The number of young people suffering from diseases and physical disorders is steadily rising. Improper lifestyles, environmental conditions, lack of exercise, and stress are some of the many factors that have contributed to the decline in health standards. It has become very important for people to have a good health insurance policy to deal with the rising costs of medical care and treatment. In California, there is a multitude of health insurance providers that cater to customers of all age groups. Even the federal government has designed several programs such as Medicaid, to bring maximum a number of people under the health insurance cover. These government programs are of immense help to people belonging to low-income groups. It is important to understand the various types of health plans available in the insurance market to select an appropriate health insurance plan. There are several insurance brokers who guide the customers about various health plans to make the right decision. They help the customers to select a plan that best suits their age, lifestyle, and medical history.

In the ?fee for service? plan, the customers as well as the insurers bear the medical expenses. Fee for service plan is a conventional form of health insurance. The two main types of insurance plans are indemnity plan and managed care plan. The indemnity plan option offers a wider range of doctors, hospitals, and medical services as compared to managed care plans. It is also known as reimbursement plan, and the reimbursement amount may vary depending on the policy. The insurer pays for the actual expense of medical care. There are three kinds of managed care plans namely, HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization), and POS (Point of Service Plans). HMOs offer treatment on a prepaid basis and charge a monthly fee to provide health care services. PPOs are organizations comprising of doctors and hospitals that cater to certain groups or associations. In POS plans, the individual is not required to pay a deductible. Managed care plans have their own network of doctors and health care services.

All reputed health insurance providers have their respective websites that offer information about the various health insurance plans.

The cost of medical treatments and therapies is forever on the rise. Competitive work culture and demanding schedules lead to a lot of stress in an individual?s life. Environment, genetic disorders, and improper lifestyles are some of the many factors that lead to ailments and physical disorders. Some people believe that a medical insurance may be a waste of hard earned money, while some others may not be aware of the significance of having a quality medical insurance policy. Every state has its owns health insurance laws to regulate the insurance practices of the insurance providers in that state. The health insurance laws in California are very stringent and it is mandatory for every individual to have some form of insurance coverage.

There are health insurance acts in place that make it mandatory for employers with a certain number of workers to provide insurance to employees. However, some employees do not accept the insurance plan offered by their employers and instead opt for the COBRA plan (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to procure insurance for people who lose their plans. The COBRA plan is costlier than a conventional group health insurance plan, but cheaper than the individual health insurance plan. COBRA was passed by the Congress and retirees are also covered under this plan.

Due to a rise in immigration in California, the number of uninsured people in the state has increased substantially. In 2003, the California Health Insurance Act was passed to provide health coverage to maximum number of employees and their families.

The California Health Insurance Reliability Act, (CHIRA), was passed in the year 2005 to provide inexpensive health insurance coverage to the people in that state. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996, to make sure that the health insurance coverage of employees and their families remains intact in the event of termination or change of job.

The state health department of California provides all the necessary information to people regarding the health insurance laws prevailing in that state.

It has become extremely essential to have a health insurance policy to sustain the rising costs of medical treatments. Sometimes, it becomes necessary for individuals to arrange a large amount of cash urgently in case of emergency operations. Health insurance policies offer financial relief to the individuals in the event of any physical disorder or ailment. The financial aid will depend on the type of coverage offered, as the insurance policies range from minimal coverage policies to all-inclusive policies. Declining health standards and the need for a quality health insurance has led to a large number of insurance companies offering health insurance policies at competitive rates in California. There are several types of health insurance plans designed to suit individual needs. The main types of insurance include, fee for service insurance, managed care plans, and indemnity plan. A temporary health insurance is a short term insurance plan that is required for specific purposes.

Generally, the employers in a company provide the employees with a health insurance plan. However, temporary health insurance is required when an individual has to change a job, as the earlier policy may be discontinued after a few months. Many business owners who are planning to expand their business later opt for temporary health insurance. After expanding the business, they usually take up a group insurance policy. The temporary insurance offers temporary protection to individuals during these periods. A temporary health insurance can also include the families of individuals participating in the plan. Generally, temporary insurance policies are offered for one to six months. Though, these policies are usually not renewed, individuals are allowed to opt for a similar policy again after the expiry of the previous policy.

Most insurance providers require only 24 hours to activate a temporary health insurance policy after receiving the application. An individual can also postpone the date of activation of the policy up to 30 days from the date of application. Some insurance providers charge a processing fee for this form of insurance. It is easier to get a temporary health insurance policy.

The temporary health insurance does not cover pre-existing medical conditions, dental and vision care, medical check-ups, preventive care, and immunizations.

Good health is the most crucial aspect of a person?s life. To maintain a good heath is a lifelong process. Many people suffer from various health ailments due to irregular eating habits, long working hours, or pollution. This has led to an increasing number of insurance companies providing health insurance plans at competitive prices. In California, health insurance companies provide various types of health insurance plans to customers of all ages. The managed care health plans and the indemnity plans are the most important types of health plans.

There is a large range of insurance companies available in the market and it can be an overwhelming experience to go through the multitude of health plans they offer. Customers can obtain a list of various health insurance companies and brokers from the state health department. The department also provides assistance to the customers to select a favorable health plan, if required. Customers can find information about various health insurance providers that have a poor track record.

All reputed health insurance companies have their own agents who help to generate business for the company and create a better market presence. These agents suggest a suitable health plan to their clients after considering various factors such as their age, medical history, and their lifestyle. Customers can also directly approach the insurance company to acquire details about various health plans.

Indemnity plans generally cover a large number of doctors, hospitals, and other health care services as compared to managed care plans. However, they are more expensive than managed care plans. Indemnity plans settle the claims only after receiving the bills supporting it. Managed care plans are easy to get and involve minimal paper work. Health insurance companies also offer special plans for chronic illness to cover all the medical expenses.

All reputed companies usually have their own websites that provide free quotes and facilitate the customers to make an informed decision. It is advisable to understand the coverage offered by individual insurance policies. Insurance providers offer countless insurance options with varying premiums and flexible payment options.

A health insurance policy protects an individual in case of unexpected health problems. Most states make it mandatory for the citizens to have some form of health insurance cover. The insurance market in California has a myriad of health insurance companies providing health insurance plans to individuals belonging to all age groups. However, some insurance companies are quite apprehensive while extending health insurance coverage to self-employed individuals.

Many self-employed individuals often seek health insurance under their spouse?s company insurance plan. If the spouse of a self-employed individual is working for a company offering a group health insurance plan, the individual is automatically covered in the plan.

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a very useful option for the initial period of self-employment. When an individual leaves a job, the employer is compelled by law to offer the individual the choice of retaining their membership in the health insurance plan. However, the individual has to pay the entire premium amount.

Several organizations of self-employed people come together to unite their buying power to obtain inexpensive health insurance by means of a group policy.

This is a viable option for small business owners and self-employed individuals.

Some health insurance companies offer group policies at reasonable prices. This form of policy has many advantages. Apart from being inexpensive, they cover every individual in the group irrespective of their state of health. This option is extremely beneficial for individuals who have been ineligible for individual health plans owing to their health conditions. Many business owners, who are likely to expand their businesses in the near future, usually opt for short-term health insurance policies.

It is advisable to conduct a good research to get the best health insurance plan. However, it is important that the insurance company has a good standing in the insurance market. Individuals can obtain free quotes of various health insurance providers to compare the prices and different types of coverage offered. Individuals who do not have adequate knowledge about health insurance policies can consult a health insurance broker for guidance.