Health Insurance: Renewals

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Before renewing a health insurance policy:

Think about your existing and projected needs and think about how well your current plan covered those needs.
Check to see whether there is one that would be better for your particular needs. Documents in "To Learn More" cover alternative sources of health care coverage which are available despite your health condition, as well as how to evaluate the alternatives.

If you are going to renew an existing policy, be sure to watch for changes - especially the changes in the fine print you may not notice but which can cost you a lot of money.

Some items to watch for include:

Raise in co-pay or co-insurance for particular services such as a doctor visit or hospital stay.
Times when co-insurance is in effect rather than a flat payment.. Co-insurance generally costs patients more out of pocket.
Amount of the deductible.
A shift from a co-payment in hosiptal from a fee for each stay to a fee for each day.
An additional co-payment for services received in a hospital.
The amount you have to pay for your drugs, including drugs that are moved from a list that costs you one amount to a list which costs more.
Whether your drugs are on the approved list.
Separate charges for drugs injected in a doctor's office.

Check your plan for any care you know you will need, such a physical or speech therapy.