3 Tips to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Health Insurance Plan

If you've recently been forced to start looking at various health insurance plans, whether on your own or through your employer, you know that the options available to you can be overwhelming. So if you feel like you're drowning in a sea of deductibles, premiums, and benefits, take a look at the tips below. Keep them in mind when you're sifting through health insurance plans, and you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that in case of an emergency -- or even a simple check-up -- you're adequately covered.

1. Find a Plan That's Compatible With Local Health Providers

Even if a plan checks virtually everything off your list, it's essentially worthless if you don't have convenient access to the network providers. So when you're narrowing down your list of preferred plans to just five or ten, remember to check that each of them give you access to the doctors and hospitals you frequent. Without convenient access to network providers, you may find yourself driving long distances, dealing with the hassle of forwarding medical records to your new providers, or worse yet, receiving inferior medical care.

2. Remember That Premiums Aren't Everything

When choosing a health insurance plan, people focus all too often on the plans with the lowest monthly premiums. But such a narrow view can prevent you from choosing the best overall plan. Other things you want to look at include co-pay amounts (for things like regular doctor visits), annual deductibles, as well as coinsurance payments up to a specified maximum amount. More often than not, plans with the least expensive premiums will make up for those low costs in other ways, so read the fine print before making an impulsive decision.

3. Seek Advice From an Agent

If you're attempting to choose a health insurance plan based solely on research you're doing yourself, whether online or through the recommendations of friends and family, chances are you won't walk away with the best deal. To find the best health insurance plan for you, first try contacting your state's regulatory office. They'll point you in the direction of an independent agent who represents several major insurance companies and who can present a more straightforward view of your options. Even then, it's best to ask about an agent's commissions on various plans to make sure you aren't being sold a plan you don't need. But with the help of an experienced and knowledgeable agent, you can much more easily select the plan that's right for you. And when you're looking for a new health insurance plan, be sure to take a look at all the local insurance options too, such as Lubenow Insurance Agency.