• What is the best health plan for me?
• How do I compare plans?
• How can I be sure that my data is kept secure and private?
• What types of health plans are available to me?
• What is a PPO?
• What is an HMO?
• What is an MSA?
• What is a POS?
• What is an Indemnity Plan?
• What is a provider?
• What is a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
• What is an office visit copayment?
• What is a deductible?
• What is the difference between an in-network and an out-of-network medical provider?

Q) What is the best health plan for me? Choosing between health plans is not as easy as it once was. Although there is no one "best" plan, there are some plans that will be better than others for you and your family's health needs. Plans differ in how much you have to pay and how easy it is to get the services you need. Although no plan will pay for all the costs associated with your medical care, some plans will cover more than others. With any health plan you will pay a basic premium, usually monthly, to buy the health insurance coverage. In addition, there are often other payments you must make. These payments will vary by plan but essentially are deductibles and copayments . In the "Things to Consider" section of the site, there are some excellent guides about choosing and comparing health plans. Here's a list of key questions to consider in selecting the plan that best meets your needs:

• How much will it cost me on a monthly basis?
• Are there deductibles I must pay before the insurance begins to help cover my costs? After I have met the deductible, what part of my costs are paid by the plan?
• What doctors, hospitals, and other medical providers are part of the plan? Are there enough of the kinds of doctors I want to see?
• Where will I go for care? Are these places near where I work or live?
• If I use doctors outside a plan's network, how much more will I pay to get care?
• Are there any limits to how much I must pay in case of major illness? What about limits and deductibles for certain types of care such as surgery or maternity?

The above content was used with permission from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and Health Insurance Association of America. In the " Things to Consider " section of the site, there are some excellent guides about choosing and comparing health plans.


Q) How do I compare health plans?
On web sites such as eHealthInsurance.com, you can compare benefits and prices of different plans side by side using the "COMPARE BENEFITS" feature. On "Step 2: Compare Plan Benefits and Prices From Leading Companies", check the box of each plan you want to compare. Then click "COMPARE BENEFITS". In the Things to Consider section of this site, there are some excellent guides about choosing and comparing health plans.

Q) How can I be sure that my data is kept secure and private?
The website should be committed to protecting your privacy and should not NOT SELL, TRADE or GIVE AWAY your personal information to anyone, except those specifically involved in the referral or processing of your health insurance quote or application. Additionally, the website should use industry leading technologies to ensure the SECURITY of the information under their control. If the site has received the privacy seal of approval from TRUSTe, the largest privacy organization on the Internet, a TRUSTe logo would be displayed at the bottom of the protected web pages.

Q) What types of health plans are available to me?
Health insurance plans usually are described as either indemnity (fee-for-service) or managed care. Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid. Usually, indemnity plans offer more choice of doctors (including specialists, such as cardiologists and surgeons), hospitals, and other health care providers than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill. Managed care plans have agreements with certain doctors, hospitals, and health care providers to give a range of services to plan members at reduced cost. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care-type plan and a broader choice of health care providers if you select an indemnity-type plan. Besides indemnity plans, there are three basic types of managed care plans: PPOs, HMOs, and POS plans.

Q) What is a PPO?
A PPO is a Preferred Provider Organization. As a member of a PPO, you can use the doctors and hospitals within the PPO network or go outside of the network for care. You do not need a referral to see a specialist.

• If you obtain care from a medical provider outside of the PPO network, you will pay more for the service. For example, a PPO might pay 90 percent of the cost for a visit with an in-network doctor but only 70 percent of the cost for a visit to a non-network doctor.
• You will typically pay a copayment for each visit/service. These copayments are typically higher than an HMO copayment but not always.
• You will usually be responsible for paying an annual deductible.

Q) What is an HMO?

An HMO is a Health Maintenance Organization. As a member of an HMO, you select a primary care physician from a list of doctors in that HMO's network. Your primary care physician will be the first medical provider you call or see for a medical condition. He or she will make any needed referrals to a medical specialist. Typically, these specialists will be part of the HMO network.

• If you obtain care without your primary care physician's referral or obtain care from a non-network member, you may be responsible for paying the entire bill. (with exceptions for emergency care)
• With some HMOs, you pay nothing when you visit in-network doctors. With other HMOs there may be a small copayment for the visit or service.
• With most HMOs you will not be responsible for paying a deductible.

If you join an HMO, you should find that you have few out-of-pocket expenses for medical care -- as long as you use doctors or hospitals that are part of the HMO.

Q) What is an MSA?

An MSA is a Medical Savings Account. It is a tax-advantaged personal savings account used in conjunction with a high deductible health policy. Individuals can contribute money to this account on a pre-tax basis to set aside money for qualified medical care and expenses, including annual deductibles and copayments.

Q) What is a POS?
POS is a Point-of-Service Plan A type of managed care plan combining features of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs). You can decide whether to go to a network provider and pay a flat dollar or to an out-of-network provider and pay a deductible and/or a coinsurance charge.

Q) What is an Indemnity Plan?
An indemnity plan is commonly known as a fee for service or traditional plan. If you select an Indemnity plan you have the freedom to visit any medical provider. You do not need referrals or authorizations; however, some plans may require you to precertify for certain procedures.Most indemnity plans require you to pay a deductible. After you have paid your deductible, indemnity policies typically pay a percentage of "usual and customary" charges for covered services; often the insurance company pays 80% and you pay 20%. Most plans have an annual out of pocket maximum and once you've reached this they will pay 100% of all "usual and customary" charges for covered services. Many health insurance companies have moved away from indemnity plans and are instead offering managed care plans such as HMOs and PPOs.

Q) What is a provider?
A provider is a hospital, health care facility, physician or other medical professional that provides health care services.

Q) What is a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
A physician or other medical professional who serves as a group member's first contact with a plan's health care system. Also known as a primary care provider, personal care physician, or personal care provider.

Q) What is an office visit copayment? An office visit copayment is a fixed dollar amount or a percentage that you pay for each doctor visit. For example, with some plans you may pay a fixed amount such as $5 or $10 per visit. Other plans will charge you a percentage of the total fee for the visit. So if your copayment is 10% and the doctor visit was $200, you would pay 10% which, in this case, would be $20.

Q) What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of annual medical expenses that a health plan member must pay before the plan will begin to cover expenses. For example, if your plan has a $500 deductible, you will pay the first $500 of your medical expenses before your health plan begins paying the expenses. Only expenses for covered services apply towards the deductible. For example, if you paid $100 for a visit to a chiropractor but the plan does not consider chiropractic care a covered expense, then the $100 will not apply toward your annual deductible.

Q) What is the difference between an in-network and an out-of-network medical provider?
An in-network medical provider is within the approved network of providers for a particular health plan. Out-of-network providers are not on the list. If you visit a doctor within the network, the amount you will be responsible for paying will be less than if you go to an out-of-network doctor. In many cases, the insurance company will not pay anything for services your receive from outside their network; however, there are exception to this.
As a general rule, HMOs tend to have smaller provider networks than PPOs. In HMO and PPO plans, referrals to specialists will be to doctors within the network. Indemnity plans typically do not have networks; you go to whatever doctor you want.

• What is an HSA?
• Why should I consider getting an HSA?
• What are qualified medical expenses?
• What insurance plans are HSA-eligible?
• How much can I contribute to my HSA?
• Can I roll over funds from other accounts into my HSA?
• Is my money safe?
• How do I use the funds in my HSA?
• What are my investment options?
• How do the tax saving work?
• Are there fees associated with HSAs?
• Why should I get my HSA through eHealthInsurance?
• How can I get an HSA?
• I want to see how much I can save with an HSA. Do you have an HSA calculator for me?
• How does health insurance work?

Q) What is an HSA?
"HSA" stands for Health Savings Account. HSAs allow consumers to pay for qualified medical expenses with pre-tax dollars—meaning income-tax free—and save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

An HSA is tax-favored savings account that is used in conjunction with a high-deductible HSA-eligible health insurance plan to make healthcare more affordable and to save for retirement.

• Pre-tax money is deposited each year into an HSA and can be easily withdrawn at any time with no penalty or taxes to pay for qualified medical expenses. Withdrawals can also be made for non-medical purposes, but will be taxed as normal income and are subject to a 10 percent penalty if done prior to age 65.
  
  
• Any HSA funds not used each year remain in the account, and earn interest tax-free to supplement medical expenses at any time in the future.
  
  
• Like an IRA, the account belongs to you, not your employer. But unlike an IRA, your employer CAN contribute to your HSA.

• Deducting 100% of your HSA contributions from your taxable income
  
  
• Having the money in your HSA accrue interest and/or gains on a tax-free basis
  
  
• Paying no penalties or taxes when you use your HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses
  
  
• Having a high-deductible HSA-eligible health insurance plan, which typically has a lower premium than a plan with a lower deductible

Note: Some HSAs charge a small monthly maintenance fee.

• Health insurance plan deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance
  
  
• Prescription and over-the-counter drugs
  
  
• Dental services, including braces, bridges, and crowns
  
  
• Vision care, including glasses and lasik eye surgery
  
  
• Psychiatric and certain psychological treatments
  
  
• Long-term care services
  
  
• Medically-related transportation and lodging

• Health insurance premiums if you are receiving federal or state unemployment benefits
  
  
• Premiums for COBRA qualified health insurance
  
  
• Certain qualified long-term care insurance premiums
  
  
• Premiums for a health plan (other than a Medicare supplemental policy) for an individual age 65 or older

• The health insurance plan must have an annual deductible of at least $1,100 for individuals and at least $2,200 for families.
  
  
• The sum of the annual deductible and the other annual out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid under the plan (other than premiums) does not exceed $5,500 for individuals and $11,000 for families.
  

• Interest-bearing account
  
• CDs
  
• Money market funds
• Mutual funds

• Typically an HSA will provide you with a checkbook or debit card. When you pay for a qualified medical expense, use the debit card or check to make the payment.
  
  
• You do not need to get approval from the HSA administrator when you use funds in your account.
  
  
• You do not need to submit receipts to the HSA administrator, although you should save them just as you keep receipts for other items that are deducted from your taxes.

• Interest-bearing account
• CDs
• Money market funds
• Mutual funds

Q) How do the tax savings work?

• At the end of each year, you will be sent a statement showing the amount you contributed to your HSA that year. You can deduct this amount provided it is less than or equal to the maximum allowable contribution.
  
  
• Much like an IRA, HSA deductions are "above-the-line" and thus can be taken even if you do not itemize.
  
  
• If you are self-employed, in addition to deducting your HSA contributions, you may be able to deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums, provided that:
  
  
  • You are not eligible to participate in a subsidized health plan offered by an employer or your spouse's employer.
    
    
  • The deduction does NOT exceed the amount of net income from your business.
    

• We offer a broad selection of insurance plans, which makes it easy for you find an HSA-eligible health insurance plan that fits your particular needs.
  
  
• We clearly identify the HSA-eligible health insurance plans so that you won't select an insurance plan which is not eligible.
  

TAX SAVINGS CALCULATOR Contributions to HSA (per year)   $0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $600 $700 $800 $900 $1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,400 $1,500 $1,600 $1,700 $1,800 $1,900 $2,000 $2,100 $2,200 $2,300 $2,400 $2,500 $2,600 $2,700 $2,800 $2,900 $3,000 $3,100 $3,200 $3,300 $3,400 $3,500 $3,600 $3,700 $3,800 $3,900 $4,000 $4,100 $4,200 $4,300 $4,400 $4,500 $4,600 $4,700 $4,800 $4,900 $5,000 Marginal Income Tax Rate (Federal)   0% 10% 15% 25% 28% 33% 35% Marginal Income Tax Rate (State)   0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% Tax savings (per year)    ???

RETIREMENT SAVINGS CALCULATOR Contributions to HSA (per year)   $0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $600 $700 $800 $900 $1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,400 $1,500 $1,600 $1,700 $1,800 $1,900 $2,000 $2,100 $2,200 $2,300 $2,400 $2,500 $2,600 $2,700 $2,800 $2,900 $3,000 $3,100 $3,200 $3,300 $3,400 $3,500 $3,600 $3,700 $3,800 $3,900 $4,000 $4,100 $4,200 $4,300 $4,400 $4,500 $4,600 $4,700 $4,800 $4,900 $5,000 Withdrawals for medical expenses (per year)   $0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $600 $700 $800 $900 $1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,400 $1,500 $1,600 $1,700 $1,800 $1,900 $2,000 $2,100 $2,200 $2,300 $2,400 $2,500 $2,600 $2,700 $2,800 $2,900 $3,000 $3,100 $3,200 $3,300 $3,400 $3,500 $3,600 $3,700 $3,800 $3,900 $4,000 $4,100 $4,200 $4,300 $4,400 $4,500 $4,600 $4,700 $4,800 $4,900 $5,000 Years until retirement   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Expected annual return from HSA investments   -25% -24% -23% -22% -21% -20% -19% -18% -17% -16% -15% -14% -13% -12% -11% -10% -9% -8% -7% -6% -5% -4% -3% -2% -1% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 21% 22% 23% 24% 25% Amount available at retirement    ???