subject: Choosing The Best Health Insurance Plan [print this page] When it comes to choosing between health insurance plans, the jargon and fine print can easily prove overwhelming. While you may feel the urge to play "eeny, meeny, miney, moe" and simply pick one at random, it is nevertheless extremely important to overcome your frustration and ensure that you are making the right choice for both you and your family. Your financial future just may depend on it.
One of the first things to do when figuring out which health insurance plan is the best for you is to sit down and identify your medical needs. If you have any pre-existing conditions, these will need to be covered by the new plan if possible. Individuals prone to catching viruses and other contagious illnesses should make sure that they will be able to obtain the required care when needed, and anyone with the possibility of becoming pregnant should also take this into account and ensure that coverage is offered for both prenatal care and labor expenses.
Also, the best health insurance plan for your neighbor or parent may not be the best plan for you. Do take into account recommendations (or warnings) from those you trust, but understand that you have different circumstances and medical issues or predispositions, requiring different type of policies to best fit your needs.
Anyone with minimal health problems will be best fit with a health insurance plan that offers relatively minimal coverage. Naturally you will need coverage for any major medical expenses, but without the expense of frequent doctor visits, tests, and medications, the most comprehensive plan will likely be unnecessary. Look for a plan with a higher deductible and lower monthly premium in this case.
Individuals with children have another aspect to be concerned about. It is a well-known fact that kids get sick frequently growing up as their bodies fight off minor illnesses, resulting in a stronger immune system. In addition, children are prone to trips and falls, random accidents, and succumbing to dares that result in trips to the family doctor, urgent care center, or even emergency room. With all of these additional expenses to worry about, you need to be sure that your child is covered for any such medical expenses.
Another factor to take into account is the choice of service providers that are considered in-network. Someone that frequently travels will not be well-served by HMO health insurance, and should instead consider a policy with in-network providers nationwide. Accidents happen and illnesses descend regardless of your proximity to an in-network service provider, so be sure that you are prepared in case this happens.
Carefully examine all parts of your health insurance plan quote(s) and be sure that you completely understand it all. If not, contact the customer service hotline to obtain an explanation, and above all, be safe and choose a health insurance policy based on information rather than a cursory glance at the premium.
by: Casey Trillbar
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