HEALTH
How to help simplify health insurance open enrollment
TIMESLEDGER |22 QNS.COM | NOV. 20-NOV. 26, 2020
plan, one size does not
fit all. Whether you are
selecting a plan for the
first time or evaluating
how well your current
plan is meeting your
needs, take the time to
understand and compare
plans. A good first
step is to make sure you
understand health insurance
lingo, such as
premium, deductible,
coinsurance and outof
pocket maximum. If
you need a refresher,
check out the Health
Care ABCs. If you’re of
Medicare age, ensure
you’re familiar with
the difference between
Original Medicare and
Medicare Advantage by
checking out medicaremadeclear.
com as you
weigh your options.
Tip 2: Take advantage
of a plan that offers
telehealth visits
and other resources
to help you navigate
health from home. An
increasingly popular
health care choice,
especially during the
COVID-19 pandemic,
has been telehealth or
virtual visits, which
enable people to connect
24/7 with a health
care provider via a
smartphone, tablet or
personal computer. It’s
designed to be an easier,
more affordable way
to talk to a doctor about
common health issues.
Often, telehealth is
available to members
of employer-sponsored,
individual and Medicare
Advantage plans.
Tip 3: Review plan
benefits that can help
you save money, like
wellness incentives.
Many health plans now
offer financial incentives
that reward you
for taking healthier
actions, such as completing
a health survey,
exercising or avoiding
nicotine. Many plans,
including Medicare
Advantage plans, offer
gym memberships and
wellness programs for
members at no additional
cost.
Tip 4: Anticipate
next year’s health expenses.
If you are expecting
a significant
health event in the next
year, such as a surgery
or the birth of a
child, you should compare
the differences
between plan designs,
including out-of-pocket
maximums.
Tip 5: Consider a
plan that offers health
care advocates and
resources to help you
make the most of your
benefits. Health care
can be complicated, so
no one should have to
go it alone. It’s important
to pick a plan that
will provide you with
access to advocates
who help you navigate
the health care system,
find opportunities for
cost savings and improve
your health care
experiences.
— Courtesy of BPT
Open enrollment
season is here, a
time when millions
of Americans
across the country
will have the opportunity
to select or switch
their health insurance
plan for the coming year.
Enrollment periods
aren’t the same for everyone,
so there are key
dates to keep in mind
depending on your
situation:
* Many employers
set aside a two- to
three-week period
between September
and December when
employees can select
health benefits for
the following year.
* Medicare Annual
Enrollment runs from
Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each
year.
To help guide you
during this important
time, Ann Marie
O’Brien, R.N., National
Director of Health
Strategies at United-
Healthcare, provides
the following tips that
may help lead you to
better health and cost
savings.
Tip 1: Start early,
take your time and
ask questions. When
it comes to selecting a
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