Insurance 101: Educate yourself!
Many of you will be shopping around for new insurance in the
coming months, and I wanted to offer a few tips. When speaking with the
companies, be sure to ask the right questions, especially if you are looking for
good reimbursement coverage of your ECN appointments. Dr. Molly Niedermeyer, Dr. Kelley Barnes-Valdes and Dr. Erin Westaway are always considered
out-of-network, as they are not contracted with any insurance companies. Please be
sure to ask 1) What is my out-of network
deductible (this is completely separate from your in-network deductible)?
2) At what percent is out of network reimbursed?, 3) What are my co-pay and co-insurance? The answers to these questions will greatly vary not only between
different companies, but different plans as well, so be sure to do your
homework!
If you’d like someone to do this homework FOR you, we recommend Sarah
Freeman at Mutual Benefits: 206-709-2619. During a free meeting, Sarah will speak with you about what kind of coverage will
work for you and your family, and then present you with multiple plan options
that will suit your needs. If you work with Sarah, be sure that you still know
the answers to the questions provided once you are established with a company so
there are no future surprises.
Once you have established a company that you are comfortable with, be
sure to pay attention to the explanation of benefits that you receive in the
mail or online. Often times, the insurance company will deny claims for reasons
that can be remedied, and you will receive reimbursement once corrected. Look
for words like documentation, bundling, and yearly service already covered. Let
your ECN doctor know, and we can correct the superbill that was given to you for
reimbursement.
Remember that our clinic manager, Amanda Zuluaga, is always available
to help you with your insurance needs!
