Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living Issue 1, 2019 | Page 22

Use network GPs and specialists We negotiate special rates with doctors and specialists on the network so you receive quality care at lower rates. This stretches you to avoid co-payments and helps your savings and day-to-day benefits further. Get advice from your pharmacist Pharmacists can provide sound medical advice on problems such as rashes, colds and minor ailments. You buy over-the-counter medicine and treat less serious illnesses yourself. Check for benefits paid from Risk Benefits paid from Risk are additional to your other benefits. They give you more value for money, without using your savings or day-to-day benefits. On most plans, you can receive maternity consultations, wellness benefits, preventative care benefits and dentistry paid from Risk by us. Manage your chronic medicine correctly Register your chronic condition with us so payment of your medication can be made from Risk and not your savings. Try to use the medication on your plan’s formulary and obtain this from a network pharmacy or a designated service provider. Get with the programme Join one of our managed care programmes related to your condition. These programmes have been specifically created to help you manage serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. They help you use your benefits correctly to get the best of care. Get advice from your pharmacist If you can, try to pay for over-the-counter medicine out of your own pocket and not out of your medical savings account. This way, your savings will go further to cover more of your medical costs. Pre-authorise your hospital stay Pre-authorisation is needed for all hospital admissions so your hospital stay will be covered. Ask if there are any co-payments or sub-limits that will apply and what you can do to avoid these. Call 0860 002 108 or email [email protected] to get a pre-authorisation number. Page 21