How TikTok Can Make You a Better Health Insurance User
By Alison Nelson, Employee Benefits Account Manager
For better or for worse, the way people are getting their news and information has changed. Senator Mark Warmer from Virginia said in this viral video at a press conference, “With 100 million Americans daily on TikTok, on an average of 90 minutes a day, this is an issue. I imagine most of you would like your networks to get 90 minutes a day from 100 million Americans.”
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of downsides to people gathering their news and resources from social media. But surprisingly, there are also some positives. For example, let’s focus in on how TikTok is unexpectedly shaping the industry of health insurance.
With consumer habits being formed in the midst of funny cat videos, outfit inspirations, viral dances, and book recommendations, TikTok has slowly begun to function like a search engine. Sure, I can lookup things to do for my next vacation, but I can also lookup what an EOB is, what to do if a claim is denied, or how to get my medication for less money. Brokers, providers, and consumers alike are flocking to TikTok to share their tips and tricks for all things insurance. After scrutinizing some of my industry’s relevant content, I’ve got to say, some of the advice isn’t half bad.
Searching “health insurance” on TikTok will lead you to thousands of videos, most with the goal of helping consumers understand their insurance and teach them about available resources in an easily digestible manner. Below are a handful of topics I saw within a few effortless scrolls.
- What to do when you turn 26 and come off your parents’ health insurance plan
- Individual health insurance
- Insurance basics
- What is HIPAA
- HSA tips and tricks
With an increasing amount of Gen-Z (born from 1995 to 2009) in the workplace, and with Generation Alpha close behind (they’re already 13 years old), it’s important for professionals in all industries to meet the consumers where they want to be met, which, usually means online. The attention-grabbing style of TikTok makes topics like health insurance more palatable to our new workforce generations, and even to the older workforce who never fully understood what they had.
This abundance of health insurance resources on TikTok makes it obvious that this industry is changing. Consumers are savvier than they have ever been. This is incredibly exciting in terms of the educational effort insurance brokers like RISQ Consulting have been striving for. As a health insurance broker, I can’t emphasize enough how important knowing the basics of insurance is.
While I would caution against believing everything you see on TikTok, it is great to see an influx of information readily available to help you learn. Naturally, I always recommend discussing insurance with a licensed professional (preferably one from RISQ Consulting 😊) but, if nothing else, TikTok has proven itself to be a great place to start. It’s amazing to see more and more people take an interest in their healthcare and the healthcare system, after all, knowledge is power.
- Published in Blog
Learn Long and Prosper
By Ashley Snodgrass, Employee Benefits Analyst
Lifelong learning can be a topic so over discussed that the mere mention will cause eyes to roll. The phrase “lifelong learning” can take on a trite flavor, especially this time of year. With the month of May holding the flurry of end-of-school year celebrations, we may be reminded of our own past educational endeavors or hear rousing graduation speeches that signal the days of learning in the past. However, I encourage you to set aside your preconceived notions and open your mind to the possibilities if you were to incorporate intentional learning in your day-to-day life.
What’s the point? What is the reason some people are obsessed with lifelong learning? Let’s approach this from an academic perspective. The PEW Charitable Trusts published an article in 2020 questioning, “Lifelong Learning Will Be the New Normal – But Are We Ready?”. The article explains how as humans live longer lives, our work lives could be extended beyond the typical retirement age of 65. Further, the author discusses the impacts of the increasing presence of technology. The need for “T-Shaped Individuals” will increase, as workers will need a combination of “technical knowledge + human skills”. While this article dives deep into these ideas, my goal is to make some suggestions for ways to incorporate learning as a habit into daily life.
In the digital world, the stream of content can be overwhelming. I would suggest choosing a specific area of study that you are interested in, then choose a medium that best can fit into your life. Topics to study could range from a technical topic to help in your work life, to parenting, current events, history, productivity, nutrition, latest scientific advances, and more.
As for how to consume all this great information; the choices can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for platforms to help you add more learning to your life every day:
For the LISTENERS
- Audible for audiobooks.
- Libby to rent audiobooks from your local library.
- Podcasts (Many platforms like Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Podbeam, etc.) to learn about science, history, politics, and so much more. A fantastic podcast dedicated to lifelong learning is Ologies.
For the READERS
- Blinkist to read or listen to book summaries if you’re short on time (or attention).
For the WATCHERS
- YouTube look up TedTalks or content on any subject that interests you. Some great educational channels for adults are Smarter Every Day, Veritasium, and Kurzgesagt.
- Skillshare is a platform where you can learn anything from plant care to cookie photography tips to Excel best practices.
- Masterclass is another platform with classes taught by celebrities and well-known professionals, such as cooking with Gordon Ramsey or writing with Judy Blume.
I’ll end with one final thought. It was Henry Ford who famously said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
- Published in Blog
