What is a Healthcare Deductible?

Your annual healthcare deductible is the amount you must pay for covered medical procedures before your insurance company begins to contribute. One of the best ways to stretch your healthcare dollars is to schedule elective procedures after you have met your annual deductible. It’s almost the end of the calendar year, so if you haven’t maximized your health insurance benefits, now is the time.

Most deductibles reset on January 1, so evaluate whether you should schedule a recommended, routine procedure, like a screening colonoscopy before December 31. If you meet your deductible, your out-of-pocket responsibility for an elective GI procedure could be considerably less.

Get the Most Out of Your Health Care Plan

Here are five tips to help you get the most out of your health plan.

1. Talk to your doctor about what GI procedures and tests are necessary or recommended. Obtain the procedure codes.
2. Call your health insurance provider. Ask if you have met your deductible or if you are close to meeting it. Using the procedure codes from your doctor, request an estimate of costs for diagnostic tests, lab work and outpatient procedures so you can prioritize your spending.
3. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employer, call the customer service number on the back of your card or log into your account to check your balance. FSA funds do not roll over into the following year, so plan to use your FSA money on a GI procedure if you need one.
4. Consider carefully before using Health Account Savings (HSA). HSA contributions do not expire like FSA contributions. You can accumulate HSA funds and save them for a future elective procedure, so use your HSA after you have depleted your FSA.
5. Do not delay scheduling preventive screenings like colonoscopies. Medicare and most private insurance cover preventive tests. If you do not have a family or personal history of colon cancer, most screening colonoscopy procedures (including anesthesia and sedation) are covered at 100 percent.

Set aside a few hours to call your doctor, insurance provider and FSA or HSA account provider. These calls will not take as long as you might think, and they could save you thousands of dollars.

Men’s Health Week is a valuable time to communicate about preventable conditions and diseases, available screenings and early detection for those conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), half of the U.S. population has a chronic illness, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other condition the medical community defines as preventable. Chronic illness and disease cause seventy percent of deaths in the United States, and many deaths could be prevented or delayed with proper medical care.

There are four ways men can focus on their health during Men’s Health Week:

Visit Your Primary Care Physician Regularly

Don’t limit doctor visits to injuries or sickness. Yearly health exams and routine tests can identify problems early when treatments and cures are most effective. It is essential to schedule annual or bi-annual physicals to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and medications. Patients who communicate regularly with their doctor and schedule check-ups at recommended intervals increase their chances of living a longer, healthier, more active life.

Schedule Routine Tests and Exams

Preventive tests like prostate exams, colonoscopies, skin checks and cholesterol screenings can detect abnormalities early. Your primary care physician can recommend a list of screenings, and call your insurance provider to obtain details about coverage and out-of-pocket responsibility. Remember:  preventing a disease is always less complicated and less expensive than treating a disease. Your lifelong wellness is worth the investment.

Say “Yes” to All Suggested Vaccinations

Vaccinations are not just for children. Tetanus boosters and yearly flu shots are part of wise preventive care. The CDC has published a full vaccine schedule, and you can access it by clicking here.

Utilize Community Resources

You may not hear about Men’s Health Week on the news, radio or your social media feed, but open your eyes and take a look around you. Hospitals, clinics and community centers will offer free programming and convenient health services to males around the country. The initiative is growing each year as people continue to spread the word.

Take a proactive step toward better health by taking part in:

• Health Fairs that offer free screenings for prostate cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney, liver, heart and thyroid issues
• Lectures by sports figures
• Seminars on a condition or disease that runs in the family
• Meatless Monday, a national health campaign to help Americans prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer – four of the leading causes of death in America
• Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby, which often also offer health screenings
• Couch to 5k program
• Community carnival that includes free blood pressure checks, tips on healthy eating and a workshop emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups

Begin an early celebration of Men’s Health Week by calling your doctor. It is likely you are due for a check-up, so schedule one today. Good health doesn’t happen by accident, so get in the game and take an active role in your wellness! Communicating with your doctor could add years to your life.