One of the many reasons that healthcare costs are so high in the United States is the third-party payer system disconnects so many of us from the true cost of healthcare. Just as a teenager with unlimited access to the parents’ credit card may not make the most economical decisions, many of your employees are ill-equipped and poorly incented to make wise choices with your healthcare dollars.
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The first step in solving this problem is to create incentives to be wise spenders, through consumer-directed plan designs, higher cost sharing on elective procedures, high performance physician networks, and other features we can recommend. These features are completely separate from your wellness initiatives, and are designed to help employees choose efficient and high value levels of care.
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Once the appropriate plan design is in place, the most important next step is education. Because of the copay system that historically insulated your employees from their own healthcare spending, they need to be taught how to be good consumers of care. We recommend the following topics be covered in open enrollment meetings, at staff meetings throughout the year, and summarized in the Benefit Guides your broker prepares for your employees.
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Here are a few topics to be sure to cover:
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Question Your Doctor
- Prepare for doctor visits by bringing a list of questions and taking notes during the appointment
- Bring someone else with you to take notes, especially when discussing complex conditions or treatment plans with your doctor
- Research your condition or surgery prior your appointment so you come informed
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Smart Prescription Use
- Take prescription medications as directed and don’t stop without the instructions of your physician
- Ask for generic prescriptions whenever possible and use the prescription mail order program for maintenance medications you take every day
Get Care in the Right Setting (non-emergency issues only)
- Use your insurer’s online cost and quality data to determine where the best outcomes happen for the surgery or procedure you need
- Avoid hospital or other high cost settings by asking your doctor for alternative locations where you could have a procedure or complex imaging performed
In the event of an emergency:
- Call the 24/7 Nurse line if one is provided by your carrier
- Make a doctor’s visit for the next day if it’s not serious
- Visit your nearest covered Urgent Care facility (research ahead of time the nearest one to your home and your workplace)
- Use the Emergency Room as a last resort for treatment
Let us know if you have other ideas of topics to cover. If you would like some ideas to help you create this type of education campaign, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
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