Blue Cross of California | California Blue Cross | Blue Cross in California | Blue Cross of California

California Blue Cross health insurance offers a variety of healthcare plans for its members, one of which is the traditional plan known as fee-for-service. With this type of insurance policy, the California Blue Cross health insurance company pays for the fees that are connected to the medical services for the insured member that are covered under the policy in question. The fee-for-service health policy offers a tremendous choice with regards to doctors, specialist and hospitals which makes it a popular choice for insured members. Under the stipulations of the policy you can visit whatever doctor you choose, wherever you choose and going to a doctor or hospital away from your town or city of residence is perfectly fine.

Under the California Blue Cross health insurance fee-for-service plan, a portion of your doctor and hospital bills are paid for by the insurance company while you pay the rest. A monthly premium (basically a monthly fee) is imposed on members while there is also a yearly deductible to be met. The deductible must be paid before any insurance payments can be paid out to the member. With most California Blue Cross health insurance fee-for-service plans, the deductible is generally $250 for each family member and there is a family deductible of $500 that goes into effect once at least two of the family members have reached what is deemed as the individual deductible. Once the annual deductible has been met, whatever your health bills are they are shared with the insurance company and the company pays the brunt of the costs. For example it is common for a member to pay 20 percent for health costs while the insurance company pays 80 percent. This is referred to as coinsurance.

With a fee-for-service health plan you will need to fill out a variety of forms and then send them to the company for California Blue Cross health insurance in order to receive money back. In some cases the receptionist at your doctor’s office can fill out your forms for you if you need her to. It is important to save all of the receipts for all of your medical expenses including prescription drugs. Keep in mind that you need to be aware of all of your health expenses in order to submit it to the insurance company.

Fee-for-service coverage is broken down into two types, that of basic and major medical. Basic coverage pays for care in the hospital including the hospital room. As well it pays for some (but not necessarily all) services and supplies, which would include prescription medicine and x-rays and it pays for some physician’s visits as well as goes towards the overall cost of surgery. Major medical picks up where basic coverage ends as it covers higher priced, long-term diseases and illnesses and/or injuries. Some California Blue Cross health insurance plans combine both the basic as well as the major medical into what is known as a “comprehensive plan.”

Learn more at: www.baahealth.com