Ohio’s Medigap Plans is “Medigap” plans visit this website that provide coverage for the “underground” or “medically underinsured.” These are individuals who have difficulty paying for basic health insurance premiums because of their low income and/or preexisting medical conditions. Most people with lower incomes have no choice but to purchase a policy from an agency that will charge them a hefty monthly fee (sometimes as much as $150) in order to keep them covered.
The “bare-bones” type of plan also referred to as “standard” plans, only provides coverage for the most basic symptoms of diseases and ailments. It is usually only suitable for those without serious medical conditions that could put them at risk. In order to be eligible for one of these plans you must be below a certain income level. Income levels start at 100% of the federal poverty level for a family. For a single person, it begins at 50% of the FICO score.
One type of “bare-bones” plan that may be available in Ohio is the “part-of-the-pack” plan. This plan allows the insured to use any health care provider within the network, including out-of-network providers. Even though you can go to any doctor you like and pay for your services, you may not get the best deal on your premiums by using this plan. For instance, if a co-payment is made to a non-out-of-network doctor you may pay more than if you had gone to an in-network doctor.
Another type of plan that may be available in Ohio is called “indemnity plans.” These plans are similar to the most popular “fee-for-service” plans, except that you only pay a small co-pay for each office visit. You can choose how much of your out-of-pocket expenses you want to cover. In addition, unlike most “bare-bones” plans, indemnity plans also cover doctor visits and hospitalization costs.
A last option for those in Ohio seeking supplemental health care is an HMO or health maintenance organization plan. An HMO plan normally limits the amount of out-of-pocket expenses to no more than one percent of your monthly income. Because the insured typically pays for his or her own doctor visits and stays within the network, HMO plans can be more expensive than some Medigap plans. However, if a person needs coverage for only a few visits to out-of-network providers and has a high enough deductible then an HMO plan could be the better choice for him or her.
Like all plans, there are things an individual can do to help keep his or her Medigap premiums as low as possible. These include scheduling regular doctor visits and getting routine preventive care. If you already have an existing medical condition, you may want to investigate other options that may not be included in the original plan. Some plans in Ohio actually offer a discount if the insured also carries a preferred provider.