Depending on your situation, there’s a good chance that you are currently looking into different health insurance or Medicare options for the upcoming year. The open enrollment period is upon us, and it pays to really think about what next year could have in store for you and your family when considering your different health insurance options. If you’ve had issues with your feet in the past or expect to need foot-related care in the coming year, plans with a lower deductible or enhanced coverage may be a wise choice.
Understanding your premium, your deductible, your network and your out of pocket maximum can all help you make a smart choice when picking a health insurance plan, but also keep your feet in mind, especially if you’ve had a fair amount of injuries in the past or expect to need care in the coming year.
Health Insurance And Your Feet
The vast majority of foot-related ailments and their care requirements will be covered partially or fully by most health insurance plans. This includes things like:
- Medical evaluations and consultations
- Diagnostic testing
- Imaging
- Treatments
- Procedures/Surgeries
- Hospitalizations
The key to ensuring that insurance covers some or all of the costs associated with these expenses is that the care must be considered medically necessary. If you sprain your ankle and then head to a masseuse for massage therapy, insurance isn’t going to pick up that tab. However, if you seek out an evaluation and a doctor recommends physical therapy as a medically necessary treatment for your ankle sprain, you can expect some of this cost to be offset by insurance.
It’s always a good idea to seek prior authorization from the insurance company if you are at all concerned that your care will not be covered. One common example that we run into in the world of foot and ankle care is when it comes to custom orthotic inserts. Your doctor may recommend custom orthotics, but the insurance company may decline coverage, only partially cover the cost of the equipment or request that you first try a generic insert before moving on to the more expensive custom orthotic. Reaching out to your insurance provider can help you understand your coverage options so that you aren’t surprised by a bill down the road.
Ankle replacement surgery is less common than knee or shoulder replacement operations, but if ankle arthritis or other problems have severely affected the function of your ankle joint, consider talking to your doctor about your treatment options. If a surgical procedure could be in your future, keep this in mind as you peruse insurance plans, as it could end up saving you thousands of dollars if a larger percentage of the procedure is covered by insurance.
We hope that your feet stay healthy in the new year, but don’t overlook them when choosing a health insurance or Medicare plan, especially if you’ve dealt with issues that could continue to cause problems. For more information about common foot and ankle injuries that we treat, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.