FAIR Health Consumer Access

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.

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.

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.

The FAIR Health Role in Research

FAIR Health is privileged to have its data serve as the foundation for research studies on all aspects of the healthcare delivery system. These studies include those developed by the FAIR Health team as well as those developed by external researchers.

FAIR Health Research

FAIR Health publishes original analyses of its data exploring healthcare-related issues. This year’s studies included four white papers, a brief and two infographics. Topics ranged from Lyme disease, telehealth, behavioral health, place of service trends and medical pricing, and surprise billing to consumer website usage statistics.

External Research

External researchers rely on FAIR Health data for a broad array of studies featured in prominent journals and government reports. This year’s external research included studies from the Government Accountability Office and Health Affairs; the subjects ranged from imaging to dental economics.