Getting a health insurance plan for the first time can be quite foreboding. Insurance has a lot of jargon that can be near impossible for a beginner to understand. If you're lost and don't even know where to start differentiating between different health plans, here are some great places to start.

Premium 

The insurance "premium" will be one of the most important pieces of information to look for. This will tell you the amount that you will need to pay for the insurance, often monthly or yearly. Often, if you are getting health insurance through your work, the premium will be an amount of money that is taken out of your account every month. There will likely be more costs associated with the plan, but this cost is regular and assured, so make sure you're ready to pay it.

Deductible

The "deductible" in an insurance policy can be quite a confusing term. The deductible is the amount of money that you will need to spend in a year to start receiving benefits from your health insurance. The type of deductible you want will be determined by your preferences and health condition. If you are a person who needs a lot of health care in a given year, a smaller deductible will mean that your benefits will kick in sooner. These policies often have a higher premium, but you will have more of your payments covered in a given year. High deductibles are good for those who don't plan on needing a lot of health care. The premium for those plans is often lower.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is a simple term that describes the part of the medical bill that you actually have to pay. This is different depending on your deductible and insurance policy. Usually, a plan will tell you how much will be covered after you meet your deductible. This information will be communicated in a percentage (80% of medical costs, for example).

Copay

Copay is another simple term that is a flat amount that you will need to pay every time you receive medical care. This is often higher in plans with low premiums and deductibles. Some plans have no copay, but others will require you to pay a nominal fee for every doctor visit, urgent care visit, and prescription purchase. Keep this number in mind if you need a lot of regular medications or visits to the doctor.

Insurance Network

An important thing to take into account is your policy's "network". Only certain places will be covered and considered "in-network". If you already have a preference for a certain provider, make sure they are in your prospective policy's network.

For more information, contact a company like American Eagle Health Insurance.