Having to choose between multiple health care plans can be a daunting task. Now that health insurance open enrollment season is underway, it’s very likely that many of your patients are anxious about what they should do on the coverage front.
Here are a few helpful tips for talking with your patients about their health coverage options:
1) Assure your patient that they can, and should, check with your clinic before selecting a plan, so you can make sure the plan covers your physicians.
2) Alert your patient to carefully check deductible levels since, as you know, deductibles have climbed considerably in the last few years.
3) In general terms, explain to your patient the difference between HMOs, PPOs and other plan structures. Patients often don’t understand that HMO networks are more restrictive.
4) Remind your patient that December 15, 2015 is the last day to sign up for plans starting on January 1, 2016. January 15, 2016 is the last day to sign up for plans that start on February 15, 2016. Open enrollment ends on January 31, 2016.
Colorado residents that have additional questionscan get free in-person help on selecting a health plan through Connect for Health Colorado.
Remember, while you can help your patients with their insurance considerations, by law you can’t tell patients which plan to choose.
Leave a Reply