Finding the best health care coverage for your family

Wading through the world of deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and co-payments is a challenge many of us face annually as we sift through our employer's menu of health care plan options. Figuring out how to efficiently manage health spending for you and your family can seem a tall order, but if you invest a little additional time and thought into the process, you're more likely to end up with a plan that fits your needs without costing the moon.

"Instead of reflexively choosing the same health plan during open enrollment season each year, it's important to consider all your options," says Danovan Clacken, Health Benefit Solutions Sales Manager at Bank of America.

Here are three questions you might want to ask yourself as you go through your options.

Because health insurance premiums can be costly, you want to find the sweet spot between sufficient coverage and over-insuring, says Jennifer Goldsmith, director and head of Health Benefit Solutions at Bank of America. That can take a little bit of extra work when you're married, especially if you have children. "If both you and your spouse have employer-provided health insurance, compare benefits and premiums with your family's particular health history and needs in mind," Goldsmith says. For couples with children, it's worth investigating to discern whether the most cost-effective option might be for each spouse to take their own employer-sponsored plan, including the children on the plan that seems to best meet the family's specific needs.

As you go through the options, focus on two key elements:

Deductibles. What is the amount you'll pay for covered services before the co-insurance starts, that's when the insurer begins to share in the cost? "With a lower deductible, you may pay higher premiums," Goldsmith says. "If you and your family have few medical expenses and don't think you'll reach the deductible, you might want to consider a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and put the money you've saved with the lower premium into a health savings account (HSA)." (See more about HSAs below.) You must be in a qualified HDHP plan in order to contribute to an HSA and meet certain other eligibility requirements.

Out-of-pocket maximums. "That's the highest total amount you'll be expected to cover every year — and should be an important part of your evaluation," Goldsmith says. Beyond the maximum, the insurer picks up all expenses, so if a family member has a medical condition that could cause medical costs to balloon, you might think about a plan with a lower-deductible and lower out-of-pocket maximum.

One such plan is a PPO (preferred provider organization), which may be offered by your employer or (if applicable) your spouse's. While it offers a lower deductible as well as a lower out-of-pocket maximum, it also has co-payments and higher premiums. If, for instance, you're planning on having a baby, expecting to need surgery or anticipating that your active kids may need to visit the ER, a PPO plan might be an appropriate choice, Goldsmith says. A young single person with no history of chronic illness may not need the extra coverage or want the added cost of such a plan.

This combination has become the fastest-growing type of health insurance today. Americans own more than 31 million HSAs, an increase of 2 million over last year, reports Devenir Research.Footnote ¹ One reason they're popular, you can put funds into an HSA without federal taxes on contributions or qualified withdrawals, to use for out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by your high-deductible health plan (HDHP).

"When an HSA-qualified health plan is selected, participants can save on their premiums and put those savings toward their health care expenses," says Ed Shehan, Senior Vice President, Retirement and Personal Wealth Solutions, Bank of America. What's more, he adds, you can invest funds in an HSA, and the earnings, as well as contributions and withdrawals, are federal tax-free.

If you invest the money, it can grow tax-free year after year, even into retirement. HSAs offer a variety of investment options. They can be interest-bearing accounts or, if the provider permits, you may be able to invest your contributions in certain securities such as mutual funds. Note that some HSA providers have minimum account balance requirements before certain investment options are available.

You can contribute to an HSA only if you're enrolled in a health plan that's a qualified high-deductible health plan and you do not have other disqualifying health coverage. In addition, qualified high-deductible health plans must also comply with the rules on annual maximums for out-of-pocket expenses.