What is an Indemnity Plan?

What is an Indemnity Plan?

Indemnity plans allow you to direct your own health care and visit almost any doctor or hospital you like. The insurance company then pays a set portion of your total charges. Indemnity plans are also referred to as "fee-for-service" plans.

How does an Indemnity plan work?

Under an Indemnity plan, you may see whatever doctors or specialists you like, with no referrals required. Though you may choose to get the majority of your basic care from a single doctor, your insurance company will not require you to choose a primary care physician. An Indemnity plan may also require that you pay up front for services and then submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement.

You'll likely be required to pay an annual deductible before the insurance company begins to pay on your claims. Once your deductible has been met, the insurance company will typically pay your claims at a set percentage of the "usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) rate" for the service. The UCR rate is the amount that healthcare providers in your area typically charge for any given service.

An Indemnity plan may be right for you if:

• You're looking for the greatest level of freedom possible in choosing which doctors or hospitals to visit
• You don't want to designate primary care physicians or get referrals to get specialists
• You want to freely visit any physician you choose
• Are looking to meet the requirement for minimum essential coverage is select state