Indemnity Insurance

This type of coverage offers more flexibility in choosing doctors and hospitals. Usually, you can choose any doctor you wish, and you can change doctors at any time.



Although you usually will not need a referral to see a specialist or go for x-rays or tests, you may need paperwork, such as your medical records, from your primary care physician. Be sure to ask your doctor if there's any paperwork that you will need to take with you.



If you have indemnity insurance, your plan only pays part of your medical bills. You are responsible for the rest. Your out-of-pocket costs are likely to be higher for certain services than with some managed care plans. Usually, you will need to spend a certain amount each year before your plan begins to pay benefits. This amount is called a deductible. 



Deductibles  are the amount of the covered expenses you must pay each year before your plan  starts to reimburse you. Deductibles might range from $100 to $300 per year per  covered person or $500 or more per year for a family. 



If you have an indemnity plan, you may have more paperwork to do. Some doctors  will submit the claim for you. Once the doctor receives payment from the insurance company, he or she will bill you for the difference. With other doctors, you will have to pay the entire bill and file a claim with your insurance company to be reimbursed. Indemnity insurance pays a portion of the bill—usually 80 percent— after the deductible has been met, although this may vary. You pay the remainder, usually 20 percent of the total bill. This is called coinsurance.



Indemnity policies typically have an out-of-pocket maximum. This means that once your expenses reach a certain amount in a given calendar year, the fee for covered benefits typically will be paid in full by your insurance plan. If your doctor bills you for more than the reasonable and customary charge, you possibly may have to pay a portion of the bill. If you have Medicare coverage, there are limits on how much a physician may charge you above the usual amount.



There also may be lifetime limits on benefits paid under the policy. Most experts  recommend that you look for a policy with a lifetime limit of at least $1million. Anything less may not be sufficient.