In today's world you and your family need health insurance coverage. Choosing the health insurance plan that fits your needs and your budget is tough decision. Without insurance coverage, your entire life can be turned upside down when illness or disaster strikes.

Health Insurance Plans:
The three major types of managed care plans are:

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

Point-of-Service Plans (POS)

Other Types of Insurance Coverage.

Maryland Health Insurance Companies:
Aetna, AIG, Alliance for Affordable Services, American Republic Insurance, American Service Insurance, Assurant Health, Asuris, Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plans (multiple states), CNA, Celtic, CIGNA, Continental, Fairmont Specialty, Farm Bureau, Fortis, GHI, Golden Rule, Guardian, Healthnet, HealthPartners, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Lifewise, Medical Mutual, Mega Life and Health, Mid-West National Life, Pacificare, Prudential, Time Insurance, Unicare, United Healthcare, World Insurance, Vista Health Plans, and over 100 others Maryland Health Insurance Companies

Terms and Definitions:
Definitions of health insurance terms approved by the US Federal Government’s Interdepartmental Committee on Employment-based Health Insurance Surveys.

Choosing The Right Plan:
Fee-for-Service (also known as indemnity or traditional) plans generally offer complete freedom to choose your own doctors (including specialists) and hospitals. These plans, however, tend to be more expensive to the consumer. In addition, many employers do not even offer a Fee-for-Service option. (It's expensive!)

Managed care plans, on the other hand, have agreements with certain doctors, hospitals and health care providers to give a range of quality health services at a reduced cost. The secret? Patients have to stay within the plan's network of providers and health facilities to get the best benefits. HMOs, PPOs and POS plans are all types of managed care.