A savvy consumer learns as much as possible about paying for medical expenses – whether they are insured or not. So, here’s a quick tutorial about medical discount plans vs health insurance plans to help you learn the best way to pay for your healthcare costs.
What is a Medical Discount Plan?
A medical discount plan IS NOT health insurance.
Instead, discount health plans work this way:
Someone in your household signs up for a medical discount plan and pays a low monthly fee. Then, everyone in your household can receive discounted health care services.
To receive the discounted rates, you must select a local provider from the medical discount plan’s website. In addition, you must pay for the discounted medical services at the time of treatment.
Benefits of Medical Discount Plans
Please note that not all medical discount plans are the same. Here are some of the benefits of purchasing a plan with AmeriPlan:
- Affordable (For less than $40/month, you can receive medical discounts for your entire household.)
- Reduced rates for medical services (including chiropractic care, dental care, vision services, and ancillary medical services).
- Access to telehealth medical visits
- Discounts on prescription drugs
- No paperwork
- Able to sign up for the plan with a preexisting condition
- Open to insured and uninsured
Drawbacks of Medical Discount Plans
Please understand that the government does not regulate medical discount plan companies. Unfortunately, not every consumer has a positive experience purchasing a medical discount card. Sometimes, the patient is disappointed by their plan because they didn’t understand how the program worked before they bought it. Again, medical discount plans are not the same as health insurance plans. Your medical discount plan company will not pay for ANY of your medical costs.
In addition, it’s important to be vigilant and do as much research as possible before signing up for a discount health plan. Read the fine print and reviews.
Health Insurance Plans
Health insurance plans are notoriously complicated, and we aren’t even going to try to describe how each type of plan works. So instead, let’s jump into some benefits of purchasing a health insurance policy.
Benefits of Health Insurance Plans
There are many different types of health insurance plans. Here are some general benefits of paying for health coverage:
- The insurance company pays for some or all of your medical expenses.
- You can save money by purchasing a high-deductible policy.
Drawbacks of Health Insurance Plans
We already mentioned one problem with health insurance plans – they are notoriously complicated. Here are some of the other issues with health insurance plans.
- Health insurance is expensive!
- You often need separate plans for vision and dental care.
Which is Best for Your Situation?
Medical discount cards and health insurance plans are two completely different products.
A medical discount plan is an excellent option for someone without a health insurance plan who must pay out of pocket for all their medical expenses.
However, medical discount memberships can also be helpful to people with high-deductible insurance plans. For example, suppose your dental insurance will only pay for a small portion of your root canal because you have not met your deductible. In that case, you might save money by purchasing a dental savings plan and not submitting the procedure to your dental insurance.
Key Takeaways
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Medical discount plans are not the same as health insurance plans.
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A discount health plan is affordable, but the company does not pay for any of your medical expenses.
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Health insurance plans are costly, but the insurance provider will pay for some or all of your healthcare costs.
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Medical discount plans can benefit those with insurance coverage, but they are an excellent option for a person without insurance.
Talk With an AmeriPlan Representative
Are you ready to learn more about AmeriPlan’s discount health program? Contact us today! We offer various contact options, including “Live Chat” on our website.