Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer
  • For Medicare
  • For Providers
  • For Brokers
  • For Employers
  • Search
    Search
    Español
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

    • Plans through your employer
    • Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.
    • Explore coverage through work
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

  • Member Guide
  • Find a Doctor
  • Home Knowledge Center How to Buy Health Insurance and Choose the Right Plan

    Buying Health Insurance: How to Choose the Right Plan

    The right coverage depends on your individual needs.

    What should I consider when choosing a health plan?

    Are you looking to buy health insurance and not sure where to start? Choosing the right health care plan depends on many things.

    While a lot can go into deciding on a health plan, these five quick check points are a good starting place.

    What to Consider
    What it Means
    How to Decide
    Deductible
    The amount you pay before your health plan covers costs for medical services.
    If you're likely to have surgery or a lot of medical care expenses, you may want a lower deductible, which is the amount you pay before your health plan covers costs.
    Network
    The hospitals, health care providers, and labs that Cigna HealthcareSM has negotiated lower rates with to provide health care services.
    Determine if your doctor is in the plan's network.
    Providers
    Your doctors—both primary care and specialists.
    You may want to choose a plan where your provider is in-network to avoid extra costs.
    Prescriptions
    Any medications you take that have been prescribed by your doctor.
    Different plans may have different copays or coinsurance for covered prescriptions. Review the plan to understand how your prescriptions are covered.
    Value-Added Benefits
    Any additional things your health plan provides for you, such as access to mobile apps, or discounts.
    While you may not choose a plan for the additional benefits, it's nice to know if your plan includes 24/7 customer service or discount programs.

    Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Health Plan

    How often do you or your family need medical care?

    Many medical costs are covered by you until you reach your deductible. If you anticipate a lot of medical care, you may want a lower deductible. But, plans with lower deductibles generally have a higher monthly premium.

    Do you have any planned surgeries?

    These large expenses are something that you should consider when you are choosing your plan.

    Do you have a doctor you regularly see?

    If you do, make sure that doctor is in-network for the plan you choose.

    What prescriptions do you or your family need? How often do you need them?

    Check your plan's prescription drug list for the prescriptions you take often.

    What other benefits should I consider?

    When you're comparing health plans, look for useful tools and services that may come at no additional cost and help you save time and money, and support your health such as:

    • Websites and mobile apps
    • 24/7 customer service teams
    • Health information phone line for help finding answers to your medical questions
    • Discount programs to help save on health and wellness products and services

    Tags

  • Shopping for Coverage
  • Enrollment
  • I want to...
  • Get an ID card
  • File a claim
  • View my claims and EOBs
  • Check coverage under my plan
  • See prescription drug list
  • Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility
  • Find a form
  • Find 1095-B tax form information
  • View the Cigna Healthcare Glossary
  • Contact Cigna Healthcare
  • Audiences
  • Individuals and Families
  • Medicare
  • Employers
  • Brokers
  • Providers
  • Third Party Administrators
  • International
  • Manage Your Account
  • myCigna Member Portal
  • Provider Portal
  • Cigna for Employers
  • Cigna for Brokers
  • Cigna Healthcare. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal
  • Product Disclosures
  • Company Names
  • Customer Rights
  • Accessibility
  • Non-Discrimination Notice
  • Language Assistance [PDF]
  • Report Fraud
  • Sitemap
  • Washington Consumer Health Data Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Disclaimer

    Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT). The Cigna Healthcare name, logo, and other Cigna Healthcare marks are owned by The Cigna Group Intellectual Property, Inc.

    All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna Healthcare sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

    Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna Healthcare website. Cigna Healthcare may not control the content or links of non-Cigna Healthcare websites. Details

    La aseguradora publica el formulario traducido para fines informativos y la versión en inglés prevalece para fines de solicitud e interpretación.

    The insurer is issuing the translated form on an informational basis and the English version is controlling for the purposes of application and interpretation.