Insurance Primer
Health Insurance Primer & Information Portal
When seeking a new source of health insurance or making a change
in carrier, there are a few key questions to ask.
- Call the insurance company in which you are interested and find
out what doctors, clinics and hospitals in your area accept that
insurance.
- Ask about primary care providers, any specialists that you
need, including gynecologists and eye doctors.
- Ask about dentists if the health insurance program
includes dental care. Be aware that the insurance company
might want to send you a directory rather than answer questions on
the phone.
- This same process can be asked in reverse. That is, if
you are interested in a specific primary care doctor or
obstetrician, call the insurance company in which you are
interested and ask if that provider is listed in their directory
and thus accepts this particular insurance.
- Call the primary care provider and/or the specialist in whom
you are interested and ask the billing office which insurance
carriers they accept.
- Ask the insurance company when their enrollment period
is. As a new recipient of health insurance, you can usually
just enroll. If you are changing insurance company, however,
you often have to do so at specific and limited times of the year
called "open enrollment".
- Be aware of the insurance choices generally available in your
area. Talk with your family and neighbors.
Call the billing office of the largest health care provider in
your area, i.e., hospital, clinic, or group practice and ask them
what is currently accepted in your area.
The Patient Accounts Office can tell you what insurance is
currently accepted. The office's phone number is 978
524-9950, ext. 3000, send an mybill@nhshealth.org
or submit an online
inquiry.
