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