With open enrollment for the federal health care exchange underway, thousands of Texans are shopping for individual and family health insurance coverage for 2015.

Jeff Hudson of UnitedHealthcare offers tips to help people select the best coverage options and to make the application process a little easier:

1. Learn the Lingo: Do you know the difference between co-payment and co-insurance? Don’t worry, most people don’t. Fortunately, there are a number of tools online, including UnitedHealthcare’s justplainclear.com glossary (in English and Spanish), to help you learn and understand the terms.

2. Find Out What Coverage Costs: No matter which health insurance plan you choose, you’ll pay a monthly payment, or “premium,” for your coverage.  In addition, there will likely be other costs that you’ll be responsible for paying for your health care and prescriptions. It’s important to know that you and your family may qualify for a “subsidy” to help pay for the cost of your monthly premium and these other out-of-pocket expenses. 

3. Look for Ways to Save: Choose a health insurance plan that has a strong network of quality doctors, clinics and hospitals you can use. Network discounts can help you save on your health care costs even before you meet your annual deductible. Also, some health plans offer wellness programs, health cost estimator tools and other services that can help your family save on health care costs and stay healthier.

4. Be Prepared: Applying for health insurance usually takes 60 to 90 minutes or longer. You can save time by being prepared in advance with the information that you will need. This includes Social Security numbers for all applicants; proof of legal residency, such as a driver’s license; employment and income information (recent tax returns and pay stubs); policy numbers for any current health insurance; and information about any employer-provided insurance that may be available to your family.

5. Know the Deadlines: There are a number of important deadlines that affect when coverage starts. If you want your coverage to start Feb. 1, 2015, you must apply no later than Jan. 15, 2015. The final day to apply for coverage for 2015 through the exchange to avoid tax penalties is Feb. 15.

For more information about finding health insurance coverage for you and your family, call 1-844-JOIN-UHC, or visit www.uhc.com/join or www.healthcare.gov where you can sign up online or get help.