Types of Health Insurance

Before you apply to get some health insurance, you'll want to know what's out there. We'll explain what health insurance options are available to help you decide which is right for you.

A Word about Managed Care

Most types of health insurance fall under the category of managed care. Managed care describes a system where your primary care physician serves as the gateway to more specialized medical care. There are three types of managed care:

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) - With an HMO, you will have to pay a co-payment to physicians in the network. An HMO will not pay for any services received out-of-network. The HMO treats your primary care physician as a gatekeeper to specialized medical care. Before you can see a specialist, you will need a referral.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) - If you get some health insurance with a PPO plan, you can choose a provider either in or out of the network. You will be required to pay a co-payment or co-insurance for both, but out-of-pocket costs are significantly lower for in-network providers and services.
• Point of Service (POS) or Open Access HMO - This plan is similar to an HMO but also permits you to go out of network for care. However, most POS plans will only reimburse you about 50%-80% of the cost for out-of-network care, and you might also have to pay co-insurance or a deductible.

Short-Term Health Insurance

Our customers usually have various reasons for needing to get some health insurance. For some, they are simply between jobs and need temporary coverage. Others might be recent college graduates or just waiting for group coverage to kick in. If any of these descriptions applies to you, you might consider short-term health insurance. Short-term health insurance is a flexible, affordable way to get some health insurance for 1-12 months. Your coverage will also usually begin immediately, as soon as 24 hours.

Student Health Insurance

If you are a student who wants to get some health insurance, we might be able to offer coverage specifically tailored to your unique needs. Student health insurance is affordable coverage for any undergraduate or graduate students who are taking at least nine credit hours at an accredited institution. This coverage is year-round, not just during the school year. For the answers to the most commonly asked questions about getting health insurance, see our FAQ page.