Among the many important choices to weigh during open enrollment, one step is key as you begin comparing plans: Make sure your plan works with your doctor.
Related: Florida lawmakers press AHCA for answers as KidCare expansion remains stalled.
Katie Roders Turner, executive director of the Family Health Care Foundation, a nonprofit helping people in West Central Florida find affordable coverage, said it is important to ensure your providers are in-network to keep costs down.
"It would be so helpful to check in with your doctors, with your healthcare providers, to make sure that you know what health insurance companies they're going to be accepting in 2027, so that when you're looking at new plan options, you can be confident that you know you're picking a plan that your doctor takes," Turner explained.
Turner added people should check whether their prescriptions are covered, since the list of drugs a plan covers can change from year to year.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said one of the most common mistakes people make is waiting until the last minute.
"The most common thing we see is people wait too late, and then they feel like they're cramming for a big test to make this very important decision. And it can be really tempting to just renew what you already have, but the coverage you currently have might not be the best coverage for you next year," Randall emphasized.
Randall advised people should consider whether their healthcare needs have changed. Factors could include a new diagnosis, a planned procedure, or a growing family. She added that comparing plans means looking beyond the monthly premium and considering co-pays, coinsurance, deductibles, and pharmacy coverage.
Free enrollment help is available through the "find local help" tool at HealthCare.gov.
