Tips For Getting The Most From Your Insurance

A little planning and forethought can help you maximize your health insurance investment. Here are some tips:

Obtain pre-certification from your plan for surgeries and other procedures to guarantee your insurer will cover the costs. The plan may reduce or deny benefits if your contract requires pre-certification.
If using a Preferred Provider Organization, choose doctors and medical facilities in the plan network.
Read your policy and member handbook – not just the summary or sales material. Make sure you understand your plan’s benefits, coverage, limits and waiting period. Thoroughly read all correspondence from your plan and sign up for your plan’s magazine or newsletter, if it has one.
Find out how your plan notifies customers of changes to services, coverage and providers.
Make your payments. Plans can cancel coverage when premiums are not paid. Alternatively, the plan may choose not to renew your policy if payments were a problem.
Stay organized. If your plan requires you to submit receipts, keep them in one place and file your claims in a timely fashion.
Until you receive your policy, don’t assume you are covered by a plan. Paying the premium doesn’t guarantee coverage.
When in doubt – ask. Contact your plan representative if you have any questions about your coverage. Ignorance does not exempt you from meeting plan requirements.

Tips for getting the most from your insurance