Choosing a health plan: What should you look for

Today's health plan customers are in a better position than ever before to become educated health care consumers and to make informed choices about which health plan is best for them, based on their individual needs and experience. Asking yourself some key questions will give you a leg up when choosing the health plan that is right for you.

Based on a recent study released by the WellPoint Institute of Health Care Knowledge on what consumers want in a health plan, the following questions may be helpful to our potential customers when they are considering which health plan to choose this open enrollment season:

Am I satisfied with my current choice of networks and doctors?

Are my current doctors covered by this health plan?

What is my household's current and anticipated health care service usage, what are the kinds of things we will need?

What are my out-of-pocket expenses and monthly premium costs? Does is it make sense for me to pay a higher premium for lower out-of-pockets, or vice versa?

Prescriptions are one of the most utilized benefits. What coverage is provided by the plans I'm evaluating? Are my current prescriptions covered and at what level?

How much will it cost me if an emergency situation occurs?

What types of health or wellness programs could I (or my Family) benefit from?

Are these types of programs offered by the health plan I'm evaluating?

Have I looked into health plan report cards provided by independent organizations?

Do the health plans I'm evaluating provide tools for estimating the costs of health care services?

What types of experiences are friends and Family having with their health plans when they have questions?

Are my customer service needs met quickly and efficiently?