Use Your Benefits Before They Expire

December is the time when many health insurance benefits reset or expire. This season is the perfect time to use your healthcare benefits, so you don’t lose your benefits. Now is the time to get your year-end physical or schedule a follow-up appointment with your provider. Ascend Medical works with most major insurance plans to offer you membership-based primary care that is available 24/7 for telehealth and mobile services.

Understanding Your Healthcare Benefits

Simply put, health insurance is a plan, or policy, that covers a percentage of doctors’ visits and hospital bills. It is a “benefit” because it helps offset the costs of medical events. Even if you are extremely healthy and have no upcoming surgeries, you never know when you may unexpectedly need the support of health insurance. There are different types of health insurance, some through work, some through the Affordable Care Act, and some through Medicaid. You will still pay a monthly premium and may also have copays and deductibles to meet every year, so work with HR or your provider to help you find the right plan for you and your needs.

Making the Most of Your Healthcare Plan

When you sign up for health insurance, you should be looking for a plan that fits the needs of you and your family while taking into consideration future medical concerns that may arise such as surgeries or chronic illness. You can use your plan, then, for checkups, prescriptions, emergency care, behavioral health treatment, lab tests, pediatric services and more. You can conveniently schedule treatments and services with Ascend Medical that take place in the comfort of your home or work.

Understanding Your Deductible 

Your deductible is the amount of money you pay for healthcare services before insurance starts to pay. If you have a $150 deductible, then you’d only have to pay the first $150 for your services before insurance kicks in. However, with a lower deductible comes a higher monthly premium (almost like a monthly subscription). Some deductibles can be as high as $2,000 but may also include coverage of prescription drugs, so it’s important that you understand what your insurance plan looks like before signing into one.

What Happens When You Meet Your Deductible?

There are quite a few costs that contribute to your deductible, which can help insurance kick in a lot faster. Some of those include:

• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Lab tests
• MRIs
• Therapist Visits (with no copay)
• Medical Equipment

There are certain medical services that may be paid for before your deductible is met. Your deductible starts new every year, so if you don’t meet it this year, you may want to revisit your health insurance plan to find one that is attainable to reach.

As we close out the year, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Ascend Medical for a year-end physical or checkup or to ask your provider any questions about future care. This can help ensure you’re also making the best use of your benefits.

Reach out to schedule an appointment today!