Got Questions?

Start Health plans are HSA-qualified because they meet the IRS and DOI requirements for a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Our plans have high deductibles and cover preventive care 100% before the deductible is met. While Start Health plans don’t have a traditional maximum out-of-pocket limit, once the deductible is met, Start Health reimburses 100% of eligible healthcare costs at our set reimbursement rate. This structure ensures members are protected from large out-of-pocket expenses, allowing our plans to be considered comprehensive coverage and HSA-compatible.

Providers often offer a lower rate for services when they are not billed through insurance. This greatly reduces their administrative costs and efforts. So, when visiting the doctor’s office, simply state you are self-paying, or ‘paying cash’ and use your Start Benefit Card to pay for the service. Ask them their cash-price for the services.  Don’t forget to ask for an itemized receipt!

Start will apply 100% of the reimbursement rate (Start Benefit Amount) to your deductible before it is met. Once you have met your deductible, 100% of the Start Benefit Amount will be credited to you and you will be responsible for the remainder if the amount paid exceeds Start’s Benefit Amount.  If you are able to obtain services at a lower rate than the reimbursable amount, you keep the difference.

For a list of QMEs, please reference your Start policy.

Your Start policy will include all covered procedures and services. You will also be able to use the search tool in your Find Care dashboard to search for covered procedures and view the associated Start Benefit Amounts for each. For complex procedures, call us at 800-894-9454.

When you see a provider you will pay for the services with our Start Benefit Card.  The Start Card can draw money from your Start HSA or a preferred checking account (set by your Account Ordering preferences). After you swipe, an expense will be drawn from your preferred account to cover the transaction.  You must upload an itemized receipt for any services received within 30 days of your service date. If you use another payment method, simply upload your itemized receipt in your Start Account to create an expense to be applied to your deductible and then reimbursed after the deductible is met.

Start Health may deny individuals deemed as having a medical history that may require more comprehensive coverage. You will have the option to continue without the individual that was denied.

Enroll anytime, and coverage will go into effect on the 1st of the month.

Because Start is a reimbursement model, there are no networks. However, you are responsible for the cost until you hit your deductible. If it is not an emergency, call before you go and we’ll have you get the best care at the best price.

Like any other insurance, if it is not medically necessary, your health insurance doesn’t cover it. You are in charge of all bills for elective surgeries.

After you hit your deductible you are 100% covered by Start for the reimbursable amount. Different doctors and facilities charge different prices, so call us or check out the portal for reimbursement rates and facility prices. We’ve got you covered. Call us anytime with questions at 800-894-9454.

An individual deductible is the amount one person needs to meet before coverage kicks in.

For example, if your individual deductible is $1,000, you’ll pay the first $1,000 of covered medical expenses out of pocket.

Once you’ve met your deductible, Start covers your medical costs for the rest of the year!

A family deductible is the maximum amount that the entire family needs to pay out of pocket before the deductible applies to everyone on the family plan.

Here’s how it works:

• Each family member has an individual deductible that counts toward the family deductible.
• A family deductible is equal to twice the individual deductible.
• Once the family’s total deductible costs reach the family deductible amount, full coverage kicks in for all family members.
• If one individual meets their personal deductible before the rest of the family, that individual is covered while others continue to pay for care until their deductible is met.

Start HSAs are uniquely built as a ‘dual-purse’ account; meaning, the Start HSA card is connected to your HSA AND a regular debit account. All reimbursements must go to the debit account so they aren’t considered an HSA contribution. Start Health members can choose to use those funds to contribute to their HSA if they haven’t met their annual contribution limit.

Each HSA is given a $2k daily credit to cover basic procedure/medical charges. If a larger covered procedure is being considered, members can call Start Health to pre-approve the reimbursement rate to the card on a case-by-case basis.

The typical length of a hospital stay depends on the reason for hospitalization, the severity of the illness or condition, and the type of care required. However, in general:

1. For a routine illness or surgery, the average hospital stay might range from 2 to 5 days. For example:
◦ Elective surgeries (such as a hip replacement or gallbladder removal) may require a stay of 2 to 3 days.
◦ Childbirth typically results in a stay of 2 to 4 days for a vaginal delivery and longer (4 to 6 days) for a cesarean section.

2. For more serious conditions (like heart attacks, strokes, or severe infections), the stay might range from 5 to 14 days, depending on the complexity and recovery needs.

3. Intensive care (ICU) stays are typically much shorter, often lasting only a few days (usually 1 to 5 days), but can extend longer for patients with severe injuries or life-threatening conditions.

Hospital stays are typically getting shorter due to improvements in medical technology, better outpatient care options, and an increased focus on reducing hospital costs. However, some patients may require longer stays if they have complications or require additional therapies and rehabilitation.

Overall, the “typical” stay varies greatly depending on the patient’s medical condition and how quickly they are able to recover.