5 questions to ask before picking a health insurance plan

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.

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 copays, 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 or a subsidy on their monthly premiums based on income. Find out if you qualify for savings and apply for your subsidy².

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 (Blue Cross NC), 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.

When shopping for health insurance, look for a plan that:

1. Makes sense with your medical history and health care needs, including prescription medications.
2. Works for you financially, thinking about both monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
3. Includes your regular doctors in its network.