The Kidney Clinic of North Florida

Whether you are eligible for group insurance or choosing an individual plan, you should carefully compare costs and coverage. Be sure to compare:

1. Premiums.
2. Coverage/benefits.
3. Access to doctors, hospitals, and other providers.
4. Access to after-hours and emergency care.
5. Out-of-pocket costs (coinsurance, copays, and deductibles).
6. Exclusions and limitations.

If you are choosing between indemnity and managed care plans, remember that they may differ in several important ways, including

• How you access services.
• How you obtain specialty care.
• How much and sometimes how you pay for care.

Despite these differences, indemnity and managed care plans share some features. For example, both types of plans cover a wide array of medical, surgical, and hospital services. Most plans offer some coverage for prescription drugs. Some plans also have at least partial coverage for dentists and other providers. The major difference between indemnity and managed care plans (network-based coverage) concerns the choice of doctors, hospitals, and other providers; out-of-pocket costs for covered services; and how bills are paid. Be sure to check on the physicians and hospitals that are included in the plan.