Florida Health Insurance Plans

When you sign up for health insurance plans in Florida you are creating a contract between yourself and the insurance company. Under the terms of that contract you agree to pay the insurance company a money premium and they agree to pay a portion of your medical expenses should you become sick or injured.

The most basic of Florida health insurance plans are the indemnity plans. Under an indemnity plan you may see any doctor of your choosing, and that doctor will bill your insurance company. Not all medical procedures will be covered under an indemnity plan, so it is important to read your policy to be sure your medical care is covered. Of all the health plans in FL, the indemnity plan is used very little.

One of the most common health plans in Florida is the HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization. Under this policy type the insured will pay a premium and choose a primary care physician who will then coordinate the care that person receives with the necessary specialists. HMO's cover a wide range of medical treatments and cover most preventive care.

Another of the more popular Florida health plans is the PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization. This type of plan is similar to an indemnity plan in that you are able to see any doctor you choose. A PPO will then negotiate with the doctor and other health care providers who then become part or your PPO. Under this type of plan, the insured pays a periodic premium and a set percentage of the cost of all care provided.

When shopping for health plans in Florida, there is also a hybrid of the HMO and PPO plans called a POS or, Point of Service plans. These plans allow you to see an in network provider but also refer yourself to out of network doctors and specialists.

Lastly, one of the newest forms of health insurance plans in Florida is the HSA, or Health Savings Account. Under this type of policy a savings account is opened and funded by the individual or employer to take care of any medical costs that may be incured. These are high deductible plans that work well for those who need to be covered in the event of an injury or catastrophic illness but require very little day-to-day medical costs.