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Tips to Finding Affordable Health Insurance in Maryland DC and Virginia
Individual health policies are for those who are responsible for their own health insurance expenses. My best recommendation is that you have a Health Insurance Broker licensed in your state assist you make the best decision. The coverage you should choose is determined by your particular needs and those of your family.
Examples of specific considerations:
-Maternity and Fertility coverage
If your family is young and growing, you will want to consider a policy that includes maternity care from the onset. Blue Cross and to some degree Kaiser do offer plans that may provide fertility coverage.
-Prescription Plans
Some plans have prescription plans that only cover generic drugs while most do cover preferred brands. It is just good to know what you are going to get.
-Doctor Networks
Check and see if your doctor is included. Typically PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans provide the most freedom of choice and greater flexibility as compare to HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) . Traditional Plans or Indemnity plans do not have network restrictions.
-Preventative Care Packages
If you can opt for a plan that includes a preventative plan without having to first meet a deductible. Preventative Care usually includes Annual Physical, OB/GYN Exams, Mammograms, PSA screening and well child care.
-Dental and Vision are pretty important but do not allow these to disproportionately affect your Major Medical plan decision. If need be get them separately and focus on a health plan that is solid and that meets your needs.
VALUE NOT PRICE
Be diligent, compare plans and comb through the outlines of coverage. My little rule is that the better insurance companies have simple and easy to understand plans as opposed to those that present you volumes of literature and very little coverage.
REGIONS
DC- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield probably offers the most coverage for the best price in DC. The savings are pretty substantial.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield both serve Northern Virginia but their territories do not overlap. They both offer very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. Most Plans include a nice preventative package - Contact your broker to determine which side of the fence you are on. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost.
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in some Northern VA zip codes. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
MARYLAND PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield offers very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. The majority of the Plans include the important preventative package. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area. Do Consider the Blue Preferred Plan. The Blue Choice Saver plan offers great outpatient benefits at an affordable price . At the writting of this article, both the Blue Choice and BlueChoice Saver Plans in Maryland offer maternity benefits without addition premium.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost. This is indeed a popular company in this state.
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in Maryland. These plans are very competitive and the Network is large. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
Tips
-Blue Cross Blue Shield Families may realize substantial savings by submitting separate applications for each individual as opposed to a family application. The savings seem to be greatest for a two parent (adult)-one child family especially when there is a notable age difference between the parents (adult)
-Blue Cross will accept domestic partner family applications.
Baltimore, Maryland is called the Charm City. It is the largest city in Maryland and sits in the center of a metropolitan area of approximately 1.5 million people. Baltimore has long been known for its ethnic neighborhoods and innovations in the preservation and restoration of urban homes.
Baltimore is located on the Chesapeake Bay. It's picturesque Inner Harbor is the center of restaurant, shopping and business districts. The residential neighborhoods of Baltimore maintain a small town charm. It is a city of steel and glass skyscrapers that dominate the commercial district and only a short walk from the residential neighborhoods. Many Baltimore residents still live in the classic red brick row house that the city is traditionally associated.
With each wave of new immigrates into the United States to Baltimore, it has added to the character of Baltimore. There are people of many different ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds, which are reflected in the wide variety of restaurants, shops and ethnic festivals.
Cultural Attractions in Baltimore include:
. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
. Maryland Science Center
. Baltimore Museum of Art
. National Aquarium
. Baltimore Zoo
Baltimore is the home to the Ravens, Super Bowl XXXV champions, the Orioles and the second jewel in the triple crown, the Preakness. Other active sports in and around Baltimore City include:
. Swimming
. Skiing
. Horseback riding
. Tennis
. Golf
. Sailing
If you are a spectator you can enjoy watching lacrosse, indoor soccer, and horseracing at Pimlico or the traditional Hunt Cup in the spring. The primary attraction in Baltimore City is baseball played at the Baltimore Orioles' renowned park at Camden Yards.
Baltimore is conveniently located less than an hour from Maryland's sandy bay beaches and about three hours from the resorts on the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the best public libraries, with a book collection of 2,250,000 volumes resides in Baltimore, Maryland. In the Baltimore-Washington area, there are more than 70 accredited institutions of higher education. All cultural opportunities of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York are easily reached by car or train.
The cost of living index in Baltimore, Maryland is one of the lowest as compared to 22 other metro areas. There are many attractive and affordable places to live within easy commuting distance to cultural activities, medical facilities, restaurants, and employment.
Baltimore, Maryland is definitely an interesting place to vacation, visit or live.
Written by: Connie Limon. Visit http://www.charmcitybaltimore.info for more information about living, working and vacationing in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit http://www.camelotarticles.com and submit your original articles for web site promotion. This article is FREE to publish with the resource box |