Cost-Saving Health Insurance Tips from Health Net of California

Guidance Is Part of Health Net`s Renewed Emphasis on Being a Helpful Partner to
Its Customers
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
In these tough economic times, Health Net of California, Inc. reminds people
that it is often prudent to get medical care now, rather than postponing it to a
later date.

"When it comes to your health, you probably shouldn`t avoid a doctor`s visit in
hopes of getting better on your own and avoiding the cost," said Charles Payton,
MD, chief medical officer for Health Net of California. "Delaying care often
results in more intense future treatment, and an even greater financial, health
and emotional cost. For instance, what you think is a nagging cough could
quickly turn into a nasty case of pneumonia requiring hospitalization."

For More Information
Health Net Inc. Online Newsroom
Health Net Member Web Site
Health Net Insurance for Individuals
Health Net Medicare Plans

For the vast majority of the 30 million Californians covered by health insurance
plans, obtaining health care comes with only modest out-of-pocket costs. As part
of its renewed efforts to be a helpful partner for its customers, Health Net
offers the following tips on making cost-effective use of health insurance
benefits while holding down out-of-pocket costs:

* Switch to an HMO plan for greater cost predictability. Compared to PPOs, HMOs
typically come with fixed-dollar copayments instead of percentage-based
coinsurance, making it easier to know in advance how much medical services will
cost. And most HMOs have no annual deductibles.
* Use medical professionals within your health plan`s network, where copayments
are lowest. Copayments are lowest when you use health care providers within your
health plan`s network. Using out-of-network providers typically results in
higher copayments, or sometimes no coverage at all.
* Look for an HMO that provides a "narrow network" of health care providers.
Some health plans offer smaller networks of cost-effective, quality providers in
exchange for significant premium breaks.
* Use preventive care benefits to stay healthy. Blood pressure and cholesterol
checks, mammograms, Pap smears, PSA tests, diabetes and cancer screenings,
physicals and other preventive services can keep you from developing a
preventable condition, or keep an existing, undetected condition from getting
worse.
* Call your doctor first instead of heading to the emergency room. Using the
emergency room for non-urgent medical care is an expensive habit that drives up
health care costs for everyone. When you need medical treatment for a
non-emergency, your first call should be to your doctor, who will decide if you
should come into the office, visit an urgent care center or go to the emergency
room. When the office is closed, most doctors leave instructions on their
voicemail or with their answering services.
* Use a mail-order pharmacy program. Many health plans offer both cost savings
and convenience through mail-order delivery of maintenance medications directly
to your home or office. Some plans provide up to 90 days of mail-order
medications for the same copayment as a 60-day supply from a retail pharmacy.
* Go generic and save. Generic drugs can be a lower-cost alternative to their
brand-name counterparts - and they work the same way, according to the Food and
Drug Administration.
* Take advantage of health coaching, health education, wellness benefits and
other free tools and resources offered by your health plan. Health plans want to
help their members be healthy. That`s why many plans offer free health coaching
programs, health education materials and wellness benefits. Professionally
trained health coaches who are available 24/7, online health assessments, print
and video educational materials, gym memberships, smoking cessation and weight
management programs are a few of the many resources available.
* Use discounts for health-related expenditures. Many health plans offer
discounts on purchases of health-related products and services, such as athletic
footwear and apparel; child safety products; eye exams, eyewear, contact lenses
and vision correction surgery; fitness clubs; healthy living books, magazines
and videos; hearing aids and screenings; massage therapy; vitamins, herbal
supplements and other natural products; and weight-loss programs. Log on to your
health plan`s Web site to see if discount programs are available.

"Each health insurance plan is different," said Payton. "So if you have any
questions about how much it`s going to cost, it`s a good idea to check with your
plan`s customer service department to determine how the plan will cover specific
services and products."

About Health Net

Health Net of California, Inc., a subsidiary of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is
one of the largest health plans in the state. Together with Health Net Life
Insurance Company, it serves nearly 2.3 million members statewide and contracts
with more than 56,000 physicians, 300-plus hospitals and nearly 5,000
pharmacies, giving its members greater choice and more convenient access to
care. Its commercial HMO and POS lines of business and its Medicare line of
business have received the "Excellent" accreditation status from the National
Committee for Quality Assurance, and its Medicaid line of business has received
the "Commendable" accreditation status. For more information about Health Net,
visit its Web site at www.healthnet.com.

Health Net of California, Inc.
Brad Kieffer, 818-676-6833
brad.kieffer@healthnet.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009