Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Co-Pay” mean?

A co-payment is the amount of money an insured is responsible to pay for things such as doctor’s visits, lab work, prescription drugs, etc. This amount may vary depending on the type of Health Insurance plan you choose. The co-pay amount is located on every quote.

What does Co-Insurance mean?

Co-insurance is the percentage that an insured and an Insurance Company will pay for certain services like Hospitalization or Surgeries. An example would be a plan that has a 20% co-insurance for hospitalization. This means that the insured is responsible to pay 20% of the hospital cost and the Insurance Company will pay 80%.

What is a deductible?

Simply put a deductible is the amount of money an insured is responsible to pay before the plan benefits take effect. Generally PPO plans will always have a deductible whereas HMO plans will generally not have a deductible.

What is an HSA?

An HSA also known as a Health Savings Account is a feature that can be added to eligible High Deductible Health Plans. An insured that opens an HSA can add a preset amount of money pre-tax to an interest bearing account and can use the funds for any medically related expense.

How Does a PPO Health plan work?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) gives the subscriber the luxury of being able travel “in” and “out” of network for medical attention. A PPO plan will have a separate co-insurance if out-of-network. The other difference with a PPO is that the subscriber does not need to see a PCP (Primary Care Physician) to be referred out to other doctors. With the PPO platform a subscriber may self refer him/herself. For many people this option is the most desirable, although it is also the most costly option for health insurance.

How does an HMO health plan work?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is a type health plan in which the subscriber must stay inside the given network of the HMO itself. The subscriber does not have the luxury of traveling out-of-network for medical attention. HMO health plans generally do not carry a deductible and have lower co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximums compared to the PPO. In an HMO model the subscriber is required to pick a PCP (Primary Care Physician) and must ask the PCP for a referral to see a specialist (ex: dermatologist). Sometimes an HMO will be more expensive than a PPO but generally it is always the other way around.

Can I insure my child only?

Yes there are plans for children only. You may quote a plan for your child under the individual/family quote tool. A parent or legal guardian is required to be on the application as a form of contact. A child only plan consists of all the same plan options and benefits as the adult health plans only cheaper. In some cases it may cheaper to purchase a separate plan for your child as opposed to adding them as a dependent to your policy. For more information about this ask one of our health insurance specialists to assist you.

Do you offer better prices than everyone else?

In the state of California all health insurance rates are determined by the Department of Insurance. This means rates are fixed and cannot be any different whether you purchase with us or through an independent agent. The reason you go with us is because of the proven service and convenience we offer. Our direct relationship with the major insurance carriers allows us to expedite your application.

When can my coverage begin?

Coverage can begin on any future date up to 90 days. You may choose to have your coverage begin the very next day although in some cases the underwriting process can overlap your requested effective date. In this case your coverage will begin on the actual approved date.