Use Your Coverage
You did it! You have health insurance. Now it’s time to learn how to use it so you can stay healthy and save money.
Carry Your Insurance Card
Your insurance company (like Blue Cross, Medica or HealthPartners) will mail you a card. Keep it in your wallet. Take it with you any time you go to the doctor or pharmacy.
- What's on it? Your card has your member ID number. Doctors and pharmacists need this number to bill your insurance instead of billing you.
- Missing your card? You don’t have to wait for the mail. You can often sign in to your insurance company’s website to print a temporary card or get a digital copy on your phone.
Get to Know Your Network
A network is a group of doctors, clinics, and hospitals that have a deal with your insurance company to charge you less.
- Stay In-Network: You will usually pay less if you see providers in your network.
- Check Before You Go: Before you make an appointment, call the doctor’s office or use your insurance company’s "Find a Doctor" website to make sure they are in your plan’s network.
Fill Your Prescriptions
Your provider may write you a prescription for special medicine. They can send it to a pharmacy that will “fill” it for you.
- The Drug List (Formulary): Your plan has a list of drugs it covers.
- Ask for Generic: Ask your doctor if there is a generic version of your medicine—it may cost less.
- Pharmacy Network: Just like doctors, some pharmacies are in-network and others are not. Call your insurance company or visit their website to find the best pharmacy near you.
Use Your Plan “Cheat Sheet"
Every plan comes with a document called a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). All insurance companies use the same format so it's easier for you to find what you need, even if you switch plans. It shows:
- What your plan covers (like mental health or physical therapy).
- What you will pay for common things, like urgent care or a hospital stay.