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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. When it comes time to enroll in a health insurance plan, there are often many questions or misconceptions.

Dr. Kristen Brown, president of Mercy Health Physician Partners, stopped by to talk us through what Open Enrollment means and which details should not be overlooked.

Open enrollment is the period of time where you select your health insurance coverage. This is generally the only time, outside of a qualifying life event, when you can add or drop a coverage plan or make changes to your coverage.

The choices you select during open enrollment set up how you will be managing your health care in the coming calendar year. One of the important, but sometimes overlooked, pieces of open enrollment is selecting your Primary Care Provider.

Primary Care is a relationship with a health care provider that is focused on taking care of you with your whole well-being and health history in mind. They are your first contact for undiagnosed health concerns, as well as preventative and continuing care of medical conditions.

PCPs offer a variety of services from annual wellness visits to vaccines and minor surgical procedures. They will also refer you to specialty care when needed.

There are several types of Primary Care Providers what is the difference?

Primary Care can also be referred to as Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine or Pediatric Medicine.

When choosing a provider, your goal should be to build a lasting relationship. This individual will be your first medical contact and the health provider who knows you best. Some things to consider while select your PCP include:

In-Network vs. Out-of-NetworkStart by referencing your health insurance coverage, which typically publishes a list of providers who are In-Network. These providers will offer the best rates and work seamlessly with your health insurance.

Meeting Your NeedsNarrow down the list of providers in your area by reviewing their health care specialty, education and experience.

ConvenienceYou may want to consider the location of the office and office hours when choosing a provider. The following questions may be helpful when choosing a physician.

Research and Ask QuestionsTo find the best fit for you, we encourage you to research providers by reading online reviews, checking if your health insurer offers quality ratings or asking friends and family for referrals. You can ask to see if the provider is available for a simple meet and greet to assess your comfort level with the individual.

Mercy Health Physician Partners offers more than 90 locations in West Michigan. You can search for a provider atMercyHealthPhysicianPartners.com

Your wellness visit is an important step in maintaining good health. Taking part in regular screenings, routine preventative care and scheduling visits for minor acute issues can help you get ahead of illnesses and health conditions and help reduce health care costs.

Find a physician at MercyHealthPhysicianPartners.com or 844-BeRemarkable

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November is not only known as the start of the holiday season, it's also known for Open Enrollment - WZZM13.com

This entry was posted on November 11, 2019 at 11:46 am and is filed under Preventative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |