Health and Wellness: Navigating the Health Insurance Maze

Submitted by Tyler Wood/ HealthMarkets Insurance Agency

Open Enrollment is right around the corner, leading many people to feel overwhelmed or even a sense of dread. Health insurance can be a confusing world and oftentimes feel like a maze.

There are copays, deductibles, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximums — terms that may sound to us like a foreign language. What’s more, each insurance company has its own unique network and covered drug list. A person’s doctors may be in-network with a certain company and out-of-network with others. A certain prescription drug may be covered by one carrier but not another.

To make matters more frustrating, there is a lot of unhelpful “noise” in both health insurance and Medicare. There are numerous scams and fraudulent roadblocks that consumers must be careful to avoid.

Indeed, there are entire call centers around the country whose only goal each day is to convince folks to sign up for a plan that is not in their best interest. Some of the “benefits” promised by these telemarketers do not even exist.

This is where the value and expertise of a local, trusted insurance agent comes in. A good Medicare or health insurance agent should serve as an advocate for you, acting as a knowledgeable guide through that health insurance maze, helping you to understand the options available to you while maintaining that your voice is the most important one in the conversation. Here are some of the marks of a healthy, trustworthy agent:

• Never pressure, rush or intimidate you into making a coverage choice

• Offer excellent service by returning calls in a timely manner — and genuinely listen to your needs and priorities

• Look up your doctors and prescriptions in carrier networks and drug formularies to help you make an informed decision

• Be available to answer questions and assist you throughout the year, not just during enrollment to sign you up and “send you on your way”

• Empower you to understand your plan with confidence and how the plan’s benefits can serve your needs

This Open Enrollment and in the year ahead, navigating health insurance doesn’t have to feel like a maze or be a source of looming stress. Find a local agent you can trust who will gratefully and knowledgeably serve you, offering you an invaluable resource each step of the way — peace of mind.

Tyler Wood is a licensed insurance agent with HealthMarkets. Contact him at tyler.wood@healthmarkets. com or 919-912-4069.