Medical care in the U.S. can cost you dearly if you don’t have health coverage. With a health insurance plan in place, you can receive medical care at little or no cost. Life can change in a flash. You could lose your job or suffer a medical emergency. Having health insurance coverage can go a long way in saving you when you are cash-strapped.

Here are five useful tips for comparing and choosing a health insurance plan:

1. Review the plan thoroughly
Before you commit to buying a health insurance policy, it’s advisable to review the plan thoroughly to understand the terms and conditions properly. Find out about the payment terms to assess financial implications. You could also ask your insurance provider to shed more light on the health services the insurance can cover and those that it won’t.

2. Look at premiums
Shop around to find an insurance company whose premiums are best priced. Many insurers post their quotes online against the insured health services, and this provides an easy way to compare prices. Don’t haphazardly choose a plan out of the blue, as you could end up paying more for the same services. If you want to get value for your money, you’ve got to do a little research.

3. Consider how much you’ll use health care
Some insurance agents will only be interested in closing a deal and making some money from you and will not care if the insurance plan suits your specific health care needs or not. Depending on your medical or family history, it would be wise to gauge the likelihood of using the coverage offered. Some insurance coverage is exclusively meant for chronic diseases that you may not be predisposed to. Some of these policies require high premiums because treatment could be expensive. If you aren’t at risk of the disease in question, why take the trouble to buy an expensive insurance policy when you might never need it?

4. Be wary of plans that promise everything
Some insurance plans promise everything as bait to woo people to buy their insurance products. Beware of such insurers as they often don’t keep their word about paying for medical costs. While not all insurers are unscrupulous, some market in devious ways. It’s therefore advisable to exercise caution when buying health insurance coverage so as not to end up wasting your hard-earned money.

5. Enroll early
Early enrolment helps you start enjoying the health benefits sooner. Some insurance policies will not allow you to utilize the policy soon after signing up because that is not how the insurance business works. Many insurers, instead, provide you with a minimum threshold period before they deem you ineligible. So when you can start using the cover depends on insurers’ internal policy and other risk considerations. It is advisable to enroll early to start using your benefits as soon as possible.

Look for a wide ranging health insurance provider that covers basic  dental coverage, vision care, prescription costs, Part A and Part B medical coverage under Medicare. For instance, Humana Medicare Advantage Plan offers private insurance coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. The benefits and cost vary depending on the type of coverage you sign up for.