Worksheet: What Is Your Best Buy?

It is difficult to determine exactly what you will spend a year on health care. You do not know whether you will be sick 6 months from now and need an operation. Hopefully, you will not.

Using this worksheet, you can begin to make some rough estimates. Much will depend on what service you need or want, how many people are in your family, your age, and other factors. Do you need to have your eyes tested this year? Will you have a mammogram or other cancer screening test? Does your child need immunizations?

Look at your medical and insurance records from last year as a guide to what services you might use this year. Add up the actual costs to you, including premiums. Estimate what you might spend on your health care in terms of deductibles, coinsurance and/or copayments, and services that are not covered.

Compare Policy #1, Policy #2, and Policy #3 to determine which is the best buy for you.

What is your monthly premium?     Policy #1     Policy #2     Policy #3
	Individual:
	Family:
Multiply by 12 for annual cost:    

What is your deductible?
	(if there is one)
	Individual:
	Family:

What is your coinsurance rate
or copayment, if there is one?
	(Note if there is a higher rate
	 for special services, such as
	 outpatient mental health care.)

Are there any annual limits for
days or services covered and
the amount spent on you?

What is the maximum you will have
to pay out-of-pocket each year?

What is the lifetime limit,
if any,that you will be
reimbursed?

Total estimated yearly cost
to you:

Now look at the checklist of services that are important to you. Is your best buy the same policy that gives you the most services you need?

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