Enrolling in the Right Kentucky Health Insurance Plan

Most people in Kentucky get health insurance through their employer and are enrolled in a HMO (health maintenance organization) or PPO (preferred provider organization) plan. However, if you intend to purchase Kentucky health insurance on your own or enroll in Medicaid or Medicare, you can choose from a variety of health plans. Here are some tips to help you enroll in the right Kentucky individual health insurance plan:

• Find a health plan that provides coverage in the area where you live. PPOs allow you to choose doctors and hospitals that are not in the plan’s network. However, with a HMO, you can choose only doctors, hospitals, and other providers in its network, which may cover a smaller area.

• If you want to continue to see your current doctor, make sure the Kentucky health insurance plan you choose includes that doctor. This also applies if you are seeing a specialist. Call your doctor’s office or check the plan’s health provider list to find out.

• Make a list of your family’s health needs and choose a plan that covers those needs. For instance, if you need prescription drugs, see if these medicines are included in the plan’s drug list. A person who plans on starting a family should see whether the health insurance plan offers pregnancy coverage. Some plans do not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, so if you have a chronic illness, be wary. Health reform seeks to eliminate these pre-existing condition requirements and prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to a child for a pre-existing condition. This rule will apply to adults starting in 2014.

• Shortlist a few plans that meet your needs and compare cost. You will have to compare monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles, copayments and co-insurance. You have to cover the full cost of your premium when you purchase a Kentucky individual health insurance plan on your own. A plan with a high annual deductible will have a lower monthly premium, and vice versa. A high deductible plan is the ideal choice for a young person who is in good health and does not expect to have many doctor office visits.

• Compare the quality of plans: This is not easy. However, there are some things you can do: check out the doctors and hospitals in the plan network. See if you can find out how the plan ensures good medical care. If someone you know has enrolled in a plan you are considering, ask for their opinion on its services.

Always choose to buy your Kentucky health insurance plan from a leading health insurance company. The best way to do this is to browse the website of an established and licensed health insurance brokerage. This will give you access to a wide variety of plans and the facility to request free quotes. You can also benefit from professional guidance to enroll in the right plan.