But how do you know that a health coverage plan you choose will give you the services you need nearby? The answer is to ensure a plan works with medical centers or hospitals in your neighborhood.

MemorialCare makes this easy by featuring offices in every SoCal corner.

"Most people choose a primary care doctor close to home, or close to their job," said John Cascell, senior vice president of managed care at MemorialCare.

"When it's time for you to see a specialist or have a procedure done at a surgery center, your doctor will refer you to the best specialist, the best imaging center and the best hospital, all in the same network, for your continuing care," Cascell said. "And it helps if they all are close to home."

There are several networks in the region, but MemorialCare features extensive locations in both L.A. and Orange counties. Its health care providers span from the South Bay to south Orange County.

In addition to the four hospitals, there are 240 affiliated primary care doctors in 35 locations, and as many as 2,000 specialists, said Judy Shubin, vice president of payer contracts for the MemorialCare Medical Foundation.

More importantly, though: Will your health insurance be accepted?

Each health care system works out contracts with major insurance companies, as well as smaller, more local ones. These coverage contracts are agreements between the health system and each insurer about what services are covered, from wellness office visits to major surgery, and how much each will cost.

MemorialCare is a network provider for nearly all insurers in our region, whether Medicare, Medicare supplements or private, and it accepts both Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, Cascell said. About half of the contracts involve employer-issued policies and Covered California, he added. The rest are close to evenly split between Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare Advantage and other HMO plans require their members to have a primary care doctor who will handle all the referrals for a patient's specific care. In PPO plans, consumers can go to any doctor they wish, including specialists, for a slightly higher premium or copay. For those who move throughout Southern California often, either through long commutes or post-retirement adventures, this can be a perfect option.

Most health systems recommend that people find a primary care doctor who can track all their health care needs and help to coordinate treatment. Health systems like MemorialCare make this easy and time-saving with comprehensive location information, on line scheduling, physician biographies and more on their website.