Get Smart About Your Health Care

For many of us, this is open enrollment time for benefits. My husband's employer hasn't changed plans for several years, so we were able to continue in the same plans without spending a lot of time comparing.

This year, however, my husband's employer is changing health insurance companies and the plans are very different from what we're used to. Just this morning I was sitting here writing down the differences and thinking about which of the plans offered makes more sense for us. Cigna, which happens to be our new insurance company, has put together a short checklist to help us to assess our health care.  The list has three basic steps:

• Plan:  Budget for health care expenses that can be anticipated (eyeglasses, braces, and so on).
• Prepare:  For example, know the location of the nearest urgent care center (if you have children, you probably already know!).
• Prevent:  Take advantage of preventative services offered by your health care company, and get your annual checkup.

My family is good at the planning and preparing, but we've not taken advantage of free helplines.  I just never think of it when I have a question.

In addition to the checklist, Cigna has put together a series of videos to help people think through their health care choices.  Here's the first video in the series:

You can see the rest of the videos in the series here.

What about you?  Are you comparing health care plans this year?  Do you dread the process, or do you enjoy it as a positive step toward better health?

Disclosure:  I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cigna. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.