Health Insurance Process

Health insurance will protect you from declaring medical bankruptcy. It should cover the major catastrophic medical events in your life. Choosing the right health insurance, applying for it and using it will make dealing with insurance much easier. Most insurance plans have specific rules regarding what doctors you can see, when you need a referral and when you need pre-approval for a procedure.

Choosing Health Insurance

• Choosing the right health insurance will make your health care more affordable. Find a plan with high coverage and low monthly premiums. Many employers offer health insurance coverage. Another option is to choose a high deductible insurance plan. You must meet the deductible before coverage kicks in, but then everything is completely covered.

Applying for Health Insurance

• Once you have chosen your best insurance policy, you need to apply for the policy. This includes a health questionnaire you must fill out regarding pre-existing conditions and your current weight, and smoking habits. This may cause the insurance to reject you or offer a different rate for coverage. If you have pre-existing conditions, you may need to go with your employer's option even if it is not the best coverage, because you cannot be denied because of pre-existing conditions.

Using Health Insurance

• The insurance company will send you an insurance card, as well as provide you with a list of doctors and health care facilities that accept its insurance. You need to use the doctors on the list to receive the maximum benefits on the plan. When you go to the doctor, you present your card and pay the co-payment listed on your card. The doctor's office submits the remainder of the bill to the insurance company to be covered. You may be required to have a referral to see a specialist, and receive approval for most procedures before you have them completed.

Disputing Insurance Decisions

• At times insurance companies refuse payment for a procedure or for office visits. The best way to avoid this problem is to follow the rules for visits to the doctor and specialists. Call yourself to make sure the big procedures are really approved before you have them done. If you feel that a claim should be paid call the insurance company and ask about the process to dispute a claim. Usually you need to send a letter, but you may need to gather additional information from your physician to have a dispute go through.