:Wise Money Tips

Are you trying to find the health insurance plan that is right for you but are just not sure what questions to ask to get the answers you need?

Focusing on the seven topics below might help you get a clearer picture of what to look for.
What choices do I have when it comes to picking a doctor?

First of all, if you’ve already found the doctor of your dreams, make sure that the plan you choose will cover your visits (that he or she is part of the plan’s network of doctors). If you chose a new doctor consider researching his or her credentials and make sure that he or she is compatible with your needs as far as office hours, office location and general availability go.

Will I be able to be cared for by certain specialists?

If you currently use a specialist or think you might need one in the future, find out if those services are covered by the plan you are choosing and, if you are with a specialist already, if he or she is an in-network physician that will be covered.

Will my pre-existing condition be covered?

This is a very important question to consider as depending on the plan, pre-existing conditions might be excluded from coverage, may only be covered after a certain amount of time of being insured or might be fully covered right from the beginning.

Which hospitals can I go to and what emergency care am I entitled to?

Find out which hospitals your insurance plan covers and make sure you understand what, in the eyes of your insurance provider, constitutes an emergency. If your plan provides you with a primary care physician, it is also good to know if you have to contact him or her before receiving emergency care.

Will well-patient care be included in my plan?

If you are insured under a managed care plan, chances are good yearly checkups are covered, but some independent insurance plans might not pay for them at all. If you want to include children in your plan, finding out whether their checkups and immunizations are covered is important also.

Will prescription drugs I need be covered?

Some plans do not cover prescription drugs at all, some cover them completely, yet others require you to make co-payments depending on the type of drug. Find out if your plan covers what suits your needs.

What OB/GYN services are covered?

The most important points to consider here, apart from what is mentioned about picking a doctor (see above), is the kind of coverage your plan offers concerning pregnancy and fertility treatments should you consider either of those in the future.

Jackie Smith, Executive Writer
http://www.quotella.com

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The expenses involved with owning a home can be overwhelming at times - routine maintenance, repairs, seasonal preparations, improvements. Not to mention taxes, fees, and all those monthly bills. Some homeowners, in trying to reduce their expenses, wonder if they really need disaster insurance.

Disaster insurance is typically defined as additional homeowner’s insurance to cover events like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. Home insurance policies typically cover hurricanes and tornadoes (review your policy to be certain in covers damage from such events). But often damage from floods and earthquakes isn’t covered. This extra insurance, if desired, must be purchased in addition to your standard homeowner policy, and it can be expensive, depending on where you live.

Because disaster insurance can be expensive, it’s a type of coverage some homeowners opt not to buy. But in some cases they are required to buy. For example, mortgaged homes in the US that are located in designated flood hazard areas are required to buy flood insurance through the US National Flood Insurance Program. Of course, once those mortgages are paid, there is no longer a requirement to buy such insurance. But homeowners in those areas should carefully consider whether they really want to take the risk that their home and everything in it could be swept away, leaving them with nothing but an empty lot. Homeowners that aren’t in designated flood hazard areas should still know that floods can cause plumbing problems, like sewer and septic backups. These often aren’t covered in a standard homeowner’s policy, and they may want to consider an endorsement for coverage.

In the US, many tend to think that only the area along the west coast is subject to earthquakes. This isn’t true however, and 39 US states have some potential for earthquakes. Coverage for seismic events can be very expensive in California and other western states, but homeowners in other states should evaluate the cost vs. the earthquake risk for the area where they live.

For more you may visit: www.flood-insurance-center.com

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