Health - NerdWallet
Health
Advertiser disclosure You re our first priority br Every time
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free. So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners.Find a PlanHealth Insurance QuotesFind a health plan that fits your family and your budget. Our picks by category
How to Choose Health Insurance: Your Step-by-Step GuideBy Lacie GloverUnderstanding Copays, Coinsurance and DeductiblesBy Kate Ashford, CSAOpen Enrollment for Health InsuranceBy Lacie Glover Most popular articles
What Is an HSA?By Kate Ashford, CSAHow to Choose Health Insurance: Your Step-by-Step GuideBy Lacie Glover The latest
Done loadingHow to Get the Morning-After Pill or Abortion MedicationBy John RossheimHow Much Does the Abortion Pill Cost?By Cara SmithMiscarriage Is Devastating — and Then the Bill ComesBy Taryn PhaneufDoes Medicaid Cover Birth Control?By Taryn PhaneufHow Much Does an Abortion Cost?By Cara SmithDoes Insurance Cover Birth Control?By Taryn PhaneufHow Much Does a Vasectomy Cost?By Cara SmithHow Much Does IVF Cost?By Taryn PhaneufHow to Get PrEP With or Without InsuranceBy Sam TaubeCompare health insurance quotesBy NerdWalletMore stories The basics
Should I choose a high or low deductible health plan?High-deductible health plans were conceived to encourage consumers to shop around for health care. The logic is that if you’re responsible for medical costs upfront, you’ll do a little more work to find lower-cost providers — cutting expenses for you and your insurer. That hasn’t panned out for most people. While consumers with HDHPs do tend to reduce costs, they do so by skipping out on care, including free preventive care, according to a recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.What preventive care is free?The law requires that insurance plans cover preventive care. The specific services covered were chosen by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent team of 16 scientists and medical experts. Based on its recommendations, insurers must cover six basic preventive services for all adults, regardless of age, sex, plan cost or risk level. They are:What to do if you're behind on health insurance premiumsIf your policy is canceled or you know a cancellation is inevitable, you should immediately begin looking for other coverage options or budgeting to pay out of pocket. Nonpayment of premiums disqualifies you from special enrollment periods to purchase more insurance on the federal marketplace, so you won’t be able to get a cheaper plan until the next open enrollment period begins Nov. 1.How to plan and pay for a diagnostic procedureFirst of all, check your health insurance coverage and network. If you have health insurance, the cost of any procedure will depend on your health plan’s cost sharing structure. Your plan might require you to pay the full price, the amount of your deductible, a flat copay, or coinsurance, which is a percentage of the procedure’s cost.