Health Insurance Deductible Met

Schedule These Hand or Wrist Procedures Before the New Year

Have you met your health insurance deductible for the 2022 calendar year? Now is the best time to schedule those hand, wrist, or elbow procedures that you’ve been putting off. In today’s post, we’ll be talking about the importance of keeping up with your healthcare at the end of each year, how it can save you money, and the types of conditions Dr. Donnelly recommends treating rather than putting off.

What’s the deal with deductibles?

A health insurance deductible is the amount of money that you must spend out-of-pocket towards medical care before your health plan will begin to cover your procedures.

Let’s say you have a $1500 health insurance deductible-- this means that you are responsible for all of your health care costs until you have spent a total of $1500. Once you hit the $1500 month in a calendar year, you have officially met your deductible, meaning that your insurance will begin to pay a percentage of your health expenses.

On January 1, 2023, those who have a deductible to meet will be starting from scratch.

Why schedule quickly after the deductible is met?

Your health insurance deductible resets each calendar year. Therefore, on January 1, 2023, those who have a deductible to meet will be starting from scratch. This is why it is important to schedule check-ups and procedures before the end of the year, as this is usually the time when most people’s deductibles have been met.

Healthcare on Sale

Depending on your health insurance plan, meeting your deductible means that your health care is “on sale” until the start of the next calendar year. For example, if your health plan covers 80% of outpatient procedures with a $300 maximum out-of-pocket cost, you’ll be getting that procedure for a fraction of what the cost would be without the help of your insurance.

Limited Appointment Slots

Because of the way deductibles work, the end of the year is almost always the busiest time of year for doctor’s offices. Appointments fill up quickly, and if you wait too long, your physician may not be able to squeeze you in before January 1st.

Delaying Treatment Can Compound Health Problems

It’s always best to take measures to prevent health issues down the road. Taking care of your health while your deductible is met not only means saving money, but it also saves you precious time, and may even save you from future pain. Come early next year, you may wish that you had visited your doctor before your deductible reset.

Recover over the Holidays

For many, the end of the year also means extra time off of work or school. This is a great time to schedule that procedure you’ve been putting off, not just because you’ll save money, but because the holidays could allow you plenty of time to recover without the pressures of having to take as much sick leave.

Top 4 Conditions to Treat Now

If you have already met your health insurance deductible for the 2021 calendar year, Dr. Donnelly recommends taking care of any lingering health conditions as soon as possible. Here are the top four conditions that Dr. Donnelly sees people neglect due to high out-of-pocket costs:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition where a nerve is pinched by the structures of the wrist. This causes tingling, numbness, and pain in the hand. People often ignore the early signs of CTS, waiting until the pain causes a noticeable impact on their lives before seeking treatment.

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, is an inflammatory condition that causes the digits of the hand to get stuck in a curled or flexed position. This is a very painful condition that can develop because of an injury. Though there are some non-surgical treatments available, some people refuse surgical treatment for trigger finger due to high costs, despite the discomfort that can come from this condition.

Ganglion Cysts

Ganglion cysts like mucous cysts and retinacular cysts are a classification of fluid-filled pustules that can develop as a symptom of osteoarthritis in the fingers. They are normally painless, and therefore, more likely to be ignored by patients. However, these cysts can become painful over time, as they can grow to be over an inch in diameter.

Thumb Arthritis

Arthritis of the thumb or fingers is a painful condition that can be caused by any number of things. Because of how frequently we use our fingers, they are especially susceptible to developing arthritis later in life. As a common condition associated with aging, people are more likely to put off treatment for their arthritis until the pain becomes unbearable.

Schedule your procedure before 2023

With 2022 fast coming to an end, appointment slots are filling up fast. If you are suffering from a condition of the hand, wrist, or elbow, call or email Dr. Donnelly for a consultation today-- whether or not you have met your deductible for 2022.

About Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD

Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly is a board certified hand surgeon with Pontchartrain Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Dr. Donnelly completed his hand and microsurgery fellowship at the prestigious Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center. Dr. Donnelly treats all ages of patients in the greater New Orleans area for hand, wrist, and elbow conditions.

This site is not intended to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. Through this website and links to other websites, Brandon P. Donnelly, MD provides general information for educational purposes only. The content provided in this website and links, is not a substitute for medical care or treatment. You should not use this information in place of a consultation or the advice of your healthcare provider. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or product you obtain through this site.