Getting to Know Your Insurance

Before starting any healthcare services in the New Year, be sure to be well informed about your insurance plan! Many changes can happen come January 1, including starting a new insurance year. Being proactive about your health insurance coverage helps to prevent billing errors and makes sure you are receiving the best care possible. 

As we move into the New Year, consider these questions about your insurance plan:
 
Do I have a new insurance card?
Whenever you receive a new insurance card, make sure to share that as soon as possible with any of your healthcare providers. Bringing it to your first appointment will allow the billing department to ensure that you are accurately billed and that your services can be submitted to insurance.
 
Does my insurance plan restart on January 1?
Many (but not all) insurance plans restart on January 1. If your insurance restarts on the new year, or you aren’t quite sure, be sure to call your insurance provider to learn more about your policy. If your insurance policy restarts on another date, be sure to note that date and inform your healthcare providers when that happens.
 
How many sessions does my insurance plan cover?
Some plans offer a number of sessions for therapy services. It is important to know how many sessions your insurance will cover, and inform your healthcare provider with that information. That will prevent you from being unknowingly responsible for additional sessions that are not covered by insurance.
 
What is my deductible?
An insurance deductible is the amount of money that you would pay out of pocket before your insurance pays on a given insurance claim. If your plan has a deductible, you may be responsible for a larger payment at the beginning of the year, and can expect to pay out of pocket until you have hit your deductible. If you are not sure if you have a deductible, or what your deductible is, be sure to call your insurance provider.
 
Do I have a new insurance plan?
New insurance plans can be great! But they can be less great if you don’t inform your healthcare providers with the updated information as soon as your insurance changes. Let you healthcare providers know immediately if your insurance will be changing. Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with your new benefits.
 
Have additional questions about insurance?
While a billing department may not be able to tell you about all of your insurance plan benefits, feel free to ask questions to your healthcare provider’s billing department. They may just be able answer your questions and help to make insurance feel less intimidating. Also, see our page on Understanding Insurance for additional questions to ask your insurance representative.