write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

You are a new graduate, and you just started work at a medium-sized hospital with an attached clinic. You have been asked to review the five different types of health care insurance plans and the characteristics of each to make sure the central business office (CBO) is up-to-date on all the rules and regulations. It is important to be familiar with these plans and the characteristics of each because they play a vital role in the reimbursement process for your health care organization. Discuss the following:

• List the five different types of health care plans and 2–3 characteristics of each.
• Explain why it is important to understand the differences in these plans.
• What are some of the similarities between the plans?
• What are some of the differences?
• Would an out-of-date policy from one of these plans affect the facilities reimbursement? If so, how?

Note: It is important to remember that health insurance is a contract between a policyholder (the insured) and a third-party payer or government health program that reimburses the policyholder for all or a portion of the cost of treatment or preventive care given by a health care professional or physician.