Tips for Choosing a Health Plan
It’s not easy to find the right health plan to cover you and your family. There are many different plans and options to choose from — so how can you be sure that you’ll get fair treatment and the best care? Be sure to ask the right questions.
How convenient is access to care?
Sharp Health Plan connects members to a growing network of approximately 3,000 primary care physicians and specialists affiliated with 12 acute-care hospitals throughout San Diego and southern Riverside counties. With Sharp Health Plan, members can select a single primary care physician (PCP) or a different one for each member of their family. Plus, at some of our medical groups, members can self-refer to selected specialists within the same group.
Can you expect personal service?
At Sharp Health Plan, we treat our members as individuals. Our employees sit under one roof and have just one mission: to listen and to help. No matter what the issue is, members can count on us for a prompt and thoughtful response. We believe that health care is personal and that every member deserves to be treated with respect.
Who answers the phone when you call?
From questions about your benefits, to inquiries about your physician and pharmacy needs, our local Customer Care team is here in San Diego to guide you through every step of your health care experience.
What coverage is available after business hours or when you're away from home?
Health concerns may arise at any hour of the day. The Sharp Nurse Connection® after-hours telephone service provides medical advice from a registered nurse. Additionally, Sharp Health Plan members have access to a global emergency services program operated by Assist America. You have the peace of mind of knowing you’re covered 24 hours a day — even when away from home.
Which medications are covered?
The Sharp Health Plan drug formulary lists all covered medications. You may access this list here or by calling Customer Care.
Does the health plan offer any programs that can help you stay well?
Sharp Health Plan offers a superior wellness program called Best Health. It was designed to help members and their families find a healthy balance — to look and feel their personal best. Through Best Health, you have access to a wide variety of free or reduced price programs offered at convenient locations. We also publish a quarterly magazine called Best Health with Sharp Health Plan. It’s full of useful information on wellness-related topics.
Who benefits — you or some big corporation?
As the only commercial not-for-profit health plan in San Diego, Sharp Health Plan resources go right back into medical care. We are not accountable to stockholders, so we can contribute to programs that benefit our community. Read about some of the organizations we support while Making a Difference.
For more information
To learn more about choosing a health plan, please call us at (619) 228-2300, toll-free at 1-800-359-2002, or submit an e-mail via our Contact Us Form. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm.
