Recently, a proliferation of advertising on the health card. These cards claim to have access to high quality and affordable health care, dental care, prescription drugs, vision care and other services. The prices vary but can be as little as $ 20 per month and as high $ 125 a month for a family. The two big advantages of these plans that are affordable and can not be dismissed.
What exactly did you buy? Also known as discount medical health card programs or plans. This industry is so large that even its own professional association, the Consumer Health Alliance. Here to determine the health card issued by the Consumer Health Alliance. “A member of the healthcare products and services, including prescription drugs, dental, chiropractic, ophthalmology, physician, hospital and laboratory services available to millions of Americans by creating opportunities for consumers to buy direct health services and products at discounted prices.” According to the Consumer Health Alliance more than 28 million customers bought the plans by more companies.
The problem is not the concept of the programs, but the sales and implementation. The most important fact you should know about these health cards, they are not health insurance. Many consumers do not understand what to buy, and consequently stuck with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical bills, it was considered that would be covered by the health card.
These plans advertise that you are connected to the network of medical providers. This is generally true. The link has some of the national networks, the insurance companies for their own use. The plan agent will tell you that if you use the service, the service will receive a discount similar to the discounts that insurers and providers negotiate when networks connect.
One company, for example, gives an example. If the network provider, which is the usual amount of physician office visits, $ 120. But the discount health card, you save only $ 90 will be charged $ 30 each time you visit the doctor, the surface that sounds good, but remember, only the consumer and the consumer, the service provider to pay $ 90 every time when you visit the doctor.
What happens if you want to discuss the hospital instead of visiting a doctor. You will find a hip replacement. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the average cost of a new hip in 2006, $ 42,000. You will see the doctor in the network, the health insurance card is $ 29.95 per month. We expect a significant reduction of the procedure, because using a network provider. Remember the doctor. There is a $ 25% discount and only had to pay the doctor $ 90 to $ 120 bill.
But now there is a bill from the hospital for your hip replacement for $ 42,000. Also 25% discount. This means that I owe the hospital $ 31,500. And you have to pay. Still better than the $ 42,000 in due time, but $ 31,500 is still a fairly large amount of the consumer to pay. Unfortunately, companies that sell these cards to focus your attention on small features. But if consumers are smart, they focus on large objects, that the real risk is that it is not health insurance.
Some people who are not eligible for health insurance, discount cards may be the only option. Individual health insurance is usually a medically approved, which means that if a person has a medical condition that the insurance company is not willing to provide, you may not know that the health insurance. In most countries, there are some plans for swimming pool, which is medical insurance for the people of the conditions listed, but if you can imagine, these plans is extremely expensive.
The real danger of these cards on the aggressive methods to sell them. Many of these plans are actually sold in Multi Level Marketing Plans. Members should not allow insurance agents, because the plans are not insurance. Interest to the people downline if it is to make money. Learning programs and carefully advise consumers what to buy is not the most important thing is that these representatives.
If you’re planning to buy any health plan, be careful and ask questions. Understand in the first place, that does not take insurance. Be wary of extravagant promises discounts of up to 60%. In our example, hip replacement, for example, 60% discount, the service only cost you $ 16,800. It is unlikely that the hospital service would be that kind of discount. Specific information on hospitals, doctors and procedures. Ask if any service in honor advertised discounts. Sometimes the doctors and other providers are not even aware that the participants in these plans.
Ask the hidden costs. There are often hidden administrative fees to the fine print. Be especially careful of any fees to use the card. These fees can eat almost all the breaks.
Discount health cards are never a substitute for health insurance. Before you consider buying one, think about how you will use. If you need the services less expensive than the regular medical examinations, dental and vision benefits, touching. Remember, if you have an expensive procedure, such as hospitalization or surgery, you will pay the bulk of the invoice. No matter what the agent says that the ads imply, the card does not pay a percentage of the service provider. The consumer is always responsible for the tax amount minus the discount that can be used.
Consider your needs and the needs of the family. If you can afford to buy health insurance. Even a high-deductible plan, such as the HSA will be a better choice, because to a certain point, after the deductible is met, the insurer pays the balance of the account. If you can not afford insurance or can not qualify because of health problems, the medical passport is useful. But before you buy, understand what it is, and what you can really.
