Insurance Basics: Home

Palliative Care and Shared Decision Making

Palliative care is medical care that tries to relieve discomfort and stress for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on improving quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care doesn’t try to cure the illness.

Palliative Care and Shared Decision Making
In-Network and Out-of-Network Care

Your plan contracts with a wide range of doctors and other practitioners, as well as hospitals, labs, radiology facilities, pharmacies and other providers. These are the providers in your “network”. Each of these providers has agreed to take your plan´s contracted rate as payment in full for services.

In-Network and Out-of-Network Care
Healthcare Proxies and Advance Healthcare Directives

Healthcare proxies and advance healthcare directives can help you plan your care if you ever lose the ability to communicate clearly.

If Your Plan Doesn't Pay (Appealing a Reimbursement Decision)

Suppose your insurer won´t pay for a healthcare service, or pays less than you had expected. You have the right to “appeal”, or ask for your case to be formally reconsidered.

Health Insurance in Retirement

Whatever age you are when you retire, you have health insurance options.

Estimating Costs for a Hospital Stay

Are you planning a medical procedure that requires an overnight hospital stay? Do you want an idea of how much the stay will cost in your area?