Garner is a NEW benefit for the 2025 plan year, that helps you find the best doctors in your area and reimburses you for your out-of-pocket medical expenses, up to $1000 annually for single coverage and up to $2000 annually for family coverage. Doctor rankings are based on their real patient outcomes, using the nation’s largest medical database and revolutionary analytics.  By downloading the Garner App, you can find Garner Top Providers, ask the Concierge for support and learn more about your Garner plan all in one place. 

When can I start using Garner?

You can set up your account today and start searching for Top Providers, including researching your existing doctors and providers.  Until the 2025 plan year starts, on January 1, 2025, your account will say you are "not a registered user".  Eligible users (those enrolled in a Meridian medical plan) who have registered in advance will automatically have their accounts connected on 1/1/25.  

Is Garner my health insurance?

No. Garner is not your health insurance. It is an additional benefit that compliments your health insurance plan by helping you connect with in-network providers who offer quality care, have availability, and deliver optimal patient outcomes. By choosing these Top Providers, you not only ensure top-notch care but also become eligible for reimbursement of qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs.

If I create an account, am I obligated to see Garner’s Top Providers?

No. While we encourage you to see Top Providers to ensure you are receiving the best care, you have the choice to receive care from a doctor who is not a Top Provider. Out-of-pocket costs from these doctors will not qualify for reimbursement.

Can my family use my Garner benefit?

Any dependent covered by your health insurance plan is eligible to use Garner to find Top Providers and can be reimbursed for qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs. Your family only needs one account, but any dependent aged 18 or older is welcome to create their own account. Reimbursement checks will be mailed to the primary member who holds the health insurance plan.

What is a Top Provider?

Top Providers are the best-performing medical professionals that Garner has identified through an analysis of over 60 billion medical records representing more than 310 million unique patients. Top Providers are the top 20% of all providers in the industry. They are highlighted in the Garner Health app with a green Top Provider badge and represent the best available doctors near you who are in your network and have appointment availability.

Do the Garner Top Provider rankings ever change?

Yes. Garner Top Provider recommendations are updated monthly based on the latest data. However, if a member has previously added a Garner Top Provider to their list of approved providers, any recommendation updates will not affect the provider’s approved status for that individual member and their dependents.

Are all providers at the same practice, medical center or physician group approved for the Garner benefit?

No. Garner evaluates the performance of individual doctors, not entire medical centers or hospitals. Use the Garner Health app to search for specific providers by name to see if they are a Top Provider and approved for your Garner benefit.

What if I see a mid-level provider, such as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, instead of my approved doctor?

If you have an appointment with a Top Provider or an approved primary care physician, and a nurse practitioner in their practice sees you instead, the costs from that visit will qualify for reimbursement. To ensure your claim is processed as quickly as possible, message the Concierge through the Garner Health app and ask to have the nurse practitioner’s name added to your list of approved providers, even if it is after the date of service. Otherwise, we may deny your claim until we are able to associate the mid-level provider you saw with a provider that has been added to your list of approved providers.

How do I know whether the specialist I have been seeing will be approved for my Garner benefit?

Search for your specialist by entering their name and zip code. If your specialist has a Top Provider badge, qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs from services performed or ordered by that specialist are eligible for reimbursement on or after the date you add them to your list of approved providers. If your specialist is not an approved provider, you can still choose to receive care from them, but those out-of-pocket medical costs will not qualify for reimbursement.

What qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs will be reimbursed?

Garner reimburses qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs that include office visits, lab work, imaging and procedures ordered or administered by your approved providers. To learn if other medical costs qualify for reimbursement, log into your Garner account and navigate to the benefit section.

Your out-of-pocket medical costs will qualify for reimbursement if:

1. You have created a Garner account and added the provider to your list of approved providers prior to the date of service.

2. Your provider is in-network and the cost was covered by your health insurance plan.

3. The type of cost qualifies for reimbursement under your Garner plan.

4. If your health insurance plan is paired with an HSA, you will need to incur costs greater than the minimum deductible.

Does Garner reimburse out-of-pocket costs for dental and vision care?

Garner works with your medical insurance, which generally does not cover dental or vision services. Garner may reimburse qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs for procedures such as oral surgery, but only if the claim for that service is processed by your medical insurance plan.

How does reimbursement work?

When you receive care from an approved provider, pay your upfront costs as usual. Garner has access to your insurance plan’s claims. After your health insurance company processes the claim, Garner will reimburse your qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs.

You have two options for receiving reimbursement: 

1. If you are the primary member you can set up direct deposit for faster and more secure reimbursement. Because the speed that billing departments submit claims to your health insurance company can vary, it typically takes 5-6 weeks to receive reimbursement after the service takes place. Watch this demo video to learn how to set up direct deposit.

2. If you do not set up direct deposit, a reimbursement check in a white envelope will be sent to the mailing address the primary member has on file with their employer, arriving in about 6-8 weeks

Can I use Garner for dental or vision service?

Garner reimbursement is only available for medical at this time.

How does Garner work with an HSA?

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) paired with a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), you must first spend the minimum amount toward your health insurance deductible. Once you have spent that amount, you can use the Garner Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).

You are not required to spend HSA dollars on Garner-approved providers. However, we encourage you to seek care from Top Providers.

Garner keeps track of the claims we receive from your health insurance. Once you have spent $1,650 for individuals or $3,300 for families in 2025, we will start issuing reimbursement checks for qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs.

Meeting your deductible doesn’t mean you have to wait to start using Garner. You can still set up a Garner account, search for doctors in advance of your visit, and ensure that your qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs will qualify for reimbursement as soon as you meet the IRS out-of-pocket requirement.  In summary, if you have an HDHP, meet your HDHP limits before using Garner.

What if I have an FSA?

If you have a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), special rules apply to your Garner benefit. You may not be reimbursed by the Garner HRA for an out-of-pocket medical cost that will also be paid using your FSA. This is often referred to as double-dipping and is prohibited by the IRS. If your Garner HRA and your FSA cover the same medical cost, we recommend you use and exhaust your Garner funds before using your FSA. You can save your FSA for when your Garner benefit has reached its limit or for out-of-pocket medical costs that do not qualify for reimbursement by Garner. In summary, if you have an FSA, use Garner before using your FSA.

Have additional questions?

Garner's dedicated Concierge is here for you. They are available Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Se habla español. Click here to contact Garner's Concierge.