When you get sick you don't want to worry about whether or not you can afford to go to the emergency room or to a doctor's office. It is so important to have health insurance coverage that approximately 85% of Americans are covered. In this country we are insured through private coverage, while in other countries, such as England, they run national health care programs. In the US there is an open debate as to whether we should go to a national health care program or if we should remain under the private coverage.
With the rise in cost of the medical visits and procedures it is a necessity to not just be insured but to have a good policy as well. Most Americans receive their health insurance through their employer or their spouses employer if that option is available. Those that do not receive coverage through their employer seek coverage as individuals or through government agencies. These government programs include Medicare and Medicaid.
There are typically two kinds of insurance programs you can choose from. You can choose a Fee-for-Service plan or you may choose a Managed Care policy. The Fee-for-Service policy would mean that you would receive medical care from whomever you choose, they would file a claim with your insurance company, and then they would paid for the services rendered. With a Managed Care policy there are incentives to stay within a certain group of doctors or health service providers. These would include HMOs, PPOs, and the POS.