Category: Health Insurance

When choosing your health insurance for the year, you must understand a few facts before you begin. One thing you need to know is about managed care and what each kind provides and what it doesn’t. In Iowa, at Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc., we are experienced independent insurance agents who are well-versed in health insurance and can help you sort out the different types and what will provide the coverage you need. 

There are three main types of managed care: HMO, PPO, and POS. Each has pluses and minuses, and knowing what those are will help you choose a policy that will give you the health insurance coverage you need. 

HMO

HMO is short for Health Maintenance Organization. The HMO is the original type of managed care that resulted from an act of Congress in 1973. With an HMO, you must have a primary care physician who manages all your healthcare decisions. They must be within the network of the carrier you choose. You will need to get a referral to visit a specialist, and they must also be in the network. With an HMO, visits outside the network for anything but a severe emergency are not covered. HMOs are the least expensive plans. 

PPO

A PPO is a Preferred Provider Organization. While a network of providers has been contracted with, patients can opt to go outside the network. Higher costs are incurred by going outside, but you can see who you want without getting a referral. 

POS

POS stands for Point of Service, and it combines an HMO and a PPO. You need a primary care doctor, but they don’t need to be in the network. 

Contact our Iowa insurance office at Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc. when you are ready to choose your health insurance. 

An overseas trip can be an exciting adventure. But what if you need medical treatment? Even in the safest countries, there’s always at least a slight risk of illness or injury. Will your Iowa health insurance cover international travel, or should you apply for some extra medical coverage? It depends on your current health plan and what care you’re most likely to need.

Overseas Coverage

Many but not all insurance plans cover necessary medical treatment in foreign countries. You’ll need to bring your insurer’s claim form and card. With a few exceptions, standard Medicare doesn’t provide health care outside of the United States. Certain Medicare supplemental plans add overseas coverage, and you can also obtain separate insurance for this purpose.

Treatment Restrictions

Your insurer might restrict overseas medical care, such as only covering emergency treatment. Some Iowans qualify for non-emergency care if they visit specific health providers that their insurance companies have approved. You’ll probably need to seek treatment in the country you visit; standard medical plans rarely cover medical evacuations.

Additional Coverage

If you discover that your existing plan doesn’t offer adequate international coverage, several solutions exist. You could acquire travel health insurance, medical evacuation insurance, or a supplemental Medicare policy. Another option is to switch to a completely different medical plan that covers more types of treatment when you travel abroad.

Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc. can help you choose a policy with suitable international coverage. Our independent agency also offers Medicare supplemental and travel insurance plans from an assortment of trusted insurers. We have offices in Union, Eldora, and Marshalltown, Iowa. To find the right health coverage for your next overseas trip, please call 641-939-3404 to reach Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc.

Dental care is a vital part of your overall health, but dental insurance is not automatically included in a traditional healthcare plan in Iowa. The good news is that you can still get insurance even if it was not part of your original healthcare package. Even better, you will not have to wait for an open enrollment period to speak with the Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc. about your options.

Three Ways To Get Dental Insurance

Some health insurance companies offer dental insurance for an additional price as part of your overall package. In those cases, you may need to add dental insurance as part of your original purchase.

Other health insurance companies recognize that dental insurance is different, and you can add your dental insurance to an existing plan when you feel the need. There may be terms and conditions.

There are also companies in Iowa that sell dental insurance separately. If you think that is your best option, we at Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc. will help you to look for a plan.

Things To Keep In Mind

One important thing to remember is that every dentist does not accept every kind of insurance. If it is important to you to use a certain dentist, you need to make sure they take your insurance beforehand. Once you see which companies offer insurance, check that they offer what you really want.

Some dentists may not want patients who don’t carry dental insurance. Even if you are willing to pay out of pocket, your dental care team may feel more confident treating you if you have that protection.

Getting dental insurance in Iowa is surprisingly affordable. If you have any questions about health or dental insurance, please call the Brown-Hurst Insurance Agency Inc. today.