How to Compare Aetna Health Insurances

Established in 1853, Aetna is a health insurance company offering planned provider organization and Medicare plans as well as health savings accounts. It is one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States. Although its range of plans may initially overwhelm you, taking time to consider your needs will help to narrow the choices. Determining how often you use medical care, what type of services you need most and what deductible you can afford will help you choose the right plan.

Instructions

• 1

  Obtain and examine your medical history. Find out what type of medical services you use most, and predict how likely you are to use them in the future.

• 2

  Use your medical history to decide between a high- or low-deductible plan. If you use medical services often, choose a low-deductible plan, such as the First Dollar PPO 40. Choose a high-deductible plan if you rarely use medical services. The higher a deductible is, the lower the premium is, so choosing a high deductible will lower your monthly premiums. Young and healthy people who rarely use medical services should consider high-deductible plans, such as the PPO 5000 or the PPO Value 5000.

• 3

  Figure out if you need a plan with additional benefits, such as mental health, chiropractor, brand name prescription or out-of-country coverage. Use your medical history to decide if you need such coverage. Bear in mind that additional coverage tends to increase monthly premiums. Aetna's PPO plans offer additional benefits, but its Preventive and Hospital Care Plan does not.

• 4

  Look at the coinsurance. The coinsurance states how much the insurance will pay for medical treatments, particularly emergency care. Decide how much you are willing to pay for a medical emergency, and choose your coinsurance accordingly. Aetna plans that are compatible with health savings accounts have no coinsurance, while the First Dollar PPO 40 plan has a 40 percent coinsurance.

• 5

  Choose if you want coverage for doctor visits before or after the deductible. Some Aetna plans, such as the High Deductible PPO 5000 or the High Deductible PPO 3000, do not cover doctor visits until you have paid off your annual deductible. If you frequently see doctors, consider a plan that covers doctors visits before the deductible.