Terminology
Q: Co-payment (copay)?
A: A charge you pay for medical services. Your health care plan covers the remaining medical charges. You do not have to meet your deductible first. As an example, you may pay $15.00 for a doctor visit or a prescription. Some companies have different meanings for copays.
Q: Deductible?
A: The amount of money you must pay each year for coverage to your medical care expenses, before your insurance policy begins to pay. If your plan includes doctor copays, you DO NOT have to meet your deductible first when you do to a doctor visit.
A: HSA qualified plans were introduced in 2004 and cannot include doctor copays. They are a tax-advantaged personal savings account used along with a high deductible health policy. You may deposit money into this account on a pre-tax basis to set aside money for medical care and expenses that qualify
A: A health problem that existed or was treated before your insurance became in effect (for most companies 12 months before effective date). Most health insurances have a pre-existing condition plan that describes under what conditions they will cover medical expenses that relate to a pre-existing condition.
A: The exclusion of coverage of a health condition that is present at the time of application. For example if you have asthma at the time of application, then an insurance company may rider/waiver you for that asthma so that you are now covered for everything except for anything related to asthma (including prescriptions). Only Wellpath and BCBSNC do not rider/waiver and most people dislike riders/waivers. That is why we recommend you look at those 2 companies first.
A: Preventative care such as physicals, annual checkups with the gynecologist, annual exams, and any time you go to the doctor when you are not sick. These health services often include immunizations for children.