To land a good deal on an individual health plan, you'll need to be a super-savvy shopper. This checklist from Bankrate.com will help you compare plans. For a printer-friendly PDF version, click here.

Name of Insurance Carrier:
Plan Name:

What's it cost?
How much is the premium?
Is this premium fixed for a period of time or can it go up?
How much will I pay each month?
What's the annual deductible?
What's the co-pay?
How much will I pay for a doctor's visit?
How much will I pay for hospital care?
How much will I pay for prescription medicines?
What's the maximum payout?

What's covered?
Inpatient hospital services
Outpatient surgery
Skilled nursing care
Medical tests and X-rays
Mental health care
Home health care visits
Rehabilitation facility care
Physical therapy
Speech therapy
Maternity care
Chiropractic care
Preventive care and checkups
Well-baby care
Dental care
Any other important medical service
Will I be covered when I travel?

What's not covered?
What medical conditions are excluded from coverage?
What medical conditions come with limited coverage?
How much more will I need to pay if I go outside the health plan's network of doctors, hospitals and other providers to get services?