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| Discount
Health Plans Can Have Pitfalls |
 Discount
Health Plans do not qualify as “creditable health
insurance coverage.” This means that if you drop
your health insurance after purchasing a Discount
Health Plan and later decide to purchase health
insurance again, your new insurance may not cover
preexisting conditions.
Review
your plan carefully.
Companies selling Discount Health Plans may not
guarantee advertised services. Some Discount Health
Plan provider lists may not be current. Contact
providers to make sure they honor the Plan. Some
Discount Health Plans may not be discounted as advertised.
Hidden fees, such as administrative fees for each
use of the card, may reduce or effectively erase
the advertised discount.
Make
sure the discounts available exceed the cost of
membership.
Be aware that certain consumer protections afforded
to buyers of insurance are not provided to people
buying Discount Health Plans. For example, Discount
Health Plan members are not covered by the State
Guaranty Fund Law that protects consumers in the
event an insurance company fails. Some lines of
insurance, such as managed care plans, also require
insurance companies to guarantee access to health
care providers, a guarantee not given to buyers
of Discount Health Plans. |
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Things To Do Before Purchasing A Health Plan |
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- Read all promotional material carefully. If
it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Understand the discounts being offered.
- Savings should exceed membership costs.
- Understand which providers contract with the
Plan and determine that they are in convenient
locations for your use.
- Ask what happens if you move or if you need
services while you are traveling.
- Know what you are buying before you sign any
forms. Do not give out bank or credit card information
until you decide to make a purchase.
- Ask if the Discount Health Plan has contracts
in effect with all the health care providers
it has identified.
- Verify with the health care providers you
plan to use that they are participating in the
Discount Health Plan.
- Inquire about payment rules. With some Plans
the consumer is required to pay for discounted
services at the time of service and sometimes
in cash.
- Seniors should be especially cautious when
considering one of these Plans. Some providers
may not honor advertised discounts below scheduled
Medicare rates.
- Be wary of Discount Health Plans offering
“long-term care” discount options.
These Plans are not a substitute for long-term
care insurance.
- Ask about additional costs, such as administrative
fees, that may be associated with the Discount
Health Plan.
- Ask about the Plan’s cancellation and
refund policies.
- Always keep the phone number and address for
the Discount Health Plan, along with copies
of all documents that you have submitted to
the Plan.
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Need more info? For additional help with insurance
in Nevada, call 1-888-467-4195. |
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