Step 1: Gather Basic Information

• Traditional Health Insurance. Also known as "indemnity" insurance; you choose your doctor and hospital, and you or the provider send the bill to the insurance company. You pay an annual deductible after which the insurance company generally pays 80% of the "usual and customary" charges and you pay the remainder. This option gives you maximum freedom in choosing providers, but you will generally pay more out of your own pocket.
• Managed Care Options. Managed care plans were designed to help control the cost of health care services, while ideally improving quality, too. You give up some freedom in terms of which providers you can use, but get lower out-of-pocket costs in return.

Step 2: Assess Your Needs

To help narrow your search for the health plan that best matches your needs, take a look at your current health care use, anticipated medical expenses, and what services are most important to you and your family. Ask yourself the following questions to help you evaluate your current situation:

• Do you want to continue your relationship with your current primary care physician? Is he/she part of your new health plan?
• Do you want the flexibility of seeing out-of-network providers?
• Do you use healthcare services frequently, e.g. for a chronic disease?
• Do you have children who require preventive care, such as immunizations or frequent physician or emergency room visits for accidents?
• Have you evaluated individual health plan options as an alternative to group insurance? Sometimes it can be a cost-effective option, especially for younger children. Information on individual health plan options is available by clicking on the "Resources" tab on our website at http://www.carecounsel.com
• How much can you afford to pay for monthly premiums? Keep in mind that a lower monthly premium doesn't necessarily save you money. Make sure you thoroughly evaluate your potential out-of-pocket expenses.
• Do you anticipate hospital stays, e.g. pregnancy? Could you afford the coinsurance rate if you had an unexpected hospitalization?
• Are you currently being treated for a medical condition? Will the plan cover treatment immediately or is there a waiting period?
• Do you travel frequently? Will the health plan cover medical expenses if you are out of the area?
• Would you prefer to receive care at a particular hospital? Is it part of the plan's network? If you signed up for a medical group within a HMO, is the hospital in their network?

Step 3: Compare Plans

Although it may be difficult to find one health plan that offers exactly what you need, you'll benefit from taking a closer look at your options and making a list of pros and cons for each plan. You'll want to compare the plan's benefits, access, costs, convenience, customer service, and quality, and then decide which plan best fits your healthcare needs.

• Benefits/Coverage
• Access
• Costs
• Convenience
• Customer Service
• Quality

http://reportcard.ncqa.org/plan/external/Plansearch.aspx
http://www.jdpower.com/Healthcare/ratings/health-plan-ratings
http://www.opa.ca.gov/report_card (California only, but includes medical group ratings).

Step 4 Ask for Recommendations

• Ask your family doctor to comment on the plan's:
• Ease of specialty referrals and availability of specialists
• Hospitals, formulary, preventive care
• Claims and utilization review process
• Ask family and friends for recommendations, especially if they are healthcare professionals.
• Talk over any questions or concerns with a CareCounselor.

Step 5 Make Your Choice

Your ultimate choice in health plans should match your needs and priorities at a reasonable cost. It's important that your decision be based on complete information. So be sure to read all available health plan materials and contact the health plan representative or CareCounsel, if you still have unanswered questions. Once you understand and compare your different health plan options, you can pick the one that best fits your family's needs.

For more information, contact CareCounsel at 1-888-227-3334.