This week we are continuing our series on Self-Care and how it relates to your health and well being.
Just about a month ago, my yearly physical was due. If you are anything like myself, going to the doctor isn’t on my list of favorite activities. Each and every time they take my blood pressure at at the beginning of the appointment, it is a little elevated. I’m given the lecture on diet, exercise, and the possibility of medication.
This time, though, my suggestion was to take my blood pressure towards the end of my appointment. It was completely normal even though it was elevated just a few minutes prior. For some, this is called White Coat syndrome. For me, it’s called being my own best advocate.
Let’s face it; you are the one who knows your body the best.
You are the one that needs to asks questions about a doctor’s recommendations.
You are the one who has to live with the consequences of not speaking up.
Here are a few tips on being your best advocate:
1. Do you understand your health insurance plan? Do you understand the network? Do you understand what your co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible is? Do you understand that by going out of network, your out of pocket healthcare costs will be much higher? Health Insurance is very complicated which can make answering these questions difficult. That’s where Balanced Care can help. You may have an option of a low cost provider for lab work, urgent care, or even outpatient surgery. Using these low cost providers can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each year. Knowing your health insurance plan is one of the first steps in making sure you take the best care of yourself while keeping your healthcare costs down.
2. Never stop asking questions and do some research on conditions you have. Before you head into a doctor appointment, make a list of questions or concerns. Chances are if you don’t do this, you may forget to ask the most important question you needed to be answered. You will only have so much time with your doctor and making the most out of that appointment is always in your best interest.
3. Review your medical bills – Physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies hire people to send out billing and claims. They can and do make errors. Review your medical bills and don’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t understand something. This is your money and you are the only one in charge of it.
4. Never be afraid to get a second opinion – Even if you feel that your physician’s advice is valued, it never hurts to get a second opinion. This way, you will know if a procedure is necessary. On a side note, though, you may be charged either a co-pay or it will go towards your deductible for that second opinion.
5. Take advantage of free preventative care – If you are insured with an Affordable Care Act compliant plan, you will have access to free preventative services such as immunizations, blood pressure screenings, and Type 2 diabetes screenings. These free services help you stay on top of any underlying conditions and save you money on health care services down the road. Don’t be afraid to ask for them. You are entitled to get them if you have a health insurance plan that is compliant.
6. Do not be intimadated by medical providers. They are people just like yourself. They work for you and not the other way around. If you aren’t comfortable with your physician and the line of communication isn’t working, it may be time to find another physician.
7. Take notes when you are in your doctor’s office. It may be helpful to have a second person there to help you with this especially if something major is going on. Having a family member or friend with you can help you with moral support and help describe symptoms they are noticing.
8. Always have a list of medications and allergies on hand when you visit your doctor. In fact, this is something that should be on your person at all times. The last thing you want is to have is an emergency situation made worse by an interaction with a medication or a condition you have.
We put much trust into our physicians, their diagnosis of our conditions, and their treatment plans.
They are experts in their field, however, you are an expert on how you feel, your body, or when something just feels off.
You will always be your best advocate.
Take the best care of yourself so that others will as well.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurancCare is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.