Cut Your Health Insurance Costs – Compare 2019 Washington Plans

What is Individual Health Insurance Coverage in Washington State? How Do I Find Help In Choosing The Right Plan For Me?

Washington State individual health insurance coverage is classified in two categories: comprehensive or catastrophic health care. Comprehensive coverage is characterized by lower deductibles and more complete benefit packages. Catastrophic coverage refers to higher deductible plans with certain benefits, like maternity, excluded. Both are considered major medical insurance policies since the insurance company assumes essentially all the risks after you meet your deductible and your percentage of shared expenses (co-insurance). Family insurance is simply an individual policy with more than one insured member of the family included in the application and coverage.

Individual plans are available is several designs and deductibles allowing you to choose options to keep your health care plan affordable. Generally if you purchase a policy that costs less in monthly premium, you will usually end up paying a greater share of the medical expenses when you are sick or hurt.

Some individual health insurance plans are managed care plans. This means you are required to use the plan doctors and clinic facilities. Most health insurance plans in Washington are Preferred Provider (PPO) plans. You receive the maximum benefit if you stay within the plan’s provider network, (physicians, hospitals, other medical providers). These providers have agreed to the insurance plan's schedule of payments for services performed. PPO plans usually allow you to receive healthcare services outside their network of providers, but at an additional cost to you. Some plans may require the selection of a Primary Care Physician (PCP), a personal physician who directs all your care and who's written referral you need prior to visiting a specialist.