Give Yourself A Head Start With These Health Insurance Tips
Online resources can be very helpful in your search for health insurance. Naturally, you don't want to provide your personal information haphazardly, but there are insurance agents through specific companies or websites who can help you in your search. Among other tips, a good rule of thumb is to try contacting a specific agent by telephone before beginning an Internet search.
Health insurance can be expensive if you have to pay for it yourself and don't have an employer who offers a group policy. Short term medical insurance can cover you for six months to a year, while you find something else that works for you. It will protect you in the event of a major illness or injury and is often very affordable.
If you engage in dangerous hobbies or if your profession carries a level of risk, you may want to consider a change or be ready to pay more for your insurance. If your idea of a fun weekend is jumping out of planes, you'll be paying more for your insurance policy than someone with two feet on the ground.
Get a copy of your health care plans drug formulary and make sure that any medication prescribed to you is on that list. Every insurance company has a different here formulary that shows what they cover. The out of pocket cost of an uncovered prescription can be in the hundreds of dollars so make sure that you are covered.
Never go without health insurance. While a few people never get sick or injured, the chances that you will not get sick, are astronomical. Protect yourself from falling into medical debt by getting insurance, even if it is only the bare minimum. You do not want to be left untreated just because you can't afford it.
Avoid replacements to health insurance plans. Some alternatives to health insurance plans offer very specific coverage. While they might cover anything from cancer to Ebola, they are mostly useless to you. Save the money you would be throwing away on them. Just buy a proper health insurance plan, when you can afford it.
Make sure that you're always reading the fine print of any health insurance policy. The last thing you want, is to suffer some type of illness that the insurance company doesn't have to cover. And if the company doesn't have to cover it by contract, you better believe that they're not going to volunteer their services.
Now that you have read the information offered in this article, you should feel more informed about health insurance. Knowledge and education are a good base for decision making when it comes to your health insurance. We have all heard information from friends, family, and coworkers, but this in-depth article should aid you in making decisions and opinions of your own.
Urgent care's impact during the pandemic and the future of on-demand care
A physician urgent care expert discusses the changing role of this type of care and how health IT plays an important part.
By
Bill Siwicki
August 16, 2021
11:54 AM
Dr. David Stern, CEO of urgent care software company Experity and vice president of the Coalition for Urgent Care Access.
Photo: Experity
In 2020 alone, urgent care clinics saw a 58% increase in visit volumes due to the demand for COVID-19-related episodic care, with testing and vaccinations accounting for more than 60% of total visits, according to the latest research from urgent care software company Experity, which surveyed half of U.S. clinics.
Of the 28 million patients who visited these clinics in 2020, almost half were new visitors. How can urgent care clinics retain these patients beyond the pandemic? How can they shift the perception of urgent care from an option for minor, episodic issues, and as an emergency room replacement, to what is now an expanding, one-stop-shop for on-demand care, such as primary care services?
Dr. David Stern is uniquely qualified to answer this and other urgent care questions. He is a practicing urgent care physician, CEO of Experity and vice president of the Coalition for Urgent Care Access. Healthcare IT News interviewed him to get his expert analysis on the state of urgent care, and where IT can help.
Q. Your research found urgent care clinics saw a 58% increase in visit volumes due to the demand for COVID-19-related, episodic care in 2020. How can urgent care clinics retain these new patients and shift the perception of urgent care to a one-stop-shop for on-demand care?
A. During the pandemic, the U.S. urgent care industry demonstrated its unmatched ability to adapt to unprecedented, rapid industry changes, and the market's collective response further cemented urgent care's importance as a key player in the country's care continuum.
https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/urgent-cares-impact-during-pandemic-and-future-demand-care