Tips to Finding Affordable Health Insurance in Maryland DC and Virginia
Individual health policies are for those who are responsible for their own health insurance expenses. My best recommendation is that you have a Health Insurance Broker licensed in your state assist you make the best decision. The coverage you should choose is determined by your particular needs and those of your family.
Examples of specific considerations:
-Maternity and Fertility coverage
If your family is young and growing, you will want to consider a policy that includes maternity care from the onset. Blue Cross and to some degree Kaiser do offer plans that may provide fertility coverage.
-Prescription Plans
Some plans have prescription plans that only cover generic drugs while most do cover preferred brands. It is just good to know what you are going to get.
-Doctor Networks
Check and see if your doctor is included. Typically PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans provide the most freedom of choice and greater flexibility as compare to HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) . Traditional Plans or Indemnity plans do not have network restrictions.
-Preventative Care Packages
If you can opt for a plan that includes a preventative plan without having to first meet a deductible. Preventative Care usually includes Annual Physical, OB/GYN Exams, Mammograms, PSA screening and well child care.
-Dental and Vision are pretty important but do not allow these to disproportionately affect your Major Medical plan decision. If need be get them separately and focus on a health plan that is solid and that meets your needs.
VALUE NOT PRICE
Be diligent, compare plans and comb through the outlines of coverage. My little rule is that the better insurance companies have simple and easy to understand plans as opposed to those that present you volumes of literature and very little coverage.
REGIONS
DC- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield probably offers the most coverage for the best price in DC. The savings are pretty substantial.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield both serve Northern Virginia but their territories do not overlap. They both offer very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. Most Plans include a nice preventative package - Contact your broker to determine which side of the fence you are on. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost.
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in some Northern VA zip codes. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
MARYLAND PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield offers very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. The majority of the Plans include the important preventative package. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area. Do Consider the Blue Preferred Plan. The Blue Choice Saver plan offers great outpatient benefits at an affordable price . At the writting of this article, both the Blue Choice and BlueChoice Saver Plans in Maryland offer maternity benefits without addition premium.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost. This is indeed a popular company in this state.
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in Maryland. These plans are very competitive and the Network is large. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
Tips
-Blue Cross Blue Shield Families may realize substantial savings by submitting separate applications for each individual as opposed to a family application. The savings seem to be greatest for a two parent (adult)-one child family especially when there is a notable age difference between the parents (adult)
-Blue Cross will accept domestic partner family applications.
The rumors about the decline of the real estate market have been circulating for some time now and it is true that many of the markets that had exploded over the past years have cooled off some what. However there are certain areas of the country that are now seeing their own popularity start to rise dramatically. Take a look at Bethesda, Maryland. A quick jaunt away from the Nation's Capital, Bethesda is poised to experience steady growth in both population and popularity. In fact homes are selling faster here than they can go on the market. With the excess of assets that Bethesda offers this is quickly becoming one of the hottest markets in the east.
To illustrate the picture a bit better, the Bethesda market is seeing multiple offers on homes within the first week of listing. When one takes the time to examine Bethesda in further detail it is easy to see why this phenomenon is occurring. This area is a diverse community that offers a great selection of homes in almost any price range. A perfect community for families due to the excellent education system and an abundance of recreational options, Bethesda is one of America's most educated and affluent communities. This is a city that is committed to the needs of it's residents and this is evident in the careful attention that is paid to the visual aspects of the community. well maintained streets frame scenic parks and green spaces that only serve to add beauty to this serene area.
Along with the amazing homes, great recreation and thriving business sector, Bethesda has the distinction of being known as the best-educated city in the Nation with a huge percentage of the population holding bachelor's degrees, and almost half the population holding graduate or professional degrees. It is easily seen that this has created an ideal atmosphere for business and commerce. Along with the close proximity to the Capitol this has opened up many avenues of employment for Bethesda residents. This is also a favorite community for commuters to Washington D.C. as it offers a minimal commute, fantastic home values and the serenity of a suburban area with convenience that one would expect from much larger cities.
Justin Lee is a real estate agent specializing in Montgomery County real estate . Justin's background in economics gives him uncanny insight into the thriving Washington D.C. real estate market. For more information contact Justin soon or visit online at http://www.jdlrealestateonline.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_D_Lee |