Health Care On Less Than You Think - The New York Times Guide To Getting Affordable Coverage by Fred Brock is written for the consumer to gain insight into the options and plans available in the insurance market.

There are many case examples, summaries and hypothetical scenarios to help families, individuals, employees and employers learn which route to take when choosing insurance coverage for themselves and their family members.

In some cases it is best to forego the insurance plan provided by your employer and get coverage instead through your spouse. Comparing the plans available to your family will help you sort through the premiums, deductibles and co-pays to decide which coverage is right for your family. We need to consider in this equation what the employer pays, any pre-existing medical conditions, what prescription drugs anyone may be taking and the provider networks with each Insurance Company and plan provided.

The case studies presented in Health Care On Less Than You Think - The New York Times Guide To Getting Affordable Coverage really show the contrast for families when a member has a minor medical issue or has taken a prescription drug in the past for an issue that is now resolved.

Readers will learn the pros and cons of COBRA - the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as well as HIPAA - the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

"HIPAA does not, however, regulate rates, which can make HIPAA plans more expensive since insurers must accept all qualified applicants, regardless of preexisting conditions and with no waiting periods. Important: You must apply for HIPAA coverage within sixty-three days of exhausting COBRA coverage, or you lose the right to do so.

COBRA and HIPAA can be your route to uninterrupted, albeit expensive, comprehensive coverage until you are eligibile for Medicare, especially if you or someone in your family has health problems that may be a barrier to an individual policy.

Warning: Do not buy a short-term insurance plan if you are coming off COBRA coverage and expect to switch to HIPAA guaranteed-issue coverage within the sixty-three days in which you are allowed to do so after leaving COBRA."

The health statistics cited within Health Care On Less Than You Think - The New York Times Guide To Getting Affordable Coverage are quite alarming and should be a wake-up call to all consumers. For example, note the following excerpts:

"Americans without insurance, as well as many covered by Medicaid, are not getting good primary care, the same is true for a lot of people with insurance."

"Even if you have insurance, you can be financially swamped by a serious illness or an accident, and find yourself facing personal bankruptcy."

"At present, it is nearly impossible to find out in advance what a health service will cost or to compare that cost among health care plans or providers."

"Hospital care accounts for about one-third of health-care spending."

There are also examples of individuals going to Canada for surgeries. In one case there is a comparison of one consumer using an HMO in the United States and the costs involved and then what another person received when going to Toronto for a similar procedure. Then there is the comparison of medical procedures at various hospitals around the country where the price can vary by thousands of dollars.

One other example profiled a couple leaving one state to move to a less hectic lifestyle. They did not opt for COBRA and applied for individual policies, yet both were turned down for minor issues. Other topics covered include small business owners and those going into business for themselves. It is cited that the number one reason people do not follow their dreams and also work longer is due to the cost and lack of insurance for the older generation.

The contents of Health Care On Less Than You Think - The New York Times Guide To Getting Affordable Coverage discusses the following:

short term fixes, resolving disputes before paying medical bills, state rankings for prescriptions, medicare, long term care insurance, mecicaid, high risk pool, buying drugs from Mexico, claims assistance professional and an overview of FSAs and HSAs.

Flexible Spending Accounts and examples on who should utilize these with their employer is covered, plus an extensive explanation on Health Savings Accounts which started in 2003. eHealthInsurance is a resource that is noted within this section quite often, plus www.hsainsider.com is mentioned as a site to get information on HSAs.

There are comparisons on using an individual policy or an HSA through an employer and the deductible is something to consider. The case examples state how the consumer puts money into the HSA that is equal to their annual deductible and then makes their Doctor payments through this account, unlike meeting a deductible annually with an individual policy and then starting over again the following year. It is suggested that an HSA is for someone can financially handle making the payments into the HSA to meet their deductible.

There are several tips and points to consider before signing up for an HSA that includes making an assessment of your annual health expenses and the state of your health and all insured within the family.

There is a section on the state you live in and where it ranks in premium payments for singles and families in various cities around the country. Also listed are figures showing the price for brand name drugs at different chains and the same for generic drugs.

There is a state ranking based on the average prescription - Alaska is the most expensive with New Mexico the least. A chapter goes over the fine print found in the insurance plan and what medically necessary means. The chapter, sorting out your options has worksheets you can photocopy - these include one for prescption costs, FSAs and a Health Care and Insurer Log.

Also included is a resource and index at the back of the book. There is no glossary, but within one chapter there was an explanation of the various terms and abbreviations.

The ten chapters are -

Spending More, Getting Less
Protect Your Health, Protect Your Budget
Off The Job
Health Savings Accounts
The State of your Health and the State Where You Live
Rx For your Wallet
Mastering Your Insurer's Fine Print
Planning For Medicare
The Threat to Your Savings and Retirement
Sorting Out Your Options
Afterword - A New Framework

Health Care On Less Than You Think - The New York Times Guide To Getting Affordable Coverage is a useful book for all individuals. Before you make a change to your insurance plan at work or plan to purchase new coverage, you need to read this book to gain new perspective on what areas you need to focus.

Consider all options before choosing a plan, figure out the costs associated with your Provider, the co-pays and the prescription plan and supplemental plans you have signed up for and the amount these cost that is deducted from your paycheck.

If you are considering leaving a job, have a pre-existing medical condition and need to know more about COBRA, HIPAA and HSAs than this is the resource you need to figure it all out.

I saw on one of the news programs recently how people are going to India to have hip replacement surgery. So like mentioned in this book about people going to Canada, the health care options in this country are limited, expensive and not everyone can afford to have their family members insured. Learn how to get coverage for your family.