About a year ago, I could tell that there were some issues with our medical insurance. It seemed like whenever we went to the doctor, we were left wondering why the bill was so high, which really made me worry about the situation. I started focusing more carefully on what to do about the situation, and within a few short weeks, I was going through our policies to see where the problem was. I found out that my claims were being processed improperly, so working with my insurance company made things better. This blog is here to help anyone who has ever had to resolve medical insurance problems.
Wendy Bryant
As a freelancer, when you begin considering your health services options, you may only think about your medical and dental insurance. The truth is, there are more services to consider. Some of these services can go alongside your current medical insurance or service while others can be stand-alone service options that can benefit you throughout the year. Here are a few of those services and what you should know about them.
HSA
A health savings account is one of the first things you may want to look into in regard to health insurance services. The health savings program has several advantages. The first is the roll-over capability. What this means is that you deposit a specified amount each month into your health savings. It can be used for doctor visits, copays, prescriptions, or medical supplies like allergy medicine or bandaids. Whatever you do not use that year will roll over to the next year. This type of health insurance service combines with high deductible insurance plans to help attain what you need easier.
Prescription Discount Service
Some health insurance plans may have a high deductible, especially for freelancers who are on a budget. This means your prescriptions may not be covered until that deductible is met. One of the ways you can take care of this issue is by choosing a form of prescription service. There are several, however the most common are prescription drug supplement programs and prescription discount services that work alongside your current insurance. Supplement programs help to bridge the gap between coverage and out-of-pocket expenses and are generally seen with Medicare programs. Discount programs can be used at participating pharmacies to help lower your out-of-pocket costs.
Telehealth Services
Telehealth services are becoming increasingly popular for various reasons. The prime reason is that most telehealth services work with your insurance and can offer emergency visits and basic telehealth appointments from home. This means you do not have to go out of the case and risk further infection or spreading an illness to others. You can schedule appointments and visit with your doctor over the phone or through your computer or tablet. You can also have prescriptions taken care of and called into your pharmacy or your pharmacy delivery service.
These are just a few of the many health services available to freelancers. If you are concerned about having the right amount of coverage or your current out-of-pocket fees, contact your area health insurance provider. They will discuss your options, costs, and your concerns. They can use this consultation to determine which insurance plans are right for you and what best fits your financial and health needs.