How to Compare Health Insurance Companies

When you enter the workforce, you will want to get some sort of health care plan to help you pay for coverage whenever you need to see a doctor. There may seem to be countless companies and plans. But with careful consideration, you may be able to choose the right health care plan.

Things You'll Need

• Health Insurance company plan printouts

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Instructions

• 1

  Assess your own health needs. If you have a family with young children, you could need a plan that covers a lot of preventive care and urgent care. If you have no kids and are in good shape, maybe you'll need less coverage.

• 2

  Consider your future health care issues. If you are part of a young couple that plans on having children soon, the prenatal and natal care factors may factor pretty heavily. If you've been putting off surgery because you've had no health care, that may be an important issue as well. Some plans may offer better care to seniors than others. This could be important if you plan to stay with your company through retirement.

• 3

  Examine the doctors and centers each plan uses. If you choose a preferred provider organization health care plan (PPO), you will get the best rates by seeing the plan's selected physicians. A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will cost less per month but you will only be allowed to see the specialists your assigned physician refers you to in order to reap the benefits. You may end up paying more for a plan that gives you access to the caregivers you want, but that could be better than paying less for caregivers you would rather not see.

• 4

  Compare the premium costs for similar plans. There may be some give and take between similar plans with differing rates. By comparing the information you gained from Steps 1 and 2, you'll be able to discern which plan is worth the premium you'll be paying.

• 5

  Check your employer to see if they have the plan that you want. You might be offered better rates by signing up through your employer. For example, federal employees who enroll in a PPO can expect the government to pay up to two thirds of the premium per month with some plans.