Picking a health plan isn’t like picking out a new pair of shoes. You can’t return it if it doesn’t fit. You’re stuck with it for at least a year, so here’s how to choose wisely. 1 Understand your health care needs. Are you a “once a year for a checkup” type or someone with regular doctor visits and prescriptions? If you rarely use health care, a high-deductible plan with lower premiums might save you money. If you’re managing a chronic condition, go for a plan with higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs. ● A high-deductible health plan. ● Health Savings Account (HSA) available to eligible members. ● Annual deductible: $2,000 member/$4,000 family (non-embedded). Mastering your health plan: Tips for Considerations when choosing a Kern Legacy Health Plan— Before you dive into choosing a plan, it’s important to know what the different types of plans actually mean. Not all health plans are created equal, and each one offers its own balance between cost, flexibility and coverage. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of plans you might encounter: ● High-deductible health plan (HDHP). This plan comes with a lower monthly premium but higher out-of-pocket costs. It’s perfect if you’re generally healthy and don’t need frequent doctor visits. And don’t forget—many HDHPs allow you to pair your plan with a health savings account (HSA), which lets you save pretax money to cover medical expenses. If this is the plan structure you are looking for, then the Kern Legacy Share Select health plan is a good option for you. ● Exclusive provider organization (EPO). This plan offers more freedom, but you have to stay in-network. There’s no coverage for outof-network care unless it’s an emergency. Kern Legacy Network Plus and Kern Legacy Max Choice offer you a large network of providers to choose from. Depending on your needs, these plans may be the option you are looking for. ● Preferred provider organization (PPO). This is the most flexible of the bunch. A PPO lets you see any doctor you want, in-network or out-of-network, without needing a referral. The catch? It’ll cost you more if you go outof-network. So if you like having options and don’t mind paying a bit extra for that freedom, a PPO plan like the Kern Legacy Classic Choice health plan could be the best fit. 2 In-network vs. out-of-network. This can be a game changer. If you love your current doctor, make sure they’re in-network. With an EPO, you won’t have coverage if you go out-of-network ● A uniquely designed, two-tiered benefit health plan. ● Extensive network of Kern County providers, Kern Health Care Network. ● Annual deductible: EPO benefit tier, $0. Plus benefit tier, $250 member/$500 family.
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