Choosing a health insurance company for you and for family might be one of the most important decision you will make. Exploring the different insurance carriers and the many plans offered can be very confusing. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind when choosing the best option for you and your family:
- Talk to your doctor.
If you have been seeing a physician for a long time and are not willing to give him up, ask him about what health insurance companies he provides services for. This step is crucial to help you narrow down your options.
- Review the networks.
Every health insurance plan has a network of providers—doctors, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, and pharmacies that have signed contracts with the insurance company agreeing to provide their services to plan members at a specific price. If a doctor or hospital is not in your plan’s network, the insurance company may not cover the bill, or may require you to pay a much higher share of the cost.
- Choose the right plan.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a health plan. Think about both your medical and financial needs – from coverage options to monthly premiums, to co-payments and deductibles. Consider your family situation, your family’s anticipated health care needs and available plan options. It’s a good idea to assess your needs and identify your priorities so you know what to look for in a plan. Consider costs, coverage, benefits, doctor flexibility and plan limitations to help you decide which plan is right for you.
If after considering these 3 steps you are still confused, call us today and we will help you find the perfect health insurance plan for you and your family.
Excellent article. Yes, the trick in today’s health insurance system is to pick the right doctor and network before choosing the plan. If you have preferences as who should take care of your health, pick the network first and then the plan or insurance company.
How do you pick the network? Very simple, call your doctor and ask him/her what insurance company and which plan he or she takes. Insurance companies have 2 or more networks. So, make sure to ask for the name of the network because the insurance company name alone does not guarantee your doctor is in the network.
If you don’t have a doctor of your preference, pick a major hospital that is accepted by your insurance and stick to the doctors at that hospital. All paperwork and bureaucracy such as referrals, laboratory work, Pharmacy, etc can be greatly simplified and reduced by having one hospital or health system taking care of your health.
Thank you! We are glad you’ve found it useful. Thanks for your tip on choosing a hospital, it’s great advice!