Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Asthma - Health Insurance for Asthma Sufferers

Although asthma can be an expensive condition, the good news is that many Americans are able to get health insurance coverage. There are many things to consider before you choose a health insurance provider, however. Some companies may exclude those with pre-existing medical conditions, while others may approve them but have pre-existing condition exclusion periods. Still other companies will have caps on the amount of coverage provided. In order to get the most out of your health insurance, you will need to compare plans carefully.

The first, and most important, thing to look for when you need health coverage for your asthma is what the health insurance policy actually covers. You will need to make sure that your plan covers hospital visits as well as routine visits to the doctor. Unfortunately, some plans limit the amount of coverage for medication and medical treatments, and it is very unlikely that you will be able to receive coverage for preventive care. You may also have to deal with chronic condition limits and pre-existing condition limits.

A pre-existing condition limit simply means that if you were diagnosed before you applied for health coverage, you may be excluded from treatment for your condition for a certain period of time. Most plans limit treatment for six to eighteen months, but most employer-provided health plans have a maximum limit of twelve months. State and government plans, such as Medicaid, do not usually have these limits. A chronic condition limit can be a little trickier to deal with. It simply means that conditions that are not expected to improve within a given amount of time will not be covered. Although this does not usually apply to asthma, you should check your policy just to make sure.

The cost of your health insurance is another factor to consider. You will need to look at premium rates, copayments, deductibles, and how much of your treatment you will be expected to cover. The premium is a monthly charge that will stay constant (until renewal, at least) regardless of how many claims you make. The deductible is what you will need to pay on a yearly basis before your health plan starts paying for services. The copayment refers to what you will need to pay each time you use a service - usually a very small amount. You will need to consider each of these factors to get the most coverage while spending the least amount of money.

If you need assistance in locating particular coverages at a pre-determined price, we can help you save up to 50% on your health insurance monthly premium.

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