| What are your 3 affordable health insurance | | | | limiting some of my choices. |
| choices? | | | | |
| | | | 1. I travel a lot or have children that live |
| There are many different types of affordable | | | | away from me and we may need to see doctors |
| health insurance. Each has pros and cons. | | | | in other parts of the country. |
| There is no one "best" plan. The plan that's | | | | |
| right for a single person may not be best for | | | | 2. I do not travel a lot and almost all care |
| a family with small children. And a plan that | | | | for my family will be needed in our local |
| works for one family may not be right for | | | | area. |
| another. Blended families may have a | | | | |
| divorced spouse paying for the children's | | | | 1. I don't mind an affordable health |
| coverage. Look at all angles upfront. | | | | insurance plan that includes filling out |
| | | | forms or keeping receipts and sending them in |
| For example, if your family includes just two | | | | for payment. |
| adults, it may be less expensive for each of | | | | |
| you to have individual coverage than for just | | | | 2. I prefer not to fill out forms or keep |
| one of you to have a family plan. If you have | | | | receipts. I want most of my care covered |
| children, or if you might have children soon, | | | | without a lot of paperwork. |
| you need a family plan. If a child is going | | | | |
| off to college, be sure they are covered as | | | | 1. In addition to my premiums, I am willing |
| most policies allow students continued | | | | to pay for the cost of routine and preventive |
| coverage. Because your situation may change, | | | | care, such as office visits, checkups, and |
| review your affordable health insurance | | | | shots. I also like knowing that I can get an |
| regularly to make sure you have the | | | | appointment for these services when I want |
| protection you need. | | | | one. |
| | | | |
| Choosing an affordable health insurance plan | | | | 2. I want a health plan that includes routine |
| is like making any other major purchase: you | | | | and preventive care. I don't mind if I have |
| choose the plan that meets both your needs | | | | to wait for these services to be scheduled |
| and your budget. For most people, this means | | | | for an available appointment with my doctor. |
| deciding which plan is worth the cost. For | | | | |
| example, plans that allow you the most | | | | 1. If I need to see a specialist, I probably |
| choices in doctors and hospitals also tend to | | | | will ask my doctor for a recommendation, but |
| cost more than plans that limit choices. | | | | I want to decide whom to go to and when. I |
| Plans that help to manage the care you | | | | don't want to have to see my primary care |
| receive usually cost you less, but you give | | | | doctor each time before I can see a |
| up some freedom of choice. | | | | specialist. |
| | | | |
| Cost isn't the only thing to consider when | | | | 2. I don't mind if my primary care doctor |
| buying affordable health insurance. You also | | | | must refer me to specialists. If my doctor |
| need to consider what benefits are covered. | | | | doesn't think I need a special service that |
| You need to compare plans carefully for both | | | | is fine with me. |
| cost and coverage. Some of the newer plans | | | | |
| will offer high deductibles and a health | | | | If your answers are mostly 1: You want to |
| savings account. For healthy families, this | | | | make your own health care choices, even if it |
| is great benefit going forward. | | | | costs you more and takes more paperwork. |
| | | | Fee-for-service may be the best plan for you. |
| Although there are many names for affordable | | | | |
| health insurance plans, the information here | | | | If your answers are mostly 2: You are |
| groups them as three main types: | | | | willing to give up some choices to hold down |
| | | | your medical costs. You also want help in |
| * Fee-For-Service (or Traditional Affordable | | | | managing your care. Consider a health |
| health insurance). | | | | maintenance organization. |
| | | | |
| * Health Maintenance Organizations (or HMOs). | | | | If your answers are some 1's and some 2's: |
| | | | You might want to look for a plan such as a |
| * Preferred Provider Organizations (or PPOs). | | | | preferred provider organization that combines |
| | | | some of the features of fee-for-service and a |
| Which Type Is Right for You? | | | | health maintenance organization. |
| | | | |
| For each group, simply choose the statement 1 | | | | The differences among fee-for-service plans, |
| or 2 that best describes how you feel (your | | | | HMOs, and PPOs are not as clear-cut as they |
| spouse needs to be in on this decision also): | | | | once were. Fee-for-service plans have adopted |
| | | | some activities used by HMOs and PPOs to |
| 1. Having complete freedom to choose doctors | | | | control the use of medical services. And HMOs |
| and hospitals is the most important thing | | | | and PPOs are offering more freedom to choose |
| to me in a health plan, even if it costs | | | | doctors, the way fee-for-service plans do. By |
| more. | | | | studying your affordable health insurance |
| | | | options carefully, you will be able to pick |
| 2. Holding down my costs is the most | | | | the one that provides you with the coverage |
| important thing to me, even if it means | | | | you need, no matter what it is called. |