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- HCSC is one of the largest consumer-owned insurance companies in the United States
- There are a wide array of insurance plans to choose from including HMOs and PPOs
- Based on your specific plan, you can see in-network or out-of-network physicians
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Healthcare services group insurance is the administrator for Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance in Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, and Oklahoma. HCSC is the largest consumer-owned insurance company in the United States, with over 20 million members.
HCSC is the 6th largest health insurance company in America. The vast majority of coverage through this company is provided as employer group insurance, with only 10 percent of policies sold to private individuals.
Whether you are searching for independent health insurance, or considering enrollment in your company’s HCSC plan, you should take time to familiarize yourself with the company and its benefits before settling on a plan.
HCSC provides a wide variety of plans for companies and individuals. Plans vary from HMO, PPO, and POS plans, as well as high-deductible plans.
Additionally, employment plans include vision, dental, prescription drug, and mental health coverage that can be added to the policy. HCSC also offers options for group life and disability insurance.
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HMO Health Insurance Plans
Under a HMO health insurance plan, the insurance company utilizes a network of doctors who agree to work for pre-set prices in order to keep costs down. When using this type of policy, a patient must use a doctor or hospital inside the network or the claim will not be covered.
Additionally, certain types of experimental medications or treatments may not be included. Your doctor may be asked to prove that the treatment will be effective before accepting the claim.
The only out-of-pocket expenses for a patient under this type of plan is the predetermined co-payment.
PPO Health Insurance Plans
Similar to an HMO, a PPO plan requires the use of an in-network doctor. A PPO health insurance plan has greater flexibility. A patient can pursue care with any doctor, but they will need to pay the difference in cost between the network doctor and the actual cost of care.
Patients will usually have a deductible. You will also pay for out-of-network healthcare until you reach the deductible, then will pay a percentage of care over that amount.
POS Plan
A POS plan provides more flexibility for the patient. Doctors within a network are still given preference, but if you go to a doctor within your network, you will not pay a deductible.
You have freedom to go outside of your network and pay more out of pocket until your deductible has been reached, but once you have hit your out-of-pocket maximum for the year your coverage will pay any additional medical expenses.
The wide variety of plans allows for maximum flexibility for consumers in regards to coverage and cost as well. Within any given plan, you have the option to change the out-of-pocket maximum of the plan as well as deductible.
Employer-offered plans could be relatively limited, depending upon the plan options the company decides to provide to employees.
If you receive health insurance through an employer-sponsored health plan, your options will likely be limited to two or three different types of plans, but you may have the option to add riders for prescription drug coverage, vision, or dental benefits.
HCSC Health Insurance Review
If you are considering purchasing an HCSC policy independently, there are several options to choose from. You can select a low cost policy by opting for an HMO plan, which will limit your selection of medical providers to pre-approved doctors.
You can select a PPO or POS plan with a high deductible in order to reduce costs. High deductible plans are eligible for an HSA, or health savings account, which can be used toward medical expenses and will roll over from year to year.
HCSC policies are a very popular choice among employers due to the competitive pricing.
For individuals in states covered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield or other HCSC subsidiaries, independent insurance through the company may be an affordable option.
The network of doctors network is quite large, so it should be easy to select healthcare within your network to keep costs low. Additionally, the option to include an HSA on a high-deductible plan can be a smart choice for individuals in good health who are able to put money aside for medical expenses.
If you have pre-existing medical conditions, HCSC may not be the best option available for independent health care.
It is a good idea to obtain several different quotes and review the coverage before deciding on a policy. In states covered by HCSC, however, you may be able to get an excellent deal on health insurance by utilizing this company.
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[su_spoiler title=”References:” icon=”caret-square” style=”fancy” open=”yes”]
- https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/out-of-pocket-costs/
- https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/out-of-pocket-maximum-limit/
- https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/get-drug-coverage/get-drug-coverage.html
- http://obamacarefacts.com/health-plan-types-hmo-ppo/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_savings_account
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-existing_condition
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