What should I compare first, doctors, drugs, or costs?

Most people lead with premium because it is the most visible number. That is understandable, but it is also the most common mistake. A lower monthly premium means nothing if your cardiologist is out of network or your maintenance medication costs three times as much under that plan's drug formulary.Start with your doctors. Pull up the plan's provider directory and confirm your primary care physician and any specialists you see regularly are in-network for the plan type you are considering. If you are looking at an HMO, out-of-network visits are typically not covered at all. A PPO gives you more flexibility but usually at a higher cost.Next, check your drugs. Every plan has a formulary, which is a list of covered medications organized into tiers. Higher tiers mean higher cost-sharing. A drug that costs $10 a month under one plan might cost $80 under another.Once you have confirmed your doctors and drugs are covered at a reasonable cost, then compare premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. Those numbers now have real context. A plan with a $40 higher premium might actually save you money if your drug costs are significantly lower. Verify current plan details directly with the carrier or at Medicare.gov, since benefits and formularies change each year.