Health care insurance has risen (according to the news) over 9% in the last year, and it something that's going to keep going up, as long as we continue to allow insurance companies to dictate what they will pay for a procedure.
Ive been self employed since the early eighties and have always had to re shop for health insurance every few years.
I currently have a ppo through BCBS, but its expensive, complicated, and overall just a pain in the ass, but..it has the biggest bang for the buck, especially for major medical. Ive never been able to get cheaper health insurance through a broker, (and Im personal friends with a few health insurance brokers) it always more expensive than going direct with companies like BCBS and HAP. There are cheaper insurance policies available, but there through companies that most Dr's offices wont take. You'll end up in some walk in clinic that have second rate doctors and service.
The way most of their ppo's work, is you have to spend x amount of dollars out of pocket before the insurance kicks in. When it does, they cover some 80%. However, you pay only what the insurance company would pay (which always lower). The formula is complicated, and its best to open up a medical savings account (with a debit card), and pay all of your medical expenses with that debit card to keep better track of your out of pocket expenses. The hard part with the medical savings account is knowing what is covered and whats not. Its been changing every year.
