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This is a topic that is actually near and dear to my heart, one that I have spent hours and HOURS researching. Being self employed and making sure you have good healthcare coverage is a struggle in itself, not to mention add a baby in there and it’s even more complicated. In fact, self employed or not–health insurance is pretty tricky to understand. There’s a whole lot of common healthcare phrases that non of understand, different coverage on just about everything and then the occasional exception. So today I’ve teamed up with United Healthcare to share a few tips and tricks to making the process smoother and how you can better understand it all!

Tip #1: Match the Terms/ United Healthcare keeps things fun, but also while educating you on healthcare and the options you have. The game goes a little something like this, you find the “term” (which are common phrases use in the healthcare world) and you have to find the right definition match that goes with it. I actually learned a few new things when I played and let me tell you, I’ve studied this whole process up and down again and again. For instance, did you know you can easily find out the cost of a treatment or visit by using the cost estimator? It helps pull all of your information together, along with your insurance and gives you an estimated out of pocket cost.

Tip #2: Solve a Puzzle/ This is another great way to make a little game out of it! You solve a puzzle (plus have the chance to win $400 if you can solve it the quickest) putting together an insurance ID card. I think this is one of the most common confusions, what in the world do all those things mean on the card? At the bottom after you’ve solved the puzzle–you can click the “Infographic-A Quick Look at your ID Card”, where it will breakdown and explain everything on your card and what it means! PS. My score was 100, so go ahead try and beat it 😉

Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. In fact, calling and asking your insurance expert a question on coverages, benefits, whatever is one of the best things you can do! They don’t mind, that’s what they’re there for. Plus, it gives you a direct answer and peace of mind. Just remember, we’re all learning!

Tip #4: Take A Quiz/Personally I think this is one of the best ways to test your health insurance knowledge. The reason why is because you can quickly find out what you need to learn more about. Whatever answers you don’t get correctly or really have to guess on, are areas you can study up on and learn more about!

How have you learned your health insurance knowledge?

If you’re self-employed–don’t be afraid to use your resources, in fact that goes for everyone. Ask for guidance, if you have a question–call and most of all, have patience because it’s a learning curve for everyone!

This post was sponsored by United Healthcare.

United Healthcare offers great resources such as, Health4MeApp, Cost estimator and virtual visits.

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