Volume 2, Number 13
Monthly News On Products Promoting Healthcare Cost Transparency And Healthy Living Tips
IN THIS ISSUE...

  • TRY THIS QUIZ ON COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH VOCABULARY
  • MEDICAL COST SHARING GUIDELINES UPDATED
  • WHAT IS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE?

This monthly newsletter contains information about medical cost sharing programs as well as health insurance plans offered through insurance companies that promote healthcare cost transparency. It provides information about tools designed to maintain or regain your health, articles on health and wellness, and information on complementary and integrative health. It also contains information on other cost-transparent products and services you can purchase or utilize to supplement either your medical cost sharing program or your insured health insurance plan.
T RY THIS QUIZ ON COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH VOCABULARY
What’s the difference between “complementary” and “alternative”?
 
Does “homeopathic” refer to home remedies or something else?
 
Does “natural” have an official definition?
 

Find out the answers to these and other questions about commonly misunderstood complementary health terms. Take a few minutes to try this 6-question quiz prepared by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). 
MEDICAL COST SHARING GUIDELINES UPDATED
Sedera, the medical cost sharing administrator, has announced that they will be updating the medical cost sharing Guidelines for both the Access and the Select programs effective as of September 1, 2019. Access is used for the Association program offered through the MPowering Benefits Association, whereas Select is used for the Group program that was formerly offered to individuals who became 1099 employees of MPowering Benefits.

The new Guidelines are scheduled to be published July 31. We’ll publish both sets of Guidelines in the September issue of this newsletter and will be updating the website at www.controlyourhealthcarecosts.com. The site will contain the new Guidelines, and the description of the Sedera portion of Health Excellence Plus on the Plan Strategy page of the website will be modified to summarize some of the changes.

Sedera will be notifying members of these changes this week. 

Please see this analysis that provides a description of the changes to the Guidelines. We encourage all members to read this material.

In general, the new guidelines clarify issues experienced with administering the present program.
Domestic partners will now be permitted to join, dependent on how a domestic partner is defined under applicable state law. Although Sedera does not consider the new Guidelines to be major changes, there ARE some changes, so members should read to see how they are affected.

The changes are intended to improve transparency so members are more fully informed. The new Guidelines provide more clarification on pre-existing conditions and also discuss methods Sedera will use to control costs when members go to providers who do not accept reasonable reimbursement for their services. Members who experience a new Need are encouraged to call Sedera within 3 days so Sedera Member Advisors can help them find providers and also better assist in bill negotiation.
WHAT IS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE?
Naturopathy—also called naturopathic medicine—is a medical system that has evolved from a combination of traditional practices and health care approaches popular in Europe during the 19th century. In the United States, naturopathy is practiced by several different types of practitioners , with different educational backgrounds and licensing.
 
Naturopathic practitioners use many different treatment approaches. Examples include dietary and lifestyle changes, stress reduction, herbs and other dietary supplements, homeopathy, manipulative therapies, exercise therapy, practitioner-guided detoxification, and psychotherapy and counseling. Some practitioners use other methods as well or, if appropriate, may refer patients to conventional health care providers.
About Paul Cholak
Paul Cholak is the Principal of Control Your Healthcare Costs, LLC (dba Control Your Healthcare Costs) and is an endorsed vendor of the Free Market Medical Association, which promotes transparency in healthcare costs and programs. He's also a Partner/Supporter of the Direct Primary Care Coalition, which promotes the direct primary care provider concept.

He constantly seeks to find new and innovative products that incorporate transparency and focus on reducing costs of the total healthcare bill.

He's a National Healthcare Advisor for  M Powering Benefits , a Certified Affiliate with Sedera Health, and is also appointed by insurance carriers who offer insured products that promote healthcare transparency (for example Health Indemnity insurance).

He offers or refers you to medical cost sharing and insured healthcare products on either an individual, association, or group basis, as applicable, that promote healthcare cost transparency and can result in significant overall healthcare savings to participants. He guides you through the steps of obtaining membership in the applicable program and is always available to help you both BEFORE and AFTER you've enrolled.
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