How to shop for health insurance
If you find yourself shopping for health insurance in the private market, here are some guidelines:
Check online.
Start by looking at policies offered on www.ehealthinsurance.com. Or ask friends who have purchased policies on their own about their coverage.
Tap a pro.
Consider hiring a licensed health-insurance broker to find a policy for you. To locate an agent, visit the site of the National Association of Health Underwriters (www.nahu.org). Most members are independent agents representing several plans.
Compare policies.
List your key questions so you can compare potential policies. You want to compare premiums, deductibles, co-pays and coverage for out-of-network providers, which medical services are covered and which are excluded, and limits on annual or lifetime visits to mental-health professionals and other specialists.
Know the risks.
You can lose your coverage if you lie on an application or do not pay premiums, or if the insurer decides to no longer operate in your state.