| If you're trying to decide between health | | | | and treatment by specialists. Some health |
| insurance plans, you'll find that there are | | | | insurance plans also offer benefits that are |
| several different kinds from which to choose. | | | | called 'wellness benefits.' like discounts on |
| It's important that you weigh all your | | | | health club memberships, stop-smoking |
| options carefully. Your health insurance, | | | | classes, and nutritional consultations.The |
| even with an employer contribution to the | | | | main types of health insurance plans are:HMO |
| cost, is very likely to be your largest | | | | - Health Maintenance OrganizationsHMO |
| regular monthly expense other than your rent | | | | benefits are geared toward keeping you |
| or mortgage. The plan you choose needs to be | | | | healthy. They aim for affordable health care |
| more than affordable. It will affect your | | | | costs by reducing the cost of annual |
| family's choices in doctors and health care | | | | physicals, well-child visits and other |
| as long as you are a member of that health | | | | routine care by requiring you to pay a |
| insurance plan.Health insurance is like any | | | | 'co-pay' - a small portion of the actual bill |
| other kind of insurance. You pay a monthly | | | | - for every visit to your doctor, and the |
| amount, called a premium, to an insurance | | | | health insurance company pays the rest. Most |
| company in return for 'benefits', to be paid | | | | require that you choose a primary care |
| out as needed. Depending on the kind of plan | | | | physician, who takes the place of an old |
| that you choose, those benefits might include | | | | fashioned General Practitioner - the family |
| regular doctor's office visits, checkups, | | | | doctor who knew your medical history and |
| emergency room services and hospitalizations, | | | | prescribed visits to specialists if needed. |