Health Insurance

One of the most discussed topics in the public forum these days revolve around health insurance. The rising cost of medical care worries many; the lack of a national health care plan concerns just about everyone else. Still, others worry that of they change jobs they will lose their insurance and be ineligible for coverage.

Even those who have insurance are confused by the terminology involved. Who is a third-party payer? What is this thing called COBRA? And what the dickens is a health maintenance organization (HMO)?

Going Naked

One of the most provocative health terms is "going naked." It indicates those individuals who do not carry any health insurance. Statistics from 2005 indicate more than 45 million people in the United States have no health insurance and their estimates at the time were that the number could grow to more than 55 million within a year. Many of those people could find at least basic insurance it they knew it was available. Other people who have coverage could make better use of it if they knew more about it.

Some Explanations

To answer some of the questions: COBRA stands for (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). It is a federal law that states if you work for a company that employs 20 or more people, you can continue to get health coverage for at least 18 months after you leave the job or get laid off. The monthly premiums can be quite high, but the law is intended to bridge any gap in coverage until a new job can be found.

An HMO is an organization in which a group of doctors agree to provide a wide range of health care services for individuals enrolled in such plans. HMOs were popularized during the 1980s in an effort to manage health care costs and have been criticized because patients cannot often see the doctor of their choice and certain tests and medical procedures are subject to scrutiny by the HMO before they can be done.

Rest of the Answers

Most people in the United States receive their health care as part of employee benefits through their employer, but there are many choices for obtaining individual coverage. There are also variations in all types of health insurance and some types suit some better than others.

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