Choosing a health insurance plan can be complicated. Knowing just a few things before you compare plans can make it simpler.

• There are 4 metal categories: These health insurance plan categories – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These categories show you how you and your plan share costs.
• Your total costs for health care: You pay a monthly bill to your insurance company, known as a premium, as you would for any insurance you have. You pay out-of-pocket costs, including a deductible, when you get care. It’s important to think about both kinds of costs when shopping for a plan.
• Plan and network types — There are various plan and network types from which to choose. They are HMO, PPO, POS, and EPO: Some plan types allow you to use almost any doctor or health care facility, while others limit your choices or charge you more if you use providers outside their network. We can help you understand the difference.

For the 2017 plan year, HealthCare.gov is introducing a pilot program in Virginia and Wisconsin to present health insurance plan quality ratings (or “star ratings”) for some plans.

Information gathered from www.healthcare.gov