Major Medical Health Insurance Rates

UnitedHealthOne’s “Copay Value” health insurance plan is one of the most affordable policies available to individuals and families. Premiums are typically low in most states that it is offered, and many of the covered benefits are featured in much more expensive contracts. If you typically have less than four office visits per year (average), this plan may be a great choice.

Details Of Coverage

The “Copay Value” plan is actually a slimmed down version of the “Copay Select” plan, which is UnitedHealthOne’s most comprehensive plan. However, to keep the cost of the policy down, four office visits (per person per year) are provided to each insured, instead of unlimited covered visits. A $35 copay applies and a deductible then applies to any covered visit in excess of the four that are allowed. However, the cost of the office visits in excess of four would still receive a discount.

Like most plans issued after October of 2010, federal health care reform has mandated that any qualified preventive expense be covered without a waiting period, applicable deductible or any copay. Thus, routine annual physicals, mammograms, pap smears, wellness visits and many other benefits are provided with no out of pocket expense to the policyholder. We have found that this feature will potentially save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the policy.

Prescription coverage is limited. Generic drugs are covered with a $15 copay. However, non-generic drugs are not covered. Potentially, expensive prescription costs could create high out of pocket costs. Whenever possible, always ask your physician for generic options.

Deductible options range from $1,000 to $10,000. When a higher deductible is selected, the premium, already about 25% lower than UnitedHealthOne’s “Copay Select” plan, will drop again. The coinsurance amount is 30%, which can potentially add an additional $5,000 (the maximum) of out of pocket expenses to the deductible. While, of course, it is impossible to predict the number and type of major medical claims you will have in the future, higher deductibles are clearly the best option if very few (or no) hospital claims are submitted. The number of deductibles will not exceed two per family, regardless of how many family members are insured.

Although national health care reform is being challenged in court, currently, some of the mandated changes still apply to this policy. For example, there is no maximum payout on covered expenses. Whether your lifetime medical expenses are $250,000 or $25 million, they will be paid by UnitedHealthOne (subject to any deductible, coinsurance or coverage limitations). There is also no annual cap on the benefits that are paid. Other benefits may also be added in the next few years.

This type of policy is not the right fit for every individual or family. Rates can easily be quite competitive in one state, and perhaps not nearly as competitive in other areas of the country. That’s why it’s important to review and compare your quotes from all of the major companies to see if the “Copay Value” is the best fit for you.

About UnitedHealthOne

UnitedHealthOne is the recognized name of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurers in the United States. Golden Rule underwrites and administrates the plans and has offered health care coverage for more than 60 years. Their plans are generally very competitively priced and the Network of doctors, specialists, hospitals and other health care providers, is very extensive. No matter where you live, there should be an “in-network” provider close by.

Applying For Coverage

When you request quotes (at the top of this page), after providing some basic information, you’ll be able to make a side-by-side comparison of this plan with other similar plans. However, you may want to spend a little bit more money to upgrade your coverage to “unlimited” office visit benefits. And it also may be more cost-effective to completely eliminate office visit benefits if you can drastically reduce your health insurance costs.