November is not only known as the start of the holiday season.
It's also known for Open Enrollment, the often-confusing process of selecting health care insurance coverage for the following year.
Mercy Health Physician Partners President, Dr. Kristen Woods, shared advice for enrollees. After all, these are important choices being made.
This is generally the only time, outside of a qualifying life event, when people can add or drop a coverage plan or make changes to their coverage.
Dr. Woods said, one of the important but sometimes overlooked pieces of open enrollment is selecting a Primary Care Provider.
When choosing a provider, Dr. Woods said, the goal should be to build a lasting relationship.
This individual will be a patient’s first medical contact and the health provider who knows them best. Dr. Woods shared some things to consider while selecting a Primary Care Physician, including the important question of whether they are in-network vs. out-of-network.
To find the best fit, Woods encouraged people to research providers by reading online reviews, checking whether their health insurer offers quality ratings or asking friends and family for referrals.
Mercy Health Physician Partners offers more than 46 locations in West Michigan. Search for a Primary Care Provider at www.MercyHealth.com/Wellness.
Marketplace enrollment runs November first through January 15.
Medicare Enrollment is NOW through December 7.