FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
health
Tips to help navigate health benefi ts
during open enrollment amid COVID-19
Th e COVID-19 pandemic has prompted
people nationwide to live diff erently,
including new challenges when it comes
to navigating the health system and
accessing care.
Whether people are enrolling in a
health plan off ered through an employer,
state-based exchange or governmentsponsored
program such as Medicare or
Medicaid, this fall’s open-enrollment season
for health benefi ts will likely be different
than in the past. In fact, a recent
UnitedHealthcare survey found that 44%
of respondents expect COVID-19 to
infl uence 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 benefi ts 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
benefi ts 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 fi ve 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 JustPlainClear.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 as oral and eye
health.
Watch out for wearables
Smartwatches and activity trackers are
potential resources to help promote wellbeing
and monitor various health measures,
including daily steps, sleep patterns
and blood sugar levels. Some health plans
off er programs that may enable people to
earn fi nancial incentives for using wearables,
such as fi tness 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 oft en
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 eff orts have helped spur
greater transparency around hospital
prices, people may fi nd more specifi c -
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 benefi ts such
as vision, dental, hearing and accident
protection. In fact, the recent survey
found that 84% of employees said
having access to specialty benefi ts is
“important.” Plus, people who combine
medical coverage with specialty benefi
ts through a single health care company
may be able to benefi t from services
including clinical resources, which
may help fl ag gaps in care, and preventive
medical services, such as annual eye
exams or teeth cleanings. Th at’s according
to a recent UnitedHealthcare analysis
of customers with integrated medical
and specialty benefi ts.
“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 offi -
cer 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
/WWW.QNS.COM
/JustPlainClear.com
