Health Insurance Basics

While the average cost of health insurance is $438 a month, many factors can change that. How do your rates compare?

Having a baby is stressful and expensive enough without throwing unexpected costs and issues into the mix. Thankfully, U.S. health plans cover quite a few of them.

From mental health care to physical therapy, not all plans are created equal. Find out which treatments are covered by your health insurance plan and which are not.

Which medical services do these temporary health plans cover? What don't they cover? How much do they cost? Who should and shouldn't buy them? Here are answers to those questions and more.

Occupational therapy helps people regain life skills lost through injury or illness. So, health insurance should cover it, right? Yes, most health plans do cover it – but how they do so can vary widely.

Most health insurance plans cover at least some of the costs of chiropractic care. Here's when, how and why they do so.

The ACA limits what health insurance companies can use to set your premium. Here's how this affects your rates.

Seniors have more options when it comes to obtaining health insurance than any other segment of the population. Here’s some information about, and expert advice for, each of them.

Here are your options if your job doesn't provide health insurance coverage.

Most health insurance plans don't cover dental care. There are exceptions, as well as dental-specific insurance plans.

Not sure how to choose a health insurance plan that’s right for you? We can help.

Much like dental and hearing care, standard health plans in the U.S. rarely cover vision care. Why is that the case? And what other insurance options are available to Americans who want to cut their eye-care costs? Keep reading for answers to both questions and many more.

Although both of these types of health policies begin with a "c," that's nearly all they have in common. Keep reading to learn more about them how they differ from each other.

You know that Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement your health insurance company sends out after you visit a doctor, clinic, or hospital? Here's how you can make sense of all the information included on it.

What are medical alert systems? How do they work? Who needs them? Who sells them? How much do they cost? And, perhaps most importantly, does health insurance cover them? You’ll answers to those questions and others here.

Along with copayments and coinsurance, these are two of the most basic components of a health insurance plan. What are the differences between deductibles and out-of-pocket limits?

Women (and men) who want or need to use birth control have a ton of options these days. But do U.S. health plans usually cover those contraceptives? You’ll find answers to that question and many others in this article.

Although most U.S. health plans cover medications, they don't always do so in the same ways or to the same extent. Here's everything you need to know about how different health insurance plan types deal with prescription drugs.

For many people, giving birth is the single most important yet expensive healthcare event in their lives. Having proper health insurance and maternity coverage is vital for expectant mothers.

Getting ready to go on an international vacation or trip? Make sure you know what your health plan will or won't cover if you visit a doctor or hospital abroad before you leave.

Health insurance is expensive. You can make it less so, though, if you deduct some of what you spend on it from your taxes. Here’s all you need to know about when you can and can’t write off health insurance expenses as well as how you can do so.

By law, most health insurance plans have to cover people with pre-existing conditions. But which plans are the best? Which ones are the worst? And which ones don’t have to cover those conditions? You’ll find answers to all these questions and more here.

Here’s how to file an appeal if your health insurance denies your medical bill or insurance claim.

Consider buying either Travel Medical, Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance, or both of these products if you want to be covered while traveling outside the U.S.

Hearing loss is a fact of life for millions of Americans, yet U.S. health insurance plans provide spotty coverage for hearing tests, hearing aids, and the like. Here's all you need to know about why that is and what you can do about it.

People with high deductible health insurance plans can enroll in a health savings account (HSA) to help pay for their medical expenses.

Most health plans cover flu shots and other vaccines, including employer, marketplace, Medicare and Medicaid plans.

Many patients want alternative health care, but getting insurance coverage can be tough. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of your health insurance.

Millions of Americans are overweight and even obese. That means millions of people in the U.S. need to lose weight. Here's all you need to know about whether or not your health plan covers various weight-loss treatments and services.

You're mostly out of luck if you get health coverage through the federal marketplace, Medicare, or Medicaid. If you get it through an employer, though, it may just help you pay for this often-pricey medical care.

Experts expect the number of people living with some type of dementia to skyrocket in the coming years. Will health insurance or Medicare cover all the related costs if you're one of them? It depends on the plan, your financial situation, and more.

The history of essential oils dates back thousands of years. But does health insurance cover those treatments? You’ll learn about that and more here.

If you are, or are going to be a college student, you have many options when it comes to getting health insurance coverage while keeping costs low.

You probably already know that most U.S. health plans cover a lot of prenatal care. But did you know they cover a lot of postnatal care, too? Here's all you need to know about the many services and treatments insurance usually covers after you have a baby.

What is cancer insurance? Which companies sell cancer insurance? You'll find answers to these and other questions here.

If you want to have a baby, you need health insurance. Here's how to get the best health plan for your pregnancy.

Here's everything you need to know about how different health insurance plans cover — or don't cover — physical therapy.

Do you and your spouse get health insurance from an employer? Here's how to decide which plan to use.

Here is everything you need to know about how, when and why health insurance does and doesn’t cover orthotics.

Millions of Americans need artificial body parts to lead active lives. Most health plans pay at least some of the related costs, but that's not the whole story. Here's all you need to know about how insurance covers prosthetic devices.

What is high-deductible health insurance? How is it different from other kinds of health insurance? And can you save money with a high-deductible health plan? You’ll find answers to each of those questions and many more in this article.

Here are all the dates, deadlines and details you need to know to get health insurance coverage for 2023.

Does insurance cover chemotherapy? It does, but that’s just part of the story. Here’s everything you need to know about how different health plans cover this cancer treatment, how much it costs with and without insurance, and how cancer insurance fits into the picture.

Millions of Americans go under the knife every year to enhance their appearance in one way or another. Does health insurance cover those procedures?

Although most women in the U.S. deliver babies in a hospital, that's far from their only option these days. Here's how health plans treat alternative birth options.

Follow these five steps so you can get the best possible care during your doctor visits. 

Long-term care is expensive, and this type of insurance can help you pay for some or all of the services provided by long–term care.

Health insurance doesn’t cover medical marijuana, but it does cover some FDA-approved drugs containing synthetic weed.

Where you live has a lot to do with whether or not you have access to health plans that cover abortion. Also important: whether you get insurance through a job, the federal and state marketplaces, or programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

Most health insurance plans cover at least some mental health care. That includes Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid plans.

Did you miss buying health insurance during the yearly open enrollment period? You can still get coverage during a special enrollment period. To qualify for one, you need a “change in situation.” Here’s what that means and what you can do about it.

Asthma can be a complicated condition to treat and manage. And those complications often make living with the chronic disease expensive. Health insurance provides some relief, but only if you have the right plan. Here’s all you need to know about how various US health plans do and don’t cover asthma care.

What health insurance should you get? Our guide will help you answer this question and pick the right health plan for you.

Learn the difference between HMO and PPO health plans and which one could be the right choice for you and your family

Today's health insurance plans do a better job than ever of covering mental health services and treatments. Here's why and how they provide that coverage.

As long as Obamacare continues to exist, you can save money on health insurance coverage via premium tax credits if you meet certain criteria. Here's everything you need to know about these important subsidies.

If you have a disability, having good health insurance is a must. Find out what insurance covers disabilities, and how you can get covered.

Individuals have more options than ever when it comes to getting health insurance away from a job. But which individual health insurance plans are the best in this kind of situation? And where can you buy them?

Health insurance isn't known for being overly cheap, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to find affordable plans that will properly cover you and your loved ones. Here are a number of options to consider.

Looking for health insurance but don’t know an indemnity plan from a Preferred Provider Organization? We’ve got you covered.

Before you go to the doctor for any reason or face the possible need for a medical procedure or treatment, one of your first questions is probably “Will my health insurance cover this?” Answering that question isn’t always easy. Health insurance is complicated and the jargon used can seem like gobbledygook.

If you’re injured doing something athletic, you may have to see a sports medicine specialist for treatment. But will health insurance cover the initial visit and any resulting care? It depends on your policy and even on your injury, as you’ll learn in this article.

Many people have trouble one of several well-known sleep disorders. Here’s what you need to know about how health insurance covers sleep disorders

Most health plans now cover this common disease to some degree. But what should you consider while buying health insurance if you have diabetes? You’ll learn about that and more.

It’s easier than you might think to get health insurance for unmarried couples. Here’s everything you need to know about how to get it and how it differs from other health coverage.

Going to the ER for medical care is expensive. Yet millions of Americans do it every year. Here's why that is--and why you should go to an urgent care center or a doctor if your illness or injury isn't an emergency.

Here's everything you need to know about how different health plans cover--or don't cover--various forms of preventative health care.

Don't buy long-term care insurance until you read these answers to the most frequently asked questions about long-term care insurance.

Having a baby can be expensive--even if everything goes as planned. Here's how much various components of a "typical" pregnancy tend to cost and how your health plan is likely to cover (or not cover) them.

Doulas are becoming a more common part of American childbirth. Read on to learn more about doulas, what they do, and whether your health insurance covers them.

Learn how to avoid 10 common but costly mistakes people often make while shopping for health insurance coverage.

Looking to enroll in a new individual or family health insurance plan? Don’t submit an application for health insurance until you read this!

Important facts and information about COBRA health insurance: How much it costs, who can get it, what's covered, and how long you can keep it.

Here are the main options available to you if you’re a parent looking to obtain health insurance for one or more of your children.

Why do you pay so much for health insurance? And how can you pay less for it? We'll help you answer those questions.

Looking for health insurance for children? We can help you learn more about child-only health plans.