Helpful Tips for Handling Medical Bills

A recent study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health said that of the 83 percent of participants who had health insurance, nearly 27 percent of them had difficulty paying their medical bills.  Common reasons for people not paying medical bills include confusion about what exactly they’re responsible for owing  ), and/or they can’t afford the larger than expected price tag.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can avoid incurring large medical bills. Health Advocate Inc., an advocacy and assistance company that helps people navigate the healthcare system, offers the following tips:

Be informed.  Know the details of what your health insurance plan covers.  Being insured does not always mean that all of your medical costs are covered. Ask your insurer what kind of out-of-pocket expenses you can expect.

How Health Advocate can help: A Personal Health Advocate will research your insurance policy and determine your out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits, medical procedures, lab work, etc.  

Verify that the provider you choose is “in-network.”  Make sure that any labs your provider may use for various tests are also considered in-network.  If the provider and/or the lab and facility the provider is using are in-network, your medical bills will be less costly than out-of-network labs/facilities.

How Health Advocate can help: If you’re looking for an “in-network” provider, your Personal Health Advocate can locate one in your area. Your Personal Health Advocate can even schedule an appointment for you and transfer your medical records.

Do your homework. Costs for medical procedures can vary dramatically, depending on the doctor and facility where they are performed. For example, an MRI at a large teaching hospital is likely to be more costly than having the very same procedure done at a stand-alone facility. Start by researching different hospitals and facilities to comparison-shop.

How Health Advocate can help: Using Health Advocate’s pricing tool, Health Cost Estimator (HCE), your Personal Health Advocate can provide you with a list of providers in your zip code and the estimated cost of the procedure. You can also access Health Cost Estimator yourself. Simply go to your member website (HealthAdvocate.com/members) or download our FREE mobile app (from Apple or Google Play) and access HCE right on your tablet or smartphone! Plus, one touch connects you to a Personal Health Advocate for one-on-one help.

Read your bill carefully. Ask for an itemized bill. This could help you spot major errors on your bills.  For example, does the bill indicate that you received a treatment or procedure that you didn’t actually receive?  Are you being charged twice? A Consumer Reports Health survey said that 80 percent of medical bills have errors.

How Health Advocate can help: A Personal Health Advocate can check for errors on your bill and if found, can help resolve the problem.    

Talk to your doctor. Providers consider your financial status when recommending care. Let them know that costs are important to you. Discuss a payment plan with your physician.

How Health Advocate can help: If you are having a difficult time paying a doctor bill, your Personal Health Advocate can work out an agreement with your provider, such as an setting up a payment plan on your behalf.

Remember, if you are a Health Advocate member, you can reach out to us for help.  Our Personal Health Advocates can estimate costs of common treatments and procedures, locate in-network doctors, resolve insurance claims, assist with correcting medical billing errors, and much more. 

You’re Not Alone: Tips on Caring for an Elderly Loved One

Caring for an elderly loved one often requires an abundance of time and energy. Being a caregiver can include tasks such as administering medications, transporting someone to doctor appointments, and trying to make sense of medical coverage and bills. For the caregiver, trying to meet these needs could lead to taking extra days off of work or even quitting a job.

If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, Health Advocate provides the following tips that can help you avoid handling caregiving duties alone.

If you are a Health Advocate member…

• We can help. Our Personal Health Advocates can help you with caregiving needs, including:
• Locating alternative care facilities
• Obtaining coverage for medical supplies
• Providing information on local adult day care programs
• Coordinating coverage for home care services with insurance provider or Medicare
• Locating private duty nursing and home health aides
• Finding physicians who make house calls

Health Advocate members and non-members alike can benefit from these tips:

• Get the family together. If possible, hold a family meeting to discuss the needs of your aging loved one. A social worker or other facilitator can help with difficult issues, such as placement in an assisted living center or a skilled nursing facility.
• Discuss advance directives. Living wills detail medical care preferences. A power of attorney for healthcare document allows your loved one to designate another person to make financial or medical decisions, should they themselves become unable to do so.
• Investigate eldercare products. Work with a case manager and/or insurance company to locate emergency call buttons, stair chair lifts, electric scooters and other helpful items.
• Expect "live-in" adjustments. Be prepared for readjustments in mealtimes and sleep schedules, and to experience a "role reversal" in your relationship, placing you in a parenting type of role.
• Find support for yourself. Local organizations may offer adult day care, emergency respite and support groups. Health Advocate’s "Helping You Help a Loved One" brochure lists some resources you can turn to for support.

As you are caring for your loved one, don’t underestimate the ability of others to help alleviate some of the day-to-day challenges associated with caregiving. Remember, if you have Health Advocate as a service, we can help address your eldercare questions and needs—give us a call today!

Taking Control of Stress at Work

Whether you’re stressed out at work due to looming deadlines, too much on your plate, or any other reason, you could likely benefit from a little TLC. At work, it’s important to take a little time to care for yourself in order to prevent stress from getting the best of you. If you are an employee looking to better manage your own stress in the workplace, consider using coping strategies. Try the following ideas to help ward off tension that could arise throughout the day.

Spend time alone.

Take a 10-minute coffee break in the morning before the day starts, or try a brief, brisk walk in the middle of the work day. This may help you feel calmer and more focused when you come back to your desk.

Take a deep breath.

Try some deep breathing techniques at your desk. Inhale deeply, feeling your stomach expand. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then slowly exhale, visualizing tension leaving your body.

Train your brain.

Mindfulness training is an emerging stress management technique that involves training the mind to focus attention on the moment. This approach can train you to find the ability to rest and find qualities of peace and relaxation into your everyday life.

Stretch it out.

Stretching can easily be done at your desk. Sit in a chair with your upper body resting forward on your lap. Slowly roll up, starting at the base of your spine, until your back is straight. Stretch the neck muscles by titling your head the right and slowly rolling your head down and to the left. Repeat a few times in both directions.

Self- massage.

Sit with your shoulder relaxed. Use your right hand to massage your left shoulder and neck, working your way up to the scalp. Repeat using the left hand for the right shoulder.

Positive self-talk.

Replace negative mental thoughts that are in response to stress, such as "I’ll never get this done" with positive ones like "I know I can do this."

Reach out for help.

If you have access to Health Advocate, we have several resources that can help you:

If you have access to Health Advocate’s EAP+Work/Life service, you can call and speak to a professional about stress, work/life balance, and more.


If you are a Health Advocate member, you can call your Personal Health Advocate to help you locate a nearby in-network counselor or other mental health professional that can help you address stress.

While you often can’t control many of the stressors in your everyday life, you can learn to deal with them using coping techniques. When things start feeling too stressful, coping strategies like the ones listed above may be able to help you feel calmer and better able to tackle the tasks at hand.

Resources for employers

If your employer has Health Advocate’s EAP+Work/Life service, our Management Assistance Program (MAP) may be able to help you reduce stress in the workplace. MAP can give you the guidance you need to become an even more effective leader. Plus, check out Frontline, our quarterly newsletter full of helpful information for managers and supervisors.

Health Advocate’s free

white paper "Stress in the Workplace: Meeting the challenge" identifies ways that employers can help mitigate stress in the workplace. Read it today at HealthAdvocate.com.

National MS Education and Awareness Month: Support your Loved Ones

March is National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. MS is an autoimmune disorder that evolves slowly, causing the destruction of myelin, the insulating material that surrounds nerve fibers (neurons). Myelin helps electrical signals pass quickly and smoothly between the brain and the rest of the body. When the myelin layer is destroyed, nerve messages are sent more slowly and less efficiently. The symptoms of MS occur when the brain and spinal cord nerves no longer communicate properly with other parts of the body. MS causes a wide variety of symptoms and can affect vision, balance, strength, sensation, coordination, and bodily functions[i].

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, more than 400,000 people in the United States have MS.  An estimated 2.5 million around the world also suffer from the disease.

As part of Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month, Health Advocate, Inc. offers the following tips on how to support a friend or loved one who has MS.

-       Educate yourself. Familiarizing yourself with the physiological, emotional and cognitive symptoms of the disease will help you support friends and family facing the illness. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation offer educational materials, online caregiver communities and updates on treatment research.

-       Be emotionally supportive. It may be difficult for a friend or loved one who has MS to ask for help. If you are able, and with their permission, quietly take on a few of their daily tasks like laundry, cleaning or errands.

-       Support your loved one as they adapt. Although many people living with MS can remain independent for a long time, some people may lose physical and cognitive abilities. Establish new ways of “doing life.” Adaptation could mean family members taking over some daily responsibilities or the patient utilizing assistive devices to simplify tasks. Support your loved ones who are struggling with a loss of independence. Encourage them to accept and embrace life in every way they are able.

-       When possible, break out of the daily routine. Set aside some time to do fun activities together, like eating at a favorite restaurant, walking in the park, and going on fun outings, such as visiting a museum or going out to see a play or sports game.  Make sure to tailor these activities to your loved one’s abilities and interests.

If you have access to an advocacy service like Health Advocate and you need to find more information about MS, call your Personal Health Advocate, who can direct you to the appropriate resources, such as support groups, local chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and more.

---

[i] "Multiple sclerosis." Genevieve T. Slomski, Ph.D. and Tish Davidson, A.M. The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale, Online update, 2007. 5 vols. Updated October 2009. Health & Wellness Resource Center. Gale. March 22, 2011.

How Can I Cut the Cost of My Prescription Drugs?

Has the cost of your prescription drugs jumped? A recent article in USA Today, notes that the price of prescription drugs has risen 3.6%, which is twice the 1.7% inflation rate, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

If you are on prescription drugs and looking to cut your expenses, Health Advocate, the nation’s leading advocacy and assistance company, offers advice on getting drugs at a discount. Here are some ideas that can help you reduce your prescription drug expenses.

Get it for free. Doctors often have free samples of medications on hand.  Ask your doctor if they have samples available that you could use.  This could be an especially helpful tactic if you are trying out a new-to-you medication—trying a free sample may help you learn whether you like the medication enough to purchase it on your own after you’re finished the sample.

Go generic. Generic equivalents are available for many brand-name prescription drugs, and they are often just as effective as their brand-name counterparts.  Check with your doctor to get their recommendation on whether a generic equivalent would be right for you. Generic drugs usually range in cost from 20 to 80 percent less than brand-name versions.

Mail order might be cheaper. Consider mail order prescriptions. Ask your doctor to write a three-month prescription for your maintenance medications, such as insulin or cholesterol-lowering drugs. Many insurance plans allow you to purchase a three-month supply at a discount or with a lower co-pay when ordered through the mail.

Scour the internet. For brand-name drugs, check the drug manufacturers’ websites for discounts, offers and coupons.

Check the retail chains. Walmart, Target, Kroger, and members-only retailers such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club offer generic prescriptions for as low as $4.

Substitute an OTC med. Ask your doctor whether you could take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication for your condition instead.

Ask your doctor about non-drug strategies.  Find out if your doctor thinks you could try losing weight, eating healthy and/or quitting smoking in lieu of taking medication.

Whether you’re taking a maintenance medication for a chronic condition, or you need to take a prescription drug short-term, you may be able to save money by following these tips. If you are a Health Advocate member and would like to learn more about reducing your prescription drug costs, call your Personal Health Advocate for more helpful advice.

Not Gone Yet: The Flu’s Still Here

Increase Your Chances of Staying Well

Have you noticed coworkers calling out sick or your cubicle-mates sneezing and coughing? These are all signs that flu season is here. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are calling this the worst flu season in a decade.  While many reports have cited that cases of influenza have dropped over the last few weeks, flu season is still not over, and you are still at risk.

The flu is highly contagious and requires rest for full recovery. If you have the flu, stay home. Going to work or being out and about while sick will only spread the disease.

Health Advocate offers some tips on preventing the flu. While nothing is fool-proof, this information may help keep you safer this flu season as well as help protect you from other respiratory and gastrointestinal bacteria and viruses year-round.

-          Get a flu vaccination. This can be one of the most effective ways to avoid the flu. Many employers offer free flu vaccinations onsite. There are also many pharmacy chains that offer the flu vaccination at a low cost.

-          Avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

-          Clean your hands. Washing your hands often can help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

-          Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

-          Practice other good health habits. The CDC recommends cleaning and in some cases disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone around you is ill. Also, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

-          Think you might have the flu? Know the symptoms. A fever over 100 degrees, achy muscles, chills and sweats, dry cough, fatigue, weakness and congestion could be indicative of the flu. It’s important to remember that many other viruses cause the same symptoms as the flu. Call your medical provider, who may provide advice and, in some cases, anti-viral treatment to help you get better. Some health and age factors can increase a person’s risk of serious complications from the flu--the CDC lists them here—so be sure to seek medical treatment if any of these factors apply to you and you suspect you have the flu.

-          Know what constitutes an emergency. Some symptoms indicate a need for immediate medical attention. These symptoms could be caused by the flu, or by a number of other illnesses.  Regardless, if any of the following symptoms are present, the CDC advises that you seek medical help right away.

Children:

·         Rapid breathing/trouble breathing

·         Bluish skin color

·         Not waking up/interacting

·         Not drinking enough fluids

·         Irritability to the point where the child doesn’t want to be held

·         Fever with a rash

·         Flu-like symptoms going away, then returning with a fever and worse cough

Infants:

·         Any of the above symptoms

·         Inability to eat

·         Produces no tears when crying

·         Having fewer wet diapers than normal

Adults:

·         Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

·         Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen

·         Sudden dizziness

·         Confusion

·         Severe or persistent vomiting

·         Flu-like symptoms going away, then returning with a fever and worse cough

Someone close to you could have the flu--perhaps it is a coworker, your spouse or the person on the train next to you during your commute. While you can’t control their health, you can take measures to help keep yourself healthy. If you are a Health Advocate member, call your Personal Health Advocate to learn more about flu prevention.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in a Healthy Way

Valentine’s Day often brings to mind cards, candy, dinner out, and romantic gifts. It’s a day that gives us all a chance to express how much we care about those nearest and dearest to us. But there’s no greater gift to someone you care about than the gift of good health and well-being. This Valentine’s Day, why not give the holiday a new meaning to those you love by giving gifts that can promote good health? Consider these fun gift suggestions that keep health top-of-mind during this heartfelt holiday:

·         For the busy person who often burns both ends of the candle, consider a gift certificate for a massage. A massage may help relieve tense muscles, alleviate stress, and promote relaxation.

·         For someone in your life who loves to cook, how about giving them a cookbook that features delicious, gourmet, healthy recipes? This can encourage eating healthier foods without taking the fun out of cooking. As an added bonus, they can always invite you over to try out those fat-free, lower calorie dishes—it’s a win-win for everyone!

·         Looking to get your loved one to exercise more?  Consider giving a pedometer, a device that counts the number of steps a person takes, which can help foster more interest in daily exercise.  Use Valentine’s Day and February—which is Heart Health Awareness month—as an opportunity to commit to fitness for a healthier heart. Come to think of it…could you benefit from a few extra steps in your life, too?  Why not buy two pedometers and take those steps together?  (You can become “sole mates!”)

·         Stumped about what to get the kids for Valentine’s Day? How about giving them a gift that starts their day off right—the gift of breakfast! Start their day off with a healthy smoothie made with fresh, antioxidant-packed fruits (berries, bananas, oranges, pineapple) and low-fat yogurt. Serve the smoothie in a plastic thermos or water bottle decorated with hearts or another seasonal design.  The kids can reuse this bottle and fill it with water or other healthy drinks.

·         Instead of gifting a high-calorie box of chocolates, how about giving a gift that has more permanence? Either write your own poem, or search online for a poem, that describes your feelings towards your loved one. Type the poem and put it in a festive frame for a gift that can bring a smile to someone’s face!

·         Go nuts on a food basket filled with healthy snacks.  Use Valentine’s-themed treat bags to create single-serve packets that contain a handful of heart-healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds or cashews.  For an extra-special touch, consider adding a little love note to each bag. Create a gift basket that includes fresh fruit like apples and bananas in addition to the treat bags.

Use this Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care, and share ways that you can support each other’s health and wellness. If you are a Health Advocate member and want to learn about more heart-healthy ideas, call us!  Our Personal Health Advocates can guide you in finding a new doctor who can perform a blood pressure and cholesterol screening, a nutritionist who can help you improve your diet, and more.