Are you getting everything you can out of your health insurance plan? Try these five expert tips to make sure you max out every benefit available to you.
Your health insurance can help you manage your health care costs. However, many families may not maximize the benefits of their insurance and therefore pay much more than they need for medical care. Here we show you how to get the most out of your insurance policy.
1. Choose the right plan for your family. Before continuing with the same insurance plan each year, make sure you know the type of medical and dental needs of your family. If you have orthodontic work on the horizon, or if a family member has just been diagnosed with a chronic illness, make sure you choose the plan that works best for you.
2. Make sure you understand your plan. Keep the benefit documents you receive when you register for your insurance plan. They can provide you with excellent information on the price you will pay for different types of services and the rules of your insurance plan, for example if you have to choose a primary care physician in the network or if you need references to consult a specialist. Compliance will help you ensure that you receive quality care with substantial savings.
3. Ask a lawyer to work for you. "If you receive a large bill for services, for example, after a visit to the emergency room or surgery, and you do not understand how to read it, hire a medical billing consultant to help you", suggests Ruth Linden, founder of Tree of Life Defensores in San Francisco. "It will not charge you if everything is in order." On the other hand, if errors or questionable charges are noted, the standard billing clerk can charge you one-third of the amount you've saved. costs could reach thousands of dollars. " This can be particularly important if it is a complex medical problem that requires significant and expensive care. Some insurance companies have even begun to offer their own lawyers, such as the UnitedHealthcare Advocate4Me program, which offers a single point of contact with an expert who can help you understand your coverage and find the help you need.
4. Stay with the network providers. "The lowest rates are for doctors and hospitals participating in their insurance network," says Adria Goldman Gross of MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, NY. "Make sure that the doctors who treat your children are in your insurance plan.It is also best to make sure they are affiliated with hospitals covered by your insurance policy."
5. Use it to maximize your franchise. Once you have reached your deductible in most plans, you will pay much less for the medical care you will use beyond. So, if you have already reached your franchise for the year, it's time to make an appointment for a skin exam, to check your eyes and all the other services you need at a reduced cost.
