While doctors and dentists are on this this earth to help us live long and healthy lives, that often does little to ease the anxiety that many feel when visiting their office. In fact, increased levels of stress almost always accompany a visit to either the doctor or dentist’s office, in addition to a corresponding elevated blood pressure reading. The process can be made easier and more settling, however, when these same doctors and dentists properly educate their patents about new processes and policies being incorporated into the insurance.
Much of the anxiety that occurs when needing to go the dentist or doctor revolves around cost. Many simply do not know how, or if, they will be able to pay for any medical procedures that become necessary. They cannot understand their insurance policy, and are unsure of where to even go for help. For this reason alone, a staggering number of Americans simply stay away from the Doctor or Dentist’s office altogether until it is often too late. There are, however, certain things that insurance providers can due to help increase transparency within their policy plans.
One of the final rules implemented as a provision within the Affordable Care Act was a requirement that all health plans now should provide consumers with a uniform summary of coverage. This applies to those people currently enrolled in a place, as well as new applicants. This is a step in the right direction, as it now ensures that individual dental insurance is transparent and easy to understand. Benefits and provisions of coverage should be more clearly spelled out of individuals, and this will make it easier for them to determine what is and is not covered, and to what extent.
In this regard, providers can help to ease the stress and anxiety that many consumers feel over health and dental insurance related issue. In the past, it was felt that many individuals faced too many choices when dealing with insurance policies, and that they were not adequately informed as to how coverage actually works. One survey even found that people would prefer to go to the gym or even work on their taxes than take the time to read through earlier versions of health insurance policies.
Most insurance policies must now disclose any information that would enable consumers to better understand how their particular plan will reimburse the claims that are made for covered services, and whether or not a service would actually be covered under the existing policy. In essence, the following information must be disclosed in a transparent and easy to understand manner:
• Polices and Practices Related to the Payment of Claims
• Financial Disclosure to be Made on a Periodic Basis
• Data Enrollment Must be Disclosed
• Data Account For Those Who Unenroll Must Be Disclosed As Well
• Information on the number of claims that are denied in the end
• Information about rating practices
• Data related to cost-sharing and payments, particular in terms of out-of-network coverage that is available
• Data of the rights afforded to enrollees and participants under the terms of the policy
All of the information mentioned above is to be written in clear English that is geared specifically to the consumer, and should be designed for people who have limited proficiency in the language. This effectively makes it easier for individuals to understand their policy and what they should expect from the insurance provider.
While there will likely still be a great deal of anxiety associated with visits to the doctor or dentist, this will be lessened somewhat with the advent of these new policies. Knowing what is covered and how the benefits will be paid can go a long way towards not only lessening the financial burden on the individual, but also towards making the process much more streamlined and comfortable in the end.
About the author:
Greg Dastrup is a world traveler and professional writer with a passion for learning new languages. He’s spent most of his career consulting for businesses in North America. You can follow Greg here.
Much of the anxiety that occurs when needing to go the dentist or doctor revolves around cost. Many simply do not know how, or if, they will be able to pay for any medical procedures that become necessary. They cannot understand their insurance policy, and are unsure of where to even go for help. For this reason alone, a staggering number of Americans simply stay away from the Doctor or Dentist’s office altogether until it is often too late. There are, however, certain things that insurance providers can due to help increase transparency within their policy plans.
Transparency Made Easier Under the Affordable Care Act
One of the final rules implemented as a provision within the Affordable Care Act was a requirement that all health plans now should provide consumers with a uniform summary of coverage. This applies to those people currently enrolled in a place, as well as new applicants. This is a step in the right direction, as it now ensures that individual dental insurance is transparent and easy to understand. Benefits and provisions of coverage should be more clearly spelled out of individuals, and this will make it easier for them to determine what is and is not covered, and to what extent.
In this regard, providers can help to ease the stress and anxiety that many consumers feel over health and dental insurance related issue. In the past, it was felt that many individuals faced too many choices when dealing with insurance policies, and that they were not adequately informed as to how coverage actually works. One survey even found that people would prefer to go to the gym or even work on their taxes than take the time to read through earlier versions of health insurance policies.
The Transparency of Coverage Disclosures
Most insurance policies must now disclose any information that would enable consumers to better understand how their particular plan will reimburse the claims that are made for covered services, and whether or not a service would actually be covered under the existing policy. In essence, the following information must be disclosed in a transparent and easy to understand manner:
• Polices and Practices Related to the Payment of Claims
• Financial Disclosure to be Made on a Periodic Basis
• Data Enrollment Must be Disclosed
• Data Account For Those Who Unenroll Must Be Disclosed As Well
• Information on the number of claims that are denied in the end
• Information about rating practices
• Data related to cost-sharing and payments, particular in terms of out-of-network coverage that is available
• Data of the rights afforded to enrollees and participants under the terms of the policy
All of the information mentioned above is to be written in clear English that is geared specifically to the consumer, and should be designed for people who have limited proficiency in the language. This effectively makes it easier for individuals to understand their policy and what they should expect from the insurance provider.
While there will likely still be a great deal of anxiety associated with visits to the doctor or dentist, this will be lessened somewhat with the advent of these new policies. Knowing what is covered and how the benefits will be paid can go a long way towards not only lessening the financial burden on the individual, but also towards making the process much more streamlined and comfortable in the end.
About the author:
Greg Dastrup is a world traveler and professional writer with a passion for learning new languages. He’s spent most of his career consulting for businesses in North America. You can follow Greg here.
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