You’ve started a new job and are told it includes health insurance. Or you’ve retired and now you have Medicare. How people react to the topic of health insurance ranges from eyes glazing over to ranting about the whole system.
But the important question is do you understand your coverage well enough to use it properly?
Health insurance is only useful if you use it correctly. Insurance can help prevent illness by paying for check-ups, screenings, immunizations and counseling.
Insurance is more than just paying doctor bills when you’re sick. It’s important both money-wise and health-wise to understand what your insurance includes so you can use all the benefits you have and avoid surprise bills for services you thought were covered.
Here are some things to find out about your insurance plan:
- How much do I have to pay for a visit to my regular doctor? to a specialist? for a mental health visit?
- How much is covered for prescriptions?
- What’s a deductible? What’s my deductible? What’s the difference between a deductible and a co-pay?
- How much will it cost me if I just go the emergency room because I don’t have an appointment with my regular doctor?
The answers to all of these important questions are in the literature you are provided when you enroll in an insurance plan. However, most people find those wordy documents overwhelming. Here are some ideas for getting answers to your questions:
- If your insurance is through your employer, ask the human resources officer or your union representative for help with your questions.
- If you have Medicare, schedule an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor by calling 800-351-4664.
- If you have Medicaid, contact Dallas County Health Navigation at 515-993-3750 or visit the Dallas County Public Health website for assistance.
Health insurance isn’t a benefit unless you take advantage of the preventive part as well as the treatment part.
