How to Get the Most Out of Your Healthcare Benefits

Five ways to engage in your medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy healthcare plans to save time, money, and stress.

 

This is the time of year when stress and expenses are on the rise but let's face it, there's never a good time for an unexpected bill. We know the healthcare system is a labyrinth waiting to be solved but in the meantime, there are several things you can do to make your experience navigating the medical maze a little easier and less expensive. 

• Log in and surf your medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy (Express Scripts) member portal. Download the mobile apps for quick access. Click here for APS-specific medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy sites. 
• Through your member portal, check out and create accounts for your medical and dental virtual/telehealth platforms. The last thing we want to do when we're in a crisis, feeling sick, or dealing with a sick loved one, is have to figure out virtual or telehealth benefits.  Get familiar with your health plan's virtual offerings. Then you'll be ready to go if and when you need the services! 
• Also in your member portal are cost estimator tools for services, medical procedures, and places of service/facilities. This is a great expense-reducing resource to use before booking appointments and procedures. 
• Use the "find a provider" tools for medical professionals in your area who meet your preferences for experience, ratings, location, and other expectations. 
• The ER and Urgent Care aren't always the best options for every medical circumstance. Know where to go by using this guide. 

The healthcare industry touts a 4.5 trillion dollar expense annually on the American public. Remember, we all pay into this system.  Ninety percent of these costs are from preventable chronic illnesses. Prevention is the only way to curb this trend and we can do this by knowing resources, being smart consumers, and being proactive in our pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

If you have questions about your benefits, email the Employee Benefits Department at employee.benefits@aps.edu.  For wellness resources contact employee.wellness@aps.edu. Click here for the Benefits staff listing.

This page was last updated on: November 13, 2024.