3 Ways To Take Control Of Your Healthcare Needs
The American healthcare system is in the news daily. Whether it's talk of its brokenness in comparison to other countries, the high cost of pharmaceuticals, or people who can't afford health insurance, the reports are almost never good.
Unfortunately, most people who hear these stories just accept them as a fact they can do nothing about. This attitude of passive acceptance robs people of power, creating victims. A person can change a lot by accepting the personal responsibility of managing their healthcare needs. Here are three ways to start.
1. Change Your Lifestyle
Every human on the planet knows that smoking is bad for you, overeating processed foods will lead to obesity and other health problems, and staying active is important if you want to be fit. Is changing bad habits easy? No, of course not.
However, it's also nowhere near impossible. Poor lifestyle habits now will lead to health issues sooner or later. Take control of your life and do what you need to do to put your health first. Join a gym, find an accountability partner, learn how to cook, go to an AA meeting, and chances are, your health will improve.
2. Question Prescribed Drugs
It's impossible to watch a television show without seeing a commercial for some new pharmaceutical. Many of these drugs have scarier side effects than the problem they supposedly treat. According to Consumer Reports, over the past two decades, the American population has increased by 21 percent, but prescription drug use has increased a whopping 85 percent. Are all drugs bad? Nope. Many are lifesaving.
But many are also unnecessary. When did the country become a nation of needing a drug for every little thing? Stressed? Take this pill. Male pattern baldness? Here, try this. Constipation, weight gain, and a rash side-effect from those pills? Here, take these two. Beginning drugs for things like borderline diabetes rather than losing weight and eating properly is far too common. This is obviously good for pharmaceutical companies, but it isn't always good for the people.
Tell your doctor you want to have a serious discussion about the prescription drugs you are currently on and analyze their necessity. Patients often feel like they should just listen to the doctor with no questions asked, but you can and should be playing an active role in managing your healthcare needs.
3. Opt For A Preferred Provider Organization Health Insurance Plan
A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) allows you to choose whatever physician you want to. If you choose one in the network, your costs will be less. Unlike an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), a PPO doesn't require you to have a primary care physician that every single concern must be addressed through. You have the control over your healthcare needs.
For example, you develop a chronic red rash on your face. Your internet research leads you to believe it is likely rosacea. With a PPO, you can schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. With an HMO, you have to first see your primary care physician who then gets to decide if he feels your symptoms warrant a visit to the dermatologist.
If he decides it doesn't, you don't get to go unless you pay for it completely out-of-pocket. If he does decide a referral is necessary, you are seeing and paying for two visits when one would have sufficed. These are the sorts of things that contribute to the overall expense of the healthcare system and reduce personal choice and responsibility.
For more information, check out a website like HEALTHYPPO.COM.