Here's an idea: Call ahead.

When you have a question about health care, you can get information from a lot of places … on the Internet, in a magazine, or from a friend. But most of it is just blah blah blah because it’s not specific enough to be helpful. When you need advice for your personal situation, call Alight Advocacy Services. And if you call before a problem begins, you can avoid the inevitable headache later.

You may already know that Alight Advocacy Services can help you deal with medical or benefits problems. For example, if you’re having trouble filling a prescription, a Health Pro can work with you, your doctor, and your insurance carrier to get you the medication you need.

But here’s the thing: you can also talk to a Health Pro before you have an issue. Health Pros can research answers to your questions and talk through the options with you. Here are a few examples of how calling ahead can help you avoid problems:

• If your doctor wants you to start a new medication, you can ask how much the brand name or generic would cost and find out other things you should think about. 
• If you have an upcoming surgery, you can ask about the process and the bills you can expect.
• If you’re worried your child might be autistic, Health Pros can research what resources may be available through your medical plan to get a diagnosis, advise you on where to start, and look for information on costs.

One of the most helpful things about Advocacy Services is that if your Health Pro doesn’t know the answer, they will try to find out for you. Think about it … that saves you time, and it means someone with experience—who knows the right questions to ask—is working on your behalf to track down answers. And if the issue is complicated, your Health Pro will stick with your case and stay in touch with you until you get answers.*

Remember that Advocacy Services is a free service. Just call your company’s benefits center and explain your question. You’ll be connected with a Health Pro who will take it from there.

* Alight Advocacy Services cannot guarantee your issue will be resolved exactly as you would like. Terms of the benefits and health plans are used to determine the proper outcome.