the difference yourself. Traditionally, preventive care services like annual check-ups and pelvic exams have not been covered under fee-for-service plans. But as the evidence mounts that preventive care