For any plan anywhere, claims paid are only those expenses covered by the plan up to the maximum lifetime or benefit specified.
Change the "Desired Coverage Start Date" if different from the default date.
When you click on "View Quotes", there may be hundreds of quotes to generate depending on the state, so please be patient.
Simplify the results: use the "Limit Plans By" boxes at the top to reduce the list to plans of a certain category so you can make an easier comparison.
These category boxes at the top of the page operate in combination with each other.
For example, under 'Plan Type', if you select 'HSA', and under 'Coinsurance' select '0%', leaving copay as 'N/A', the list of plans changes to only those that are HSA-qualified and pay 100% after deductible.
Keeping those selections, then select a carrier under the "Carrier' heading on the far right. The list changes to only the plans of that carrier that are HSA-qualified and pay 100% after deductible.
Now change 'Plan Type' to 'PPO', then under 'Your Coinsurance' select 20%, and under 'Carrier' select 'All'. The list changes to all plans that have a PPO claims network, and pay 80% of the expenses afer deductible up to a certain amount of expenses, and then pay 100%.
Making any selection under 'Copay' except 'N/A' or '$0', will eliminate all HSA plans from the list.
That amount of expenses at which the carrier pays 100% of covered expenses after deductible is commonly $5,000 or $10,000, but you need to click on 'Plan Details' at the bottom of each quote box to find what that figure is. You need to know what that figure is so you can compare between plans as to what your maximum annual out-of-pocket cost is.
Comparing deductibles alone is not sufficient because the annual out-of-pocket maximum is what you may have to pay (deductible + coinsurance).
If you could use an extra tax deduction, the selection of HSA under 'Plan Type' is the most useful . All plans selected will entitle you to open a health savings account and get a tax deduction for any deposits made. The accumulated balance in the account can be kept or can be spent on medical, dental, chiropractic, or vision expenses, etc. See the HSA articles in this sidebar and here.
The 'Plan Types' are explained in the article "PPO, HMO, No-Network" - see the link below in this sidebar.
Explanation of each plan: at the bottom left hand corner of each quote box is a link named according to the name of the plan. Clcking on the name of the plan will open the insurance company's brochure. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader program is usually needed to be installed on your computer.
Provider Lookup: This link goes to the claim network's directory of doctors and hospitals and other medical providers who have joined the network. Most doctors and hospitals join most PPO claims networks in their own area.
If you have a favorite doctor or hospital and cannot find them in the online network information, you could try calling the provider's office to see what they say. Be sure to ask about the network name, not the insurance company name. They "accept" and are members of the PPO network. They are not members of the insurance company.
Your Coinsurance: Under this column heading, if it says '0%' then the plan pays 100% after deductible.
If it says 30%, then you pay 30% after deductible and the plan pays 70%. Coinsurance means that both you and the insurance company pay a percentage of a specified range of expenses, e.g., sharing the cost of the next $5,000 after you have paid the deductible.
You pay that 30% only up to a certain amount of expenses each benefit year and then the insurance pays 100% from then on. Click on 'Plan Details' to see the 'Coinsurance' and the 'Coinsurance Limit'.
Copay: this column is always the physician office visit copayment, if any.
If it says $35, then you pay $35 for the doctor's time at an office visit and the insurance pays the rest. If lab tests and x-rays are not included in the copay benefit (usual for PPO), you would have to pay that cost until your deductible is met. Click on 'Plan Details' for more information.
If it says 'N/A', then there is no copay for office visits and you pay office visits in full until you have met your deductible. If it is a PPO plan, then you pay only the network contracted price if office visits are a covered expense (after deductible).
Compare tp to 4 Plans: there is a check box on the left side of each quote box where you can compare plans side by side. Just click on the check-boxes of the plans you want to compare and then click on 'Compare' under 'Compare Plans'.
"View Provider Network": Most doctors and hospitals join most PPO claims networks available to them. If you have a favorite doctor or hospital and cannot find them in the online network information, they may still be members under another name. Try calling the provider's office to see what they say. Be sure to ask about the network name, not the insurance company name if the carrier does not have its own network, but uses an independent claims network. Providers join the PPO network, not the insurance company.
You can call us at any time for help or explanation.