As the cost of living rises steadily, falling ill can burn a hole through your wallet. The medical bills coupled with aftercare costs can deplete your savings in no time. To avoid such situations, it is sensible to be prepared for the future.

Health insurance policies are doing an incredible job of helping people manage their medical bills. If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance, you’ll have to choose your own health insurance policy.

A health insurance policy will pay for your medical and surgical expenses, and it can reimburse you for expenses incurred due to an injury or illness.

In most cases, the insurance company directly pays the healthcare provider. Though health insurance policies are quite beneficial, they can be complicated. There are various rules to adhere to — this is why you should thoroughly read the terms and conditions. To make an informed choice about choosing the right health insurance policy, take a look at some of the leading providers in the field.

Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (BCBS) history can be traced back to 1929. Today, the BCBS has 36 independent, community-based, and locally-operated companies under the BCBSA (Blue Cross Blue Shield Association). BCBS companies have been providing healthcare coverage to its members and have enabled them to lead a comfortable, worry-free life.

In every ZIP code, BCBS actively offers a personalized approach to the healthcare needs of the community and works in sync with the hospitals and doctors in the same community. The members can access health insurance plans through HMOs and PPOs. HMO plans offer the most comprehensive plans at affordable costs, but they limit healthcare provider choices, and you have to choose from the list only. PPOs offer more flexibility when it comes to choosing a doctor. Moreover, BCBS provides access to HSA (healthcare savings accounts) and FSA (flexible spending accounts) health saving accounts. This definitely broadens your healthcare options.

HealthCare.com
Finding the right health insurance can be a tedious task, which is why some additional help is always preferred. HealthCare.com is the perfect solution to your health insurance woes as it searches across several health plans to find the best ones for you. Whether it is health plans, Medicare plans, short-term insurance, small business insurance, or Medicare Supplement plans, HealthCare.com will help you find the right insurance plan. Since most people aren’t well-versed with healthcare options, you will find explanations, product guides, and advice. This site takes your needs, preferences, and budget into consideration and directs you toward compatible insurance providers.

UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare has been rated as one of the best health insurance providers owing to its online account system and its excellent financial strength ratings. AM Best, a credit rating agency, gave UnitedHealthcare an “A” for its financial strength, and it is the largest single health insurer in the country. UnitedHealthcare offers individual health insurance in compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements for essential care. An incredible feature of this insurance company is its ease of access; members can access the online care program that allows them to order prescriptions online, speak with a nurse through a 24/7 hotline, and even participate in online wellness programs. Also, members can even go online to set up an appointment with the doctor, file claims, and find doctors at any time. UnitedHealthcare even has a mobile app that helps members use all these resources on the go. This health insurance company is ideal for those who are comfortable managing their healthcare online.

UnitedHealthcare offers HMO and PPO plans to its members, and it provides access to healthcare savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). Being a member of UnitedHealthcare insurance company ensures that you’ll avail discounts meant for members, and this includes vision services (including Lasik), hearing aids, and smoking cessation programs.

Aetna healthcare
Aetna is one of the largest health insurers in the country. It offers health plans to residents of all the 50 states and has an excellent reputation for catering to its customers. Aetna offers affordable health insurance that includes hospitalization, preventive care, immunizations, and other types of essential health care services. Moreover, the members have access to tax-free health savings account (HSA) plans. Since Aetna offers healthcare services on a large scale, its members can find an Aetna-approved provider irrespective of which part of the country they belong to. The network plan you choose will allow the members to see an in-network doctor or any licensed doctor, though opting for a network doctor will help you save money.

Aetna offers medicare plans to its customers, including Medicare Advantage Plans such as HMO and PPO Plans. It can even cover extra services such as dental care or wellness programs. Some plans even include prescription drug coverage. Additionally, it even offers Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) and Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans (Medigap), which work alongside your Original Medicare coverage.