As healthcare costs continues to rise, a recent NY Times article describes the growing trend of underinsured Americans. This group now numbering 25 million people includes those who have health insurance coverage that may not adequately cover them in a healthcare crisis or have high out of pocket expenses and deductibles.

“The rates of underinsurance among families earning more than $40,000 a year nearly tripled from 2003 to 2007. Most worked for small businesses with poor coverage or had to buy costly, bare-bones individual policies on the private market. A typical family might have to cope with rising premiums, high deductibles, benefit limits that exclude or cap treatments and substantial co-payments for each service.”

As costs continue to rise it becomes more  important than ever for healthcare consumers to become better educated about not only their health but also what insurance plans are available and how they work. Websites are available to assist you. MostChoice (www.mostchoice.com) serves as an insurance broker. You can also check the quality of a healthplan at Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (www.cahps.ahrq.gov) and National Committee on Quality Assurance (www.ncqa.org).