Chances are the signs have gone up at your workplace notifying you that it is time for open enrollment in employer sponsored health plans for 2018, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
So what can you expect in the new plans?
Dave Milich is the COP of UnitedHealthcare of Texas. He tells News Radio 1200 WOAI that one change which is being made in many employer-sponsored plans is to add coverage for what is called 'telemedicine.'
"And that is access to what we call 'virtual visits'," he said. "For things that maybe patients might run to a free standing clinic or an emergency room."
He says telemedicine has become more popular in recent years as a way to reduce the costs that are associated with an office visit, as well as improve the patient's ability to get quality treatment instantly.
"This is trying to make access to care as convenient as possible."
Also, Milich says expect to see more programs as part of your employer-sponsored plan that encourage 'wellness.' He says providing employees with bonuses for avoiding unhealthy behavior, like smoking, and by encouraging healthy behavior are increasingly popular.
He cited one program called 'Move' that UnitedHealthcare is pushing in its plans, and also among its own employees.
"They wear a fitbit-like device that encourages them to be more active, and they earn opportunites for them to earn financial credits that go toward deductibles and things like that," He said.
As far as the premiums you can expect, Milich says firms like UnitedHealthcare are offering a wide variety of different plans to make it easier for employees to choose one that can fit their situation. He says generally, the higher costs of medical care will be dealt with through deductibles and co-pays as well as encouraging wellness programs, before most plans resort to higher premiums.
Milich says open enrollment for Medicare began on Sunday and runs through December 7th, as people who are 65 and over have an opportunity to decide whether to switch between plans.
More than 16 million Texans will be making key decisions about their health care in the coming year in the next few weeks.
Milich says the best thing you can do to make sure you're covered and make sure you have a plan that fits your situation is to carefully read the materials you will be given by your employer over the coming weeks, and don't miss the deadline!