Do Prescriptions Count Towards Your Deductible? It Depends on the Plan
Some plans run drugs through the medical deductible, some use a separate drug deductible, and some charge copays that never touch it. All three are common.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
38 articles
Health Insurance guides & articles — page 3
Page 3 of 4: more health insurance guides from Best Insurance Guide on costs, coverage, claims and comparing policies.
Does Medicaid Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal? It Depends on Your State
For children the answer is generally yes. For adults it varies enormously by state, and whether the extraction is medically necessary decides most cases.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
How Long Does Medicaid Approval Take? Usually 45 Days, Sometimes 90
Federal rules set the outer limits and most applications are decided sooner. What actually causes delay is missing verification, and it is almost entirely avoidable.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
How Long Is COBRA Coverage? 18 Months, Sometimes 36
The duration depends on which qualifying event triggered it, and two extensions can lengthen it. The election deadline is where most people go wrong.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
How Long Can You Stay on Your Parents' Health Insurance? Until 26
The rule is simpler than people expect and the edge cases are where it goes wrong. What counts, what does not, and what happens the month it ends.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
What Does Out of Network Mean? The Most Expensive Word in Health Insurance
Out of network means your insurer has no price agreement with that provider. What follows from that single fact explains almost every surprise medical bill.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
What Happens When You Meet Your Deductible? Less Than You Hope
Meeting the deductible starts cost sharing rather than ending it. What changes, what does not, and why the months afterwards are the cheapest of the year.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
What Is a Deductible for Health Insurance? The Number Before the Sharing Starts
A deductible is what you pay before the plan starts sharing costs. Four things it interacts with decide what your care actually costs, and most people know only one.
Sep 9, 202613 min read
How Much Does COBRA Insurance Cost? The 102% Nobody Warns You About
COBRA costs the full group premium plus a 2% fee, which is usually three to five times what was coming out of your paycheck. The real numbers and the deadlines.
Sep 8, 202612 min read
Deductible vs Out-of-Pocket Maximum: What Happens After You Meet It
Your deductible is where the plan starts helping. Your out-of-pocket maximum is where it takes over completely. What sits between them, and what counts.
Sep 8, 202612 min read
How to Get Health Insurance Without a Job (and the Age 26 Rule)
Six routes to coverage when you have no employer plan, how long you can stay on a parent's insurance, and how quickly Medicaid actually approves.
Sep 8, 202612 min read
HMO vs PPO, and What Every Number on Your Insurance Card Means
The real difference between an HMO and a PPO, whether your policy number is your member ID, and what out-of-network actually costs you.
Sep 8, 202612 min read