Don’t push your South Carolina insurance to the back of your mind: it’s always relevant, even if you don’t want to think about it right now. So whenever any type of change occurs, be sure to dust off that policy and check that it still meets your needs.

Health insurance can be very complex, and you naturally want the best value and quality for your hard-earned dollar. But how can you know if the plan you are considering is a good one?

For starters, you need to look at more than cost. Other considerations include what is covered or excluded, annual limits, likely out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and co-payments, and whether you are still covered if you choose your own doctor.

With regards to quality, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) annually ranks health insurance plans according to three different criteria – Consumer Satisfaction, Prevention, and Treatment. These three categories are then broken down into a number of areas which measure the ease of accessing health care, satisfaction with the treating physician, and treatments for major conditions such as asthma and heart disease. In 2010-11, there were 300 plans assessed, and of these, 227 received accreditation. Details can be accessed from the NCQA website’s homepage.

You can also check with the Health Insurance Department for information about your intended health insurance plan, such as drop-out rates by consumers. And don’t forget to ask your doctor and other people you know for their opinion – most people have a health insurance story to tell!

It pays to be well-informed when choosing a health insurance policy.