Health Insurance Quotes

Health Insurance

Health insurance is the type of insurance that pays for medical expenses. It also known as:

• health coverage
• health care coverage
• health benefits

Policy can be purchased by individual or company on group basis to cover its employees. Health insurance policy is a lengthy contract. Policyholders should pay premiums to help protect themselves from unexpected healthcare expenses. Insurance contract can be renewable annually or monthly.

In 2008 approximately 84% of USA citizens have health insurance:

• About 9% purchase health insurance directly
• About 60% obtain it through an employer
• About 20% of Americans obtain health insurance from various government agencies.

In 2006, there were 16% of Americans (47 million people) who were without health insurance. Average spending is higher in the individual market. Many medical expense plans include coverage for dental expenses. Stand-alone dental insurance is also available.

Health care system is mainly in private hands in USA. Hospitals and doctors generally funded by payments from patients and insurance.

Hospitals provide some outpatient care in their emergency rooms and specialty clinics, but primarily exist to provide inpatient care.

In 2008 a report by the Commonwealth Fund ranked the USA last in the quality of health care among the 19 compared countries. According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States is the “only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage”.

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