We know this time of year can be something less than joyful. In fact, we know that’s true because you told us. In our survey of more than 250 federal employees, just over half of respondents said that they feel “fuzzy, but know just enough to choose” their health insurance plan this time of year.
That’s why we created the “Guide to Open Season in Federal Government: A Step-By-Step Approach to Selecting Your Perfect Plan.” (DOWNLOAD THE FULL GUIDE HERE). Within that guide, we included a Cheat Sheet which outlines questions you should ask yourself, your doctor and your health insurance professional. Each of those questions are below.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
1) What are your health needs? Answering this question will help you to determine what types of procedures you will need covered by insurance. To respond, evaluate your medical expenses from the previous year and consider your upcoming health needs, for you and your dependents.
2) What are your health care priorities? We found that for many of our survey respondents and interviewees, once they knew their priorities concerning costs, coverage, and convenience of health care, the field of choices was much more narrow and easier to manage.
3) How much can you afford? We all want to save money, but the easiest way to do that may not be in selecting the cheapest plan. If you do that, but the plan does not provide the right amount of coverage, you could end up spending more money in the long run. So be realistic about what you need covered and about what you can afford and find the best insurance from there.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR
1) What are my health needs? You understand your body best and what it needs, but your doctor can provide key insights into any upcoming procedures or prescriptions.
2) What plans and/or providers are you with? Our survey respondents and interviewees all agreed that it’s more important to select your doctor first and then your plan later, based on your doctor’s network.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL
1) Where can I go for information? Your health insurance professional is aware of the different online, paper, and agency resources that you can reference, and can give you tips for using them. They also are a valuable resource for you when it comes to deciphering some of the jargon associated with health insurance benefits and rules.
2) Which plans do I qualify for? Your health insurance specialist will be able to tell you which plans you qualify for based on factors such as your location, age, family and employment status. These insights will help you make more effective decisions when selecting a health care plan.
“Guide to Open Season in Federal Government: A Step-By-Step Approach to Selecting Your Perfect Plan”
You can also WATCH THE WEBINAR
FSAFEDS is a flexible spending account where you contribute money from your salary BEFORE taxes are withheld then get reimbursed for your out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses. The website features several valuable resources, including a future savings calculator, videos and much more.
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