How to choose a health plan

The plan with the lowest premium isn't always the cheapest. The right choice depends on how much care you expect, your doctors and your medications.

Steps

1. List the care you expect next year: visits, prescriptions, planned procedures
2. Check that your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy are in each plan's network
3. Check each plan's drug list (formulary) for your medications
4. Add up premiums plus your expected share of costs
5. Look at the worst case: premiums plus the out-of-pocket maximum

Try it

Our health plan cost calculator compares two plans for your expected care.

General educational information, not medical or insurance advice. Dime and Dollar isn't paid by any insurer, provider, pharmacy or discount program.