Introduction to the U.S. Health Care Delivery System - My health care plan

Health and Medicine
Student name
Student number
Tutor`s name
Date
My health care plan
The type of health care plan I have is a High-Deductible Health Plan. The company that i have contracted for health insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance Company of Alabama. The specific plan that I have is known as Blue Choice plus. This is a High- Deductible plan because unlike other healthcare plans, this type has lower premiums and higher deductibles. What this means for me as the insured is that I have to commence making payments for medical expenses once I enter a contract with the insurance company. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2003)
As a member, I am issued with a membership card that identifies me as a bonafide member of the Blue Choice plus insurance plan. I am expected to carry it everywhere I go. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2003) The added benefit of this scheme is that it allows me as the insured to use the card to get medical services as well as prescription medicines out of Alabama. This is denoted by the image of a small blue briefcase on the card. However, it consult the services of an out of service provider, the percentage of the cover reduces from 80% of the cost to 50% of the cost.
I have taken up personal insurance and according to the contract, i have to pay premiums four times a year or quarterly. These premiums are to be paid in full each time. This plan also offers me the option of opening a Health and Safety Account or HAS in short. This is a kind of Savings account where I can save up money for medical expenses. The money has to be used for legitimate medical expenses. The account is also transferrable and not subject to high taxes. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2003)
One limitation that I find in the Blue Cross insurance handbook (2003) is the fact that a pre-existing condition cannot be covered if it isn`t listed in the policy. This rule extends to complications that arise as a result of the preexisting condition. This means that conditions that could otherwise be covered by the insurer in the event of a claim being made become nullified if the insurer has reason to believe that they were triggered by a preexisting condition. It does not matter whether the condition was diagnosed or not. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2003)
Another limitation I find in this plan is the fact that the money saved up in the Health Savings Account is that in the event that I withdraw the money for expenses that are not categorized as certifiable medical expenses; I will have to be subjected to heavy penalties. That is of course unless I am over 65 years old, disabled or dead. (Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2003)
PART 2: OPTIONS OF A NON MILITARY PERSON IF THEY WERE TO LOSE COVERAGE
There are several ways in which a civilian can lose his/her medical cover. This could be either through voluntary resignation at work, dismissal, reduction in work hours, when the spouse loses family cover among others. When this happens, the primary con...