You might be aware of the common benefits and coverage choices provided by your health insurance provider, such as visits to the doctor, preventive care, and routine tests. But have you examined the uncommon benefits and savings available to you? To encourage healthier habits and set themselves apart from the competition, most insurance providers offer additional benefits and savings for their members.
It is well worth investing the time in discovering these hidden gems in your healthcare plan. These extra perks can add to your overall well-being and vary from gym membership, wellness schemes, or even reduced prices for health products. By taking advantage of these services, you can optimize your health insurance and make way for a healthier lifestyle.
Health and wellness insurance acts as a safety thing for the financial resources of a family during times of medical emergencies, assuring that their savings will not be lost due to unplanned healthcare expenditures. The general understanding is that the insurance only takes care of hospitalization expenses. This reasoning ignores the other benefits provided by health plans, which can be evaluated later.
10 Hidden Gems of Insurance Benefits for Your Health and Wellness
1. Virtual Care and Telehealth
In today’s digital era, telehealth has changed the way patients receive medical attention, a sharp departure from medical practice. Websites such as Teladoc enable qualified doctors to communicate with patients via video calls, reducing wait time and availing immediate health solutions from their computers or cellular phones. This new form of medical practice not only saves time but is also a vital lifeline for vulnerable people.
The most important advantage of telehealth is that it can do away with geographical barriers that may impede timely medical treatment. Telehealth enables patients in remote or underserved areas to receive quality medical treatment without the barrier of distance. This medical technology innovation is transforming the healthcare sector, opening it up and making it responsive to the needs of different populations.
2. Walk-in Clinics
Across the nation, walk-in clinics are available, typically at neighborhood pharmacies. They are perfect when you are short on time or cannot schedule an appointment with your primary doctor. Doctors or registered nurse practitioners staffed walk-in clinics and provide treatment for various health issues, allow you to fill prescriptions, and even conduct necessary tests.
Walk-in clinics offer convenient health and wellness care and are easily accessible in most communities, usually pharmacies. They are ideal for people on the move or who are unable to see their physician in a timely fashion. With the help of trained medical staff, you can have many illnesses treated, receive prescriptions, and have numerous medical tests conducted without an appointment.
3. Round-the-clock Nurse Line
If you have a mild illness or a medical question, think about calling a round-the-clock nurse hotline. Many of these services are covered by your insurance, either through an affiliated organization or directly from your insurance company. Typically, these hotlines are answered by registered nurses who work around the clock to offer advice on symptoms, care, and minor health issues.
However, you must remember that a round-the-clock nurse hotline is not to replace emergency medical assistance. In case of a medical emergency, you can call the emergency number in your country for an immediate response. Your safety and well-being are your concerns and trained emergency responders are better equipped to respond to urgent situations.
4. Fitness Memberships
It is appropriate that health plans encourage physical activity among their members. Studies have proven that regular exercise can have a dramatic effect on cardiovascular health as well as mental health. Physical activity can also enhance the prevention and control of diabetes. See whether your medical plan covers part or all of the expenses of a fitness membership. Some provide you with fitness centers and online classes.
Some insurance providers collaborate with gyms and health clubs to provide discounts and savings on membership for their members. You can also reduce future healthcare expenditures by maintaining a healthy diet. Numerous insurance companies have also developed reward programs, which provide you with rewards for regular visits to the gym or for achieving daily step goals.
Those partnerships not only make physical fitness cheaper but also encourage a healthier lifestyle, which consequently results in significant long-term health expenditure savings. Physical exercise can be rewarded, and therefore, it is even more beneficial to prioritize your physical fitness. However, it must be taken into account that both physical and mental health are vital for maintaining great health care.
5. Prosperous Meal and Activity Savings
Less common than some of the other lesser-known advantages of health insurance, insurance providers are starting to look into the possibility of subsidizing and providing discounts for healthier foods and groceries. This would be to get policyholders to eat more nutritiously, with healthier food being made more affordable.
In addition to food discounts, these benefits can extend to reduced fees for consultations with registered dietitians and name-brand weight loss programs such as Jenny Craig. Such benefits reflect growing recognition of the part nutrition plays in overall health and wellness. You can consume healthy meals and do fit activities without being worried about the costs.
Also, your health insurance policy might provide you with preferential access to their weight loss programs and services that are designed to assist you in achieving your health goals. This trend of inclusion of wellness programs in health insurance policies is a sign of a proactive approach to preventive care and healthy living.
6. Surgery for Weight Loss
It has now been five years since Medicare and Medicaid started covering weight-loss surgery, and now many commercial insurance carriers have followed their lead. However, what needs to be understood in this context is that not everyone who wants surgical assistance in losing weight is going to qualify to receive this coverage. To be eligible for insurance coverage, some physical parameters have to be fulfilled.
To be eligible for coverage, the patient usually will have to weigh at least 100 pounds more than their ideal or have a Body Mass Index of 35 or greater. In addition, potential patients usually will have to provide letters from their doctor, showing that more conventional approaches like diet and exercise have been unsuccessful in their efforts to lose weight.
Although weight-loss surgery is a viable choice for some, it is not an alternative open to everyone. Those considering it should carefully weigh their eligibility and speak with their healthcare providers about what would be best for their situation. The reason is that this is also a serious health and wellness thing to decide.
7. House Calls
House calls are gaining popularity once again in the health insurance product market. Some insurance providers offer the service of doctors visiting your house for personal consultations so that you don’t have to subject yourself to the hassle of traveling when you are ill. Not only is this convenient, but it also means that you are treated in the comfort and familiarity of your home.
The majority of insurance policies now cover these house calls, which are a convenient and time-saving alternative to office visits. By making your comfort and privacy a priority first, house calls are an innovative healthcare delivery system that is in line with the requirements of patients who require individualized care without the pressure of a clinic visit.
8. Off-Home Coverage
Medical problems happen at any moment and they do not take any appointments. Recognizing this fact, some insurance providers cover medical treatment outside your immediate area. Before receiving medical treatment when you are not at home, it is advisable to contact both your insurance company and the local medical center to ensure that your coverage is still available.
A common fallacy is that going out of town eliminates your eligibility for health and wellness insurance advantages. The majority of insurance policies are designed to provide for such trips so that you can receive medical attention if necessary without damaging your coverage. Such flexibility is necessary to keep your mind at ease during travel.
To navigate the obstacles of healthcare while traveling, communication is key. By verifying your insurance details and being aware of your surroundings as to where the local health services are, you can better deal with any health complications that may be of concern. This allows you to enjoy your time away without the added concern of potential medical uncertainties.
9. Quitting Smoking
Breaking free from smoking is undoubtedly challenging, but the rewards are significant. Regardless of your age or the duration of your smoking habit, quitting can lead to numerous health improvements. It reduces the likelihood of developing heart disease, stroke, lung issues, and various cancers, potentially extending your life by up to a decade.
If you are determined to stop smoking, seeking assistance can significantly enhance your chances of success. Studies indicate that support from healthcare professionals, counseling— individual and group—and medication can be incredibly beneficial. According to an administrative manager at the Tobacco Cessation Program, many tobacco death treatments and medications are often covered by insurance.
The manager also clarifies that most commercial insurance plans will pay for tobacco quit services, provided prior authorizations are received. While patients may have to pay a copay or apply costs to their deductible, medicare does not typically pay for most nicotine-replacement products, though, it pays for some oral medications. You can speak to your physician or company about whether they offer a free quit-smoking program.
10. Breast Cancer Coverage
It might be a surprise to some people that health and wellness insurance policies most likely include coverage for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The surgery is performed to recreate the appearance of the breast and can be accomplished by placing an implant or moving tissue from one area of your body to another. It is a major factor in re-establishing their identity and returning to their pre-surgery way of life.
Additionally, cancer patients who lost their hair through chemotherapy can also receive help from their insurance company when purchasing a wig. A majority of insurance plans typically pay for a substantial portion of the expense, usually between 80% and 100%. For this to be covered, the patient might be required to provide a doctor’s prescription for a “cranial prosthesis,” which is medically what a wig is referred to as.
Familiarity with these insurance coverages is essential for those dealing with the aftermath of cancer treatments. Through awareness of what it entails, individuals can make knowledgeable decisions regarding their rehabilitation and self-worth. Whether reconstruction or donning wigs, all such procedures can significantly enhance the lifestyle of cancer-afflicted individuals.
Key Takeaways
Your health insurance policy is constantly modifying, and how much of these medical bills you pay will change frequently as well. Try checking to see if your medical policy pays some of these fees before you simply go ahead and pay them all out of pocket. You could be surprised when you discover you have more protection than you were aware of with your policy.
Knowing your health insurance can save you by surprise. By spending a few minutes reviewing what is included in your insurance, you might be able to see that some of your medical costs are already covered. This simple step can not only ease your financial burden but also enhance your healthcare experience.
Many of the uncommon benefits such as access to walk-in clinics to quitting smoking enhance the path for policyholders and promote a more comprehensive view of healthcare. As you get into the details of your health and wellness insurance policy, it is worth digging up these hidden gems — more often than not, the most useful services are the ones do not anticipate.
Therefore, you must invest in learning unseen advantages that health insurance policies have so that you can collect as much as they provide from the policy period. These advantages are typically in clear view, but you may overlook them initially. Note that some of these benefits may not be front of mind, and therefore closer examination is needed in order not to miss them out.
