The American Lung Association has developed an infographic to guide COPD patients through the process of picking a health plan through Healthcare.gov or a state exchange. The information is intended to help Americans under the age of 65 with COPD who are not yet eligible for Medicare determine the best health plan available to them, the association said in a statement.
Choosing the best health plan on Healthcare.gov—given the many options—can be difficult or confusing when the out-of-pocket costs of healthcare expenses for the year are hard to determine, especially for individuals who have been underinsured or previously not insured, the association said.
When choosing a health plan, it’s important to consider all of the factors that can affect yearly out-of-pocket costs, which include the premium, deductible and co-pay or coinsurance amounts. Also, it is important to check plans’ coverage for doctors and specialists, hospitals and medications.
“There is a lot to consider when choosing a health plan,” said Harold P. Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Through this resource, we hope to help consumers better understand how to make the best choice, and pick a plan that is likely to result in the lowest out-of-pocket costs to the patient.”
The deadline to enroll in a healthcare plan is January 31, 2016, and the American Lung Association will be sharing this educational infographic to help inform patients about their choices. Patients may also call the Lung Association’s free HelpLine (1-800-LUNGUSA) to speak with a certified enrollment counselor to help patients choose the best health plan.
