9 free preventive care benefits
From screenings to vaccines, these benefits are free with most health insurance plans.
Whether you’re a caregiver to children or elderly parents, the stress of managing your family’s care can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling other responsibilities, such as work or school. Fortunately, there are many ways to access the health care you need, when you need it.
“Whether you don’t have time for an in-office appointment, or you would prefer to receive your prescriptions by mail, we’re seeing more and more options that can help relieve stress by adding more convenience,” explains Don Truong, director of sales at Sharp Health Plan.
It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor and your health plan to see what options can help you save time when accessing care. Here are 6 tips to get you started:
1
Online portals
Most doctors’ offices offer secure online patient portals to give you 24/7 access to view test results, send and receive messages from your doctor, and more. Some health insurance companies also provide online portals that give convenient access to things like your covered health benefits and drug list. Check with your doctor and your health plan to see what they offer. Get the Sharp app and the Sharp Health Plan app to manage your care and your health plan all in one place.
2
Video and phone visits
You may be able to save yourself a trip to the doctor’s office for a medical concern or follow-up appointment by having a video or phone visit. Some doctors offer telehealth options for patients with certain medical conditions and follow-up appointments. Contact your doctor’s office to learn more. Before receiving these services, check with your health plan to confirm what’s covered and what your copay will be. Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group and Sharp Community Medical Group offer video and phone visits for current patients.
3
Same-day, next-day and after-hours care
Some doctors may provide same-day and next-day appointments, as well as weekend and evening visits. Contact your doctor’s office to learn more. Your health plan may even offer free after-hours advice from health care professionals who can give immediate counsel on your health concerns and help you decide where to seek further care if needed.
4
Care at home
To access home health services, most health plans require you to be homebound, unable to leave your home due to illness or old age. If you or a family member qualifies, home health services typically cover a wide range of health and social services delivered in your home to treat illness or injury.
Services covered by Medicare's home health benefit include occasional skilled nursing care, therapy and care provided by a home health aide. Check your member handbook (also called your Evidence of Coverage or EOC) to verify what’s covered under your specific plan or contact your health plan for more information.
5
MinuteClinic®
When you’re looking for convenient treatment for a minor illness or injury, you may want to check out MinuteClinic. These are walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide. For the best experience, it’s important to check with your health plan to see what they cover and what your copay will be.
6
Medication by mail
Skip a trip to the pharmacy and receive your prescriptions by mail instead. Most health plans cover mail-order drugs. In fact, mail order may even help you save money on your prescriptions. And with programs like 90-day mail refills, it can be helpful when traveling to ensure you always have enough of your medications on hand.
Sharp makes it easy to get the care you and your loved ones need. Learn more at sharp.com/choosesharp.
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