Preventive care lowers long-term costs for Ohioans

By Nadia Ramlagan

Employer-sponsored healthcare plans, the Affordable Care Act marketplace and Medicare are ramping up for a new enrollment period. Ohio residents have just a few months to select the right coverage for next year.

Around 15% to 20% of Americans change or switch their health insurance plans each year, according to research from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual and a primary care physician, suggested health consumers take advantage of annual checkups and preventive care.

"Catching something early costs less. Not only is it better for your physical health, it's also better for your financial health to make sure that you're getting that prevention and screening," Randall pointed out.

Research shows preventive care can help catch complications early, boost medication adherence and help patients make lifestyle changes to stop conditions from getting worse. In Ohio, around six in 10 adults live with at least one chronic disease and roughly four in 10 adults live with two or more chronic conditions, according to the Chronic Care Policy Alliance.

Randall noted the monthly premium for most healthcare plans is just one aspect of overall healthcare costs.

"You want to ask yourself, what am I going to be responsible for paying beyond that monthly premium? And I'm talking about out-of-pocket costs like co-pays, coinsurance, deductibles. Make sure that you're considering and understanding what all of those numbers mean," Randall recommended.

There are tools available to research plans, including JustPlainClear.com for employer-based healthcare plans and MedicareMadeClear.com for Medicare beneficiaries.