How does health insurance work in the US?

November 27th, 2009
synchronised asked:


I am a non-US citizen and need this information to do a case.

Specifically:
1) Is health insurance compulsory for everyone?
2) What happens if someone cannot afford it?
3) In the event that a medical procedure needs to be done, does health insurance cover all the bills? Does the patient need to pay anything extra?
4) Does the patient have any say over what kind of procedure he can take? Say if 2 treatments are available for his condition, can the patient choose the more expensive treatment? And if so, is it covered by the insurance?

Thanks for reading this. Your help in answering any part of the questions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks to those who have responded so far.

I would like to further ask:

Does a health insurance contract state that it will only cover the normal rates for a procedure? For eg. if there are 2 possible treatments for a disease, 1 of which is more expensive but more effective than the other, will the patient only be covered by the LESS expensive one?

Or is it a case in which the patient can opt for the more expensive one and top-up the difference?

This is a crucial question to my understanding the case. Thanks!

What insurance coverage is critical for a business that has little to no customer traffic?

November 27th, 2009
just making it happen asked:


When a business does most of its work online or in the clients location, what business insurance plans apply? Is liability insurance necessary for the office even if clients rarely come to the office?

What is the best health insurance and life insurance policies?

November 27th, 2009
charisse asked:


What is the best health insurance and life insurance policies? I am recently out of the military and need to purchase an individual health ins policy. However, I am not sure which ones are the best. I am a student, do they offer any good student policies? Also, is the SGLI to VGLI conversion a good change to make? If not, which is better term or whole life insurance policies?

What is the type of insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage to others?

November 27th, 2009
dudefornow14 asked:


1: What is the type of insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage to others?
liability
uninsured motorist
comprehensive
collision

2: What is the type of insurance that covers you when you are injured by a hit and run driver?
liability
uninsured motorist
comprehensive
collision

3: Insurance is based on the concept of ________ and __________
profit and loss
risk and loss
risk and return
profit and cars

4: Which type of insurance is usually required if you finance your car purchase?
Medical Payment Insurance
Towing Insurance
Rental Insurance
Collision and Comprehensive Insurance

5: Which of the following is not a way that a teenager can save money on insurance?
Getting on his or her parents’ policy
Getting good grades
Driving penalties
Driver experience

6: Accidents that must be reported are ?
those that caused minor damage or harm
those that have been fatal
all accidents.

How does rental car insurance offered by credit card companies (when you use the card) work?

November 27th, 2009
hedonist asked:


I have credit cards which say they cover me for rental car insurance when I use the card to make the full payment for the rental. How does that work? Are there any catches? Does it make sense for me to get the additional insurance from the rental agency (like Avis)? If I am in an accident, will the Credit Card insurance cover everything or will it also be charged to my regular car insurance company?

Why is home insurance limited to each and every different type of disaster?

November 26th, 2009
Craptacular Wonderment asked:


The home is either livable or NOT livable…it matters NOT what disaster ruined the home..

Why then is it that you have to pay extra for each different type of circumstance? An accident is an accident…. a disaster is a disaster… the home can only be burned, flooded, distroyed by earthquake / tornado / hurricaine ONCE.. why pay for all the different ways insurance-wise?

How covered is covered? And WHY !!!! Why?? Is it if you Never have any type of claim you aren’t refunded some of that money you spend year after year after year?

Again, once you’ve paid in insurance the amount of the home value.. what difference does it make if you replaced the home ‘money-wise’ already in insurance premiums? Why not spend those premiums on a second home instead?

Just shooting in the dark here of the many complaints I have heard ranted from my elders recently.. their solutions were hysterical.. I’d love to hear more solutions.

What insurance agency has the cheapest rates for full coverage car insurance?

November 26th, 2009
TINKY TOT asked:


I need some cheap full coverage car insurance if you know a company that has cheap rates let me know please!

What insurance is needed for casual outside workers?

November 25th, 2009
Ozmaniac asked:


We live on acreage in Brisbane and need quite a lot of outside work done. Things like brushcutting, weed spraying, gardening, scrub clearing etc We would supply tools and materials etc so the job would suit an unemployed person or a student. What if they are hurt in some way while doing the work? Do we need to take out insurance for them? If so, what type of insurance is it and who should we get it from? I’m pretty sure that normal workers compensation insurance doesn’t apply to workers who are employed by householders.

How long does an insurance company need to approve a medical insurance application?

November 24th, 2009
Mei asked:


My medical insurance has expired and I’ve just decided which one to buy next. How long does an insurance company need to approve an application and get it activated??
I have no medical insurance right now so I’m kinda worry because of the swine flu.

When I use insurance to fill a prescription does insurance send my prescription information to me in the mail?

November 24th, 2009
J B asked:


I recently filled my prescriptions, and used my insurance (Aetna) to do so, and I was wondering, will my prescription info be sent to me in the mail? Like will I get a bill explaining what they paid? And will it be Itemized? And Can they raise my insurance because of it?