If you are currently enrolled through an employer's plan, you won't be able to make any changes, including dropping the plan, until open enrollment (once a year). Check with your HR manager when that occurs. Usually the open enrollment period is about 2-3 months prior to the effective date of the new plan year.
Be very careful about switching plans as you now have a pre-existing condition. Individual health plans can deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions unless you have proof of uninterrupted medical coverage, whereas and employer's plan will cover you regardless of any medical condition.
You should closely look at out of pocket expenses, not just the monthly premium. My husband and I made the mistake of switching from Kaiser to a PPO plan to save money. We had difficulty finding a physician that was accepting new clients and our office visit fee was very expensive. Two weeks before we changed plans back to Kaiser, my husband injured his hand and required a trip to the emergency room. Our deductible on the PPO plan was so high, $5K, that we were responsible for a $3,000 emergency visit. Just to be admitted to the ER was almost $400 and we went to an in-network hospital! So much for saving money. Had we been on the Kaiser plan, our only out of pocket expense would have been the $50 copay to the ER.
Most HMO plans have wonderful benefits for young children up to 2 years old and often have zero to low cost office copays. My Kaiser plan also has the fabulous benefit of zero office copays while I'm going for my pre-natal appointments and my hospital delivery will only be $250 for the birth.
Good luck in your search!
