The world of health insurance can seem looming and downright confusing to anyone who has never had to go through the process of searching before. The thing about health insurance is that there are thousands of options to choose from. Between premiums, plans, out of pocket costs, and deductibles, keeping track of all the information can get a little chaotic. If you’re in the market for quality health insurance, you may be wondering where to start. Check out these top things to consider when searching for your ideal health insurance!
Your Needs
The number one thing to consider when shopping for health insurance is your needs. Do you have any current medications that must be covered by your new insurance? Is there a specific doctor that you want to make sure is in your new provider network?
It’s important to have a list of your needs on hand when searching for health insurance. Many providers even offer a place on their website to search medications or medical facilities by name to see if they’re covered on the health plan.
Pricing
Pricing is yet another major contender to keep in mind when searching for the perfect health insurance plan. Everyone’s financial situation is different. If you’re looking for the best health insurance plan for you, you’ll want to think about how much you’ll be willing to pay both per month and for your deductibles, provided you need to use the health insurance.
Some websites even allow users to compare health insurance plans side by side by price and compare numbers directly across multiple plans at the same time. A few major price points to keep in mind include your monthly premium, your copay, your deductible, and any other out of pocket cost. If it just sounded like I was speaking another language, have no fear! We’ll break these terms down one by one.
Premiums
Premiums are the payments you make to the health insurance company either monthly or yearly to secure your health insurance. These can range greatly depending on the kind of insurance you decide to purchase.
Copay
Copays are a set amount of money that you’ll pay per visit to your doctor directly. These prices sometimes vary based on what type of doctor you see. Some users may also have a set copay for their pharmacy. These prices are usually listed directly on the user’s health insurance card.
Deductible
A deductible is a certain amount of out of pocket expenses that you must pay before your health insurance will cover 100% of all your expenses. Usually, this is a specific dollar amount that is met through copays or other out of pocket costs.
The Fine Print
As with anything in life, it’s always important to pay attention to the fine print when shopping around for the perfect health insurance. Certain plans may have a set wait time before the policy actually begins. Some plans may only cover certain procedures or doctors in their network. It’s always important to keep your needs both medical and financial in mind when researching which health insurance plan is the best for you!