FAIR Health Consumer Access

Fall2020

Fall Is Open Enrollment Season

Now that fall is here, it’s a good time to think about health insurance, especially in light of the risk of getting COVID-19 or the flu. That’s because fall is open enrollment season—the time of year when you can sign up for a health plan or make changes to the plan you have.

Types of Health Plans

When shopping for a health plan, you may see a plan described as an HMO, PPO, POS or EPO. Those abbreviations are important because the coverage, rules and typical costs differ for each type of plan.

The Facts about Cost Sharing

No matter what kind of health plan you get, you’ll probably have to pay something. Here are the types of payments you may have to make—and how to make your dollars stretch as far as possible.

Summer2020

Wellness Programs: Coverage for Promoting Healthy Living

Healthy lifestyle behaviors include regular exercise and nutritious eating. Are you looking to carry out such behaviors but unsure how to start? If so, you may want to explore the wellness programs offered by your employer or health insurance plan.

Preventive Services: Coverage and Costs

You’re probably used to going to a doctor when you feel sick. But to prevent illness, it also can be important to seek healthcare when you feel well. With preventive services, you can avoid certain diseases and catch others in their early stages.

Getting Covered for Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage therapy have one thing in common: They may not be covered by insurance. That’s because they may be looked at as alternative treatments, not part of conventional medical care.

Spring2020

Major Life Events and Planning for Health Insurance

Major life events may include getting married or divorced, changing jobs or having a baby. One thing to keep in mind at such times is your health insurance. How can you make sure you stay covered? How can you get the best coverage for you and your family?

Costs for a Hospital Stay for COVID-19

According to public health experts, 15 to 20 percent of people who get COVID-19 and seek treatment may need a hospital stay for the disease. In a recent brief, FAIR Health studied what the costs of those hospital stays might be.

Telehealth and COVID-19

Telehealth is healthcare received through electronic devices, like telephones, tablets and computers. Its use has been growing in recent years. But it’s expected to grow even more in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winter2020

How to Prevent—and Deal with—Surprise Bills

You’ve prepared for your surgery. You’ve checked that your surgeon and hospital are in your health plan’s network. You’re ready to pay your required copay. But after the surgery you get a bill from a doctor who isn’t in your network. This is a surprise bill—which you also can get in connection with emergency services.

How to Save Money on a Deductible

A deductible is how much you have to pay on your own for healthcare before your health plan kicks in and starts paying its share. You may have chosen a plan with a high deductible to save money on the monthly premium. But you also can save money while you’re paying off your deductible. Here’s how.

Estimating Costs for a Hospital Stay

Costs for an overnight hospital stay can be much higher than costs for a doctor you visit briefly during the day. If you stay in a hospital, you’re paying for a bed, food, supplies and more. If you want an idea of how much the stay will cost in your area, you can use our FAIR Health Hospital Stay Cost Lookup Tool.