Open enrollment season has a way of turning even confident shoppers into skeptics. You pull up two health insurance plans, the monthly premiums look reasonable, and then you hit a wall of terms that all seem to mean roughly the same thing: deductible, copay, coinsurance. It's easy to assume they're interchangeable, but mixing them up is one of the fastest ways to end up with a plan that costs far more than expected once you actually need care.

Understanding how these three pieces work together is the difference between picking a plan based on the sticker price and picking one that actually fits your health needs and your budget. It matters even more here in Colorado Springs, where a mix of high-elevation outdoor activity, ski season injuries, and a growing number of retirees means residents tend to use their health coverage more than the national average suggests.

Before you sign up for anything this year, it's worth taking a few minutes to understand exactly what you're agreeing to pay, and when.

​Group health insurance is insurance that covers a defined group of people, like for example, the members of a society or professional association, or the employees of a particular employer. There are many ways to get group health insurance through organizations or associations. Therefore, anyone is eligible to purchase this kind of insurance even if you are self-employed or don’t work in any company that offers group health insurance.

​Whether you are seeking a personal health-insurance-policy for your family or choosing among various health insurance options that your respective employer is offering, there are a number of factors to carefully take into account. It's important to consider your healthcare usage against the types of insurance plans available to you such as Health-Maintenance-Organizations (HMOs), Preferred-Provider-Organizations (PPO), High-Deductible-Health-Plans (HDHPs) and Indemnity Health Plan. 

​It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Beware of the little expense.  A small leak will sink a great ship.” 
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Isn’t it true?  

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Shield your marriage with these money tips.  Here are 5 simple ways you can avoid marital issues.

​Your major medical plan could leave you responsible for as much as $6600 or more out-of-pocket expenses in the case of a serious accident or illness. Gap insurance offers options to complement your health plan in the event of a covered illness or accident. Accident and critical illness benefits allow you to focus on your number one priority—getting better. Gap Insurance provides a lump sum payment for covered illnesses and accidents that is paid directly to you, and can be used for anything you choose, including: