East Panhandle News

Gulf Coast Breathe Free is recommending patients to make an appointment for assessments or treatments before the end of year to take advantage of cost savings before deductibles reset in the new year. 

Most Americans who get health insurance through their employer have an annual deductible, which is a set amount of money paid for medical costs during the year after which the health insurance provider pays for treatments. Many individuals will continue to have a required copay for treatments, but will not have to pay the full amount for treatments after having met their deductible. 

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, the average deductible for an individual health care plan in America was $1,787. Small company plans had an average deductible of $2,575, while the average at large companies was $1,538. The average family plan deductible in the country in 2023 was $3,733.

Stamford Health also noted that once the deductible has been met, families can take advantage of the situation by scheduling medical visits at the end of the year, rather than waiting until the new year. Sinus and allergy treatments can range from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand before insurance. 

Patients interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of allergies can take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.

Gulf Coast Breathe Free operates as an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) practice, affiliated with National Breathe Free, according to their website. They list their services to encompass a spectrum of treatments tailored to address allergies, sinus complications, and various ear, nose, and throat ailments. Their Board Certified Otolaryngologist is Dr. Matthew Blair.