01
Compare total annual cost, not premium
Premiums plus expected out-of-pocket spend is the only figure that compares two plans honestly.
Health playbook · 9 tactics
9 Rules for Choosing a Health Plan
Premium is the number people compare and the one that matters least on its own.
02
Find the crossover point
Below a certain annual medical spend the high-deductible plan wins; above it the low-deductible plan does. Knowing the number ends the argument.
03
Check the out-of-pocket maximum as your worst case
It is the number that converts an unlimited exposure into a known one.
04
Confirm your doctors and hospital are in network this year
Networks change annually and a familiar provider can quietly move out of it.
05
Check the drug formulary for anything you take regularly
A single specialty medication in the wrong tier can outweigh every other difference between plans.
06
Count the employer health savings account contribution
It is real money attached to one specific plan and belongs in the comparison.
07
Get prior authorisation in writing before major treatment
A verbal confirmation of coverage is routinely disputed once the bill arrives.
08
Understand what the deductible does not apply to
Preventive care and some copay services often sit outside it, which changes the effective cost.
09
Diarise open enrolment
Missing the window usually means living with the wrong plan for a full year.
Put it to work
Calculators for these tactics
Health & Care
Health Plan Comparison Calculator
Total annual cost of two plans at your actual usage, not just the premium.
Health & CareTreatment & Rehab Cost Calculator
Programme cost after insurance, including deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
Health & CareLong-Term Care Cost Calculator
Projected cost of care by setting, and whether insurance or self-funding wins.
InsuranceLife Insurance Needs Calculator
Size a policy using the debt, income, mortgage and education method.
Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.