California Health Insurance

It’s estimated that as much as 20% of the population in California is not covered by health insurance.  While there are many programs offering medical services to those without insurance, the first choice is always to have your own coverage, which puts you in control of your own health.  Before you buy California health insurance, you need to know about the choices of policies available in the state so you can make the wisest choice for you and your family.

Basically there are five types of health insurance policies in California

• HMO – Health Maintenance Organizations, which require that you only use physicians or providers within their system, unless it’s an emergency. 
• PPO – Preferred provider Organizations, that provide a list of approved service providers but also allow you to see physicians not on the list with reduced benefits.
• Indemnity Policies – use any doctor or hospital you choose, after meeting a deductible and/or paying a co-pay.
• Self-Insured Health Plans, normally used by unions or school districts, which draw from a pool of funds to pay for member’s healthcare expenses.
• MEWA – Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements are trust funds available through professional or trade organizations to cover employee healthcare.

California has very specific laws concerning pre-existing conditions, so if that’s an issue, make sure that you know your California Health Insurance rights.  For more information, you can always call the California Department of Health at 800-927-HELP.