What Benefits are Important to You?

Different health plans have different benefits. Before you choose a plan you need to decide which benefits are most important to you and to your family and then make sure that the plan you are considering provides the benefits you need.

Depending on your age and your family situation you may not need some of the benefits being offered (such as pregnancy services). By prioritizing your needs and juggling the benefits to fit those needs, you can often come up with a plan that not only provides the required services but one which offers economic incentives, as well.

Some of the things you might consider when comparing policies include:

• Inpatient hospital coverage
• Outpatient surgery benefits
• Medical tests, lab work and X-rays
• Preventative care such as an annual physical, mammograms, Pap smear
• Maternity care
• Well-baby and well-child care
• Doctor’s office visits – what is the co-pay or coinsurance payment?
• Doctor’s visits in the hospital
• Skill nursing care – and for how long?
• Prescription drug benefits
• Home health care visits – how many?
• Dental care
• Mental heath benefits – and for how long?
• Drug and alcohol treatments – and for how long?
• Rehabilitation
• Physical and speech therapy
• Hospice care
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture and other alternative care

Before you begin comparing health plans it is a good idea to make a list of those things that are of the greatest concern to you and to your family, and then spend the time necessary searching out the plan that meets the largest number of your needs at a price that you can afford. In this way you can be certain of getting the most health care that’s right for you for the least cost.