Methodologies
How TandemLeaf evaluates insurance companies, reviews products and compares options without hiding the trade-offs behind a score.
TandemLeaf currently uses structured qualitative analysis rather than invented star ratings. Our methodology is designed to make the criteria visible instead of hiding a recommendation behind a score.
Provider reviews
Coverage structure
What the base policy is designed to cover and which categories require an add-on, endorsement or separate product.
Exclusions & eligibility
Pre-existing conditions, excluded causes of loss, state restrictions and other terms that can change whether a claim is eligible.
Out-of-pocket exposure
Deductibles, reimbursement, coinsurance, valuation method, sublimits and annual or lifetime limits.
Claims & cash flow
How a claim is submitted, what records may be required and how much money a consumer may need before payment arrives.
Flexibility
Available plan settings, optional coverage and how easily the structure can be matched to different household needs.
Practical fit
Who may benefit from the structure and who should compare alternatives because a trade-off matters more to them.
Direct comparisons
We compare named options on equivalent criteria rather than asking which brand is “best” in the abstract. Price is considered only after the core settings are normalized as closely as possible.
Best-of and recommendation content
When TandemLeaf publishes recommendation-oriented pages, the article should explain the scenario behind the recommendation. “Best” without a defined consumer need is not a useful methodology.
No numerical rating without a published scoring model
TandemLeaf does not currently assign star scores. If numerical ratings are introduced later, the criteria, weights, source data, conflict safeguards and update process will be published here before those scores are used.