Health Insurance

4 Health Insurance Basics Health insurance can help protect you from the high costs of illness or injury. It also helps you get regular health care, such as exams, preventive care and vaccines. But health insurance can cost a lot. And it can be hard to choose the best insurance. Use this brochure to help choose health insurance. This brochure can help you: 1. Choose health insurance; 2. Understand your health insurance policy; and 3. Know who to contact if you have questions This brochure can also help you understand your health insurance policy. Your policy is a legal document, and it is important that you understand it. How can I learn more about my health insurance? • Ask your insurance company or employer for a Summary of Benefits. This is a short list of your benefits and costs. • Make sure you have a copy of your policy. This has more information about your costs and benefits. It also tells you the services that are not covered. • Most health insurance companies have a phone number you can call with questions. Or ask your health insurance agent, insurance company, or employer to explain things. How can the California Department of Insurance (CDI) help me? CDI regulates many health insurance companies. This means that we make sure they follow the law. • We can help you understand your health insurance policy. • We can help you if you have a problem, or want to file a complaint (such as an appeal or grievance). • You can call CDI with questions at 1-800-927-4357 • For a list of other agencies that help people with health insurance problems, see page 36.

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