Introduction

In Part Two: Getting Covered, we shift our focus from learning the basics to taking practical steps in the process of shopping for and purchasing a group coverage plan in California. We'll explain how to get organized, make preliminary decisions, work with a broker, choose a plan, and implement it.

Because the world of insurance plans can get confusing, and since you likely have limited time to spend, we do recommend using a broker to find possible plans for you and explain your options. However, proceeding without a broker may be fine—for instance, if you know exactly what plan you want to buy and don't want to compare policies. Keep in mind as you read Part Two that we often assume that you'll be using a broker, but we outline an approach to the process of purchasing an insurance plan that can help guide you whether you're working with a broker or on your own.

Let's get started.

In the tool box, download the "Action Plan Checklist" and use it to focus on the essential tasks as we proceed through Part Two. If it takes you more than one visit to finish the process, the checklist will help you keep track of where you left off.