Finding the best insurance plan is a confusing and time-consuming task for many families. Each family has unique needs when it comes to covering the costs of unexpected emergencies and everyday health care. Careful research of different insurance providers and their policies can save many hassles and dollars when it comes time to put the policy to use.
Two such companies to consider when choosing insurance coverage are Aetna and American Fidelity Assurance. Both insurance companies seek to better health care in America, but each company goes about this goal in different ways.
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Aetna Overview
Aetna was founded in 1853 and is known as the first insurance company to offer a consumer-directed health plan. The company’s goal is to help consumers find safe health care options at the best cost and the highest quality. Aetna seeks to keep its members up-to-date on health information so they can make informed decisions about their own health care. The insurer offers a full line of services and programs to save customers money and ensure quality care.
American Fidelity Assurance Overview
American Fidelity Assurance is a family operated company founded in 1960. It offers more specialized health care plans in order to meet more specific needs for employees of the education, automobile, health and municipal industries. Along with the insurance benefits American Fidelity provides, it offers financial services to these workers.
Types of Policies
Here are the types of insurance policies each company offers and the similarities and differences between them:
Life Insurance
No one likes to think of the possibility of death; however, it will inevitably happen. Both companies give options to provide for the rest of the family once a primary household member is gone.
- Aetna’s Group Life
Aetna’s life insurance is only available through a group plan provided by an employer. Its Basic Term Life plan simply offers a cash payment to beneficiaries when a policy holder passes away. This payment can be increased through a supplemental term life plan with Aetna. They also offer life insurance for dependents such as a spouse or children and insurance for certain bodily injuries.
- American Fidelity’s Life
Term life insurance is a popular policy for providers during their income-earning years. These policies are available in terms of 10, 20 and 30 years. American Fidelity also offers permanent life insurance from which cash can be drawn prior to death and is guaranteed for a beneficiary up to the age of 100 years.
Smaller plans for children and grandchildren can be purchased and will transfer to a different type of policy when the child reaches age 25. All policies are portable; so if a policy owner changes jobs, the policy goes with him to his next place of employment.
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Health Insurance
- Aetna’s Medical Policies
Aetna has a large network of doctors and specialists from which to choose. They insure both individuals purchasing insurance on their own and employers purchasing group policies. Their benefits and health care tools make caring for one’s health easier.
Aetna members have the option of vision and dental insurance and also have access to a pharmacy plan for less expensive prescriptions. Members can also take advantage of the end of life care offered by Aetna as part of their regular benefits. Aetna does offer Health Expense Accounts such as a HSA or a FSA but only through an employer.
- American Fidelity’s Health Accounts
American Fidelity operates its medical benefits in a slightly different way. They primarily provide accounts for benefits in which members contribute money to pay for qualified health care items and services. The Health Savings Account and the Health Flexible Spending Account they offer are tax free.
The essential difference is the Health Savings Account (HSA) provides a way for members to reimburse themselves for expenses but the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) provides a debit card to purchase eligible services and products up front. American Fidelity also offers an account for Dependent Daycare in which necessary expenses accrued in child care can be reimbursed. For those on a limited budget, it provides Accident Only Insurance to cover unexpected expenses due to accidents.
Long Term Care Insurance
- Aetna’s Disability Coverage
If a policy is purchased through an employer, Aetna will replace part of income lost due to a short-term or long-term disability. Claims must be filed correctly, and there will be a period of elimination before the disability pay begins. This gives policy owners a chance to recover without struggling to pay the rent as well.
- American Fidelity’s Disability and Other Long Term Care Plans
American Fidelity also offers disability insurance. They call it “insurance on your income”. They offer a similar policy for unexpected hospital stays called Hospital Idemnity Insurance. For those with cancer insurance policies through American Fidelity, the company will reimburse out-of-pocket expenses even including lodging and travel expenses associated with treatment.
Aetna Pros
- Long 150 year history
- More traditional health plans for ease at the provider’s office
- Specialized end of life care at no extra cost
Aetna Cons
- Most plans only available through an employer
- Not as many long term care options
American Fidelity Pros
- Family owned and operated
- More options for self-employed individuals
- Unique dependent day care options
American Fidelity Cons
- Only offer account options for health insurance which are a little less convenient
- Slightly more complicated health care
Both Aetna and American Fidelity Assurance are excellent, nationally recognized companies. They offer quality insurance benefits and various options from which families can choose. While either company can be a great choice, Aetna seems to cater to those employed by larger companies where the employer purchases the insurance. American Fidelity seems to have the best options for those that are self-employed or purchasing their own insurance policies.
Making the Best Choice
Purchasing insurance is a very personal decision which can only be made by the individual purchasing it based upon his needs and those of his family. For example, those seeking better care for their children might lean towards American Fidelity’s dependent daycare program.
On the other side of the spectrum, a person nearing the elderly years might choose Aetna’s end of life care program which comes to them at no extra cost when a medical policy is purchased. Fortunately, with companies like Aetna and American Fidelity Assurance, quality health care can be provided for the needs of any family.
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