| When evaluating potential job offers, health | | | | include annual physical exams, referrals to and |
| insurance benefits are most likely one of the first | | | | treatment by specialists as needed, hospitalization |
| issues you inquire about, second only to salary. | | | | and emergency care, prescription drug coverage, |
| Indeed, if you have a large family or a history of | | | | laboratory work including blood testing and x-rays, |
| medical problems, this may be the first thing you | | | | maternity benefits, prenatal and well-baby visits, |
| ask about. | | | | vision benefits, and dental care. |
| Of course, health insurance benefits will vary by | | | | Health insurance benefits less commonly include |
| health insurance plan, so if you are unsure about | | | | mental health care and treatment, rehabilitation |
| any aspect of your health insurance options, it's | | | | services for drug and alcohol abuse, home health |
| important to get help from either your Human | | | | care, hospice care, physical therapy, and |
| Resources department at work or a health | | | | chiropractic care. |
| insurance broker if self-employed or unemployed. | | | | One thing to keep in mind as you evaluate various |
| It's easy to make the mistake of assuming that | | | | health insurance benefits is that the primary |
| features or benefits exist when they don't. If | | | | purpose of any health insurance policy is to |
| your assumptions are wrong, you could be left | | | | protect you from a major financial loss - not to |
| facing insurmountable medical bills. This is especially | | | | protect you from spending "small" sums of |
| true for low cost, cheap health insurance. | | | | money on office visits. These small expenses can |
| In a perfect world, all individual or family health | | | | be a burden, but they generally will not break you. |
| plans would pay for every health issue that may | | | | To conclude, with something as important as |
| arise-pregnancy, blood transfusions, sick and well | | | | health insurance and the impact it can have on |
| care, minor and major surgery, hospital stays, etc. | | | | you and your family, be careful not to make any |
| But the truth is health insurance benefits typically | | | | assumptions. Granted, a typical health insurance |
| are limited and they seldom will cover 100% of | | | | policy is not exactly a "beach read", but in the |
| the costs, which is why it's so important to read | | | | long run it pays to have a clear understanding of |
| the policy's fine print. You've got to know exactly | | | | your actual benefits. At a minimum, you need to |
| what is and is not actually covered. | | | | have someone from your Human Resources |
| The majority of valid health insurance policies | | | | department or your broker if you are purchasing |
| provide a minimum level of coverage that typically | | | | your policy as an individual, go through and |
| includes major medical expenses such as | | | | summarize each section of the plan. Again, this |
| hospitalization and emergency/urgent medical care. | | | | may not be your idea of a good time, but in the |
| Some of the most sought after additional benefits | | | | end it just may save you a bundle. |