Healthcare Consumerism

Studies have shown that many people with health insurance do not use it to its full benefit. A Reuters Health report found that only 8 percent of adults with health insurance were taking advantage of all the preventative screenings their insurance covered, including:

• Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Checks
• Alcohol and Tobacco Use Counseling
• Mental Health Services
• Cancer Screenings
• Vaccinations

Other health insurance mistakes include:

• Not taking advantage of perks such as gym discounts
• Not utilizing stress management services
• Paying more than necessary for prescription drugs
• Paying for optional services before reaching their deductible.

Many individuals who have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) often don’t take advantage of available opportunities.

Staying informed about your insurance plan and other factors that affect your health can help you become a skilled healthcare consumer.

Understanding Your Insurance Coverage

Having healthcare coverage is critical, but understanding your policy’s language and nuances is just as important. Reading through a health insurance policy can be a daunting task. It includes language that can be difficult to understand. However, a good healthcare consumer will take time to read and understand the plan and benefits offered to best access care and avoid costly mistakes.

If you pay a monthly premium toward your care, you might consider that amount to be your insurance cost. Your monthly premium, however, is not the only cost associated with your care. Other costs to consider include copays and deductibles, as well as out-of-pocket maximums and coinsurance.

It’s essential to understand which services your insurance covers and which it does not. Some policies, for instance, cover dental and vision care, but not all. Suppose those or other services you desire are not covered in your policy. In that case, you might be able to access elective benefits that would enable you to pay a little more to get those coverages.

Also important to understand is which treatments and providers your insurance considers in-network, as opposed to out-of-network. You may end up paying more for treatment from an out-of-network provider. In and out-of-network does not only apply to treatment at a doctor’s office or hospital but can be a factor when considering where to go for laboratory tests such as bloodwork or CT scans, urgent-care clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers.

These are just a few aspects of your insurance policy you’ll need to study and make sure you understand. Getting help when you need it is essential.