What Are the Five Things Consumers Must Know About Their Health Insurance Plan? GoHealth Explains It All

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Jun 9, 2011) - There's more to a health insurance plan than meets the eye. A health policy isn't just a ticket to the doctor, it's a risk management product to help policyholders avoid unnecessary health care bills and surprise medical expenses. That's why it's so important to have a full understanding of how a health insurance policy works to best manage medical care visits.

"If you've ever looked at a health insurance policy, you know that the details can get a bit confusing. At the very least, consumers need to know five basic parts of a health plan," said Mark Colwell, Manager of Consumer Marketing at GoHealthInsurance.com. "And if consumers need further assistance, we're here to help."

Here are the five most important parts of plan:

1. The deductible. Not only should consumers know what a deductible is but should know if their plan has one. Otherwise consumers could end up with unexpected health insurance costs.

2. The network. Plans have in-network and out-of-network health care providers. For out-of-network visits plans may only pay a percentage of the cost or not at all.

3. Free preventive care. With new individual health insurance policies, preventive care is now free due to health care reform. Consumers should take advantage of these changes and make sure they are seeking routine and preventive care.

4. Understand additional benefits. While it's important to know all of the benefits that come with a policy, there are a few that may be more important. Does the plan include maternity coverage, dental or vision? If the plan doesn't come with necessary benefits, purchase another policy to ensure coverage or compare health insurance quotes to find a new one.

5. Rates or charges for utilizing health care services. There are typically copayments or co-insurance rates for seeing a health care provider or for filling prescriptions. Coinsurance rates can get expensive fast -- especially for expensive prescriptions or hospital visits.

About GoHealthInsurance

GoHealth.com is the most complete health insurance plan comparison resource online and has helped more than 2 million Americans obtain coverage. Consumers use the GoHealth.com platform to research, compare, and purchase coverage from the nation's top insurance companies using online technology, by phone, and through a nationwide network of trusted advisors.