FAIR Health Consumer Access

Summer2022

Health Insurance for Active-Duty Military and Veterans

Are you an active-duty service member or a veteran? If so, there are many health plan choices for you and your family. This article will explain your healthcare choices and the difference between healthcare systems such as the Military Health System and Veterans Affairs. It also points you to resources for veterans.

New Shared Decision-Making Tools on FAIR Health Consumer Website

We often count on our doctors to tell us what care we need. But to get the best care, you and your doctor (and caregiver, if you have one) should make choices together. This process is called “shared decision making.” To help you in that process, FAIR Health has added a new set of shared decision-making tools to its consumer website, fairhealthconsumer.org.

Getting Insured outside Open Enrollment Periods

As pleasant as summer can be, it’s usually not the right season for open enrollment—the period of time when you can enroll in or make changes to a health insurance plan. Open enrollment usually comes in the fall, but there are some special circumstances that let you enroll any time.

Spring2022

Health Insurance in Retirement

Navigating your health insurance options when you retire can seem like a lot to handle. If you’re 65 or older, you can sign up for Medicare. But you also may need to find a supplemental plan to cover your out-of-pocket costs. If you retire before you’re 65, you’ll need to find health insurance to cover you before you’re eligible for Medicare. Whatever age you are when you retire, you have health insurance options.

Healthcare Trends in the First Year of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic changed healthcare in many ways. A new report from FAIR Health shows some of those ways. These include a great rise in the use of telehealth. Telehealth is healthcare received through electronic devices, like telephones, computers and tablets.

Spring Cleaning for Your Medical Records

If your medical papers have been piling up, springtime is a good time to get them in order. Find out here what to keep and how you might use those records.

Winter2022

Shared Decision Making and Preference-Sensitive Conditions

Do you need to talk to your doctor about treatment options for your health problem? Are you not sure which treatment option is the best choice for you? This article suggests ways to talk to your doctor about three common health problems where there may be no clear, “right” option. They are uterine fibroids, type 2 diabetes and slow-growing prostate cancer.

Coming Soon: FAIR Health Report on National Surveys of Older Adults and Family Caregivers

On February 14, FAIR Health will issue a report on two national surveys. One is a survey of older adults (those aged 65 and older). The other is of family caregivers/care partners. The surveys were carried out as part of a program generously funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation. The surveys concerned the needs of older adults and family caregivers/care partners regarding healthcare navigation and decision making.

How to Save Money on a Deductible

A deductible is how much you have to pay on your own for healthcare before your health plan kicks in and starts paying its share. You may have chosen a plan with a high deductible to save money on the monthly premium. But you also can save money while you’re paying off your deductible. Here’s how.

Fall2021

Fall Is Open Enrollment Season

Now that fall is here, it’s a good time to think about health insurance. That’s because fall is open enrollment season—the time of year when you can sign up for a health plan or make changes to the plan you have.

Types of Health Plans

When shopping for a health plan, you may see a plan described as an HMO, PPO, POS or EPO. Those abbreviations are important because the coverage, rules and typical costs differ for each type of plan.

How to Speak with Your Healthcare Provider to Make Informed Healthcare Decisions

Visiting your doctor or other healthcare provider? Whether you’re seeing your provider online or in person, good communication between you and your provider is key to getting the most out of your visit. Here are some tips to maximize your visit and make informed choices about your health.