Insurance Basics Information Accident, sickness and unemployment

Insurance Basics Information For EveryOne

Most people get health insurance through a job-based health plan, or they buy it themselves from an insurance company.

If you have to buy insurance on your own, many kinds of private health insurance policies are for sale. Different kinds of policies can offer very different kinds of benefits and can limit your access to some doctors, hospitals, or other providers. 

The kinds of benefits and which care providers your policy covers can make a big difference in your costs and the quality of care you get if you become ill.

Can I keep my current doctor?

Private health insurance plans often have networks of hospitals, doctors, specialists, pharmacies, and other health care providers. Networks include health care providers that have a contract with an insurer to take care of the plan’s members. 

When choosing a plan, review the list of providers that give care under the policy. If staying with your current doctors is important to you, check to see if they are included.

Depending on the type of policy you buy, care may be covered only when received from a network provider.  To get care from a specialist you may need a referral from your primary care doctor.

Accident, sickness and unemployment insurance 

 

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• Disability insurance policies provide financial support in the event of the policyholder becoming unable 
• to work because of disabling illness or injury. It provides monthly support to help pay such obligations 
• as mortgage loans and credit cards. Short-term and long-term disability policies are available to 
• individuals, but considering the expense, long-term policies are generally obtained only by those with 
• at least six-figure incomes, such as doctors, lawyers, etc. Short-term disability insurance covers a 
• person for a period typically up to six months, paying a stipend each month to cover medical bills and 
• other necessities.
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• Long-term disability insurance covers an individual's expenses for the long term, up until such time as 
• they are considered permanently disabled and thereafter. Insurance companies will often try to 
• encourage the person back into employment in preference to and before declaring them unable to 
• work at all and therefore totally disabled.
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• Disability overhead insurance allows business owners to cover the overhead expenses of their 
• business while they are unable to work.
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• Total permanent disability insurance provides benefits when a person is permanently disabled and can 
• no longer work in their profession, often taken as an adjunct to life insurance.
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• Workers' compensation insurance replaces all or part of a worker's wages lost and accompanying 
• medical expenses incurred because of a job-related injury.
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