🧠 Important Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Health Plan

Before enrolling in any plan — especially one that’s not ACA-compliant — it’s critical to ask the right questions to make sure you’re not signing up for something that only looks like insurance.

Here are four key questions you should always ask:

1. What is my out-of-pocket maximum?

This is the most you’ll ever have to pay in a calendar year for covered services.
➡️ The answer should be a specific dollar amount, such as $3,000 or $5,000 — not a vague “it depends” or “you’ll just pay what the discount is.”
If they can’t give you a number, it’s likely not real insurance.

2. What is the policy maximum (aka benefit cap)?

This is the total amount the plan will pay out over the life of the policy.
➡️ A legitimate plan should have no cap. If the plan limits benefits to $100,000 or $250,000 — that’s a red flag. It means the plan is limited-benefit, and you could easily max it out with one hospital visit.

3. Is this plan fully comprehensive?

Don’t settle for a long explanation. The answer should be simple and confident.
➡️ Look for a clear “Yes.”
If they hesitate, deflect, or start listing what isn’t covered, the plan likely has serious holes.

4. What is your National Producer Number (NPN)?

Every licensed insurance agent in the U.S. has one.
➡️ If someone is selling you health coverage, they should be willing to provide their NPN without hesitation. This is your way of confirming you’re speaking to a licensed professional — not a call center rep pushing junk policies.

Asking these questions can save you from thousands of dollars in unexpected bills — and help you separate legitimate private plans from glorified discount cards or short-term traps.

If you're not sure how your current plan stacks up, reach out and let us review it with you. It only takes a few minutes, and it could be the difference between feeling secure and being blindsided.