Open enrollment is the period of time each year when you can enroll in a health insurance plan. Typically, you cannot enroll in or change plans outside the open enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event (e.g. loss of insurance, permanent move to a new area, loss of job, divorce/marriage, or aging off parent’s plan). If you miss the Open Enrollment deadline, you won’t be able to change your insurance plan until next year’s Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event.

Yes, Roswell Park accepts both traditional Medicare and New York State Medicaid.

• If you are enrolling in a Medicare Managed Care Plan (Medicare Part C) please consider enrolling in a plan that is in-network with Roswell Park. Otherwise, if you choose a plan that is out-of-network, your plan may not cover your services at Roswell Park and/or you may have higher out-of-pocket costs.
• If you are enrolling in a Medicaid Managed Care Plan, you should select a plan that is in-network with Roswell Park. Otherwise, if you choose a plan that is out-of-network, all services will require prior authorization and/or you may not be able to receive services at Roswell Park.

If Roswell Park in-network, that means the insurance plan has contracted with Roswell Park to provide cancer care and services to its members. If Roswell Park is out-of-network, there is no contract. When Roswell Park is in-network, your own costs (such as co-pays or coinsurance) for your cancer care will typically be less than if Roswell Park is out-of-network. Some insurance plans will not pay for any care at Roswell Park at all if Roswell Park is out of their network.

Maybe. Some insurance plans will not pay for any care at Roswell Park at all if Roswell Park is out of their network, leaving you responsible for all costs of treatment. Some insurance plans will allow you to receive care at Roswell Park as an out-of-network provider, but this may reduce your coverage and can delay treatment.

For example, your plan may require an out-of-network authorization. This means we need a prior approval by your insurance plan for all services, before you can have testing, imaging, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or other services.

Your financial responsibility is an important factor to consider if Roswell Park is an out-of-network provider with your insurance plan. Typically, an insurance plan will pay less for services out-of-network, which leaves you responsible for a larger portion of the bill. For example, you may have 20% coinsurance for in-network services, but 40% coinsurance when you go out-of-network. In addition, you may be responsible for paying the difference between Roswell Park's charges and your insurance plan’s usual and customary rates.

If you have out-of-state insurance, check with your insurance plan to see if your plan has out-of-network benefits.

There are many factors to consider and compare when choosing an insurance plan, but two key components are coverage and cost. First, make sure the providers (your primary care doctor, specialists, hospitals such as Roswell Park, etc.) that you use are in-network and participating with the plan you choose. Second, consider the total healthcare costs (monthly premium, deductible, copays and coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum). Generally, plans with higher premiums have better coverage and lower out-of-pocket expenses.

Technical fees are billed by facilities/treatment centers/hospitals for their use of diagnostic tests, equipment etc, while professional fees are billed by the physician for their time, skills and expertise.