Cost-Saving Health Insurance Tips from Health Net of California

Business Editors/Healthcare Editors/Insurance Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 11, 2009--In these tough economic times, Health Net of California, Inc. reminds people that it is often prudent to get medical care now, rather than postponing it to a later date.

“When it comes to your health, you probably shouldn’t avoid a doctor’s visit in hopes of getting better on your own and avoiding the cost,” said Charles Payton, MD, chief medical officer for Health Net of California. “Delaying care often results in more intense future treatment, and an even greater financial, health and emotional cost. For instance, what you think is a nagging cough could quickly turn into a nasty case of pneumonia requiring hospitalization.”

For More Information
Health Net Inc. Online Newsroom
Health Net Member Web Site
Health Net Insurance for Individuals
Health Net Medicare Plans

For the vast majority of the 30 million Californians covered by health insurance plans, obtaining health care comes with only modest out-of-pocket costs. As part of its renewed efforts to be a helpful partner for its customers, Health Net offers the following tips on making cost-effective use of health insurance benefits while holding down out-of-pocket costs:

Switch to an HMO plan for greater cost predictability. Compared to PPOs, HMOs typically come with fixed-dollar copayments instead of percentage-based coinsurance, making it easier to know in advance how much medical services will cost. And most HMOs have no annual deductibles.
Use medical professionals within your health plan’s network, where copayments are lowest. Copayments are lowest when you use health care providers within your health plan’s network. Using out-of-network providers typically results in higher copayments, or sometimes no coverage at all.
Look for an HMO that provides a “narrow network” of health care providers. Some health plans offer smaller networks of cost-effective, quality providers in exchange for significant premium breaks.
Use preventive care benefits to stay healthy. Blood pressure and cholesterol checks, mammograms, Pap smears, PSA tests, diabetes and cancer screenings, physicals and other preventive services can keep you from developing a preventable condition, or keep an existing, undetected condition from getting worse.
Call your doctor first instead of heading to the emergency room. Using the emergency room for non-urgent medical care is an expensive habit that drives up health care costs for everyone. When you need medical treatment for a non-emergency, your first call should be to your doctor, who will decide if you should come into the office, visit an urgent care center or go to the emergency room. When the office is closed, most doctors leave instructions on their voicemail or with their answering services.
Use a mail-order pharmacy program. Many health plans offer both cost savings and convenience through mail-order delivery of maintenance medications directly to your home or office. Some plans provide up to 90 days of mail-order medications for the same copayment as a 60-day supply from a retail pharmacy.
Go generic and save. Generic drugs can be a lower-cost alternative to their brand-name counterparts – and they work the same way, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Take advantage of health coaching, health education, wellness benefits and other free tools and resources offered by your health plan. Health plans want to help their members be healthy. That’s why many plans offer free health coaching programs, health education materials and wellness benefits. Professionally trained health coaches who are available 24/7, online health assessments, print and video educational materials, gym memberships, smoking cessation and weight management programs are a few of the many resources available.
Use discounts for health-related expenditures. Many health plans offer discounts on purchases of health-related products and services, such as athletic footwear and apparel; child safety products; eye exams, eyewear, contact lenses and vision correction surgery; fitness clubs; healthy living books, magazines and videos; hearing aids and screenings; massage therapy; vitamins, herbal supplements and other natural products; and weight-loss programs. Log on to your health plan’s Web site to see if discount programs are available.

“Each health insurance plan is different,” said Payton. “So if you have any questions about how much it’s going to cost, it’s a good idea to check with your plan’s customer service department to determine how the plan will cover specific services and products.”

About Health Net

Health Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is one of the largest health plans in the state. Together with Health Net Life Insurance Company, it serves nearly 2.3 million members statewide and contracts with more than 56,000 physicians, 300-plus hospitals and nearly 5,000 pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to care. Its commercial HMO and POS lines of business and its Medicare line of business have received the “Excellent” accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and its Medicaid line of business has received the “Commendable” accreditation status. For more information about Health Net, visit its Web site at www.healthnet.com.