New Health Insurance, Now What?
1. Understand your Health Care Coverage
Take some time to acquaint yourself with the costs and fees of your shiny, new policy. The points of your policy you’ll want to know inside and out are: co-pays, emergency room fees, prescription coverage and your annual deductible. Understanding these fees and terms will help you in making good financial and health decisions.
For example, if you’ve already met your deductible for the year and your doctor wants to take care of some routine matters, great! It makes sense to have them done in the year your deductible has been met.
2. Take control of your health
Most insurance companies reward those who have healthy habits and take preventive health measures seriously. Make it a point to find out what healthy perks are available to you as a policy holder. From gym memberships to fitness trackers and even discounts on other healthy living products and services — you could be paying for something out of pocket that your insurance policy will cover!
3. Choose your Primary Care Provider
Not all plans require a designated primary care physician but even if they don’t it’s worth searching online to see who’s in network and covered by your new plan. It can be a costly mistake to schedule an appointment with a physician you’ve seen in the past who may now be out of your network. Plus, putting in the work upfront puts you in the driver’s seat of your health. You’ll be confident and prepared when you have to go in rather than scrambling at the last minute to locate a physician when you really need to see one.
4. Be Prepared For Your First Visit
If this is your first time seeing a new physician know your family history and have a list of your current medications ready. Also, take the time to make a list of any health concerns, questions, and take notes. This is the time to establish a relationship with your doctor.
