Open Enrollment Plan Comparison Worksheet 2026: One Page, Three Plans
Put PPO, HMO and HDHP/HSA options on one standardized worksheet: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, employer money, network and prescriptions.
Two-plan total-cost comparator
Put both plans on one annual basis instead of comparing deductibles in isolation.
| Plan A | Plan B | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | ||
| Expected out-of-pocket | ||
| Employer HSA/HRA money | ||
| Estimated tax benefit |
The one-page worksheet
| Field | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual employee premium | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Deductible | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Out-of-pocket max | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Employer HSA/HRA contribution | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Primary care / specialist | _____ | _____ | _____ |
| Your top 3 prescriptions | covered? | covered? | covered? |
| Your doctors/hospital | in network? | in network? | in network? |
Three passes
Pass 1: eliminate unacceptable networks/formularies. Pass 2: compare expected annual cost using last year’s utilization plus known next-year events. Pass 3: compare worst-case cost and ask whether the deductible can be cash-flowed in January.
Why it beats “which plan is best?”
Plan labels hide the variables that actually matter. A “high PPO” at one employer can be economically closer to a “low PPO” elsewhere. The worksheet forces actual numbers into the decision.
FAQ
Should I use last year’s care?
It is a useful baseline, then add known changes such as pregnancy, surgery, therapy, new prescriptions or a dependent.
What if my doctor appears in the carrier directory?
Verify the plan-specific network, ideally with both the directory and provider office.
How do I value employer HSA money?
Count actual employer dollars as a plan-specific offset, but pay attention to when they are deposited.
Sources & methodology
We favor regulators, government agencies and primary insurance-industry data for factual rules and current limits. Calculators use the numbers you enter and clearly labeled illustrative assumptions rather than pretending a national average is your quote.