Do health insurance companies get a discount with health care providers?
156212
The insurance company has what they call "Allowed amounts" or "usual and customary", which is the amount that they will pay on a service. Your copay or percentage/ded is part of that amount. The health care providers who are contracted as In Network Providers sign a contract with the health insurance to become part of the network. Those providers agree to take the allowed amount as payment in full for the services. Any amount they charge that is over that allowed amount is a write off for them. If the providers are not contracted with that insurance company, they can legally bill you for the amount over the allowed amount. The providers who are contracted get the advantage of advertising from the insurance company because they will be listed in your provider booklet or on your insurance company's provider directory on the website. They will get more patients from those searches than if they were not contracted, so the amount they have to write off is not a problem.
675721
To be honest, dental insurance is going to cost you...it really is, unfortunately. I work with a discount benefits program and you can save up to 80 per cent. I can't get that with my insurance. But, you can try this link...they have a listing of every major dental plan insurance carrier. \n\n<a href="http://www.onlinegiftrewards.com/ups.htm?tp=cc_view_main&ad_id=878&offer_type=offer&ic_offer_id=dentalplans&ic_offer_group_number=3&promo_offer_group_type=&gk=9e2fd36ece07d1c696f756beacf125c3&user_pin_id=97482130&pin_key=825843&user_ref_id=26385707&gift=&user_gift_id=108887941&promotion_id=&promo_name=7172&catalog_id=&ups_ref=redeem@&remoteRef=&sendroikwd=&return_url=&SID=7bbe5b57f76fd5a9edc29999b5836753"<Dental Plans</a>
306707
Try Standard and Poor's.  Call the health insurance company you are interested in and ask them to send you a Fact Sheet on their company.
1103395
check with your insurance company they can tell you what is covered and what is not covered. If it's not check with your local health department, they usually offer them for less or sometimes, depending on you situation for free.
537019
I have medical health and dental insurance now but not always. I think that I get better treatment and have more options available to me by having insurance. I also think that it depends on how good your insurance is too. If you have crappy health insurance that doesn't cover much then you may as well not have insurance at all. It is a big game with the providers and they are all in it for the money. Some insurance companies bargain with health care facilities and will only pay a certain amount where as some insurance will cover at 100%. Which person do you think they'll kick out of the hospital faster? The one that either can't afford it or they are making little money OR the one that they are getting their whole costs paid?\nSad but true. Scandalous actually but this has been an issue for years. The cost of insurance keeps rising because people that don't have insurance usually don't pay their bills or can't pay them in a timely manner so the person who can afford insurance ends up paying for it with higher premiums or deductibles,etc...
494900
Traditional Indemnity insurance usually covers any doctor with deductibles and coinsurance (like 20%).\n\nPPOs usually pay more, either no deductible or less coinsurance, BUT you have to use a doctor that is in the plan.\n\nHMOs usually cover 100%, or you have a small copayment, but you have to have one Primary Care Physician (PCP) that refers you for any specialty care.\n\nIf you are comparing plans, don't forget to look at the plan limitations and exclusions in addition to the costs of the plan and your share of the bills.  Some plans don't cover certain services (chiropractic, maternity, mental health, yearly exams, etc.) and others will.
40730
Generally, no.  Your benefits are defined and controlled by your employer.  They are under no obligation to compensate you if you opt out or don't participate in the benefits they provide, UNLESS, they have a policy or program to do so.  \n\nSome companies have developed programs to pay employees some amount to not use health care coverage - for example if they are covered by a spouse's health care plan.  Most plans like this require you to prove that you have coverage somewhere else.
1007994
I offer insurance to my employees, the plan I've got them on is $300.00/mo single and $525.00/mo family.  They can have it after 90 days.  Its a BENEFIT for being a good employee.  I don't pay someone the difference iff they choose not to take it.  Besides if they gfet hurt on the job, its better for the company if the employee uses their insurance, rather then me having to go through work mens comp.
115964
I don't think it's a question of whether or not Medicare\nprefers them.  Instead, is the health care provider a "Medicare provider". Do they "Accept" Medicare. If they do, it means they file the claim to Medicare and they accept\npayment from Medicare. You are only responsible for the Deductible and 20% of the Medicare "allowable".  If the health care provider is NOT a Medicare provider, and does NOT "Accept" Medicare, then they will still file a claim to Medicare. HOWEVER, you are responsible for whatever Medicare does NOT pay. You end up having  to pay a lot more\nyourself. I would always ask a provider whether or not they are Medicare providers and whether or not they accept the Medicare payment. If they do....  great
40192
Don't know for sure, but usually medical and prescription drug plans are under the same insurer.  Often they will use another company to administer it.  That may be the case in your situation.
813684
I'm not sure what you're looking for ... If you mean comparisons of your company's plans, there won't be any.\n\nTry to remember that your employer, NOT the insurance carrier, determines what each plan will offer.  In almost every case, insurance companies are ASO (administrative services only) now.  This means that your company holds an account that all claims are paid from.  All the insurance company does is administer the plan your company specifies and then they pay claims out of your company's account.\n\nThus, your company's benefits will likely be different from every other company out there.  I'm sorry if this is disappointing news.  The best suggestion I can give you is to read through all your options and decide what's best for your level of health.
66175
No, they should not. Offering health insurance is a benefit that companies use to recruit and keep their employees. But nowhere was it a requirement or law that they should provide insurance. \n\nAlso, if it were required small businesses would fail, not able to keep costs in order while trying to compete with the larger corporations of the world.
13136
doctors and insurance firms
746171
Some people want a company that gives you access to whomever you wish to see; some people want a health plan that has the happiest customers; other people want the least expensive; others just want a health insurance company that pays on time. The best way is to ask the people close to you how they like their health plan.\n\nWhat kind of health insurance are you looking for? It might be a good idea to jot down a list of the different aspects of a health plan and then chart the differences between various plans you come across. Here’s an example:\n\n•Monthly price (premium)\n•Yearly deductible (amount you spend before the insurance company will start paying)\n•Copay amount (amount you pay per service)\n•Coinsurance amount (amount you split with the insurance company – usually a percentage; i.e., you pay 20 percent and the insurer pays 80 percent)\n•Freedom of choice (can you visit whatever doctor you want; what are the steps to getting referred to a specialist or for a medical procedure?)\n•Preventive medicine and routine doctor visits (does the plan include these?)\n•Mental health (included in the plan; copay amounts; maximum number of annual visits).\n\nI’d check out Consumer Reports (link below), US News & World Reports Best Health Plans, and whatever other informational resources you can find. I’d also talk with locally licensed health insurance agents. I’ve also included a couple of articles about choosing a health plan that might be useful. They are government-authored, but they’re actually pretty good (all links below). \n\nI’ve also linked to a California Insurance Department page that has a checklist you can use as you are comparing various plans.\n\nAfter you decide what kind of plan you’re interested in, check out MostChoice.com. You can quickly compare plans and speak to MI health insurance agents with no obligation.\n\nYou can find MostChoice here: http://www.mostchoice.com/health-insurance.cfm\n\nHope this helps,\nBarnes@MostChoice
79824
They do not advertise or publicize their pricing.\n\nTypically health clubs have a set price but they are very willing to negotiate to get you to join. Dickering is highly recommended.  They will want you to sign a long-term contract in return for getting a lower price.  This may or may not be worth it for you.  Read EVERYTHING you sign and demand all offers be provided in WRITING.  What they say doesn't matter.  It's what is in writing that does matter.
530793
Health Insurance........
361898
What I would start with is calling a couple of dentists and just asking them which plans they take. Also, which discount plans they take. Then you can call some of the more popular ones and find out what the cost would be. I find that most people who buy thier own plans get stuck with not finding doctors who accept them. When last I had a dental appointment I remember seeing a dental plan advertised in the waiting area for individual purchase.