Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in Beaufort, South Carolina. In fact, its progressiveness is very impressive, in proportion to the size of the city. Each doctor who has received accreditation to practice at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, has received board certification for one or more specialties. Furthermore, the number of doctors in the hospital has doubled during the past decade. A partnership with Duke University avails of the school’s medical expertise and skills, to improve Memorial Hospital’s ability to develop local heart and cancer centers. Beaufort residents themselves raised $10 million to help fund the Beaufort Heart Center and the Beaufort Cancer Center. These centers added a catherization lab radiation therapy to the services of Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

America's Best Health & Life Agents

     USA Benefits Group is a nationwide network of independent insurance professionals who have been serving small business owners and the self-employed since 1988.  I specialize in providing affordable health and life insurance options from the country’s leading carriers. I also offer Critical Illness Plans, Accident Plans, and many other benefits including options for those individuals with significant pre-existing conditions.  My job as a licensed and experienced agent is to bring clarity and insight to the insurance-buying process so you get the policy that’s right for you.

Info Before Buying

Purchasing health insurance can seem like a daunting (and often times confusing) process. Here are some tips to help you get the best policy that works for you.

#1: Know your prospective provider.
The A.M. Best Company provides ratings of all insurance companies to help those looking for insurance better evaluate their options. In existence since 1899, A.M. Best is the most experienced insurance-rating company in the nation. Ranging on a scale of F to A++, the ratings are as follows:

A++ and A+ (Superior)
A and A- (Excellent)
B++ and B+ (Very Good)
B and B- (Adequate)
C++ and C+ (Fair)
C and C- (Marginal)
D (Very Vulnerable)
E (Under State Supervision)
F (In Liquidation)

Be sure to take these ratings into account when choosing an insurance provider!

#2: Make sure the company is clear about how much coverage they are providing.
There are only three parties that can determine how much an insurance company should pay on a claim:

1.    The hospital or doctor.
2.    The insurance company.
3.    An independent 3rd party using gathered data.

The best insurance company to go with is usually one that pays for Usual and Customary Charges based on data from independent researchers. Be wary of companies that use wording such as reasonable charges, prevailing charges, average charges, permissible charges or regular charges. This language is purposely vague and allows the insurance company to pay whatever they see fit.

#3: Get a plan that does not limit who can treat you.
Be sure your plan covers multiple doctors and does not limit your treatment possibilities. Don’t get confused by tricky wording (i.e. “surgeons’ fees” as opposed to “surgeon’s fees”). Make sure your agent clarifies all verbiage before you sign anything.

#4: Make sure your plan covers ALL medically necessary procedures.
If you undergo a procedure that is not listed in your policy as being covered, then it will not be covered, even if it is deemed medically necessary by your doctors. The only exception to this rule is if your policy explicitly states “…and [it covers] all other medically necessary hospital expenses.” Be sure to check with your agent to include this coverage.

#5: Know how your provider covers pre-existing conditions.
Most health insurance companies require a waiting period of 24 months before any pre-existing conditions are covered. In some cases, the waiting period may be waived if you’ve satisfied waiting period requirements on a previous policy. Companies may charge more to cover pre-existing conditions or may exclude your pre-existing condition from coverage, so make sure you know a company’s policy before you sign with them.

#6: Buy a plan that cannot single you out for rate increases.
Rate increases are standard practice by all insurance companies to offset inflation or losses on claims. However, you should not purchase a plan that subjects you to rate increases based on your age or health status. Instead, make sure the company implements rate increases in a consistent manner to all policyholders at the same time.

#7: Purchase coverage to match the rising cost of medical care.
Make sure the dollar limits on your policy is sufficient enough to cover major individual or family illnesses. Do not buy a policy that is outdated and leaves you underinsured. Many companies now provide $1 million - $2 million in coverage for each injury or illness with a $3 million - $5 million lifetime maximum for the entire family.

Other important factors to consider:

• Quality of the company and plan should always trump price.
• Find out if you’re covered 24 hours a day, at work and at home.
• Make sure the plan is good at any recognized hospital in the world.
• Find out how long it takes the company to pay claims.
• Have your agent explain all exclusions and limitations in your policy.
• As always, contact me today to discuss how I can set you up with a policy from one of the nation’s leading health insurance providers. 
• Call (770)655-4816 or apply above.

Beaufort Health Insurance

     Health insurance is what many like to call a necessary evil even in Beaufort, SC. We would all like to go through life never getting sick or injuring oneself but we all know at some point e all will be sick or injured and in need of some form of medical attention. The one problem we all face is not knowing how bad are illness or injury will be. This is where a quality health insurance plan comes in. Maybe your Beaufort employer doesn’t provide insurance and you need to get coverage on your own. Could be that you’re a student who is too old to be covered by your parents any longer or maybe you are a Beaufort business owner wanting to provide yourself and your employees with a quality insurance option. You could instantly be matched with companies who offer some of the most affordable South Carolina health plans currently available online. Regardless of the type of coverage or amount of deductable you are looking for one thing is certain; having the best possible health insurance in Beaufort is not an option it is a necessity.

Key Health Insurance Terms

Health insurance in Beaufort is nothing more than a legal contract between an insurance company and a business or individual. This policy, depending on the terms of the contract, can be renewed annually or monthly. Spelled out in advance will be the types of health care costs that are covered as well as the amount of annual and life time coverage a person can receive. When researching your options some of the terms you will want to concern yourself with include:

• Premium: An insurance premium is the cost paid to the Beaufort insurance company in order to purchase the health coverage. This is usually paid monthly but in some cases could be paid annually.
• Deductible: A deductible is the dollar amount an insured would have to pay out of pocket before the health insurer start to pay their share of the costs. An example of this could be a $200 annual deductible where before an insurance company starts to pay for any services; the policy holder would have to pay the $200 deductible first. Typically a higher deductible will lower the premium needed to pay on a health insurance policy in Beaufort, SC.
• Co-payment: A co-payment in a health insurance plan in Beaufort is the amount of money an insured has to pay out of pocket for a specific service. $35 co-pay for a doctor’s visit or $15 co-pay for a drug prescription are two examples of co-pays common on most South Carolina health plans.
• Coinsurance: Coinsurance is where the Beaufort insurance company and insured each pay a percentage of the medical costs. This may be with or without a co-payment in the beginning. An example of this might be an 80/20 plan in which the insured pays 20% of the cost and the insurance company pays the remaining 80%. In many cases there is an annual maximum out of pocket limit to protect the insured from large costs due to a catastrophic illness.
• Exclusions: An exclusion is when a service or treatment is not included in the Beaufort health plan. In cases of an illness that is excluded from coverage the insured is typically expected to pay for the full cost of the medical services. For this reason, it is very important to make sure you understand what if anything is excluded from your coverage.
• Coverage Limits: Some South Carolina health insurance plans may have annual and/or life time limits. This has been a hot topic in congress for some time and over time many businesses have removed the coverage limits from the plans they offer their employees. However, many insurance companies in Beaufort, SC place these coverage limits on individual and self employed health plans so make sure you know what if any coverage limits exist with your current or new insurance.

Types of Health Insurance in Beaufort

There are many different types of health insurance in Beaufort, SC but most will fall into one of three types:

• HMO’s (Health Maintenance Organization): HMO’s are a form of managed care organization that covers medical services and treatments done by those doctors and other medical professionals that have agreed to treat the patients following the HMO’s guidelines and restrictions in exchange for the increased customer referral base. Most HMO’s require the policy holder or member to pick a primary care physician. This doctor, usually someone like a family doctor, acts as a gatekeeper to specialists and other doctors. In order to see a specialist the member would be required to get a referral from their primary care doctor. Open access HMO’s are a form of insurance that does no require the use of a gatekeeper but this freedom of choice comes at a cost usually in the form of higher co-payments or coinsurance.
• PPO’s (Preferred Provider Organizations): A PPO is a form of managed care organization in which doctors groups, hospitals and other health care professionals contract with an insurer or third part administrator to provide their customers with services at a reduced rate. The preferred providers enjoy increased business since the PPO’s members will use only those participating providers and the PPO is able to negotiate reduced fees well below what would normally be charged.
• POS’s (Point of Service Plans): A POS plan combine characteristics of HMO and PPO plans together. When you enroll in a POS plan you will be required to choose a primary care physician that will be responsible for monitoring your health. This doctor must be an in network physician and then become your point of service. Your POS doctor has the ability to refer you outside the network for care but only a part of the treatment would be covered.

Find a Cheap Beaufort Health Insurance Plan

If you are like many South Carolina consumers who have a health insurance plan you may have seen a steady rise in your rates over the years. The cost of insurance has increased dramatically over the past few years and it is more important than ever to make sure you have the best coverage and the lowest price possible. Get instantly matched with affordable South Carolina health insurance companies in Beaufort ready to provide cheap rate quotes on individual, family, student and group health insurance plans today. Buying affordable health insurance coverage has never been easier. Lowering your current rate just a few dollars a month could mean big savings each year. Compare Beaufort health insurance quotes online today and see how much you can save.

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