Health Insurance Open Enrollment: How to be a Savvy Shopper w/ Intermountain Health

Being a savvy insurance shopper during health insurance open enrollment is important to for individuals to find the best health insurance plan them or their family’s needs.

To feel more confident about selecting a health insurance plan, here are several tips to keep in mind during open enrollment from Lindsay Shawcroft, Senior Account Manager for Individual and Small Employer Plans at Select Health, an Intermountain Health company.

Importance of Being a Savvy Insurance Shopper

Being a savvy insurance shopper during open enrollment is essential for three reasons. First, health care needs can change, and the plan that suited an individual or family in the past might not be the best fit now. Evaluating options ensures coverage aligns with current health needs and finances.

Second, taking advantage of available resources and discounts can lead to significant savings and potentially reducing overall healthcare expenses.

Finally, being informed empowers individuals to make better decisions about their health, including accessing virtual care and preventive benefits to maintain optimal well-being.

“We know that finding the right health plan can be overwhelming, but these tips can help you simplify the process and make the right decision for your specific needs,” said Shawcroft.

Saving Money on Your Plan

Good health insurance can play an important role in achieving the best possible health outcomes. Asking the right questions or knowing where to look will help individuals find savings that they may not know are available in a health plan. Shawcroft recommends checking these resources to help with cost savings:

• Check for Government Subsidies: Before you begin shopping for a health insurance plan, check if you qualify for a government subsidy. Even if you didn’t qualify last year, your circumstances might have changed, making you eligible now for significant savings.
• Prescription Savings: Prescription drug coverage is a key component of many health insurance plans because medications are an essential part of healthcare for many individuals. When shopping for health insurance, it’s important to carefully review the plan’s formulary, which is a list of covered prescription drugs, and the details of the prescription drug coverage to ensure it meets your specific needs. For example, Select Health’s Individual and Family plans cover most preventive prescriptions before the deductible. This means you can get the medications you need without worrying about high out-of-pocket costs.
• Member Discounts: It’s essential to review the details of any additional member discounts or benefits when evaluating individual health insurance plans. These perks can vary widely between plans and may influence your decision when choosing the right insurance for your needs. For example, Select Health offers valuable discounts on services that are not typically covered by insurance, such as LASIK, acupuncture, cosmetic dermatology, tattoo removal, and more, helping you save even further.
• Local Assistance: Seek assistance through the Association for Utah Community Health and Take Care Utah (takecareutah.org). They can also help you determine if you’re eligible for other types of health coverage, including Medicaid.

Benefits with Your Plan

Looking at the benefits of a health plan is vital as it clarifies what healthcare services are included, financial obligations, and whether the preferred healthcare providers are part of the plan’s network. Knowing the plans’ benefits can help a buyer make an educated decision that ensures they have access to the necessary care.

Select Health, for instance, offers a variety of benefits ensuring that you receive great value-based care, including wellness rewards programs, preventive care, expanded virtual visits, and full Access to Intermountain Health. “Select Health is proud to be part of an integrated health system with Intermountain Health,” said Shawcroft. “As a Select Health member, you’ll have full access to the Intermountain Health network, which includes top-tier doctors, InstaCares, clinics, and hospital services.”

Important Dates to Remember

December 15: Deadline for individuals and families wishing to have a January 1 effective date for health plan coverage.
January 15: Last day for individuals and families to enroll in a plan. Coverage will be effective from February 2024.

Whether you’re renewing your existing plan or exploring new options, Select Health is dedicated to guiding you through the process. Their individual sales team is available to answer your questions and assist you in finding the right plan. You can talk to an agent or contact SelectHealth directly at: 855-442-0220 or visit selecthealth.org/shop.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.