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