If you haven't scrutinized your health insurance policy, get up and do it now. Focus especially on the fine print; you may unearth loads of benefits that you may not know are there. Here are some of the benefits that people don't normally associate with health insurance:
Disease Management
If you have a chronic health condition, it is in your insurer's best interest to ensure your health doesn't deteriorate further. This is why some health insurers offer disease management as an added benefit to their clients. Through disease management, your insurer provides you with coordinated healthcare interventions and communications to enhance your self-care efforts.
Chronic health conditions require more healthcare services (such as tests and prescriptions) compared to those without such conditions. There may also be lifestyle changes or efforts they are required to adopt to manage their conditions. A disease management program coordinates all such services and ensures that you benefit from them, and at manageable costs.
Nurse Advice Lines
Many insurers provide their clients with nurse lines, mostly toll-free for asking medical questions. In some cases, you can also get the same service via web portals. These lines are managed round the clock so that you can use them at any time. For example, if you are not sure how to take an over-the-counter medication, you can call the nurse line and get clarification. You can also use the nurse line to get a preliminary assessment of a medical condition before heading to the emergency room.
Breast Reduction Surgery
Most health insurance procedures do not pay for cosmetic procedures, breast reduction being one of them. However, there are exceptions which may make your insurer pay for your breast reduction surgery. Generally, you have to convince your insurer that the surgery is a medical procedure and not a cosmetic one. For example, you may need breast surgery as a medical necessity if you have back pain since the reduction may help take some weight off your back and relieve your pain.
Gym Membership Discounts
Finally, your health insurer may also come to your rescue when it comes to high gym membership costs. Exercise is a well-documented health benefit, and your insurer is interested in keeping you healthy. Therefore, some insurers may pay your total gym membership fees (a minimum applies) while others may offer you a substantial discount.
In short, your insurer isn't just there to settle your medical costs if you fall ill. These are just a few examples of hidden benefits you may enjoy from your health insurer. Contact a company like Davies-Barry Ins to learn more about these and other benefits you may be missing out on.
Share28 April 2016
When I got married, I knew that there were a few things that I needed to learn about the way the world worked. For starters, I had to figure out how insurance worked since I wanted to make the most of my life without worrying about money. I started focusing on the policies that I had in place and gradually moved towards acquiring new life insurance and the like. Having each of these coverages helped give both me and my spouse peace of mind. We both knew if something happened to me that the other would be okay. Check out this blog to learn more about insurance needs.