Top Healthcare and Insurance Insights All in One Place
Managing your medications isn’t too hard when you only have one or two. If you’re taking several, however, it gets tougher to keep them all straight off the top of your head. This is particularly true as we get older. More than 20% of adults in the U.S. over the age of 40 take at least five prescription drugs. Since mixing up doses or forgetting to take a prescription medication can result in dangerous drug interactions, or worse, staying organized is crucial. HealthBird members can easily add their prescriptions to the app to keep track of them, all in one place. Before you do, these are a few strategies to help you be proactive and stay healthy, no matter if you’re on two medications or 10.
Make sure you understand your medication routine
Doctors and pharmacists spend years learning about how medications work. Unless you went to medical school (and if you did, props!), it’s totally understandable to get overwhelmed by long, complicated-sounding medical terminology. If you’re unsure about any element of your medication routine, from the exact dose to the timing, double-check with your doctor. Your pharmacist is also a great resource if you need a quick refresher course on how or when you should take your medication.
Make sure every clinician you go to has a record of all your medications
If you see any specialists in addition to your primary care provider, share all of the medications you’re taking. That way, they can prescribe medications that are safe to take with your existing prescriptions. In the past, that meant either remembering them off the top of your head, bringing them with you, carrying around a list, or requesting records from your other doctors.
Managing your medications with the digital cabinet is so easy, your dog could do it
Assuming your dog doesn’t have thumbs, you’ll have to add your medication to the HealthBird app yourself.
Lucky for you, it’s not hard. Just download the app, click on the digital cabinet button, and select your medications. – And don’t forget to use the HealthBird Rx Card to save money when you do! If you take other supplements and vitamins, you can add those too!
To make it extra easy,
Still have questions? Reach out to our Member Concierge at hello@healthbird.com or call (833) 384-2473.
Signing up for health insurance used to be frustrating, complicated, and confusing. There are so many factors to consider when shopping for a health plan.
What health insurance carrier should I go with?
Is my current doctor covered under my new plan?
Which tier should I select?
How much is the monthly premium?
What about deductibles and copays?
That’s enough information to make anyone’s head spin! Luckily, the HealthBird app makes it so much easier. Just answer a few simple questions, and our AI will curate a collection of the most suitable plans for you. Let’s break it down.
First, answer a few questions about yourself.
Don’t worry, it’s not complicated. To start, just input your:
- Five-digit zip code
- Date of birth
- Gender assigned at birth
- Your spouse and/or dependents, if you have any. You can also specify whether or not they need coverage.
From there, input how many people live in your home and your annual household income to see how much you can save. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a cost-sharing reduction to lower the cost of your monthly premium. Some applicants are even able to get their health insurance plan for as low as $0 a month– No joke! As long as they meet individual qualifications.
Then, estimate how much you expect to use your healthcare benefits. We only ask because plans with lower copays will help reduce the cost of frequent medical appointments. Your response won’t change the coverage you’re eligible for or raise the price. Next, add any healthcare providers you’d like to visit. We’ll curate a list of plans that your doctor of choice accepts. If you have any medications, add them during this step, and we’ll show you which plans cover them.
Next, review your health plan options
After all questions are complete, HealthBird will whip up a list of plans based on your answers. Each plan summary includes:
- The name of the carrier and plan
- Your monthly premium
- Your deductible and drug deductible
- Applicable copay, primary doctor visits, specialist visits, and generic drugs
- Your out-of-pocket max
Click on each plan to get more detailed coverage information. Maternity care, imaging, emergency care, you name it! You’ll also be able to review links to the provider’s website.
Like what you see? Hit enroll, and you’re almost finished
Congrats! It’s a match. Add your email address and agree to the terms and conditions. Make sure that all information within your application is honest and accurate. You will have to share your personal information, including your full name, Social Security Number, address, and provide proof of your identity using your driver’s license or passport, along with a few other details.
After you’ve input your information, you’ll get a summary of your plan benefits and costs. If everything looks good, submit your application, and you’re good to go! Benefits typically kick in on the first day of the month following plan selection, so if you sign up on January 15th, you can start using your benefits starting on February 1st. If you enroll on January 16th, then the plan will begin on March 1st.
Still have questions? Reach out to our Member Concierge at hello@healthbird.com or call (833) 384-2473.
During the health insurance enrollment process, one of the first questions to answer is “How many people are in your household?” When it comes to the Health Insurance Marketplace, however, this number may differ from the total number of people living in your home. So who’s included and who’s not?
Your household includes yourself, your spouse, and any tax dependents
Three easy rules exist to determine your health insurance household size.
- Include yourself if you’re the primary tax filer
- Include your spouse if you’re legally married
- Include any children you will claim as a tax dependent, including adopted and foster children
You should still include your spouse and tax dependents in your household size even if they don’t need insurance coverage. If you have shared custody of children, only include them during the years you will be claiming them as tax dependents.
You may also include:
- Children under the age of 21 who live with you
- Adult children under the age of 26 if you’d like to cover them under your health insurance plan
- Dependent parents, siblings, or other relatives who you’ll claim on your taxes
- Your unmarried domestic partner if you’ll claim them as a tax dependent and/or if you have a child together
Don’t include:
- Unborn children. You can add your baby to your insurance plan after they’re born. You’ll have up to 60 days to do so after their date of delivery.
- Non-dependent children or relatives who live with you
- A legally separated or divorced spouse
- Your spouse if you’re a victim of domestic violence or spousal abandonment
- Roommates
A few more tips for determining your household size
If you’re not claimed as a tax dependent by someone else and have no dependents, only count yourself. If you’re claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, you can sign up for a health insurance plan yourself, but you’ll have to pay full price.
If you’re married, you must file a joint federal tax return to be eligible for a premium tax credit and other savings. You can still enroll in a health insurance plan together if you file separately, but you won’t be eligible for discounts. You may also need to complete individual applications for each of you.
If you have a spouse or dependents, you need to include their incomes within the household income section, even if they don’t need insurance. This is because Marketplace savings are calculated based on the income of all members of your household, not just those who need coverage.
That’s all there is to it!
Need more help? Just chat with a member of our concierge team for on-demand answers.
HealthBird Member Concierge