Why health insurance is important
Pay less even before you meet your deductible
Even before you meet your , you may save hundreds of dollars in medical costs.
This is true if your plan is a PPO, an HMO, an EPO, or another kind of plan with a network of care providers.
How you save money before you meet your deductible
Insurance companies negotiate discounts with health care providers, and as a plan member you’ll pay that discounted rate. People without insurance pay, on average, twice as much for care.
This means when you use a network provider you pay less for the same services than someone who doesn’t have coverage – even before you meet your deductible.
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Sometimes these savings are small. If you’re insured and use a network provider, you may pay $25 for a flu shot instead of the $40 someone without coverage pays.
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In other cases the savings can be big. If use a network provider, you may pay $85 for an office visit instead of the $150 someone without coverage pays. Savings can be even higher for more expensive services.
So even if you don’t reach your deductible during the year, you can save a lot of money on your covered medical services just by being enrolled in an insurance plan.
More answers
No. For example, some plans don’t have networks at all and will pay a certain amount for any provider’s services.
Be sure to check your plan’s materials carefully, or call the insurer, to see if you get discounted rates from network providers before you meet your deductible.
With many plans you can get discounted services by using other in-network care providers, including:
- Labs
- Pharmacies
- Behavioral health providers, like psychologists and social workers
- Some other providers
Usually not. Check with your plan or provider.