Clear Up Your Confusion About Health Insurance
Worrying about which health insurance to buy is not necessary, if you know how to go about finding the information you need, so that you can select what is best for you. There are many useful and time saving tips in this article, than can take the stress out of the whole process.
Your choice of health insurance hinges on what it covers. If you have health insurance that protects you in these situations, it can make big differences in managing downtime.
Take advantage of any wellness programs offered by both your workplace and your health insurance company. Both of these may reward you in different ways, such as your workplace offering a cash-incentive for completing an exercise program, or your insurance company lowering your premiums if you follow a quit-smoking one. These offers are rare, but helpful.
To save money on health insurance, one strategy is to pool your resources with a group of people. Doing so lets employers offer cheaper insurance to their employees. If you're on your own, you may be able to take advantage of these savings by forming your own group or joining an existing one.
Get to know the three major types of health insurance policies: the HMO, the POS, and the PPO. Research these three types to find out how their coverage, policy rates and programs differ. Use this information to figure out which one would be best for you and your family.
Do not volunteer personal information to health companies website who call to solicit services or ask for applications. Give responses only to specific queries they have made. Even if they are legitimate, the information you provide will be recorded and can be used to spike up the premium you pay each month.
When searching for the best health insurance plan for your specific needs, consider using the services of an independent insurance broker. A good broker will understand the fine points of a wide range of insurance policies and can help with the legwork needed to shop around for the best rates. In addition, a good broker is likely to know of a much broader swath of plans and providers then you will find on your own. Just make sure any broker you consider is credentialed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
It's really not hard to see how the tips in this article will help you stop worrying about your health insurance, and get started using this practical advice to find the right plan that fills your health insurance needs. Using these common sense tips will make the process a lot easier.
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