For your employees to gain the most out of their benefits they must have a solid understanding of the health plans you offer—their perks and limitations. Clear, upfront communication and support regarding healthcare decisions ultimately helps create a culture of trust and confidence for employees within the workplace and at home with their families. This month open enrollment is upon us, and many Americans are choosing to stay with their current plan or choose something new. This may be just one of the daunting healthcare decisions people face throughout the year, but it is potentially the most impactful. We’d like the take this opportunity to remind you that our members are never alone with their questions about healthcare—Athos is committed to helping each member make smart decisions that will set them up for success the entire year.
Our members have access to exclusive content through our portal that is designed to aid in making informed decisions, and ensure they feel confident about the details of their health plan. Recently we published an article that details the most common types of healthcare plans, their differences, and what situations can benefit from each of them. Typically members will get an email to notify them that new content is available, and give them the highlights. For example, we just published an article about open enrollment and the differences between the three most common health insurance options:
§ High monthly premiums with low deductibles.
§ Often requires a referral from your Primary CarePhysician (PCP) to see specialists.
§ If you choose to see an out-of-network provider, you could be denied coverage.
§ Highest monthly premiums with low deductibles.
§ More flexibility when selecting providers.
§ Fewer restrictions/more coverage if you choose to see an out-of-network provider.
HMO / PPO plans are best suited for families or individuals with chronic conditions or plans that will require them to make frequent visits to receive medical care.
§ Low monthly premiums with higher deductibles.
§ HSA allows you to save tax free dollars to pay for your upfront medical costs.
HDHP + HSA plans are best suited for healthy/young families or individuals who wish to keep monthly costs down and only seek medical care when necessary.
This stuff can be confusing for many people, but if your employees know how each plan works for different situations, they are most likely to make informed decisions about coverage, saving everyone time and money.
If you’d like to see the full content designed to help with open enrollment decisions, you can find it on our member portal here.
At Athos it’s truly our first priority to support our members throughout their healthcare journey. In addition to this exclusive content, we always offer direct support to any member that needs help understanding their benefits or advice on specific decisions regarding healthcare.
