Identifying the Right Policy Among a Sea of Options

Choosing insurance coverage is a big decision that can impact your family’s health and financial situation for the year.

Before selecting a health plan for your family, it’s critical you know and can anticipate your family’s healthcare needs. Knowing things like your family history, potential risk factors, and preferred doctors are all important factors that will help you choose the right plan.

For example, if your child has allergies, you’ll want to include a plan that allows for specialist doctor visits that won’t break your bank.

After outlining your needs, you’ll want to compare plans that accommodate them at the most reasonable cost to you.

All Plans are Not Created Equal

Some plans might have higher deductibles but come with better prescription plans. For a family member that requires expensive medication, choosing this kind of plan might be the better option. If you or a family member find yourselves in and out of the doctor’s office, a plan that has a higher premium might save you in the long run. If you or anyone in your family has high medical needs, look for a policy that has lower total cost-sharing amounts when considered as a group. Keep in mind that your actual total costs include the sum of the premium, the deductible, the co-payments and coinsurance, all up to your out-of-pocket max.

10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Plan

1. What is the deductible that I must meet first before my insurance starts to pay? Do I have a separate medication deductible and a medical deductible?

2. What are the out-of-pocket costs for providers, specifically co-payments and co-insurance amounts? What is an estimate for the total of these amounts?

3. Is my preferred doctor(s) in the plan network? (If you do choose to use a doctor that is out-of-network, you’ll want to understand how much will be reimbursed by the plan)

4. How much is my monthly premium? Do I qualify for any premium tax credits?

6. Does my plan offer access to the specialists I need or want to see?

7. Are the prescriptions I’m current taking covered by the plan? (Are they listed on the plan formulary?)

8. Does my plan include coverage if I have to visit an out-of-network provider, even for urgent or emergency care?

9. Does my plan qualify me for additional saving options like Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts or Cafeteria plans?

10. What do I need for dental or vision coverage? (If beyond annual checkups, you might need to get a separate plan to address these services, as health plans
have very limited benefits in these areas.)

Stay Organized and Seek Help if You Need It

Jot the answers down in a notebook so you can easily compare plans to determine which option is best for you and your family. If you’re still not sure which plan to choose, every insurer has a contact number you can reach out to if you have any questions. They’ll help you evaluate your needs to steer you toward a plan that best fits your needs.

It may seem like a lot of work, but your time and energy researching and comparing plans will be worth it in the long run and help you reduce your costs throughout the year.

Tools to Help You Compare

Finder.Healthcare.gov allows you to compare plans side by side, and contains tools to help you analyze how medical expenses impact your family’s budget.

CancerInsuranceChecklist.org provides guidance on the important items to consider in your plan options when diagnosed with a serious condition, even if not cancer-related.

nerdwallet.healthsherpa.com is an online tool that will present you with plan recommendations in your area.

A downloadable spreadsheet tool can be found at www.businessinsider.com/spreadsheet-for-pickingperfect-healthcare-plan-2016-11 that helps capture and calculate your expenses.

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