| Choosing Health Insurance Policies | | | | cancer, you will want to pick one that has good |
| When it comes to health insurance, women have | | | | doctors and hospitals in the network. Also, if you |
| special needs. There are so many different health | | | | already have a doctor whom you love, you might |
| issues that women go through that it is important | | | | want to make sure that you will be able to see |
| to find health insurance to cover all of them. | | | | them still with the new health insurance policy that |
| The first thing to look at is what your company | | | | you pick. |
| offers. There are so many different options, but | | | | There are even a number of government-run |
| the two most common are fee-for-service and | | | | resources for women without health insurance. |
| managed care. Find out which one is offered to | | | | There are community health centers, public |
| you, and go from there. Different plans can have | | | | hospitals, school-based center, public housing |
| different providers and services, cost and quality | | | | primary care centers, migrant health centers and |
| of care. | | | | special needs facilities. Other government |
| * Fee-for-Service - In this plan, you go to the | | | | sponsored programs include: |
| doctor of your choice, and they send a bill to the | | | | * Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for |
| insurance company. You get billed for the rest. | | | | Women, Infants, & Children (WIC). |
| Usually, there is a flat fee per year that you must | | | | * National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early |
| pay before the insurance company will start to | | | | Detection Program (NBCCEDP). |
| cover expenses. | | | | * Maternal and Child Health Services. |
| * Managed Care - This is the most common type | | | | * Indian Health Service (IHS). |
| of plan, and it is broken down into several | | | | * Projects for Assistance in Transition from |
| different categories; Health Maintenance | | | | Homelessness (PATH). |
| Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider | | | | One of the most difficult situations for women is |
| Organization (PPO), and Point of Service (POS). | | | | when they make too much money for public |
| With HMOs, as long as you use a doctor or | | | | government assistance, but not enough to pay |
| hospital in your network, your out of pocket | | | | for medical care or health insurance. In this case, |
| costs should be minimal. With a PPO, although you | | | | they might be able to find temporary insurance |
| might have a larger network from which to | | | | through their state, or a low-cost health insurance |
| choose your doctor, your premium will be higher. | | | | option through a labor union, professional clubs or |
| With a POS, your plan is similar to a PPO, but | | | | organization. There are also free clinics and |
| your care will be managed by your Primary Care | | | | prescription drug assistance. Women who are |
| Physician. | | | | coping with cancer can find many government |
| Which one you pick will depend upon your health | | | | sponsored and volunteer organization, and the |
| circumstances. For example, if you are pregnant, | | | | Ryan White CARE Act gives aid to women with |
| or plan to become pregnant, you might want to | | | | HIV/AIDS who have little or no insurance, and a |
| pick a health plan that covers pregnancy, to keep | | | | limited income. |
| your out of pocket costs down. If you have | | | | |