Health Insurance Articles
Two Things That Group Medical Insurance Coverage May Be Missing
2010-09-10
Group insurance can be an excellent way for a company to offer its employees substantial benefits for a reduced price. If the company is large enough, or if it chooses to partner with another company, insurance providers will often offer steep discounts on medical insurance to all employees. This allows them to access medical services they would often be unable to afford on their own, and will typically provide for their spouses and children as well. Depending on the size of the company, it is possible to have an insurance rep on-site to deal with claims issues and processing, making the policy faster than an individual coverage plan. But while there are a number of positive benefits to group insurance, clients need to be aware there are a number of things that typical group medical insurance will not cover.
One of the most often uncovered items in a group insurance plan is dental care. Dental visits, treatments and surgeries can be very expensive, and a standard group plan will usually not offer this type of care, as it is expected that employees will either seek out their own coverage or pay an extra fee to have this type of care tacked on. This is important to know before going to the dentist for anything more than a routine cleaning. Always check with an insurance rep before using any service that you are unsure is covered. If it is not, the bill you have left outstanding could be substantial.
A second item which is often not covered in group medical insurance plans is access to prescription drugs. While it seems logical to assume a health plan would include the ability to find and purchase low-cost necessary medication, this is not always the case. Prescription drugs, especially the brand-name variety, can be very expensive, even for an insurance company, and are an item they do not always make money on. As a result, a drug plan may not be offered, even for an extra fee, through a group insurance plan. If such a plan is desired by workers, they may need to procure their own coverage or take their concerns to management, who could pay for a portion of the cost of bringing in such a program.
While group insurance is not perfect, it solves a number of the problems of obtaining individual insurance, most notably the high price. Insurance coverage from a single provider for a group is able to cater to most of the needs of all participants, and while it may be inflexible in some respects, and not offer coverage that is as comprehensive as individual plans, it can be an effective tool in health care.
