Finding a doctor and comparing prices on medications and medical services will be easier beginning Wednesday with the cost-transparency tool Castlight, a free service for GW employees and their dependents who are covered by a university health plan.
Employees who sign up for Castlight before Oct. 27 will be entered in a drawing to receive a $400 Visa gift card.*
Because prices for medical services are based on many factors and vary considerably, Castlight helps find high-quality doctors, labs and imaging services at an affordable price before making an appointment. It also assists in finding nearby in-network pharmacies and compares costs for filling specific prescriptions either at a retail pharmacy or mail order.
Castlight—which is available via website or mobile app—is also personalized to each member and his or her specific health plan, so it shows prices for services, such as office visits, lab tests and x-rays, at nearby healthcare facilities that are based on the plan’s negotiated price. It also provides information on the member’s deductible status and healthcare flexible spending account or health savings account balances all in one place.
Castlight is available beginning Wednesday. Those insured under a 2017 GW health plan will have immediate access, and the university will continue to offer the service going forward.
*Taxable as wages, subject to payroll tax withholding and reporting.
