Principles of Healthcare Insurance

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the essential concepts of health insurance, billing, and reimbursement in the U.S. healthcare system. Students will learn about insurance plan types, managed care structures, coding systems, claims processing, and the reg ulations that guide compliance and reimbursement. The course emphasizes practical skills such as obtaining, verifying, and scanning patient insurance information; collecting payments, copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles at the time of service; explaining insurance coverage and financial responsibility; and coordinating patient referrals, benefits, and eligibility. Students will also recognize and differentiate between various commercial and government health care insurance plans, including PPOs, HMOs, M edicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Advantage plans. By the end of the course, students will understand how health insurance impacts healthcare delivery and be prepared to apply foundational billing and reimbursement knowledge in professional settings.