Before You Buy Health insurance

1) Explore your options. If your employer offers some type of Group Health Insurance you may be better off getting medical coverage through the group plan. This is especially true if you or a member of your family has any type of chronic or serious illness that would prevent them from getting good health insurance alone.

2) Before you buy health insurance be sure to get quotes from more than one company. Some health insurance agents are tied to one plan while others will be able to offer a menu of health insurance options. One isn't necessarily better or worse, it just makes sense to see what's out there before you make a decision.

3) Remember to check on the insurance available publicly. Most states have some type of health insurance plan for children, often called CHIPS, that provides free coverage for kids. Your income level will determine eligibility.

4) If your family is healthy, you may want to consider using a Health Savings Accounts or HSA in conjunction with a high deductible health insurance plan. The HSA offers a way to pay medical bills with pre-tax dollars while keeping your premiums lower and still protecting against big mediacl bills.