Health Insurance Coverage from Your Employer

Health insurance from your employer is normally offered once you have been employed for a minimum of 3 months. Not all employers offer full benefits, but some larger companies or corporations do. This would include health, dental and vision insurance coverage. With much smaller companies, you may be offered only medical or only dental.

An advantage of acquiring health insurance from your employer is that some employers will pay up to 80% of your premium for the coverage. While the remaining premium balance is deducted from your paycheck. If wanting to have your entire family added to the plan, normally the employer will pay a certain amount or percentage of your premium and you are responsible for the balance and 100% of what it cost extra for adding a spouse or family.

Now, depending on the type of business, company or large corporation you work for can also play a part on your options for health insurance. Some businesses will only offer HMO plans and others may offer only a PPO plan. With an HMO plan, your premium is usually less and your co-pay is as little as $5.00 - $10.00 per visit. With HMO though, you do not get to choose where you go or who you see. PPO plans, you pay higher premiums, but you get to choose where you want to go. Downfall is higher co-pay of up to $30.00 per visit. Either way, if your employer is offering health insurance it is a good idea to get informed and select the plan that is best for you.