Health Insurance

Top Ways Today's Health Insurance Confuses Florida Employees

Read Time

7 Minutes

Written by

Team Curative

Published

Feb 1, 2024

When you need to go to the doctor, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If your answer is uncertainty around coverage or fear about costs, you’re not alone. According to Curative’s recent study of employees in Florida, 44% of respondents were unsure of what was covered by their health plan. This uncertainty often leads to stress and deferment of care to avoid the risk of medical debt.

Clearly, traditional health insurance Florida employees have is leading to care deferral and adverse health outcomes.

We don’t think you should ever be surprised by your medical benefits. If your plan uses complicated language to cover for insufficient coverage, you deserve better.

Know the features you should be receiving as an employee.

According to Curative’s survey of metro-Florida residents, fewer than half of respondents said they could comfortably afford out-of-pocket costs if they had a major medical event or chronic illness. And 67% said they have used an alternative method to pay for medical costs such as depleting a savings account (23%) and increasing credit card debt (24%). Clearly the health insurance Florida employees currently have calls for better options.

On top of the financial stress associated with healthcare, the survey found that nearly half of Floridians don’t understand what their insurance covers. Almost half (42%) agree they have trouble navigating their insurance coverage or understand what is covered by their insurance plan (44%), and 51% agree that they have trouble anticipating what they will pay for healthcare services.

Striving for better health and better healthcare shouldn’t lead to stress.

Often, the system is complicated, making it hard for you to understand the ins and outs of your healthcare coverage. The information is overwhelming, filled with technical jargon, and not always written to be easily understood. You should feel supported by your health plan and your employer to fully utilize the health benefits offered to you.

Common areas of healthcare confusion for Florida employees:

How much is my deductible, and what does that mean?

You will pay this out-of-pocket amount before your benefits kick in. If your deductible is $5,000, you must pay for $5,000 of covered medical costs in addition to your premium payments before your insurance plan begins paying benefits.

Who are my in-network providers?

Insurance providers pursue contracts with large networks of providers in order to negotiate for reduced costs. When you use in-network healthcare providers, your insurance plan’s pre-negotiated rates will result in lower costs for you and your dependents. But, out-of-network providers are often much more expensive or not even covered. You deserve an insurance provider that keeps a precise and updated list of in-network providers and clarifies its out-of-network policies.

What are out-of-pocket costs?

Out-of-pocket costs are anything you are expected to pay within your plan’s coverage. Even after you meet your deductible, most health insurance plans require you to pay coinsurance or a copay for medical services up to a certain cutoff point. That point is your out-of-pocket maximum.

What does your plan cover?

Your insurance needs are unique — similarly, no two insurance plans are identical. If your primary medical needs are for mental health coverage, but your plan has minimal mental healthcare benefits, you deserve a plan better suited to you. Similarly, you shouldn’t be saddled with unnecessary expenses if your medical needs are minimal.

What is your monthly premium?

You can think of a premium like a subscription. It’s the amount you pay monthly to guarantee your insurance coverage.

Who can be covered under your plan?

Most employer-provided health plans have stipulations for who can be covered under your insurance, ranging from domestic partners and spouses to children and other less common dependents. However, adding additional family members may cost more, depending on the portion of your insurance your employer covers.

Where do you seek care based on the severity of your health issue?

No one wants to have to decide on the most affordable or accessible level of care while in pain. A health insurance plan with clear primary, specialist, and emergency care policies and an easy-to-navigate provider database keeps you from worrying about costs when your health is on the line.

If you don’t know what any of those features are, or your health plan’s policy regarding each feature is unclear, it may mean your plan doesn’t meet your specific needs. In light of the alarming outcomes seen from Curative’s recent study, health insurance Florida employees deserve should be clear. Health insurance plans shouldn’t be convoluted, complicated, and challenging because stress leads to adverse health outcomes.

You shouldn’t have to worry about cost or unknowns. You should just be able to get the care you need when you need it.

The health insurance employees deserve

You and your dependents deserve a health insurance plan that is affordable, simple, and engaging. You deserve clear policies, up-front cost explanations, and a care team that cares about you.

Affordability — Look for a healthcare provider that reduces out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays so you don’t have to delay care for fear of cost.
Simplicity — Seek transparency and plain language when researching healthcare plans so you can worry about your health instead of worrying about your coverage.
Engagement — Comprehensive and preventive health coverage is vital in avoiding illness and taking a proactive approach to your health. You deserve an insurance provider willing to care for all aspects of your health.

colleagues smiling around a conference room table

Preventive care and regular screenings lead to better outcomes and fewer healthcare expenses for you, your employer, and your health insurance provider.

You deserve better healthcare, and we think we can provide it at Curative.

Download this manifesto to ask your HR team for Curative Health Insurance.

About Curative

Curative offers high-quality health insurance Florida employees can easily understand and will love. With our innovative plan, employees know they can access the care they need no matter where they are. The Curative network includes:

~1 million professional providers
170,000 ancillary facilities
~8,000 hospitals
24/7/365 access to a local physician in under 10 minutes via HealthTap
Access to supplemental First Health network

Affordability

People shouldn’t avoid doctor visits out of fear of surprise medical bills. After completing a Baseline Visit in the first 120 days of joining Curative, one monthly premium will include:

$0 copays
$0 out-of-pocket fees
$0 preferred prescriptions
$0 deductibles for in-network care

Engagement

Curative builds employee engagement from day one by facilitating trusted relationships with a Baseline Visit and Care Navigator. Members will complete a Baseline Visit within 120 days of the plan's effective date to create an individualized, preventive care plan with a Curative Care Navigator to reach their health and wellness goals. We also ensure members are connected to our extensive and inclusive provider network.

Simplicity

Curative makes care management virtually stress-free. The Curative Pharmacy has a partnership with a national network of pharmacies and even offers as soon as -day delivery (for select cities). Members can access virtual urgent care through Teladoc anytime, anywhere, through phone or video.

No co-pays. No deductibles. No...really. Curative is changing how we view health insurance with a health plan that actually delivers health.

Curative is not only the transparent health insurance Florida employees have been looking for, but is the health insurance employees deserve.

*Teladoc is available to Curative members residing outside of Texas. Members in Texas can access virtual urgent care through NormanMD.

**Patients experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 (or the local emergency number) immediately.

To see all disclaimers, please view them here.

References

Himber, V. (20 Oct 2022). Employer-sponsored health insurance statistics: what the data tells us. eHealth. https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/small-business/how-many-americans-get-health-insurance-from-their-employer

The Associated Press. (13 April 2023). Florida among several states confronting medical debt that's bankrupting millions. Health News Florida. https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2023-04-13/florida-among-several-states-confronting-medical-debt-thats-bankrupting-millions

Medina, JC. (23 May 2023). Employee financial stress reaches highest levels since the Great Recession. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2023/05/23/employee-financial-stress-reaches-highest-levels-since-the-great-recession/