Medical Discount Program: No Need To Complain
When you are sick and health insurance is out of your budget, there is still another option for you to save on healthcare costs. There is always another way out of the lack of health insurance. So, instead of complaining, why don't you read on?
A medical discount program is a good alternative though it is not a health insurance. Its main purpose is for you to save money when you visit your doctor or hospital and when buying your medicines.
Unlike an insurance plan, enrolling in a medical discount program is affordable and you will not be turned down because of a pre-existing condition. There is also no need to prove that you have a clean bill of health.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), health insurance carriers may or may not provide guaranteed health insurance to clients with pre-existing conditions. HIPAA defines pre-existing conditions as a physical or mental condition for which medical advice diagnosis care or treatment was recommended or received within six months period ending on the enrollment date.
Some of these pre-existing conditions are heart disease, heart attack, diabetes, cancer, stroke, liver disease, AIDS, pregnancy, depression and kidney disease.
A medical discount program has networks of doctors, hospitals, and other care providers — just like most health insurance plans. Members of the program usually get a discount of about 10 to 20 percent, though other discount programs claim of up to 60 to 80 percent of savings. However, it is always important to check the veracity of such claim rather than being disappointed if it is not true. Complaining to the proper authorities can solve your problem about misleading advertisements, but this will consume a lot of your time, effort and even money. So, it would be ideal to do your homework first before plunging into this program.
When you have decided already, all you have to do is to enroll and you can pay a monthly, quarterly or annual fee. This fee is usually much less than what it costs to get an insurance plan and there is no limit on how often you can take advantage of the discounts.
As soon as everything is done, you will receive a membership card, which you have to show to the health care provider or other members of the network. You can immediately use your discount card as soon you join, as there is no waiting period.
Finally, remember that a medical discount program will still let you pay your bills as it is not an insurance plan. Joining a medical discount program is a great way to save on routine healthcare, such as visits to the doctor, prescription drugs, or even short trips to the hospital. But if you have a serious injury or a long-term illness, this program would not be of much help. After all, a medical discount program is a great option for those who cannot afford to enroll yet in a health insurance program but would like to do a lot of saving in their healthcare costs.