This Week's Web Winners

last updated: August 14, 2008 01:03:10 PM

You can even shop online for medical care. These sites tell how to compare insurance plans. Many link to services that provide quotes for health insurance plans of different kinds.

• HOW TO COMPARE — To decide on health insurance, you must first know what your employer, or your spouse's employer, is offering for coverage. This brief guide says "the easiest and the best options" are those provided in the workplace. It also briefly describes the differences among fee-for-service, PPO, POS and HMO insurance plans. www.ehow.com/how_1000518_compare-health-insurance.html

• REPORT CARD — Here is the American Medical Association's Health Insurer Report Card. With the report card, unveiled in June, the physicians' group says it hopes to hold insurers accountable in processing claims. The industry "needs improvement," according to the report. www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/18660.html

• MEDICARE CENTRAL — The federal health care service for older people is a web of public and private programs that gets especially complex when it comes to prescription drug plans. The intricacies of these subsidized plans — we found 63 of them, with premiums from zero to $99 a month, available for residents of one of Philadelphia's suburban counties — are enough to make you sick. www.medicare.gov

• CANDIDATE PLANS — How do the presidential candidates compare on health care issues? WebMD outlines the positions of Republican John McCain, Democrat Barack Obama, Libertarian Bob Barr and Independent Ralph Nader on a few key issues, including coverage for the uninsured. Click on the candidates' photos for additional details. www.webmd.com/election2008/comparecandidates

• MEDICAL TRAVEL — We were surprised to see the question posted here about the wisdom of an uninsured person traveling to India for heart surgery. It's not for everyone, Dr. Andrew Weil says. www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400291/shopping-for-medical-care-abroad

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