Picking a Plan

• Picking an insurance plan that is best for you and your family is one of the more difficult parts of getting health insurance. One factor to consider is just how often this insurance plan is going to be used. Do you or your family need medication on a regular basis? Do you have frequent trips to your doctor for more than just a regular check-up? If you and your family are mostly healthy people who normally only see a doctor once a year for an annual checkup, then a plan with a lower premium that offers less coverage may be for you. The premium is what you pay for your insurance each month. Depending on what your plan consists of, your premium may be expensive. However, if you want a heath care plan that will cover you in an emergency, the premium may be a lot lower than if you need your insurance company to help pay for medicine on a regular basis.
  
  The best way to make sure you are getting the best deal possible when purchasing your own health insurance is to shop around. Call as many insurance companies as you can and compare quotes. After the insurance broker gets all of your information, he will offer you a quote. One company may offer similar coverage for a lower price, but you may not know that unless you shop around.
  
  

Deductibles and Co-Pay

• The deductible on your insurance plan is how much money you have to pay for medical coverage out of pocket before the insurance company begins to pay. A higher deductible usually means a lower premium per month. However, it would be a wise decision to get a lower deductible if you are regularly in need of medical care. This means the insurance company will pay for your treatments sooner. A lower deductible will mean a higher monthly premium.
  
  An insurance co-pay is what you will have to pay when you visit a doctor. A co-pay will vary greatly depending on which insurance plan you have. Some plans have the patient paying a low co-pay, in the range of $5 to $20. Other co-pays can be as high as $50. Some insurance plans have no co-pay at all. The catch to this plan is that rather than the insurance provider paying for your visit, and the patient paying a co-pay, the patient will receive a reduced bill for the entire visit. While the bill will not be a full charge because the insurance company lowers the bill with a contracted rate, the bill may still be expensive depending on the procedure.
  
  

Coverage

• The insurance plan coverage will vary depending on the company through which it is purchased and what that plan includes. These specific questions can be answered by a representative from your individual insurance company.
  
  Most insurance plans have specific doctors who they deal with. Most doctors accept multiple insurance plans, but not every doctor accepts every plan. To make matters more complicated, if you need to see a specialist for any reason, some insurance companies need an official referral from a general practitioner before coverage will be extended. Even after a referral is given, that specialist will need to be included in your insurance's coverage.