Thanks to the high cost of health care, the average cost for family health insurance is now more than $10,000 a year.
But there are ways to get affordable health insurance.
Here's how ...
Types of Family Health Insurance The two most common family health care plans are HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations).
HMOs With an HMO you are assigned to a network of health care providers whom you must see for all your health care needs.
There are usually no deductibles (the amount you pay before your insurer pays a claim), and co-payments are around $5 to $10 per visit.
You are also assigned a primary care physician who oversees your health care, and if you need to see a specialist you'll need to get permission from him or her.
HMOs are the most restrictive but the least expensive of the family health insurance plans.
PPOs PPOs also assign you to a health care network, but allow you to see non-network physicians by paying an extra fee.
Some PPOs have deductibles of $500 to $2,000, and co-payments average $5 to $10.
PPOs are the least restrictive but the most expensive of the family health insurance plans.
Which Plan is Best for You If you want a plan with the least amount of paperwork, the cheapest premiums, and the cheapest out-of-pocket expenses, then an HMO is what you're looking for.
If you want to be able to use a doctor of your choice or you have a chronic condition such as asthma or arthritis, then a PPO is your best choice.
Affordable Family Health Insurance In order to get the most affordable family health insurance plan, you need to compare rates.
The easiest way to do this is to go to an insurance comparison website where you can get rates from a number of different companies.
On the best comparison sites you can get answers to all your health insurance questions, online or by phone, from insurance professionals.
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