As we move into 2025, you need to know that your healthcare network could change at any time. I don’t want you to be surprised by this! This is something that can change every year with any health insurance carrier and even for those people insured under the Affordable Care Act. For that reason, whatever type of coverage you have, it’s smart to review it annually.
That Network of Providers You Rely On Could Be Different Next Year
It could happen that the network you’ve been used to for years will change without warning. In a perfect world, the doctors you see in 2024 are going to be the same doctors you see the next year, but that isn’t always the case.
Doctors have the ability to leave a network to join a new one. When our clients are looking up a provider on an electronic provider directory, I warn them that the directory is only as good as it is updated by the carrier as well as the provider. So be forewarned. That’s a big reason why you want to review your coverage yearly. I’ll give you a couple of examples to show you what can happen.
- This year when I was working with my Affordable Care Act plans, some of these carriers that had a national network changed it to where they only are covering one state and the bordering counties around it. That’s a big change. It used to be that if I were traveling, I could go to see any provider just based on calling them and asking if they were in-network. But now I can only access life-threatening emergency care in those other areas.
- On the other hand, another carrier all of a sudden has a better scenario for those in their plan. If they have a plan in the state you’re in, then you can treat providers in that network as being “in-network” for your insurance. That’s a very nice benefit, especially if you have a family and maybe there are a couple of kids in other states. They can now use those providers, rather than being limited to care for life-threatening emergencies only.
You can see the importance of keeping up with changes in your healthcare network.
Obtaining Peace of Mind From Having the Right Coverage
Every year. I get a lot of questions like, “Dan, is there a supplemental plan I can buy that will cover me when I’m out of state?” My real answer to that is maybe the best idea is not a plan that will cover you with in-network healthcare. Maybe there is another kind of coverage that would reimburse you some of the cost if you have an injury or an accident. That’s not a network per se, but that provision could help you with funds to cover a claim that was out of network.
If you’re traveling out of the country, that’s a whole different matter. In that situation, I would definitely suggest that you give MBhealth Insurance Agency a call. We help our clients with travel insurance products that provide peace of mind during their travels.
MBhealth Can Help You Keep Up with Network and Coverage Changes
Yes, things change. Networks change. You’ll only be aware of those changes if you’re working with somebody like myself and the other agents at MBhealth. We can help you maintain your peace of mind, no matter how your policies or network might change or where you travel. Call us at 314-544-5400.
