Selecting the best health insurance plan for your needs means making an informed choice and knowing your personal priorities. Is budget most important? Which benefits do you really need? Consider the following questions.

Five key questions to help you assess your needs:

Why it matters: If you don't maintain a cushion of funds in the bank, you're going to want a health plan with a low deductible, or none at all. If you do keep a savings account and can afford a higher deductible if necessary, you may be able to find a plan with lower monthly premiums.

Why it matters: If you visit the doctor regularly, it may make sense to pay a higher monthly premium in order to keep your office-visit copayment and deductible low. If you rarely visit the doctor, maybe you don't need robust coverage for preventive care.

Why it matters: If you spend a lot on health care, it's important to know what you spend it on and if you expect to spend at the same pace. If these are recurring costs (for prescription drugs, for example), make sure that the plan you select covers these services. If you don't spend much on health care, then you could save money with a plan that provides less generous coverage for office visits or prescription drugs.

Why it matters: Some pre-existing medical conditions (like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes) can make it difficult to get approved for Individual and Family coverage. If you're concerned, a licensed eHealthInsurance agent can help direct you to insurance companies more likely to approve your application. Call 1-800-977-8860 to talk to an agent.

Why it matters: If you're a regular user of prescription medication, make sure you find a plan that covers prescriptions at a copayment level you can afford. If it's possible you or your spouse could become pregnant, pay close attention to maternity benefits too. If you don't need prescription drugs or maternity benefits, you could save money. If you were recently laid off or voluntarily left an employer, you may have more than one choice when it comes to finding health insurance. By understanding your needs and situation you have a better chance of finding the coverage that works best. Here are a few options:

• Your spouse's plan - Learn how much, if any, your spouse's share of the premium would increase if you join the plan.
• COBRA coverage - COBRA allows you to temporarily extend coverage under your employer-sponsored health plan at your own cost. It's a good choice if you have a pre-existing medical condition, since you can't be declined based on your medical history. However, many people find COBRA prohibitively expensive.
• Individual and Family plans - Before you decline COBRA, take a look at the Individual and Family options in your area. You could even apply for an Individual and Family plan and use COBRA as a back-up just in case.
• Public options - Every state offers public programs and plans for individuals or families struggling financially or unable to get approved for coverage elsewhere.

To find more information about COBRA and a calculator to help you understand the difference in cost between COBRA coverage and Individual and Family plans, visit our COBRA Learning Center online.