HEALTH INSURANCE

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY PLANS

BIS offers the largest selection of health insurance plans anywhere. Compare plans and benefits to find the best match for you.

Health insurance is one type of insurance you're pretty much guaranteed to use. We all need medical attention from time to time, and some of us need it quite frequently. When care is needed, you want to focus on getting better not on how you're going to come up with the money to pay your medical bills. A good health insurance plan allows you to focus on what's most important, your physical well being.

Is there anyone who doesn't need health insurance? Not really. Even if you're young, healthy and haven't had to see a doctor in years, you never know when you might be involved in an accident or be diagnosed with a serious medical condition. While your health insurance coverage will pay for things that aren't too costly like routine doctor's visits or lab tests, the main reason to have coverage is to have protection against the potentially catastrophic expenses of serious illness or injury.

The rising cost of medical care and the resulting pressure on health insurance premiums makes health insurance top priority if you want to have your health expenses covered at a reasonable cost. The current health insurance system is quite complex and constantly changing. The information below may help answer your questions:

HOW MUCH THE HEALTH CARE COST?

Everyone knows health care is expensive, but it might surprise you to see the actual cost of many common medical procedures. The truth is, given the cost of health care today, even preventative care and minor procedures can add up to major bills.

To gain a better understanding of what health care might cost you without health insurance, view our Health Insurance Cost of Care Guide and see why health insurance is something few can afford to do without.

WHAT TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE ARE THERE?

There are essentially two kinds of heath insurance: Fee-for-Service and Managed Care. Although these plans differ, they both cover an array of medical, surgical and hospital expenses. Most cover prescription drugs and some also offer dental coverage.

Fee-For-Service

These plans generally assume that the medical professional will be paid a fee for each service provided to the patient. Patients are seen by a doctor of their choice and the claim is filed by either the medical provider or the patient .

Managed Care

More than half of all Americans have some kind of managed-care plan. Various plans work differently and can include: health maintenance organizations (HM0s), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and point-of-service (POS) plans. These plans provide comprehensive health services to their members and offer financial incentives to patients who use the providers in the plan.

What to Know When Buying

Insurance plans vary, so before you choose a plan, decide which benefits are most important to you and your family. To compare health plans, make sure to ask for and examine a benefits summary or outline of coverage for each plan you’re considering. This is a description of policy benefits, exclusions, and provisions that makes it easier to understand a particular policy and compare it to others. Look at this information closely. Think about your personal situation.

For instance, if you’re no longer planning to have children, you won’t mind that certain pregnancy-related services aren’t covered. But you might be concerned if there’s no mental health benefit to help pay for your therapy sessions. Other considerations might include, do you want coverage for your whole family or just yourself? Are you concerned with preventive care and checkups? Would you be comfortable in a managed care setting that might restrict your choice somewhat but give you broad coverage and convenience? These are questions that only you can answer.