Buying health insurance may be less exciting than buying plane tickets or even a new pair of shoes. But, as you know, it's important. Here's what to look for when shopping:
- In-network Is Important
Many health plans have a network of care providers that members pay less for using. This group of providers is known as in-network. Make sure your health plan gives you in-network access to the doctors and hospitals you want to go to. If the care providers of your choice are not part of your health plan’s network, you will likely be responsible for a higher percentage of your medical bill if you use them.
- Look Beyond the Premium
A premium is the amount you pay your insurer each month to keep your health insurance. Your health plan’s monthly premium is only one cost factor to consider. It’s important to think about your potential out-of-pocket costs when choosing a health plan. Out-of-pocket expenses are costs that are paid by you, not the health plan – including things like copays and coinsurance.
- Premium vs. Deductible
When comparing health plans, typically the lower the plan’s premium is, the higher the deductible. A deductible is the dollar amount you must pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses before your health plan begins to pay for them. So it’s important to think about how much you use your health plan when choosing the right premium/deductible level for you. If you use your plan often, you may want a health plan with a lower deductible. If you don’t use your health insurance often, you may want to consider one with a lower monthly premium.
With UPMC Health Plan, it’s easy to find and buy coverage that fits your needs. You can shop during the Open Enrollment period or during a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve experienced a qualifying event.
Use our shopping tool to find the right plan for you. Here's how:
- Tell us who needs insurance. Are you shopping just for yourself, or do you want to include other family members? Some additional basic information can help us streamline your results even more.
- Find out if you qualify for financial assistance. Our calculator can show how likely you are to qualify for financial assistance* toward your health insurance plan.
- When you see your results, you can choose whether to shop on Pennie, Pennsylvania's new marketplace for health coverage or continue shopping with UPMC Health Plan.
- Add some family details for each person you want to include on your plan.
That's it! We'll narrow down the plans based on what you told us. You can always choose to see every plan.
Looking for shopping assistance? You can schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with one of our Connect Centers for one-on-one enrollment help.