How to navigate health benefi ts
open enrollment amid COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted people
nationwide to live differently, including
new challenges when it comes to navigating
the health system and accessing care.
Whether people are enrolling in a health plan
offered through an employer, state-based exchange
or government-sponsored program such
as Medicare or Medicaid, this fall’s open-enrollment
season for health benefits will likely be different
than in the past.
In fact, a recent UnitedHealthcare survey
found that 44% of respondents expect COVID-19
to influence the health plan they intend to select,
including 16% opting for an option with lower
out-of-pocket costs and 10% selecting more comprehensive
coverage.
In most cases, the practice of gathering with
coworkers or benefits consultants in a conference
room to review health plan options may
have been postponed. Even before COVID-19,
technology was likely reshaping how people selected
health benefits and obtained care, improving
access to information and creating a more
seamless and interactive health care experience.
To help simplify the health care experience, promote
well-being and potentially save money, here
are five tips people may consider during open enrollment
and year-round.
Focus on health care literacy
According to the survey, more than 78% of
Americans say they are prepared for open enrollment,
yet previous CDC research has shown that
some people struggle to fully understand common
health care terms and concepts, including plan
premium, deductible and co-insurance. In fact, a
recent UnitedHealth Group study concluded that
improving health literacy could prevent nearly 1
million hospital visits and save over $25 billion
a year.
People may help improve “health care literacy”
by accessing public resources such as Just-
PlainClear.com, which provides definitions for
thousands of common health care terms in English,
Spanish and Portuguese.
Tap into technology
Given COVID-19 may have changed how and
where people obtain health care services, it may
be important to select a health plan that includes
coverage for virtual care, ideally including options
for telehealth visits with your own doctor
and 24/7 access to a national provider network. In
fact, the use of virtual care resources has surged
more than 10-fold compared to 2019, according to
a 2020 UnitedHealthcare internal analysis, enabling
some people to connect with a health care
provider via a smartphone, tablet or personal
computer.
Telehealth resources are designed to be a
more convenient way to visit with a doctor about
various health issues, ranging from urgent and
routine care, ongoing chronic condition management,
behavioral health and specialty care such
TIMESLEDGER |20 QNS.COM | NOV. 20-NOV. 26, 2020
as oral and eye health.
Watch out for wearables
Smartwatches and activity trackers are potential
resources to help promote well-being and monitor
various health measures, including daily steps,
sleep patterns and blood sugar levels. Some health
plans offer programs that may enable people to earn
financial incentives for using wearables, such as fitness
trackers to monitor daily steps or continuous
glucose monitors to help members with type 2 diabetes.
Other virtual programs may give people access
to personalized, interactive online weight loss
and exercise support. Using connected devices, it is
possible to access near real-time data to help people
modify daily behaviors and help care providers
make more evidence-based recommendations.
Comparison shop for care
Health care quality and cost may vary widely
within a city or neighborhood, even though there
may often be little or no corresponding improvement
in health outcomes performed by higher-priced
care providers, according to a Families USA report,
“Price Transparency in Health Care.” Given that,
more than half (56%) of Americans said they have
used the internet or mobile apps during the last year
to comparison shop for health care. While recent
national efforts have helped spur greater transparency
around hospital prices, people may find more
specific - and personalized - estimates through their
health plan. In addition, there are public websites
that enable people to access market averages for
hundreds of health care costs, providing baseline
estimates to help inform the research process.
Bundle benefi ts
While many people may focus on medical coverage
during open enrollment, it may be important
that people not overlook specialty benefits such as
vision, dental, hearing and accident protection. In
fact, the recent survey found that 84% of employees
said having access to specialty benefits is “important.”
Plus, people who combine medical coverage
with specialty benefits through a single health care
company may be able to benefit from services including
clinical resources, which may help flag gaps
in care, and preventive medical services, such as annual
eye exams or teeth cleanings. That’s according
to a recent UnitedHealthcare analysis of customers
with integrated medical and specialty benefits.
“COVID-19 continues to reshape many aspects of
our lives, including how people research health plan
options and access medical care,” said Rebecca Madsen,
chief consumer officer of UnitedHealthcare.
“By considering these tips, people may make more
informed decisions related to health care coverage
and access, while promoting well-being and helping
prevent disease before it starts.”
— Courtesy of BPT
HEALTH
/PlainClear.com
/QNS.COM
