We understand that the end of the year is often an incredibly busy time for many people. With the winter holidays, traveling, and tight schedules for work and school, it can be difficult to find the time for much else. However, the healthcare providers here at Family Practice Center wanted to discuss how now can be a great opportunity for patients to maximize the value of their health insurance by prioritizing family medicine services before the year concludes.
For anyone unfamiliar, a deductible is the amount of money that your health insurance plan requires you to pay out-of-pocket for covered healthcare services before the insurance provider pays anything. To put it simply, once this set annual spending threshold is exceeded, all remaining covered medical expenses for the year will be paid by the insurance company and not the patient. So naturally, it is imperative for patients to get the absolute most out of this period late in the year. This period is generally between when their deductible has been reached and the new coverage term begins at the start of next year (January 1st).
We highly recommend that all of our patients undergo a complete physical wellness exam each year, and now is the perfect time to do so. This is especially important for people who need time to schedule any follow-up appointments or additional testing that results from the exam without any accompanying financial burden. However, this can also be an excellent time to take advantage of the additional services we offer. This can include diagnostic image testing like ultrasounds or echocardiograms, injections for joint pain, prescription refills, and much more.
It’s important to mention that just because we are late in the year does not necessarily mean that each patient’s annual deductible has been reached. This depends on the specific details of each individual’s health insurance policy as well as the medical services and treatments they have performed so far this year. We highly recommend reaching out to your insurance provider to confirm that your deductible has been reached before scheduling any service that you may not want to receive a bill for.
Taking advantage of an exceeded deductible can be a great way to save money, end the year on a clean bill of health, and put your best foot forward as we enter 2023. For more health tips, news, and practice updates, don’t forget to follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram. If you would like to schedule an appointment at one of our four Atlanta area locations (Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Canton, Cumming), contact Family Practice Center today.