For the California health insurance shopper, there are basic but important questions that should be asked and answered when you go shopping for that affordable California health insurance plan you’re on the lookout for.

In addition to our website’s ability to quickly and easily generate a range of free quotes for California health insurance plans, Vitality online is also a great place to learn all about how you can formulate a California health insurance strategy that is uniquely right for you, and that’s important: Understanding some of the basic but important questions a health plan shopper should have answers to when setting out to shop for the right health plan can be vital in helping that consumer formulate a winning long term health coverage strategy for themselves and their family.

Remember: While the Vitality website features an abundance of clear, concise information that can help inform the reader on the subject of California health insurance, as well as our always free, fast, easy and convenient Vitality health plan quote engine and easy access to the ability to apply online or secure downloads for California health insurance applications, all Vitality clients are invited to utilize our always careful and considerate personalized one-on-one client consultations with a Vitality California health insurance professional to help ensure peace of mind that the plan you have under consideration is the right long term strategy for you.

Our website, accompanying blog, and our team of professionals will help you formulate the answers to these important questions as you set out on the path towards securing the right health plan:

• The strength of your health plan’s network of providers is important: Going out-of-network for your health care services is a sure way to spend (A lot!) more money each plan year. So; first things first: Is your family doctor(s) in the network of providers for the plan you have your eye on? Here you can rely on the Vitality website which offers a quick, easy to use Provider Information tool for each of the health insurance companies we represent here in the state.
• What type of health plan concept would best suit your unique requirements for a health plan? You’ll have a variety of plan concepts to choose from including PPO, HSA, and even HMO plans. Each concept offers its own unique brand of advantages so here’s where consulting with a Vitality professional can be key to bringing clarity to the health plan shopping process! A quick subcategory here? You’ll want to make certain your new California health plan strategy has the benefits that best suit your requirements in a health plan moving forward: For example; do you have a spouse or partner and an expansion of your family might loom in the future? You’ll want maternity coverage. Do you favor medical treatments such as acupuncture and want a plan that covers that or a HSA-compatible health plan that makes it easy to pay for acupuncture as a qualified medical expense with HSA funds?
• Affordability: The dollars and sense of choosing the right plan. This area is key because your medical history can change in an instant. A change in medical history can make it harder if not impossible to have an ability to easily change health plan strategies. Just buying the ‘cheapest health plan’ now can have far reaching and long term negative consequences. Here again; a consultation with a Vitality professional can help to ensure that the client is looking at affordability from two critical standpoints: The cost of that monthly premium and the out-of-pocket costs that plan presents to you moving forward. Let’s take a closer look:

o   Ask yourself how much money you want to spend at the time you see your doctor: What is my copayment obligation?

o   What is the most my household budget will allow me to spend on health care services before I’ll need my insurance plan to begin paying some or all of the bills moving forward for the balance of the plan year? That’s my annual deductible and it will vary by plan. As you might imagine, the lower your annual deductible, the higher your monthly premium and vice versa.

o   If I – or a family member – am struck by a serious illness or injury, what is the maximum out of pocket amount of money I can afford to spend that plan year?

o   What does the health plan I have under consideration cover in the way of prescription drugs? Generic only? Generic and brand name prescription drugs? Having coverage for both generic and brand name prescription drug purchases is important: While you may not have a need for prescription drugs at present, that need could develop within the space of one doctor visit and a lab test result.  Brand name prescription drugs are expensive and while the benefit may cost a bit more in your new plan, it’s an option well worth your consideration as it will mean long term peace of mind when it comes to finances moving forward.

Yes, we understand: It seems like a lot to take in, doesn’t it? And since shopping for a California health plan isn’t something you’re likely to do every week – and if you choose the right health plan strategy; you may not need to do it again for a good, long time – it may be harder to get a real grasp of the technical jargon and available strategies and thus enjoy a relatively stress free shopping process for this vitally important insurance strategy. However, this is exactly where the professionals at Vitality can step in and serve your California health plan shopping needs: Reach out to us via our Vitality website or call us toll free at 800-607-1950. We’ll quickly respond with our always free client consultations that are designed to gain a complete understanding of your health care needs and your budget for health coverage. In turn, we’ll help you create a health plan strategy that works best from both a benefits and affordable premium standpoint and helps ensure peace of mind that you’ve secured the plan that’s best for you, moving forward!