-
What kind of plan do you have now?
-
How long are you covered under your
current plan and under what conditions?
-
What kind of plan do you want as an
independent?
-
Are you planning to continue your
education?
-
Are you planning to get insurance
through employment?
-
Do you have a way to pay for medical
care after you are 18 and no longer covered under your
previous plan, when you will bear the full cost of your health
bills?
-
Is your current doctor a member of the
plan? If not, are you willing to choose a new doctor?
-
Does the plan require that you choose
and use a primary care physician? How easy is it to change primary
care physicians, if you ever feel the need to?
-
How many of the plan's physicians are
board certified? Board certification means a doctor has passed
certain exams related to his or her specialty. About 70 percent of
the doctors in managed care plans are certified, compared to the
national average of 48 percent for all doctors.
-
Do you have to pay if you go outside the
network for care? If so, how much, and can you afford it?
-
Is the plan's care readily accessible?
Are the doctors and hospitals conveniently located? Are there long waits for appointments? How do you get
emergency care? Are specialists available for medical problems
that concern you?
-
Will your relationship with your doctor
change depending on your plan choice? Doctors must follow a wide
variety of plan guidelines in determining your care.
-
Does the plan exclude or limit treatment
for pre-existing conditions?