Health Insurance 101 - Understanding Open Enrollment
You've just landed a great job, with a wonderful benefits package.
You think so, anyway.
You have that first year time known as "open enrollment" where you can asses your plan and look through all the details in order to choose the best health insurance to suit your needs.
The way that you balance this is in figuring out which meets your needs at the most affordable possible rate and this is actually not as complex as the sometimes abundance of paperwork may make it seem.
The key elements to consider when choosing the right plan for you or your family, is first asses exactly what it is you will need.
This is true of most insurance choices, be that homeowners, auto or health insurance.
For instance, if you are female, or a member of your family that will be covered under you is- you know that you will need yearly exams, and if age is a factor, possible mammograms need to be covered.
If you plan to begin a family or enlarge your family by having another baby, this is also an area to consider.
Knowing also the medications you take on a regular basis, if you need a regular cholesterol check, and other things that you absolutely feel are a must- these are all the things to consider when looking at the plans that are available to you.
Also bear in mind that many insurers have begun to cover procedures known as CAM, or Complimentary and Alternative- so you may in fact be able to get regular therapeutic massages, gym memberships and other healthy behaviors covered under your plan.
It never hurts to ask.
Also, if you have a doctor that you feel comfortable with, be sure to check that they actually accept at least one of the policies that you are looking into.
If they don't- you will have to pay for your care with that doctor out of pocket.
To find out if your doctor accepts a plan you have in offering, or all of them, call their billing department and ask about each one.
Sometimes, with a PPO plan that you pay more for, you can get part of your out of network coverage paid for, but you will have to ask and make sure that this is the case in those situation.
If you are willing to switch doctors, the best way to make sure that you have a wide selection of doctors is to be willing to pay higher premiums.
This is not always the case, but it is a general rule that health insurance companies negotiate with practice managers and doctors to figure out the pricing.
Understanding the balancing act of your premiums can also help.
For higher premiums, you'll get lower copays and deductibles and the more in your favor the split will be once you have met your deductible.
Take your needs and sort of stack them up against this and your choice will be that much clearer for you.
You think so, anyway.
You have that first year time known as "open enrollment" where you can asses your plan and look through all the details in order to choose the best health insurance to suit your needs.
The way that you balance this is in figuring out which meets your needs at the most affordable possible rate and this is actually not as complex as the sometimes abundance of paperwork may make it seem.
The key elements to consider when choosing the right plan for you or your family, is first asses exactly what it is you will need.
This is true of most insurance choices, be that homeowners, auto or health insurance.
For instance, if you are female, or a member of your family that will be covered under you is- you know that you will need yearly exams, and if age is a factor, possible mammograms need to be covered.
If you plan to begin a family or enlarge your family by having another baby, this is also an area to consider.
Knowing also the medications you take on a regular basis, if you need a regular cholesterol check, and other things that you absolutely feel are a must- these are all the things to consider when looking at the plans that are available to you.
Also bear in mind that many insurers have begun to cover procedures known as CAM, or Complimentary and Alternative- so you may in fact be able to get regular therapeutic massages, gym memberships and other healthy behaviors covered under your plan.
It never hurts to ask.
Also, if you have a doctor that you feel comfortable with, be sure to check that they actually accept at least one of the policies that you are looking into.
If they don't- you will have to pay for your care with that doctor out of pocket.
To find out if your doctor accepts a plan you have in offering, or all of them, call their billing department and ask about each one.
Sometimes, with a PPO plan that you pay more for, you can get part of your out of network coverage paid for, but you will have to ask and make sure that this is the case in those situation.
If you are willing to switch doctors, the best way to make sure that you have a wide selection of doctors is to be willing to pay higher premiums.
This is not always the case, but it is a general rule that health insurance companies negotiate with practice managers and doctors to figure out the pricing.
Understanding the balancing act of your premiums can also help.
For higher premiums, you'll get lower copays and deductibles and the more in your favor the split will be once you have met your deductible.
Take your needs and sort of stack them up against this and your choice will be that much clearer for you.
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