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Introduction to Health Insurance

Illness or non-work related injury can be financially devastating, especially when considering the rising cost of health care over the past 20 years. Health insurance can help protect you from large out-of-pocket health care expenses that can accumulate during an acute or chronic illness. If you have a job, your employer may provide group comprehensive major medical coverage. You can also purchase individual comprehensive major medical coverage privately or through an insurance agent or broker who is licensed by the State of California to sell health insurance products.

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) provides a list of contracted "preferred" providers from which to choose. You receive the highest monetary benefit when you limit your health care services to those providers on the list. If you go to a doctor or hospital that is not on the preferred provider list referred to as going "out-of-network", then the plan covers a smaller percentage of your health care expenses or may cover none of your health care expenses based on the contract wording of the plan. Always check with your PPO or consult your list of preferred providers before you seek health care services to make certain your physician or hospital is a contracting provider (part of the network). Make sure that your doctor refers you to health care providers within your PPO network, if applicable.

PPOs in California can be regulated by either the CDI or the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) depending on whether the underwriting company (the company backing the policy) is a licensed insurance company or a managed care company. The DMHC has sole jurisdiction over Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO health plans. If you are confused about whom to call regarding a PPO problem or concern, then consult your plan documents for regulatory information. If there is still some question, then you can reach the CDI or the DMHC for assistance at the contact information given in the "Resources" section of this brochure.

Important Points to Remember About Preferred Provider Organizations:

• You receive the highest monetary benefit when staying within the PPO network.
• You may have the option to go outside the PPO network at a higher monetary cost to you.
• You should consider checking if your doctor or any specialist referred to you is part of the PPO network before utilizing covered services.
• You can seek the assistance of the DMHC on all Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO health plans.
• You can contact either the CDI or the DMHC for clarification regarding PPO issues.

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs or Managed Care)

Membership in a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) requires plan members to obtain their health care services from doctors and hospitals affiliated with the HMO. It is common practice in HMOs for the plan member to choose a primary care physician who treats and directs health care decisions and who coordinates referrals to specialties within the HMO network. The doctors and hospital personnel may be employees of the HMO or contracted providers. Since HMOs operate in restricted geographic regions, this may limit coverage for plan members if medical treatment is obtained outside the HMO network or coverage area. California HMOs are required to cover medically necessary emergency services even when outside of their coverage area. The intent of managed care products is to create less costly delivery of health care services while maintaining quality health care by specifying provider choice. HMOs offer access to a comprehensive package of covered health care services in return for a prepaid monthly amount (premium). Most HMOs charge a small copayment depending upon the type of service provided.

All HMOs in California are regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). If you have a complaint with an HMO, contact the member services department of your HMO. HMOs are required to have an internal complaint/grievance process in place. If you file a grievance and it has not been resolved within 30 days or there is some question as to the HMOs decision, then you may contact the DMHC for assistance. Please see contact information listed for the DMHC in the "Resources" section of this brochure.

Important Points to Remember About Health Maintenance Organizations:

• You must obtain health care services from HMO providers, except in certain emergency situations.
• Your choice of primary care physician is important because he/she directs your care. Also, your primary care physician often coordinates referrals to specialties within the HMO.
• Your options may be limited by the geographic restrictions of the HMO network.
• You may be charged a small copayment each time you utilize an HMO covered service.
• You can seek assistance from the DMHC on all HMO and managed care questions.

How Is Health Insurance Marketed in California?

Health insurance coverage is marketed to consumers through individual policies or group policies. Individual health insurance coverage should be pursued when your employer does not offer health insurance as a benefit of employment, when you cannot be named as the dependent on another person’s insurance policy, or when you are not a member of a professional or trade association that offers group coverage. Many consumers are self-employed, contract employees, or work for small employers and do not have access to a group policy secured by an employer. Individual coverage can be obtained by contacting a licensed health insurance agent or broker. You will need to complete an application that includes your medical history, which will be reviewed by a medical underwriter at the health insurance company. If you meet the underwriting qualifications and are issued a policy, the company may not cover preexisting conditions up to one year after the effective date of the policy. However, if you have been previously insured under an individual or group policy without a break in coverage of more than 62 days, your new insurance company must apply the prior creditable coverage (refer to the "Health Insurance Terms" on page 15) towards any waiting period for preexisting conditions. Individual health insurance companies may reject your application based on your medical history.

Group health insurance offers certain advantages over individual health insurance policies. The waiting period for preexisting conditions is six months, not one year as with individual policies. Also, if you have been previously insured under a group policy without a break in coverage of more than 180 days, your new insurance company must apply the prior creditable coverage toward the six-month waiting period for preexisting conditions. Large employer group health insurance (more than 50 employees) and association group health insurance, like individual health insurance, is subject to medical underwriting. You can be denied coverage based on your medical history. Medical underwriting rules for small group health insurance (2-50 employees) differs from large group and individual health insurance policies. Regardless of any preexisting condition, you must be offered coverage under a small group policy on a guaranteed issue basis. However, the small group insurance company can utilize the six-month waiting period for preexisting conditions. Of course, if you have prior creditable coverage it must be applied to decrease or eliminate the waiting period.

Important Points to Remember About Individual and Group Health Insurance Coverage:

• Health insurance coverage is marketed to consumers under either individual or group policies.
• Individual and large group policies are subject to medical underwriting.
• Qualifying creditable coverage must be applied towards the year waiting period for preexisting conditions in individual policies and towards the six-month waiting period for preexisting conditions in group policies.
• Small group policies require that coverage be offered on a guaranteed issue basis regardless of any preexisting condition.

Health Insurance Terms

Assignment of Benefits - Your signed authorization to your doctor or hospital (medical provider) assigning payment to be made directly to them for your medical treatment.

Business Day - Every day that insurance companies are open for business, which excludes Saturday, Sunday, and state and federal holidays.

Calendar Day - Every day of the calendar month, which includes Saturday, Sunday, and state and federal holidays. However, if any action tied to a time frame in an insurance policy or CDI regulation or code falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or state or federal holiday; then the action is postponed to the next calendar day that does not fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or state or federal holiday.

Certificate of Coverage - A document issued to a member of a group health insurance plan showing evidence of participation in the insurance.

Certificate of Creditable Coverage - A written statement from your prior insurance company or health plan documenting the length of time you were covered.

Creditable Coverage or Prior Qualifying Coverage - The number of months you had health insurance in place before your current or new policy became effective. Creditable coverage must be counted towards any preexisting condition exclusion in either an individual or group policy.

Claim - A notification to your insurance company that payment is due under the policy provisions.

Copayment - The portion of charges you pay to your provider for covered health care services in addition to any deductible.

Coverage - The scope of protection provided by an insurance contract which includes any of the listed benefits in an insurance policy.

Denial - An insurance company decision to withhold a claim payment or preauthorization. A denial may be made because the medical service is not covered, not medically necessary, or experimental or investigational.

Deductible - A fixed amount which is deducted from eligible expenses before benefits from the insurance company are payable.

ERISA - Stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (1974). Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. ERISA regulates employer sponsored pension and insurance plans (self-insured plans) for employees.

Exclusions and/or Limitations - Conditions or circumstances spelled out in an insurance policy which limit or exclude coverage benefits. It is important to read all exclusion, limitation, and reduction clauses in your health insurance policy or certificate of coverage to determine which expenses are not covered.

Experimental and/or Investigational Medical Services - A drug, device, procedure, treatment plan, or other therapy which is currently not within the accepted standards of medical care.

Grace Period - A specified period immediately following the premium due date during which a payment can be made to continue a policy in force without interruption. This applies only to Life and Health policies. Check your policy to be sure that a grace period is offered and how many days, if any, are allowed.

Guaranteed Issue - A health insurance policy that must be issued regardless of any preexisting medical condition. The present and past physical condition of a health insurance applicant is not considered as a part of underwriting. No physical examination is required. The insurance company cannot decline coverage to an applicant of a guaranteed issue policy based on medical history.

Independent Medical Review - A process where expert medical professionals who have no relationship to your health insurance company or health plan review specific medical decisions made by the insurance company. California law provides for an Independent Medical Review Program, which is administered by the CDI and the DMHC depending upon what type of coverage you have (indemnity or HMO).

Medically Necessary - A drug, device, procedure, treatment plan, or other therapy that is covered under your health insurance policy and that your doctor, hospital, or provider has determined essential for your medical well-being, specific illness, or underlying condition.

Policy - The written contract between an individual or group policyholder and an insurance company. The policy outlines the duties, obligations, and responsibilities of both the policyholder and the insurance company. A policy may include any application, endorsement, certificate, or any other document that can describe, limit, or exclude coverage benefits under the policy.

Preexisting Condition - Any illness or health condition for which you have received medical advice or treatment during the six months prior to obtaining health insurance. Group healthcare policies cover preexisting conditions after you have been insured for 6 months, and individual policies cover preexisting conditions after you have been insured for 1 year. Reference CIC Section 10198.7. Creditable coverage must be counted towards any preexisting condition exclusion in either an individual or group policy.

Usual, Reasonable, and Customary - The amount that your insurance company determines is the normal payment range for a specific medical procedure performed within a given geographic area. If the charges you submit to your health insurance company are higher than what is considered normal for the covered health care services, then your health insurance company may not allow the full amount charged to you.

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