Be Your Own Healthcare Advocate

September 25, 2019 | by Avid Risk

Health Insurance is confusing. All the terminology can make it very difficult to navigate receiving proper care, here is some advice to help you to become your own advocate.

1. Understand the Terms

I get question all the time, ‘isn’t a copy the same as the deductible?’. This is not correct. A deductible is what you pay for service before the insurance starts to pay. Use the glossary included on your Summary of Benefits you receive to help understand how the coverage works. This will also help you figure out what you will be paying for services. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for clarification. There is no silly question when it comes to understanding your insurance.

2. Know Who Is Covered

Be aware of the providers covered under your plan. With the changes in Healthcare we’ve seen significant changes in networks. Some insurance carriers have multiple different provider networks based on geography, so it is important to know what network you are enrolled in and how to look up the most up to date providers covered under that network.

3. Backing Yourself With a Designated Team

Trying to navigate every part of your coverage yourself can be daunting so make sure you have designated team to use as a resource. Here at AVID our employee benefits department has over 40 years of combined insurance and customer service experience. We recently welcomed Holly Millin, our Employee Benefits Customer Service Associate who brings a wealth of experience from both the agency and carrier side of insurance. Holly is a terrific addition to our Employee Benefits Department and available to answer any questions you may have when it comes to navigating your benefits plan.