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Maximize Your Health Plan as a Couple

What to do before - or just after - you say "I do"

Wedding bells are ringing and you have a lot to think about. As you make plans for the big day, there’s one big detail you don’t want to forget. Your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more.

Once you’re married, you usually only have 30 days to make benefits decisions. Will you keep your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more? Enroll in your spouse's health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more? Or maybe both? If you don’t have coverage, the decision is easier. But if you do have it, you’ll need to compare plans and pick the best option. The goal is to choose what helps you and your spouse maximize your benefits.

These are the four most important factors to consider:

• Services: How comprehensive do you want your health coverage to be? Do you want coverage for dental care, vision care or prescription drugsprescription drugs
  Medicine that requires a doctor's permission to buy. These drugs are different from over-the-counter... more?
• Doctors and facilities: Do you like to visit specific doctors or hospitals? Which doctors and hospitals does each plan cover?
• Convenience: Do you want to visit providers near your job or home?
• Cost: How much are you willing to spend on premiumspremiums
  The amount charged by a health insurer for a health insurance policy. If you have a health plan thro... more? Are there co-payments for routine care and emergencyemergency
  A serious medical condition resulting from injury or illness that arises su... more care?

Benefits hotlist

The checklist below is a great resource. It helps you consider what you need from a health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more:

• Specific doctors, hospitals or medical facilities
• PremiumsPremiums
  The amount charged by a health insurer for a health insurance policy. If you have a health plan thro... more, co-payments and deductibles
• Vision and dental benefits
• Seeing specialists without a referralreferral
  In some health plans, you must receive a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist ... more
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disabilitydisability
  A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities o... more
• Prescription costs
• Discounts for vitamins, fitness centers or alternative health care providers

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Plan for tomorrow today

Don’t wait until you get to the chapel to choose your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more. Start planning for a healthy future today.

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