What to Look for When Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
Millions of people in the US don’t have health insurance. While it’s not the law that you have to have it, you’ll regret not being insured when an emergency happens. The last thing you want is to pay out of pocket for a ride in the wee woo van.
There are many things that you have to consider when choosing the best health insurance company to suit your needs.
There’s your budget, of course, and you don’t want to pay for more coverage than you need. We can help you find a plan that will suit all your criteria. Check out this guide to learn more.
Set Your Budget
The good thing about buying a health insurance plan is that there is one out there to fit any budget. Ultimately, you can choose to pay a high monthly premium in exchange for amazing coverage or pay a lower premium and have to pay out more at the doctor’s office.
If you don’t tend to get sick too often, you can probably handle paying the higher doctor visit cost. The opposite is true if you have a chronic condition. Medications get pricey.
Be sure to get a quote on several different plans to get the best deal.
Consider Major Life Events
Once you’ve decided how much health insurance coverage you can afford, it’s time to take a moment to consider any sudden life changes. You may need a more extensive health insurance policy if doing any family planning, for example.
Turning 26
As soon as you turn 26, if you’re still on your parent’s family health insurance, you’ll have to break away and find your own. If you’re strapped for cash at this age and can’t get insurance through your work, you can most likely find some nice starter insurance on the Marketplace Plan website.
If you see a specific doctor or get certain medications covered under your parent’s plan, you’ll have to find insurance that’s within a similar network.
Family Planning
If you’re thinking about having a family, you need to get coverage for delivery, prenatal, postnatal, and fertility coverage. You’re going to want to get as much insurance as you can so, you’re best off biting the bullet with higher monthly premiums.
Once the little one arrives, you’ve got to consider pediatric care, vision, and dental coverage. The good news is that most plans cover these things for children.
You’re Moving
If you’re going to be packing up your bags and moving any time soon, you should consider a preferred provider organization. It allows you to visit any physician without getting a referral from another one as long as they are within a certain network.
Signing up for this option before you go will save you the trouble of looking for another plan once you arrive in your new area. If you do mess up and get a region-locked plan, you will get to choose another one.
You’re Changing Jobs
Many jobs have some kind of health insurance that employees can opt into. Before you hop on the Marketplace, look at the benefits that your work insurance provides. You might be able to get decent coverage without it draining your paycheck.
If you’re between jobs and want to wait until you get a new one to get coverage, you’ll still need something to get by. There are temporary options available.
You’re older Than 65
If you’re older than 65, there’s a good chance that you will qualify for Medicare. You’ll have a couple of options when you’re signing up. Make sure to do your research to choose the best one for you.
Getting Married
If you’ve popped the question to your best friend and are planning a wedding, you might want to consult your spouse before you pick a healthcare plan. You can choose couples insurance or single health insurance. There are pros and cons of both options.
Types of Insurance
Now that you know what to look for, you need to learn about the different types of plans. There are four kinds that you should consider when you’re looking for insurance.
HMOs
If you’re on a budget, HMOs will be right for you. Since it has a smaller network, you don’t have to pay as much for it. If you need to see a specialist, you’ll have to get a referral from your primary health provider first.
The downside is that if you get sick or injured while you’re out of town, you’ll have no choice but to pay for the doctor’s visit out of pocket.
PPOs
If you have a little bit extra money to spend each month on health insurance, consider PPOs. You won’t have to get a referral before seeing a specialist.
If you get sick while you’re gone on vacation, you’ll have coverage options. There’s a lot more freedom involved.
EPOs
You won’t see many EPOs on the Marketplace. It’s sort of a mixture between the two above. You won’t have many out-of-network options, but you won’t need a letter of recommendation to see a specialist.
POSs
POSs are also a hybrid. Sometimes you’ll have to get a referral from your doctor to see a specialist, but not always. You’ll have the option to get out-of-network care, but it will cost you less to go for in-network care.
Finding Best Health Insurance Company to Suit Your Needs
Once you reach a certain age, you’ll have to get off your parent’s wellness plan and trade up for the best health insurance company that you can get. Finding the right coverage isn’t as easy as it seems.
You have to consider how much you need and go from there. You don’t want to pay for more than you’re going to use. We hope that you’re able to use this guide to get started with your search.
Are you looking for more ways to manage your wellness care? Check out the Health Matters section of our blog for all the latest tips and tricks.
