Switching health insurance — whether voluntarily or involuntarily — can be a complicated and often overwhelming experience. It’s easy to get caught up in a set-it-and-forget-it mentality to avoid unnecessary stress. In fact, many people will settle for lacking coverage or a doctor they don’t like just to avoid making the switch.
Thankfully, today we have options that allow for more control over your healthcare. Just as your health changes from year to year, so will your healthcare needs. To get the most out of your benefits, keep the following reasons people switch insurance providers and plans in mind as you navigate your options for next year.
1. Your doctor isn’t in-network: If your preferred primary care doctor does not take your current insurance, you can consider changing health insurance plans/providers. This may seem like a huge undertaking, but developing a relationship with a medical professional you trust and feel comfortable with is worth it in the long run.
2. The costs are too high: We all want more coverage for less cost. Rising premiums or deductibles can put even the best plan out of reach. Even if your plan is still available to you, you may have access to entirely new options that are better suited for you and your family without stretching your budget too thin.
3. Your coverage isn’t right: Life happens, and the level of health insurance you selected previously might not be what you want or need now. It’s best to figure out what benefits you want to keep, which benefits you’d be happy to give up, and whether your plan is flexible enough to meet your needs.
4. Your plan is no longer offered: Your employer may change insurers, or your insurance company could change which geographic areas they cover. If this is the case, you’ll need to research your options if you’re unable to automatically enroll in a similar plan.
5. A life event has occurred: Many of the same life events count as qualifying events for employer-based plans and individual market plans. If you experience any of the following, you will likely consider changes to your health insurance needs:
6. Your life circumstances have changed: Open enrollment is the only time of year when you can switch to a new health plan (unless you have a qualifying event listed above). There are several reasons one may think about current and future health needs when considering health insurance changes. For instance, if you’re looking to get pregnant in the next year, a health insurance plan that supports the additional necessary care may be in your best interest.
7. You had a poor experience: When you had to make a claim, did process seem too complex? If you feel you’re not getting the value you expected from your health benefits, it may be time to switch insurers.
The best way to make sure you’re getting the care you need is to review your health insurance policy regularly. Qualifying events and the open enrollment period offer opportunities to shop around for more comprehensive and affordable healthcare options. If you’re unhappy with your current doctor, provider, or insurance plan, it may be time to make the switch.
Currently, Bella Terra Primary Care accepts most major PPOs, Medicare, and some HMOs. For more information, please contact our office at 714-248-9068.