Is Your Health Plan Working For You?

‘Tis the season for open enrollment – your once-a-year chance to make choices and changes to ensure your health insurance plan is tailored to your needs.

Navigating your options can be complex and confusing. Below are some tips that might help.

Know when your open enrollment period begins and ends.

• Enrollment varies at workplaces, but for most, it’s a 30-day period in the fall.

• For state health exchanges, open enrollment for 2017 begins Nov. 1, 2016, and ends Jan. 31, 2017. December 15, 2016, is the last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1, 2017. Details about enrollment can be found at healthcare.gov.
  

Re-examine your benefit needs.

• Learn the nuts and bolts of each plan available to you so you can pick the one that best fits your needs.

• Your employer or state health exchange may have an online tool to help you compare plan choices. The Emily Program also has a tool if you’re looking for a plan that offers the most comprehensive eating disorder treatment plan.

Satisfied with your current health care plan? 

It’s important to make sure the plan is still right for you. Ask yourself:

• What challenges did I have in 2016? Was I able to get the care I needed easily or was I limited by my network?

• What are my health care priorities for the coming year? Make sure your plan comprehensively covers the treatments you rely upon now or may need in the future.

Budget for future health care costs.

• Consider a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). Both health funds let you save money to pay for certain medical expenses tax-free.