This Web site contains a compilation of more than a thousand consumer finance
columns written by Tony Novak from the 1980s through 2006, updated and reformatted for
maximum usefulness today. New material was added after
2010.
Content is the opinion of the author and does not represent the
position of any other person or entity. Information is from sources believed to
be reliable but cannot be guaranteed.
The author is paid for product endorsements and has an ownership or
other financial interest in the businesses related to the topics
covered.
Submit consumer finance questions at OnlineAdviser.org and health insurance questions at
OnlineNavigator.org
FreedomBenefits.net Insurance Exchange
- your source of valuable information on state and federal health reform
benefits.
Core Health Insurance
- America's favorite mini-med insurance with affordable premiums, freedom
to choose providers, optional PPO discounts and guaranteed eligibility
regardless of medical conditions.
Please support the Web sites that make publication of AskTony
services possible.
Rules for PPO discount plans
originally posted: 11/22/2006
reposted: 2/18/2011 This post has not
been recently reviewed or revised by the author and may be out of date.
If in doubt, please send a new question or ask for an update.
Q: How can I make sure that a
health plan is really insurance and not a PPO discount plan?
A: All reputable PPO discount
plans clearly state that they are not insurance in their advertising
and on the ID card itself. Some states have laws that regulate such
disclosures and prevent PPO discount plans from using certain terms in
their marketing materials. Terms of Service are posted at
http://FreedomBenefits.net/articles/regulation-of-PPO-discount-plans.htm
. Unfortunately, scams that portray PPO discount plans to be health
insurance are not likely to abide by the law. The easiest way to avoid
problems is to use a reputable independent enrollment service like
FreedomBenefits.net.
Summary
More resources:
FreedomBenefits.net
