Evaluate Your Company Health insurance Options
Nearly half of the U.S. workers spend 30 minutes or less reviewing their health care insurance options during open enrollment season, according to a survey conducted for Cigna, a benefits provider.
Yet, consumers report they spend four hours deciding which computer to buy and eight hours to research before buying a car.
This time of year, employers traditionally roll out open enrollment, the only window of time during the year when workers have a chance to make changes in their benefit plans. Before the window closes, evaluate the plan you have now and how well it suited your needs this year.
Consider the overall coverage, not just the cost. Compare premiums, deductibles and copays as well as a cap on out-of-pocket limits. Lower premiums may seem like a big savings, but you could end up paying more if the coverage is not extensive.
Sit back and take stock of where you are in life. Are you young, single and healthy? If you don't expect to spend much on medical care, a low-cost plan with a high deductible could be a good fit. Planning to have a baby? Pay attention to copays because you will be making regular, routine visits to the doctor. Look for a plan that supports preventive medicine. If your son needs braces, now might be the time to add dental coverage.
If you've been considering giving up smoking, it might make sense to quit even from a cost standpoint. Smokers generate $1,850 a year more in medical costs than nonsmokers, according to the National Business Group on Health. It isn't surprising that a growing number of employers are assessing a surcharge on smoker's benefits.
Of course health care benefts command the most attention, but there are other choices to be made during open enrollment. Those include life insurance, disability benefits and Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care.
Take the time to ensure you get the best coverage for your money.
Excerpts taken from Courier Post Online.
MEDICAL NEWS 
November is American Diabetes Month
November is American Diabetes Month - a time to shine a spotlight on a serious disease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
Consider that:
- 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes
- 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes
- 1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue
Remote Diabetes Testing could curb medical and drug costs:
A new online diabetes management program, Diabetes Connected Health, could save employers and consumers multitudes in emergency room and hospital visits by putting medical tests and hospital-grade analysis into the hands of the 23.6 million adults and children who suffer from diabetes in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. A recent study found that the program may lead to improved patient knowledge, engagement and accountability in addition to improved patient provider communication.
"Diabetes Connected Health has the potential to truly impact the way diabetes care is delivered and to improve both clnical and economic outcoms" insists Alice Watson, MD, corporate manager for the Center for Connected Health. "Self monitoring of blood glucose may have a greater impact when patient data can be shared with a provider in a timely manner leading to treatment changes and enhanced patient education and motivation."
The Diabetes Connected Health website transfers patients to a secure website where they can upload, store and graph their glucose readings off-site. Seven patients tested the program in a recent study published in the March issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. Over the three-month pilot period, mean glucose levels declined for the seven participating patients. A second study, which will analyze 200 patients, is in the pipeline.
Excerpts taken from Employee Benefit News.
This newsletter is not intended to give medical advice. If you are experiencing physical symptoms, you need to consult with a physician.
