Insurance Basics: Home
A new way of getting healthcare is becoming common. Called telehealth or telemedicine, it lets people get healthcare without traveling. Telehealth uses electronic devices such as phones and computers to deliver healthcare services and clinical information across distances.
Thanks to a law passed in the spring of 2020, most Americans can be tested for COVID-19 for free. But that law didn’t make treatment for the virus free. Medical services for COVID-19 can be costly and sometimes run into tens of thousands of dollars. Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, you can take steps now to understand your protections under the law and manage the costs of your treatment.
Your plan may have different rules and costs for different healthcare settings. In any setting, you may have to pay a copay, and in some cases, coinsurance. But, these may be waived for preventive services like flu shots and mammograms.
Health insurance protects you from paying the full cost of your care. But, you will likely still have to pay some money out of your pocket. Almost all plans call for “cost sharing”. That means your insurer pays for part of your care, and you pay for part.
Healthcare proxies and advance healthcare directives can help you plan your care if you ever lose the ability to communicate clearly.
This article will tell you what Medicaid is and how it works. It will also tell you whom and what Medicaid covers, including long-term care, and how to sign up for it. Finally, it will tell you about dual eligibility for adults 65 and older who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. This article doesn’t provide legal or financial advice. Consider speaking to a financial advisor or lawyer if you have questions about your specific situation.