FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 26, 2017 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
health
MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID
ENROLLMENT
Picking a health insurance plan?
Prepare for the unexpected
As many Americans know, fall is the
season when we must select our health
benefi ts for the upcoming year. Choosing
a health plan can be a daunting task, but
selecting the right coverage protects you
and your family’s general health needs
and can prepare you for an unexpected
medical crisis. While no one plans on
receiving a blood cancer diagnosis, for
example, an estimated 173,000 Americans
were diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma
or myeloma in 2017. As there are
no means of preventing or early screening
for most blood cancers, a diagnosis
can oft en appear without warning. Wellplanned
health insurance coverage can
make an important diff erence in how
patients can fare in fi ghting the disease.
Th is year’s open enrollment season,
which runs approximately from October
to December, is your opportunity to consider
your health benefi ts and plan ahead.
With the cost of care for major health
events and severe illnesses increasing
every year, you will want to select a health
plan that ensures you and your family are
prepared in the case of a health emergency.
Th e Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(LLS) off ers three tips to consider when
selecting your 2018 health plan.
Compare physician and hospital networks:
Be diligent when choosing a plan.
While it is important to compare plan
prices, including co-payments, deductibles
and premiums, it is equally important
that your primary care doctor and any
specialists you visit are part of the plan’s
network. Not all plans cover every doctor,
hospital or comprehensive cancer center
near you, so review the plan’s network
list carefully. You also can call your doctors
and hospitals to ask if they are in the
plan’s network. If your spouse or children
are on your plan, you will need to consider
their physicians as well.
Prepare for the unexpected: No one
expects to receive a serious diagnosis
like blood cancer, but it helps to be prepared.
Th e cost of cancer care is rising at
an alarming rate and these costs include
more than drugs and doctor visits. From
diagnostic tests to hospitalizations to special
home health equipment, there are
many hidden costs to having a serious
illness. In fact, a recent survey conducted
by Russell Research on behalf of Th e
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society found
that 84 percent of adults are not sure how
they would cover all medical costs if they
were diagnosed with cancer. Th at’s why
it’s important to ensure that you have the
coverage you’ll need at an aff ordable cost.
Pay close attention to the numbers:
As you evaluate your coverage options -
whether through an employer, Medicare,
spouse or your parents - it’s important to
estimate your health care costs for the following
year carefully. Understand what
your deductible and co-pays will be and
take stock of where coinsurance will be
required; review your health bills from
the previous year to guide your choice,
but make sure you are covered for unexpected
health issues as well.
If you purchase health insurance from
the federal or state marketplace, the plans
you are off ered will depend on your location
and income. It is very important
to make sure your personal information
is accurate and up-to-date on the
federal website, HealthCare.gov, or on
your state’s website. Depending on your
income, you could qualify to save on your
insurance through advance premium tax
credits. In fact, 8 out of 10 people who
purchase insurance through the marketplace
are eligible for lower premiums.
Open enrollment in the marketplace will
run this year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.
If you or a family member had or
has cancer, or are at risk for cancer,
there is a checklist available at www.cancerinsurancechecklist.
org that can help
you choose the right plan when shopping
on the health insurance marketplace.
Th e Leukemia & Lymphoma Society also
provides free information and resources
about health insurance coverage for people
living with cancer at www.lls.org.
Courtesy BPT