Medical discount cards seem to be everywhere these days and are being promoted heavily online. It is important to know that they do not provide health insurance coverage, and many have been misled by the advertisements. In some cases the deception almost seems intentional. Medical discount cards provide the ability to receive a discount on some medical services through service providers, but you are still liable for the the bill.
These medical discount cards do not in fact pay anything, they only act as a go between to allow you to receive a discount from certain providers. Basically, how it works is that the providers agree to provide a discount to members of the plan, and of course, in exchange their name is added to their list of discount providers offering them, if you will some free advertisement.
You purchase the card and usually pay a monthly fee for the right to use these providers at lesser cost. The card does give you some discounts that you wouldn't receive if you didn't have it. As long as you understand the nature of the card, you will benefit in the long run.
The cards do have restrictions, however. Normally, only routine exams and procedures are covered by them. Hospitalization and trauma are not usually included. In these situations, you would need to have a back up health care plan for additional coverage. Also, the card plans may advertise large discounts of up to 50%. That may indeed be true in some cases, but the majority of providers only offer discounts of 10% to 20%.
The cards can be a good deal if they fit your needs. If you carry only catastrophic insurance, then this may be a good solution for you. Also, if you have a high deductible, you could benefit from a medical discount card. But just be aware that these are not insurance cards and are not meant as replacements to major medical insurance.
These medical discount cards do not in fact pay anything, they only act as a go between to allow you to receive a discount from certain providers. Basically, how it works is that the providers agree to provide a discount to members of the plan, and of course, in exchange their name is added to their list of discount providers offering them, if you will some free advertisement.
You purchase the card and usually pay a monthly fee for the right to use these providers at lesser cost. The card does give you some discounts that you wouldn't receive if you didn't have it. As long as you understand the nature of the card, you will benefit in the long run.
The cards do have restrictions, however. Normally, only routine exams and procedures are covered by them. Hospitalization and trauma are not usually included. In these situations, you would need to have a back up health care plan for additional coverage. Also, the card plans may advertise large discounts of up to 50%. That may indeed be true in some cases, but the majority of providers only offer discounts of 10% to 20%.
The cards can be a good deal if they fit your needs. If you carry only catastrophic insurance, then this may be a good solution for you. Also, if you have a high deductible, you could benefit from a medical discount card. But just be aware that these are not insurance cards and are not meant as replacements to major medical insurance.
About the Author:
Searching for health insurance can be a challenging task. With so many options, it is tough to sort it out. The professionals at www.Insurelane.com can provide you with several health insurance quotes in just a matter of minutes. Let then help you in finding the perfect plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment