Will Maternity Coverage Be Included in My PPO Plan?

If you sign up with either an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), there will be virtually no “claim forms” for you to complete. When you visit your physician's office or other health care provider in-network, you will typically show them your Plan Identification Card and they will handle the rest.

Here are a couple of tips to help you sort through the ins and outs of health insurance claim forms:

• Be Methodical: When you submit your health insurance claim forms, do so methodically. It will save you both time and effort if you ask your doctors or alternative healthcare providers to submit their bills directly to your insurance carrier for you. Maintain a separate "Healthcare Claims Submitted" folder for each member of your family.
• Be Careful: When you’re filling out your health insurance claim forms, do it carefully. It’s better to spend a little extra time with a form than risk having your health insurance carrier withhold reimbursement because it needs more information from you.
• Keep Copies: Be sure you make copies of each and every bill and claim form you have to submit to your health carrier. Your copies will be important when it comes to protecting you in case your originals are lost either in the mail or by your health insurance company. You’ll also need your copies for your own reference whenever you receive medical claim payments.