Name: パンデミック時のヘルスケアの選択肢 (Health care options during the pandemic)
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T10:56:04.000Z
Duration: 4 min 5 s
Description: VoiceTubeの動画で発音を聞きながら英語表現を覚えよう！学べる英語：新型コロナウイルス,新型肺炎,COVID-19

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it is tough enough to lose a job due to the pandemic.

And for many that also means the loss of vital health insurance.

But there are options to help keep coverage costs under control.

Consumer Reports has just published information about what you can dio so joining me now, Consumer Reports investigative reporter Lisa Gill.

We said, Thank you for being with us and we know health care costs are already high.

If you're now out of a job and there's no money to pay for the coverage, can the health care system meet this current challenge?

You know, 22 million people have lost their jobs so far, so we know that about at least half of them will be looking for health insurance.

And yes, you know this this pandemic really exposed some of the weaknesses off this health care system.

But there are some things that you can dio and you know, the first thing you want to do.

If you have complicated medical situation, maybe you're getting a cancer treatment or other long term treatment.

Your If your employer offers Cobra, it's essentially an extension of your existing coverage.

You have that option you have 60 days to sign up.

You're gonna pay for your full amount of your health care so it could be expensive.

But it's something to consider, all right.

The next possibility is to go look at healthcare dot gov.

And so that's It's a really useful tool for really everybody.

And there's some screener questions in the beginning, and it's going to determine how much you're making per month.

So if you've just lost your job in the amount of zero, you'll put that amount in.

Also determined where you live with laws are in your state, but it's what's really surprised.

Thing is, about 37 states have expanded their Medicaid coverage to cover people just like what's happened now with people who have lost their jobs and who have not desolate poverty level.

But they you could make up to $1400 a month or even $3000 a month for a family and qualify for your state Medicaid plan, which is great news.

What about those people out there who have been hit with surprise medical bills?

Yes, so you know the families first act that was passed.

It was one of the relief packages for Americans.

We were really hoping that a surprise medical bill protection would be a part of that.

So it's It's still very much a risk or a threat for people.

So if this happens to you, a couple of things.

If you start to receive medical bills from your doctor or hospital, don't actually, and you still have health insurance.

You wanna wait until your insurance company shows you their explanation of benefits about how much they're gonna cover if they're not gonna cover as much, and you're you're sort of surprised by the amount.

The first thing you want to do is call the insurance company and ask them if they've made a coverage mistake.

I believe it or not, there are quite a few mistakes, and it's worth asking if they say no.

Sorry, I know this sounds crazy, but you know, you're really your best advocate.

Your your next question is, will you cover this at the in network rate anyway?

And we have heard consumers tell us what that is A possibility.

Sometimes insurance companies just simply change their mind now If that doesn't happen now, you really need to go on the offensive.

And you Now you're gonna start making more phone calls to both the doctor's office That may have build you with health system or the hospital system.

And now you're gonna ask, Why don't can you guys build me at the in network rate instead of the out of network rate, which the in network rate is gonna be soon?

Then you're gonna ask them, Would you give me a discount if I pay the amount entirely in full up front, like like a substantial discount, 20%.

If they say no on that, you can also ask if they have any financial services at the hospital or the health system.

Ah, lot of times they can offer payment plans.

They may even offer additional financial help.

But what we've learned is they may not offer it to you upfront.

You actually have to ask so much helpful information for us.

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