Taking Charge of His Health and His Medicare Advantage Benefits
By Courtnay Brummer / Photos by Kyle Halter
For Darryl, turning 65 meant more than a milestone birthday. It marked a new chapter in his approach to health care—and an opportunity to make the most of the benefits he had earned through a lifetime of working and serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.
Darryl spent 35 years working in health care and insurance, including roles in claims, customer service and leadership. His experience gave him an insider’s perspective on how insurance works. Even so, he found navigating Medicare could be complicated.
As he approached 65, Darryl worked with an agent to compare his existing coverage, Medicare options and the possibility of remaining on his wife’s employer-sponsored insurance. He determined that a Network Health Medicare Advantage plan would save him $204 a month while providing the quality of coverage he wanted.
“At this point in my life, the price is not always the determining factor for me,” Darryl says. “I’m looking for quality.”
Based on his experience so far, Darryl believes he found it. “I love Medicare. My wife has excellent insurance, but Network Health is better than what I had. And the service is definitely better.”
Personal Service Makes a Difference
One of Darryl’s first experiences with Network Health came when he called the pharmacy team with a question about his diabetic testing supplies. Under his previous insurance, the supplies had been provided at no cost. Darryl worried that moving to Medicare would mean an unexpected expense. Instead, the pharmacy team confirmed that his supplies were covered.
Darryl was relieved—and impressed by the way Lauren, a Network Health pharmacist, handled the call. “She was so relatable.”
Having spent years in customer service himself, Darryl recognizes the difference between simply answering a question and making a genuine connection. “With Lauren, it was not just about insurance. It was about me. It was about helping a person, not just a script.”
That personal connection is what energizes Lauren. “I was able to give Darryl the information he needed to take charge of his health,” she says. “Now he has confidence that when he calls Network Health, he’ll be supported by someone who truly cares.
Darryl says Network Health’s size is an advantage because members can get answers and follow-up from people who take the time to listen. “Talk is cheap. Network Health delivers.”
Talk is cheap. Network Health delivers.
Making the Most of His Benefits
Darryl isn’t the type to leave a benefit unused. He keeps his member information organized, uses his member portal and reads his member guide carefully. “I’m a bookworm. You gave it to me to read, so I’m going to read it.”
He has explored his dental benefits, uses his over-the-counter benefit and has taken advantage of the One Pass™ fitness benefit, which includes free gym memberships and digital class options. Darryl says understanding his benefits is part of taking responsibility for his health. “The proof is in the pudding, and the resources are right here for you. Use them.”
He encourages other members to learn what their plan covers, keep their member guide handy and ask questions when they need help. The member experience team phone number is on the back of the member ID card, and the member guide includes important phone numbers and resources.
Darryl also believes members should take advantage of preventive care, including recommended screenings and wellness visits, rather than waiting until something feels wrong. His perspective is shaped by personal experience. His older brother once believed he was healthy because he felt fine. Then he had a heart attack. “Just because you feel great, it doesn’t mean that you are great.”
His mother, now 85, is a breast cancer survivor. These experiences reinforced Darryl’s belief that staying ahead of potential health problems is worth the effort. He also has a personal reason for wanting to remain healthy: independence. “I want to be self-sufficient. I don’t want my wife to have to take care of me.”
I want to be self-sufficient. I don't want my wife to have to take care of me.
Darryl exercises three to five times a week and describes himself as a “gym rat.” Staying active helps him maintain his health and quality of life as he gets older.
Knowing When to Ask for Help
Darryl’s health care and insurance experience gives him confidence, but he doesn’t believe people need to figure everything out alone. His approach is simple: learn, ask questions and use available resources.
That approach recently paid off when Darryl spoke with his doctor about improving his diabetes management. A medication he was considering would have cost $216 a month. He contacted the Network Health pharmacy team and learned about a comparable alternative that would cost $19 a month.
Darryl then contacted his personal doctor to confirm the alternative was appropriate for him. That’s exactly what good health care should look like, he says. “People working together to find answers and solutions.”
Quality Over Convenience
Darryl knows plans and circumstances can change. But when asked whether he expects to shop around during open enrollment, his answer is straightforward. “Why would I go with somebody else? All Network Health has done is excel.”
Darryl has a keen understanding of exceptional customer service. He also isn’t afraid to speak up when something isn’t right. To him, being an engaged health care consumer isn’t complaining—it’s taking an active role in his health.
Darryl’s Network Health Medicare Advantage plan is a resource that helps him protect what he values most: his health, his independence and his quality of life. “I just want to live and feel the best I can as long as I can,” he says. “I really do.”
Y0108_7229-01-1026_M
