| Contrary to popular belief, affordable health | | | | You can see a doctor outside your network for |
| insurance does exist. Here's how to get an | | | | an additional fee. |
| affordable North Carolina health insurance | | | | |
| plan with a reputable company. | | | | Point of Service Plans (POSs) |
| | | | |
| Affordable Health Insurance Plans | | | | POSs combine the characteristics of an HMO |
| | | | and a PPO. Like an HMO you do not pay a |
| The most affordable health insurance plans | | | | deductible and only pay a minimal co-payment. |
| are called managed health care plans. there | | | | Like a PPO you may visit a non-network doctor |
| are three types of managed health care plans: | | | | or hospital, but you'll likely have to pay a |
| | | | deductible and a larger co-payment. |
| Health Maintenance Organization Plans (HMOs) | | | | |
| | | | Affordable Health Insurance |
| HMOs provide health care for their members | | | | |
| through a network of doctors and hospitals. | | | | In order to get the most affordable health |
| You pay a monthly premium for their services | | | | insurance plan in North Carolina you're going |
| and are responsible for a copayment for each | | | | to have to do some comparison shopping. You |
| doctor visit, usually $5 to $10. You are | | | | have the option of calling you local agents |
| assigned a primary care physician who oversee | | | | (which can take hours of your time), visiting |
| your care, and you must use the doctors and | | | | single-company websites (which can also take |
| hospitals within your network. | | | | hours), or visiting an insurance comparison |
| | | | website where you'll spend a couple of |
| Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPOs) | | | | minutes filling our a simple form in order to |
| | | | get quotes from multiple companies. |
| PPOs also provide health care through a | | | | |
| network of doctors and hospitals, but | | | | Some of these sites have an article section |
| insteand of paying a monthly premium you pay | | | | where you can get money-saving tips, and an |
| for services when you receive them. | | | | online chat feature where you can get answers |
| Copayments are usually more than with HMOs | | | | and advice from insurance experts (see link |
| and you may be required to pay a deductible. | | | | below). |