Summer is just getting started, which means
Between packing up suitcases, crossing off travel checklists or just spending more time outdoors, please keep in mind this handy toolkit of resources below for your clients that most employers are already providing in their employee benefit offering, along with some helpful tips. They can help avert catastrophe, or at the very least, keep summer fun.
Travel assistance programs
This is a table stakes employee benefit that's typically part of an employer-paid life insurance plan for all full-time employees. These plans, which I believe are highly underrated and often forgotten about, come in mighty handy when folks are traveling 100 miles away from home or even further. This program can help with major to minor travel issues such as medical evacuation and stolen or lost documents, as well as access to high-quality medical facilities and local pharmacies to pick up medications that were left behind.
Read more:
It's recommended to publicize the travel-assistance hotline so that it's handy when employees and their families are in a bind. This way, they're not scrambling to find the number. Also, when checking out with major airlines and other travel tech companies, travelers don't necessarily need to purchase the travel-assistance rider because they might already have one for free
Telehealth
This may seem the most intuitive, but many employees still aren't familiar with how to access telehealth services. The last thing many of us want to do on vacation is spend time traveling to a doctor's office or hours on end in their waiting room. A multi-minute telehealth visit could conveniently diagnose poison oak or poison ivy and allow patients to get a prescription for treatment. Getting seen quickly and thoroughly via a virtual visit saves hours of precious vacation time.
Urgent care and emergency rooms
Acute or urgent medical issues can arise anytime and anywhere. Broken bones, stings, sprained ankles and allergies account for most vacation-related medical visits. Having quick access to in-network urgent-care facilities and close-by emergency rooms could again save tremendous time and money.
Read more:
Urgent care will typically have a lower copay for in-network versus out-of-network facilities, so if it makes sense, choosing the former over the latter will save money that can instead be spent on fun times. The same concern doesn't apply to emergency rooms because ER coverage is the same in-network versus out-of-network. But remember that it must be a true emergency. Having access to one's health insurance mobile app will speed up finding an urgent care or emergency medical facility.
Dermatologist
Summer means more sunny days, which merits closer attention to sunburn, ticks, mosquitoes, adverse reactions to sunscreen and overall skin safety. With skin cancer cases on the rise and parents generally being more cautious about the sunscreen they use for the entire family, a trip to the dermatologist is a prudent move for people of all ages.
Some dermatology appointments are considered preventive under ACA provisions and could, therefore, be free. Health plan members are advised to check with their benefits advocate to inquire about cost and access. A federal judge's recent ruling striking down coverage of preventive services that could affect 150 million Americans has since been blocked.
Accident coverage
Although some of us are more accident prone than others, accidents are common on vacations. Whether it's a sting, sprain, cut or something more serious involving an ambulance ride, there are probably out-of-pocket costs associated with care related to these conditions. Vacation is expensive enough, so an unexpected trip for medical attention could be a drain on both precious time and money.
Read more:
A supplemental health plan like an accident policy could help with out-of-pocket costs related to off-job accidents. Depending on an employee's medical plan and risk tolerance, an accident plan could make a lot of sense. Employees often purchase these policies and forget about them. Anyone who has an accident should check with their benefits advocates to see if they have a policy. They might forget that they even had the coverage.
Dental emergencies
Summer can be a delicious time of the year. BBQs and summer cuisines are a staple of seasonal eating experiences. But crowns don't last forever; teeth chip and other dental emergencies can arise when least expected.
Many dental plans (and sometimes medical, too) have access to 24/7 dental support. Being familiar with one's dental coverage app can help expedite a quick virtual visit. The dental plan could even help employees find a local provider if it's an issue that requires an in-person visit.
