As you may or may not know, the open enrollment period for our company’s insurance benefit plan will take place within the next few weeks. Each year we anticipate the possible premium increase we will receive from each carrier and “shop” our business with other carriers to make sure we are offering our employees the best possible coverage at the most competitive rates.
There are many criteria insurance carriers take into consideration when calculating annual renewal premiums. One of those criteria is patient utilization. We as covered members of the Montgomery Enterprises, Inc. benefit plan have resources available to us to help in making informed healthcare decisions.
One of those resources is the Nurse Advice Line offered by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MS to all covered members. By simply calling the toll free number (1-800-552-2134) and providing your Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MS ID number, you will be able to speak directly with a registered nurse who can assess your symptoms and help you decide the level of care needed. The Nurse Advice Line is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free of charge and all calls are completely confidential.
Other ways that we can make wise healthcare decisions is to consider alternatives such as visiting after-hours or urgent care facilities in lieu of an emergency room after normal physician office hours. Also, consider lower cost generic options to higher priced brand named drugs when available. The myBlue website or the myBlue App available for smartphones are both excellent tools in finding useful information such as this.
For more information on the Nurse Advice Line or about your benefits in general, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
~Kandi
“Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader.”
~ George S. Patton