While there’s no telling what healthcare will look like in the coming years, there’s a lot you can do to make the most of the coverage you have now so you can maximize your health as well as your current policy. A healthcare administration student at Maryville University can provide you with deeper insight into how healthcare providers operate, but these following suggestions are a great place to start to take full advantage of your insurance.
Know What’s In Your Plan
Having health insurance doesn’t do you much good if you don’t even know what kind of coverage you do and do not have. There might be a lot of paperwork involved with your policy, but taking some time to digest it all in small bites lets you know what kind of instances and situations are covered and what you can expect when you need to put your policy to good use. Additionally, take note of the cost of out-of-network, behavioral, preventative and emergency care so you know how much you’ll have to pay should you need those types of care. You should also brush up on information about your co-pay, yearly deductible, out-of-pocket costs and the like.
Find Out What Doctors Are in Your Network
Even if you have a primary care physician now, you don’t know if a time might come for you to find or visit another doctor. To save yourself time, and in case there’s an emergency, decide on a backup doctor whom you feel is just as good of a match (if not better) as your current primary physician. It’s also a good idea to regularly review which doctors are added or removed from your network.
Use Online Portals
Another great way to save time is to make sure you register online with your carrier. Registering allows you to communicate with your physician, access provider directories, take care of outstanding payments, schedule appointments and set reminders for upcoming appointments. Taking the time out to register can eliminate a lot of disorganization, which is the last thing you want when it comes to your health and medical information.
Brush Up on Your Prescription Benefits
You might not be on any prescriptions or medications now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be in the future. There’s also the fact that some prescriptions can be quite expensive. For these reasons, learn what medication benefits are included with your current plan. If you already have certain ailments, or if there’s a history of specific health complications in your family, such as diabetes, knowing the most popular medications and their cost can give you an idea of how much you’re likely to have to spend and how much of the cost is covered by your provider.
Take Full Advantage of Your Preventative Benefits
Prevention is always preferable to a cure, and that’s never been truer than in the healthcare industry. You likely have a few preventative services available under your plan that you don’t have to pay for. Be sure to utilize those services so you have a heads up of any health risks or conditions you might have or could develop so you and your primary physician can develop a strategy to keep you in good health and prevent you from paying for procedures and prescriptions you could’ve avoided with a few easy steps.
Know What Hospitals and Urgent Care Facilities Are in Your Network
The hospital or urgent care center closest to your home might not be included in your network. Go ahead and figure out which centers and hospitals are part of your network and which have the best reputation before you have a medical emergency.
Get to know your insurance policy in and out. You never know when you’ll need to use it, or how you can save on medical costs with the above tips.
