Crohn's Disease - Which Insurance Plan Is Best for Your Disease

Named after Burrill Crohn's who first described the disease in 1932, Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms associated with the disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, arthritis, vomiting, skin rashes, and weight loss. The cause of the disease is up for debate. Some think it is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system considers the gastrointestinal tract the enemy and attacks it. Others argue that there are genetic and environmental components to the onset of the disease. This view is supported by the fact that the majority of cases occur in western industrialized nations.

There is no cure for Crohn's disease and treatment centers around prevention of inflammation, prolonging remission, and managing symptoms. Patients are usually prescribed a combination of drugs that include corticosteroids, antibiotics, and immunomodulators. They are also encouraged to make lifestyle changes, such as quit smoking and to switch to smaller meals through the day, which may reduce the occurrence of symptoms. This disease does carry a risk of having blockages develop in the intestines, such as fistulas or abscesses, which may require surgery to remove. If the disease is bad enough, a doctor may prescribe complete removal of whole sections of the intestines which can create other problems.

Since Crohn's disease requires lifetime treatment and there is a risk of needing surgery in the future, you will want to go with an insurance that will allow you to see specialists without too much hassle. A preferred provider organization (PPO) plan will probably be your best option. Although it is more expensive than other insurance plans, it provides you with the most flexibility to get the care that you need. With other insurance plans, particularly HMOs, you need permission to see specialists from a primary care physician. This can cause unnecessary roadblocks to be erected in your path to good health care.

You can control the cost of your health care insurance by being smart about how you shop for it. Making good use of a health insurance quote website is a great way to save time and money shopping for insurance. These websites will provide you with quotes from multiple insurance providers which will save you from having to call each company or dealing with a pushy insurance agent. You will also be able to view each individual plan to ensure it provides the coverage you need to manage your Crohn's disease. Getting affordable health insurance that fits your needs is as easy as clicking your mouse.