Four Cost Saving Tips for You

How can you take advantage of health reform’s positives and minimize the negatives? Here are four key recommendations for December. 

 

Do share this information with your employees and friends. Take a look at our new website. We have created a Health Reform section, which we will continuously update with critical information and helpful resources. 

 

1.  Bring back your under 26 year old dependents to your group coverage.

 

Your dependents are eligible to enroll in your health plan at the next open enrollment after September 23^rd, 2010. If you currently have children enrolled in the plan, there will be no additional cost for your older dependents. 

 

2.  Stock your medicine cabinet with over the counter medications this month.

 

December is the last month you can use your pre-tax Flex Spending Account and Health Savings Account funds to purchase over the counter medications.

 

3.  Ask your doctor to write prescriptions for over the counter medications for 2011.

 

Over the counter medications will continue to be eligible for pre-tax purchase if you have a doctor’s prescription. 

 

4.  Make appointments for free physicals in 2011.

 

Very good news! Your preventive health services will be fully covered by your insurance - without any co-pays or cost-sharing. (Check your health plans for list of age-appropriate services). Make your 2011 appointments early. Doctors expect to be busier than ever as patients take advantage of this benefit.

 

Thank you to all!

 

On this, our last post of the year, we wish you all good health and happy holidays. We very much appreciate your business and look forward to ringing in 2011!

Comments

[Sharon Knight]

Great advice! The other best practice I would like to add for any time of year is for individuals to ensure they have established a relationship with doctor who will see them quickly when they fall ill and save them the hassle and expense of an ER visit or a prolonged illness. Quality primary care physicians are going to be increasingly challenging to gain access to, so act now to have one you can depend on.