Insurance Basics: Home

Choosing a Health Plan

Your employer may offer more than one health plan, or you may be shopping for your own individual plan.

Choosing a Health Plan
Shared Decision Making and Preference-Sensitive Conditions

To get the best care, it helps if you and your doctor make decisions together. The process is called "shared decision making." This article suggests ways to talk to your doctor about three common health problems where there may be no clear, "right" option. They are uterine fibroids, type 2 diabetes and low-risk prostate cancer. These are examples of preference-sensitive conditions.

Shared Decision Making and Preference-Sensitive Conditions
In-Network and Out-of-Network Care

Your plan contracts with a wide range of doctors and other practitioners, as well as hospitals, labs, radiology facilities, pharmacies and other providers. These are the providers in your “network”. Each of these providers has agreed to take your plan´s contracted rate as payment in full for services.

Health Insurance ID Cards

Your health insurance ID card is your proof of insurance. You use it when you visit the doctor, hospital or other provider.

Mental and Emotional Health

Our mental and emotional health is a vital part of our well-being. If we don´t get the help we need, mental and emotional health problems can hurt our relationships with our family and friends, our jobs and even our communities.

Healthcare Services Not Covered by Health Insurance

You might think your health insurance plan will cover just about anything, from eyeglasses to private nursing. But you would probably be wrong. There are some healthcare services that most health plans don't cover. This guide will tell you about them.

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IN AND OUT OF NETWORK

When Out-of-Network Care Can Be Covered in Network
PLAN COSTS

Flexible Spending Plans
YOUR RIGHTS

Appealing a Reimbursement Decision
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Choosing Your Healthcare Provider In-Network and Out-of-Network Care