Over the last two weeks, we’ve received a couple pieces of what the marketing folks might call “collateral” welcoming us to Liberty and SavNet. For those keeping score (none of you) we have not received our membership cards. Ultimately, it matters most how quickly payments are processed so there’s no reason to jump to any conclusions. While we wait I’m proud to show off the folders, pamphlets and forms you’ll receive as new members. Hold on to your seats.
There are two obvious things you’ll be thinking as you review this picture: (a) My photography skills are outstanding – I must just have one of those eyes and (b) Why do I even care? Well, you shouldn’t care that much but if you are anything like me you like to know what you’re getting into when you try something new – in that spirit, I want to share as much as possible so you can make an informed decision. A few notes on what’s included:
- Our welcome folder was the first set of information we received. It includes a welcome letter, refer a friend ad and your 2017 Guidelines (which apparently must be the same as your 2018 Guidelines). Also included are a few forms:
- Authorization for Release of Medical Information – This form authorizes Liberty to get access to your medical related information. Essentially, you are authorizing your healthcare providers to provide Liberty with access to your medical records, bills, etc. to help with case management. It may sound intrusive but I can see why it would be necessary for Liberty to have these agreements in place.
- Medical Expense Need Agreement – This is a form that basically says I won’t use the money I receive for medical bills to address other expenses. Basically, I won’t be a jerk, submit false bills, all that stuff.
- Medical Expense Processing Form – This is the form that needs to be filled out and submitted to Liberty any time you are submitting bills for a medical need.
- Provider Information – This is a form you can use to “nominate” your healthcare providers to be part of Liberty’s recommended providers list. I would assume Liberty uses this information to contact the provider, let them know one of their patients is now with Liberty, and try to negotiate discounted rates. Given our situation, it is unlikely I will use it (our healthcare provider is familiar with Liberty).
When I saw these forms I thought we had already signed off on a few of them as part of the application process but we sent them back nonetheless.
- A few days after receiving our welcome folder we received a pamphlet from SavNet. This is a nice summary of what the SavNet Health Savings Program provides including the discounts on dental, vision, chiropractic and hearing services. Keep mind this is a separate SavNet program than the discounted prescription program. We have separate dental insurance which works out well for our family of 5 so I’m not sure how often we’ll use this but it’s nice to understand how it all works. If we wanted to forgo our dental insurance and change our dental providers to a SavNet provider, a routine check check-up, under SavNet would be $37 according to the information we received. For a family of 5, receiving 2 check-ups a year like us, that’s $370. For now we really like our providers and the estimates SavNet provides are…well…estimates. Nonetheless, it’s nice to know it’s there if we need it.
