Use your preventive care benefits
Your plan includes preventive care benefits that may include screenings, well-patient care and immunizations. Typically, when you receive those services through a network provider, you won’t have to pay any out of pocket costs.
Depending on your age, you might have access to:
- Free blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests
- Mammograms, colonoscopies, pap smears and other cancer screenings
- Flu and pneumonia shots
- Well-child visits from newborn to age 21
Use generic drugs
Ask your physician to write prescriptions permitting substitution of a generic drug, if available. Taking generic drugs is one of the most important things you can do to control costs. Not only do generics save you money at the pharmacy (sometimes more than 90%), but they help hold down your insurance premiums long-term as well.
Consult the preferred drug list
If a brand is required, physicians are encouraged to consider medications listed in the Preferred Drug List (PDL). The PDL, or Formulary, represents recommendations of our Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee. The P&T Committee includes practicing physicians and pharmacists dedicated to identifying high-quality, cost-effective drug therapy. All medications are reviewed and selected after consideration of safety, effectiveness, uniqueness and cost. The Preferred Drug List is updated quarterly and can be located at: bcbswy.com/pharmacy/.
Stay in network
Use a doctor who has a participation agreement with BCBSWY. You’ll pay less for the service and it helps keep insurance premiums down. Staying in network shouldn’t be difficult. BCBSWY has the largest network in Wyoming; more than 90% of the state’s providers participate with BCBSWY.
Save the emergency department for emergencies
When your condition is not a true emergency, use walk-in clinics or schedule same-day appointments. Use of the ED is more expensive when you’re treated there, plus overuse of ED services contributes to higher health care costs.
Learn MoreWhen choosing insurance, consider all your costs
The lowest insurance premium is often not the lowest overall cost when you consider all your out-of-pocket expenses. Weigh your total cost of health insurance with your
BCBSWY Agent.
Set money aside for your deductible
If your insurance deductible is $1,000, that means you must pay the first $1,000 out-of-pocket before your plan pays for any covered services.
Check on tax deductions
Check with your tax preparer about tax deductions for health care expenses that might apply to you.
Be an informed buyer
Consume health care as thoughtfully as you would any other large purchase.
- Be aware of the true cost of medical care
- Respectfully question tests and procedures-ask what they are for, what you’ll learn or if there is an alternative; get a second opinion when appropriate
Most of us don’t really know the true cost of the care we receive. That’s because we do not directly pay the full bill, but rather just our portion (copayment, deductible, coinsurance), which is usually just a percentage of the actual cost. Consequently, we’re sometimes not as careful about how the money is spent.
Life changing events
If you have an Individual or Family plan, a change in your life could make a difference to the health care coverage you have and may change your eligibility for cost assistance from the federal government. A life event can include gaining a new dependent as a result of getting married or having a baby, or it can mean losing other health coverage due to divorce or death of a spouse. Your benefit document provides specific details about what is considered a life event. If you have a life changing event, be sure to contact your BCBSWY Agent for assistance. If you have healthcare coverage through your work, be sure to contact your employer with information about your life changing event.
