Do you know what your insurance really covers? Last year, Talkspace, an online therapy company, started National Check Your Coverage Day to remind everyone to take a close look at their health plans and make sure they’re using all the benefits they’re paying for. Whether you have Medicare, Medicaid, or another plan, understanding your coverage can help you save money and avoid surprises. In this post, we’ll show you how to check your health insurance coverage, explain common insurance terms, and help you feel confident about your health benefits.

 

Important Definitions 

Before we can dive into finding healthcare coverage, you may want to familiarize yourself with some commonly used terms in insurance, such as “deductible,” “cost sharing,” and “medically necessary.” Below are two glossaries with easy-to-understand definitions: 

• Glossary of Health Coverage and Medical Terms via the University of Chicago 

• Glossary of Billing and Insurance Terms via Mayo Clinic 

 

 

Health Insurance 

• If you have an online account, you can login to your insurance provider’s website and view your Summary of Benefits (this is different than your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), which shows you what was paid for a medical claim).  
• If you signed up for insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace, you can log into your marketplace account to see your plan and the Summary of Benefits.  
• No computer? You can call your insurance directly to ask questions. The number for customer service is usually on the back of your insurance card.  
• This is a great guide for how to read your insurance card (via MetLife) 

 

 

Medicare 

• Log into your account on Medicare.gov to review your plan (remember, Medicare is a government program and should have a .gov website. If something related to Medicare has a website that ends in .com or .net, it’s probably a scam). 
• Not sure what Medicare plan you have? Look at your Medicare card for your plan information. 
• You can call Medicare directly at 1-800-633-4227. 
• You can also call your insurance plan directly (e.g., if you have Medicaid coverage through BCBSM you can call BCBSM).  
• Medicare.gov lets you check whether something is covered using their website.  

 

 

Medicaid 

• You can call Michigan ENROLLS at 1-800-975-7630 or 888-367-6557 for health plan assistance. Click here to go to their website.  
• The Washtenaw County Department of Health and Human Services can be reached at (734) 481-2000. 

 

Community Resources

• Benefits Checkup helps seniors connect with a variety of programs by zip code, including Medicare and Medicaid programs.
• Hope Clinic– offers free primary care for people who are uninsured or under-insured. Appointment required, no walk-ins permitted. Call (734) 484-2989 for more information. Visit their website to learn about what to expect and bring to your first appointment.
• Packard Health– offers assistance with enrolling in the health insurance marketplace, Medicaid, and can provide referrals to the Washtenaw Health Project. Call (734) 971-1073 for more information.
• Washtenaw Health Project– helps navigate applying for Medicaid and health insurance marketplace coverage. Also offers a program for people who cannot get health insurance coverage. call (734) 544-3030 for more information.

 

 

Visit the Senior Resource Connect Online Senior Resource Directory to find mental health resources in your community.