Here’s how to save money on quality health insurance in Ann Arbor and Detroit | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Here’s how to save money on quality health insurance in Ann Arbor and Detroit
Save money on health insurance without sacrificing quality care.
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When you’re looking for health insurance, cost is always a major factor. But is it possible to have a plan that’s affordable and high quality at the same time? The answer is yes! Health insurance is expensive, and you should save money whenever you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality in order to save.
Oscar helps you get quality coverage and save $
Oscar1 was built with the patient’s journey in mind—we use technology to help you find the care you need while avoiding unnecessary procedures and costs. This may sound like a no-brainer, but not all health insurance companies do it! Using technology, telemedicine, and transparency, we’ve built a member-first, cost-effective health insurance experience.
Technology
Much of today’s health insurance industry is stuck in the 1970s. While we can all agree the music of that era is great (opens in new tab), an outdated system where doctors and insurers use paper files and process claims with fax machines is not. At Oscar, our team works hard to ensure that everything from paying a bill to getting a prescription gets done faster, easier, and with more accuracy. With the Oscar app (opens in new tab) or on hioscar.com, you can easily search for providers, contact your own personal customer service team, view your medical history, and even speak with a doctor. We’re constantly innovating to put you in control of your own health care—because that’s how it should be!
Oscar offers free, unlimited telemedicine, so instead of going to the urgent care clinic for episodic and acute illnesses like colds, pink eye, rashes and UTIs—or going to a doctor to refill a prescription for common drugs like birth control, inhalers, blood pressure or cold medicines—you can send a Doctor on Call (opens in new tab) request online or through the Oscar app. A board-certified doctor will call you back in about 15 minutes, ask you some questions, and even look at a photo of your symptoms. They may be able to give you a diagnosis and send a prescription directly to your pharmacy of choice. Unlike other 24/7 nurse advice lines, the doctor can give you medical advice, and no copayment is required.
Oscar members have saved up to $600 a year in urgent care fees, and 91% of issues are resolved within the first Doctor on Call visit.
Transparency
Because some hospitals set their own billing rates, the cost of a single procedure can vary widely from place to place. The hospital systems in the Oscar network have partnered with us to keep high-quality care at a sustainable cost. We don’t work with systems that force arbitrary rate increases over time for the same level of care, and our Concierge team (opens in new tab) can help you find top-rated providers with affordable rates.
All Oscar plans include perks to help our members save money on all kinds of out-of-pocket costs.
Concierge: With Oscar, members get their own personal customer service team—a dedicated team of care guides and a registered nurse. Your Concierge team can help you find the right doctor and answer claims, benefits, and billing questions. If you’re not sure what kind of doctor you need, or want a specialist with a particular set of skills and experience, your Concierge team can find someone who meets your individual needs. Concierge can also help you save time and money, by helping you find in-network doctors and facilities. People who trust Oscar to find the right care can save an average of almost $340 per year.
No referrals: Oscar never requires referrals to see a specialist. That means there’s no appointments with a primary care provider to get permission, no waiting for approvals, and best of all, no referral fee! If you found an in-network specialist you like, just call and make an appointment. That’s it. (If you’re not exactly sure which specialist to see, ask your Concierge team for help.)
Get paid to walk: Oscar members get reimbursed for step tracking—you can earn $1 towards an Amazon Gift Card each day you meet your step goals, up to $100 a year. While other carriers offer discounts on things like gym memberships, there’s often paperwork involved for reimbursements and wellness rewards. The Oscar app automatically syncs your steps from Google Health or Apple Health, so it’s a hassle-free way to get paid for staying fit.
“I love getting paid for something I do every day anyway. My steps paid for hair gel, USB cords, and movies.” PoChen C, Oscar Member
Free preventative care: Many preventative care services like annual physicals, well-woman exams, flu shots and over 70 other benefits are included free with Oscar plans. Get more details on preventative care (opens in new tab).
Prescription drugs: Many common brand name prescription drugs cost less when you get the generic version. Ask your doctor if you can save money by using generic drugs instead. Learn more about prescription drug benefits (opens in new tab). You can also have your prescriptions sent right to your home at no additional cost—just ask your Concierge team.
There is a way to be cost-effective and get quality health insurance at the same time. You can pay less on your monthly premium and still see excellent doctors at St. Joseph Mercy, Ascension, and Detroit Medical Center. There’s in-person care available when you know you need it, and free telemedicine when you’re not sure what you need. Oscar is designed to make all of this possible, because we understand that saving money is your top concern.
