Health insurance is expensive, and if you’re lucky you’ll hardly ever need to use it. But regardless of your
mental and physical health, it’s important that you have good coverage in case of an emergency. And whether you get your insurance through your employer or the Health Insurance Marketplace, you should always use your insurance to its fullest ability. Today, we’re sharing how to ensure you get the most out of your insurance.
Choose a policy that matches your needs
If you have a chronic health condition it may be in your best interest to choose a policy with a low deductible. This will lower the amount of money you spend before your insurance starts to kick in. It also may be in your best interest to choose a plan with a low out of pocket max. An out of pocket max is a specific amount of money that you must meet and then your insurance will pay at 100%. Therefore, if you spend a lot of time at the doctors, having a policy with a low deductible and out of pocket max would meet your needs. Also, if you see a specialist, such as a chiropractor, on a regular basis, be sure that your policy has chiropractic coverage. This is not a benefit on many plans so be careful.
Make sure your doctors take your insurance
If you have a particular doctor or doctors that you like to see make sure they take your insurance. This may help narrow down between two companies. If you’re switching insurances give your doctors office a call and see if they accept any of the policies you’re considering. Also find out if you will need a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) to see any specialists you see.
See if they pay for your gym membership
Insurance companies see the value in keeping their clients healthy. Now a days, it’s common for your insurance to cover all, if not most, of your monthly gym membership.
See what other benefits they provide
Some companies provide coverage for things such as acupuncture and massage, or even other forms of physical therapy such as Pilates and yoga. Prevention is key to leading a healthy lifestyle so you should check and see if any of these services are covered to stay healthy!
Use it
You can’t get the most out of your insurance if you don’t use it! Make sure you schedule your yearly Pap test with your PCP. Get in to the dentist twice a year, get your eyes checked, and if you’re over the age of 50 schedule yourself a colonoscopy. These services should be at least partially covered by your insurance, so why not take advantage of them?
To learn more about choosing your insurance pick up my workbook Easy Healthcare: Choose Your Insurance or any of my three healthcare sets.