Paying for doctors, labs and RX
Always use your ID card
Your insurance company will provide you with an ID card which will allow you to access medical care at a discount when using their contracted providers. Show this card when filling prescriptions, visiting the doctor, ER, hospital or facility. You can even use this card to get discounts for acupuncture, chiropractic and eye care when visiting providers contracted with your insurance company.
Read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
Using your ID card also provides your health care providers with the information they need to send your claim to your insurance company for you. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) in the mail (also available to view online when you register). The EOB is the key to understanding the bill your doctor will eventually send you to pay. Medical care from the insurance company will be discounted during this process. Be sure to wait for the bill from the provider and make sure it agrees with your EOB before you pay the provider.
Doctor visits
For example, if you visit an in-network doctor for a cold, show your ID card and wait for the EOB from the insurance company and the corresponding bill from the doctor. A doctor may bill $250 for these services, and the insurance company may negotiate this amount to $75. You will pay the $75 and that will be credited toward your plan deductible.
Labs and x-rays
When you visit an in-network lab, they will submit the bill to the insurance company, and you will only need to pay the negotiated fee, which can be substantially less than for an out-of-network lab.
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are automatically discounted and credited at the pharmacy—just show your card! You may also want to explore the mail service benefit offered by your insurance company where your prescriptions are mailed to you in a 2-month or 3-month supply.
Annual check-up
Some of the new HSA-compatible health plans provide full coverage for your annual check-up at an in-network doctor. Once a year you will have your physical exam, pap, mammogram and tests paid by the insurance company.