LET'S START WITH A QUIZ. True or false: "Coinsurance" refers to the fee you pay for medical appointments.
The answer is false. Got it wrong? Lots of folks did: Of 2,000 people surveyed by Forbes Advisor last year, 77 percent missed it. (Coinsurance is the portion of the medical bill you're responsible for after you meet your deductible; your insurer pays the rest. It's not to be confused with a copay, which is what you fork over on the spot for a service.) The survey confirmed that most of us are confused about health insurance. "With a topic as complicated as this, the only thing you can do is take it step by step," says Caitlin Donovan, a senior director with the National Patient Advocate Foundation, a group that lobbies for affordable health care.
We're heading into open enrollment, the period of time when you can make changes to your current health insurance or apply for new coverage. So we asked health care experts to walk us through the process. The first step is knowing your deadline. (If you sign up through work, ask your HR department; if you use the insurance marketplace, visit healthcare.gov.) Mark the date on your calendar, and follow these steps to cross the finish line.
Look at Last Year
Jot down any doctors, services, and medications you used over the last 365 days and note the ones you'll keep. Then go to your insurance member portal to download your claims history and explanation of benefits, says Tasha Carter, Florida's insurance consumer advocate, who helps with the state's health care advocacy and education efforts. "You can't predict every medical expense, but being aware of past trends will help you make informed decisions," she says.
Think About the Future
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Real Simple.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av Real Simple.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Go With Your Gut - Each of us has a little voice inside that knows more than the conscious mind. It's called intuition, and it deserves your attention.
Cognitive scientists, who study how human beings think and reason, generally define intuition as knowledge gained without rational thought, and they believe it's a natural part of how our brains work. Humans have two main ways of absorbing information. One is a slow, deliberate process, in which we methodically analyze details for instance, comparing two laptop models before buying. The second happens almost instantly, and the insight feels like it came out of the blue. In fact, though, it's based on data we've gathered subconsciously over time and, in a flash, connected with our past experiences.
buh-bye, beige!
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SAME YEAR, NEW YOU!
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CONQUERING YOUR INNER CRITIC
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Goodbye to All That
Burdened by the weight of wouldas, shouldas, and couldas, a former compulsive goal setter discovers the freedom of giving up.
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ADVICE, INSPIRATION & A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND
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BOOST YOUR SUPERMARKET SMARTS
Whether you love grocery shopping or hate it, you can probably stand to be better at it. So we asked insiders to chime in with their top tips.
how to do things
IDEAS, DIYS & REALLY GOOD TIPS