Health insurance plays an important part in financial planning. In addition to protecting your health and your future against financial risks, it can also help you live a longer, healthier life. Although coverage doesn’t come cheap in the U.S., some free services from your health insurance can help you maximize the value of your coverage.
5 Free Services and Discounts from Health Insurance
1. Preventative Care
One of the most important ways to preserve your health is through preventative care. And thanks to recent federal reforms in healthcare, members have access to more free services. With these inclusions, you can save money on your healthcare expenses through free health screenings, immunizations, and counseling services. And, there are also specialized services for women, children, and nursing mothers. Taking advantage of these services will help you stay ahead of potential health issues, keep your family healthy, and avoid added expenses.
2. Wellness Coaching
Wellness coaching is another way health insurance companies are trying to encourage people to lead healthier lifestyles. Most providers now offer free wellness coaching to assess your current habits and provide counseling to help you reach your health goals. These services cover a variety of health concerns with recommendations from many different types of experts including:
- Medical care teams that offer assistance in managing chronic conditions.
- Nutritionists to help you determine what you require to maintain proper nutrition.
- Mental health professionals who provide techniques to reduce stress, cope with anxiety disorders, and help you live a more balanced lifestyle.
- Free educational resources and tools where you can monitor progress and track your goals.
Through wellness coaching, you will get the support you need to improve your health. Not only will this save everyone money in long-term health costs, but it will also add more years to your life.
3. Telehealth Consultations
It can be difficult to make in-office appointments when you are recovering from illness or injury. In addition to the mobility issues, it becomes even harder if you can’t drive and don’t have access to public transportation. The inability to get to the office often causes people to cancel their appointments and miss important follow-ups.
However, technology has changed all of that. Telehealth consultations allow you to meet with your doctors and healthcare team from the comfort of your home. Even if you can’t leave your home, you will still have the chance to discuss any questions or concerns regarding your health. And, telehealth consultations give you the flexibility to schedule when it’s convenient for you. With these new options, you no longer have to lose half a day to make your appointments, saving you both time and money.
4. Medical Equipment
Even with the best insurance, there will always be additional healthcare expenses. However, your policy may help cover the cost of expensive medical equipment you need. In some cases, these devices are vital in monitoring and treating certain conditions. Unfortunately, they may be too costly for people to afford without assistance.
But before you give up, check with your provider. Many insurance companies will subsidize or cover the entire cost of necessary equipment. For example, Medicare covers several devices and types of medical equipment such as blood pressure and heart monitors, testing strips, wheelchairs, beds, and lifts, just to name a few.
Private insurance plans offer even more benefits. Most policies provide free hearing aids with batteries, cleaning, and in-office visits included. They also help nursing mothers get breast pumps and send free safety equipment and ID kits for their children. Depending on your coverage, some plans may even offer discounts on fitness trackers to motivate you with your fitness goals.
5. Fitness Memberships
Regular exercise is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Although it may seem like a chore, you have to stay active and put in the work to keep your body strong. And since healthy members bring significant savings to health insurance companies, they often have benefits to help you maintain a regular fitness regimen.
Some companies offer free classes if you want to take up a new activity. That way, you can try it out before you commit. You may also qualify for discounted memberships or subsidies for membership fees to health clubs. Many people have reported that their membership is paid in full once they prove to insurance that they use it regularly. If you prefer to work out at home, you may also get free memberships to fitness apps like ClassPass. This app lets you access fitness classes and other digital content from thousands of fitness trainers and gyms across the country. And if it is included in your benefits, it comes at no cost to you.
More Benefits Through Rewards Programs
Although the savings alone is a significant reward, many health insurance companies have also established rewards programs for their members who are committed to good health. They understand that people respond best to positive reinforcement. Therefore, they use incentives to make it easier for people to make healthy choices.
You can earn points for simple things like completing assessments, reporting on progress, and keeping regular appointments with your doctors and care teams. When you accrue enough points, you can redeem them for discounts, gift cards, and cash rewards. They may even have a few reward options to make it more enticing. Although you won’t get rich from these programs, they provide good motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
While some free services will be available from every health insurance provider, each plan and company is different. So, you will have to check with your health insurance program to see what benefits are included in your policy. If you can log into your account online, you should be able to find which discounts or rewards programs you are eligible for. However, you can also call to speak with a customer service rep who can give you more details and point you to more resources.
Even though programs and policies differ, they all have the same purpose to make it more affordable for you to stay healthy. So log in today and find out how you can save more money with free services from your health insurance.
Read More
- 8 Consequences of Living Without Health Insurance
- Do You Need to Buy Separate Health Insurance for College Students?
- 7 Ways to Save Money on Health Care Costs
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Jenny Smedra is an avid world traveler, ESL teacher, former archaeologist, and freelance writer. Choosing a life abroad had strengthened her commitment to finding ways to bring people together across language and cultural barriers. While most of her time is dedicated to either working with children, she also enjoys good friends, good food, and new adventures.
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