Say you’re self-employed, or your family doesn’t currently have health insurance. How do you compare the many private health plans out there?

It’s a daunting task. Even if you spend hours doing research, you might miss a really good deal or misread the fine print.

But it’s not impossible either. Our friends at Health Coverage Fast share three ways to compare costs:

Determine Your Budget

The best way to find a health plan that meets the needs of your family is to first determine a monthly insurance premium amount that is affordable and then shop for the best plan in that price range. You will also want to make sure that the out-of-pocket maximum on any medical insurance policy would be achievable without causing severe financial hardship on the family.