Health insurance is a contractual agreement between an individual and an insurance provider that helps cover medical expenses. It plays a crucial role in safeguarding your financial well-being by providing financial protection against high healthcare costs.

Selecting the right health insurance plan requires assessing your specific needs, such as budget, medical history, and preferred network of doctors. Consider factors like premium costs, deductibles, co-payments, and coverage limits to determine the plan that best suits your requirements.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans typically require you to choose a primary care physician and obtain referrals for specialists. PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans offer more flexibility in choosing healthcare providers, both in-network and out-of-network. EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) plans fall between HMO and PPO plans, offering coverage for in-network providers only.

The Open Enrollment Period is a designated timeframe when individuals can enroll in or make changes to their health insurance plans. The exact dates may vary, but typically it occurs once a year. Outside of this period, you may still be able to enroll or make changes if you experience a qualifying life event, such as marriage, birth of a child, or loss of job-based coverage.

Whether you can keep your current doctor depends on the specific plans available in your area. It's essential to review the network of providers for each plan you're considering to see if your doctor is included. If your doctor is within the network of the new plan you choose, you can continue seeing them. If not, you may need to switch to a doctor within the plan's network or explore other options that include your preferred healthcare provider.