Health Insurance

[This article on choosing health insurance was written in 1997. Editorial comments to clarify and update this health insurance information have been added in brackets. This is general information and some of this may or may not be relevant to your situation depending on what health insurance laws have been enacted in your state. - ed.]

Choosing and Using a Plan

Contents

Changes and Choices – Health Insurance

Overview – Health Insurance

Choosing a Plan – Health Insurance

1. What Are My Health Plan Choices? – Health Insurance

2. Where Do I Get These Health Plans? – Health Insurance

3. What Plan Benefits Are Offered? – Health Insurance

4. What Is Most Important to Me in a Plan? – Health Insurance

5. How Do I Compare Health Plans? – Health Insurance

6. How Do I Find Out About Quality? – Health Insurance

Using Care – Health Insurance

7. How Can I Get the Most from My Plan? – Health Insurance

8. How Do I Obtain Care? – Health Insurance

9. What if I Have to Go to the Hospital? – Health Insurance

10. What if I Am Not Satisfied with My Care? – Health Insurance

Primary Care Doctors – Health Insurance

Pre-Existing Conditions – Health Insurance

Tips on Choosing a Doctor – Health Insurance

Sources of Additional Information – Health Insurance

General Information – Health Insurance

Accreditation and Quality – Health Insurance

Next - Health Insurance Changes                               Health Insurance Quotes

[The structure of health insurance has not changed much since this article was written. However, health insurance premiums have increased dramatically since that time. There are a number of reasons for this health insurance inflation, but much of it arises from medical cost inflation from the ongoing introduction of new expensive medical technologies and a significant increase in pharmaceutical claims.

A special federal tax deduction for health insurance using the Health Savings Account health insurance was introduced in 2004. - ed.]