Is your health insurance keeping up with your changing healthcare needs?

A lot can happen in a year. Whether it’s becoming new parents or newly empty nesters, experiencing a change in employment or a change in health status, life experiences are rarely ever constant for long. That’s why the annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for individual and family healthcare is so important.

For individuals and families who do not receive health insurance coverage from an employer or Medicare, the OEP provides an opportunity to catch up with the yearly changes in your life that affect your healthcare needs. Once the OEP is over, a new health insurance plan can only be purchased if a person experiences a qualifying major life change (like moving, getting married or a change in employment).

Now is the time to start identifying your upcoming healthcare needs and begin evaluating plan options. The Open Enrollment Period for 2024 health plans begins Nov. 1, 2023, and runs until Jan. 15, 2024.

“It was philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson who originated the phrase, the first wealth is health, more the 160 years ago,” Charles Joujoute, Health Alliance^TM Consumer Sales and Retention manager, shares. “Your health impacts every aspect of your life and that is why offering affordable healthcare plans that give our members the benefits they need is our top priority at Health Alliance.”

Take time to reflect on how the health of you or your family has changed over the past year and think about what needs to change in your health insurance plan for the next year. Are there new doctors you will be seeing, new medical equipment you’ll need to use or changes to services and prescriptions you may need? Your new health needs can act as a guide for what to look for when selecting a plan. It is also valuable to remember:

• The cost of available plans, copays and out-of-pocket payments are aspects that can help determine which health plan to select.
• The number of people you need to insure and the must-have benefits you are seeking help determine the premiums, or price you pay each month for coverage.
• The plan benefits also determine what medical services will receive full coverage and what percent of a medical service is your financial responsibility.

Prescription drug and medication coverage is an aspect of health coverage that not everyone thinks of when choosing a plan – but it’s important to consider. You or your family may become sick or need prescribed medication to recover.

The price of medication can be steep if you pay for it out of pocket. With a Health Alliance Individual and Family plan, prescription coverage is included.

Finally, the doctors and hospitals that are covered in network are also important, especially if you want to continue to see a certain provider. Health Alliance works to keep our plans affordable and to provide a broad provider network partnering with local healthcare providers in the community – so you can continue to see the doctors you know and receive the care you need.

“Use this time to prepare,” Joujoute advises. “Whether this is the first time you’ve needed to purchase health insurance for yourself or your family, or it is the 10^th time, it pays both figuratively and literally to take the time to think about your health needs in 2024 and explore your options.”

Open Enrollment Period for 2024 health plans begins Nov. 1, 2023, and runs until Jan. 15, 2024. For more information about Health Alliance plans and benefits, call (877) 686-1168 or visit HealthAlliance.org.