The term “smart health care consumer” has become increasingly popular in recent years. Here are four tips to help you become a smart health care consumer:
Educate Yourself
In this age of technology, you have a unique opportunity to educate yourself on a variety of important topics, in a variety of ways. Doing research online, attending industry webinars and asking your employer for educational resources are all great ways to educate yourself about health care topics. The savviest consumers are informed about the health care landscape in their area. Who are the major medical service providers? Are there any recent news stories, purchases or mergers going on that may affect you? You can also check out reviews to see what others are saying about doctors and hospitals around you.
Select the Right Plan
A great place to focus your efforts is on selecting the right health plan. Before making your choice, you should have an understanding of common health care terms, such as deductible, co-payment and co-insurance. You should also understand the specifics of the health plan(s) you have to choose from, including a detailed benefit and cost analysis to help you decide which plan is best for you. It is helpful to know how much you spent on health care in the last year, by adding up any premium payments as well as any out-of-pocket costs you incurred. This will give you a good basis to compare other plans. When considering the cost of your plan, don’t just look at the premium, or paycheck deduction costs; look at the co-pay, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum amounts. If you utilize your health plan a lot, it may be beneficial to select the plan with richer benefits. It may cost you more monthly, but could save you money in the long run. If you don’t receive medical services often, a higher-deductible plan may be right for you. You should look to your employer, benefit administrator or insurance provider for assistance with deciding which plan is right for you, which is one of the most effective ways to become a smart health care consumer.
Use Your Plan Effectively
After you select your health plan, you should switch your focus to learning how to get the most from your benefits. This includes, but is not limited to, knowing the importance of staying in-network, how to find an in-network doctor and where to go for emergency care. It’s also important to understand when purchasing any other product or service, you should do research and shop around before using your benefits. Do you have access to a find a doctor tool to search for in-network providers? Is there a transparency tool available through your plan to help you determine the cost of services? Are there any other cost saving opportunities such as telemedicine or discount programs you can take advantage of? These are questions you should ask your employer, benefit administrator or insurance provider to ensure you are making informed health care decisions.
Don’t Stop There
It’s always a good idea to educate yourself before making purchasing decisions. Don’t make the mistake of stopping education after selecting your health plan. After you have a good understanding of how to use your plan effectively, consider switching your focus to making smart heath choices. Are you current with your annual checkups and vaccinations? Are there free health and wellness tools available that can help you get started or reach your health goals? You probably have tools available to you that you are not even aware of, and many come at no extra cost.
Don’t just use your health plan when you are sick! Talk to your employer, benefit administrator or insurance provider to learn more about all of the member tools and extras available to help you become a healthy, smart, health care consumer.
This post was created by St. Louis Magazine Partner Studio on behalf of HealthLink. Visit their website to learn more about how to become a smart health care consumer.
