If you needed to purchase a health insurance policy, where is the first place you would look?

If you were self-employed or for some other reason did not have a group health insurance policy, what would be the first step you would take to get health insurance?
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The best way to start is by doing what you're doing now – asking for personal recommendations. What kind of health insurance are you looking for? It might be a good idea to jot down a list of the different aspects of a health plan and then chart the differences between various plans you come across. Generally, the main features are deductible, premiums, copays, and the degree to which you need a referral to see a specialist or undergo specific tests and medical procedures. I'd check out Consumer Reports (link below), US News & World Reports Best Health Plans, and whatever other informational resources you can find. I'd also talk with locally licensed health insurance agents. I've included a couple of articles about choosing a health plan that might be useful. They are government-authored, but they're actually pretty good (all links below). HMOs (health maintenance organizations) are popular right now, and they usually include mental health coverage in their plans. A typical example is that you would pay a monthly fee and then a copay when you visit your therapist (usually around $50 for a plan with low monthly payments). One potential problem, though, is access to physicians. An HMO might not have the kind of mental health specialist you're looking for. Before you enroll in an HMO, I would strongly urge you to look at their mental health specialist roster. For more choices, you might opt for a PPO (preferred provider organization) or a traditional fee-for-service plan. If you are self-employed and own a business, you might be able to take advantage of small business health plans or join a trade association. Also, some states consider some self-employed individuals who do not own a business as "groups of one." These people are considered small businesses in terms of access to group health plans, which typically offer lower prices. The quickest way to get a good overview of locally available health insurance options is by talking with more than one health insurance agent. After you've reviewed some information and know what kind of insurance you want (HMO, PPO, fee-for-service, et al), try visiting MostChoice.com. It's a Web site that helps you shop for health insurance. They have free instant price quotes and policy information on health plans near you, but their specialty is getting you in touch with state-licensed agents. There's no cost or obligation to buy insurance. You just fill out a short form and wait for the agents to contact you (within 48 hours). Have your questions ready and let them work until one of them delivers the plan that's right for you. You might want to have a set amount you want to spend each month on insurance and tell the agents to work within those parameters. You can find MostChoice here: http://www.mostchoice.com/health-insuran… Hope this helps, Barnes@MostChoice
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