3 Questions To Ask Before Picking A Health Insurance Plan

Health insurance can be complicated. We’re here to help make it easier. If you’re choosing a plan during this year’s open enrollment period, we can help walk you through the process.

Open enrollment begins on November 1, 2020 and runs through December 15, 2020. With only a month and a half to select a plan that works for you, it’s best to get started early.

As you research plans, here are three questions to ask:

How much coverage do you think you’ll need?

Consider your personal health needs and the amount of care you typically use.

A bronze plan is good for people who want protection from worst-case medical scenarios, like a serious illness or injury. This type of plan can have low monthly premiums but pays less of your costs when you need care.

A silver or gold plan will have higher monthly premiums. These plans will cover more of your routine care and regular prescription drug costs.

What are the costs associated with each plan?

When shopping for a plan, there are two types of costs to consider. One is your premium, or the amount that you pay your insurance company each month.

The second is your out-of-pocket expenses. These are things like co-pays, deductibles, and any other costs not covered by your insurance plan.

Together these costs make up your total health care expenses. It’s important to consider both your monthly payment and your expected medical expenses when choosing a plan.

Many people and families qualify for savings on their monthly premiums based on income. Find out if you qualify and apply for your subsidy through healthcare.gov.

Which doctors do you see?

Check to see if any doctors you regularly use are in-network for the plan you’re considering. This is important because seeing in-network doctors will cost you less than seeing out-of-network doctors.

Remember that with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, you’ll never need a referral to see a specialist. As part of our efforts to keep costs down, Blue Cross NC works closely with many North Carolina hospitals and physicians to help get you access to quality, affordable care, when you need it.

Annual Open Enrollment for Individuals and Families starts Nov 1. Want more information? Contact the Health Plans of NC Independent Agent on this website.