Medical Matters: Advocating for Your Own Health
Author: Julia Merrill | Posted on: October 29, 2022
When it comes to staying healthy, it’s important to brush up on the rules of healthcare. If you can get on top of your insurance, medical records and cultivate a few lifestyle improvements, you’ll be well on your way to a better body and saved cash.
Understanding Health Insurance
Insurance plans can vary drastically in terms of premiums, deductibles, copayments, and more. Take the time to learn about various plan types, whether Medicare, Medicaid, ACA (Affordable Care Act), or an individual policy, and try to identify which will be most cost-efficient for your medical needs. If you’re self-employed, consider having your business pay for your insurance—you may be able to deduct the cost of insurance from your tax bill.
Understanding the key terms is also crucial so that you can decipher contracts and spot any out-of-pocket fees. Different factors can affect your health insurance costs - it’s important to understand what these costs are before selecting a plan.
Maintaining Your Own Records
Studies have found that those who keep personal health records tend to enjoy better health. These are useful for you and any caregivers but also in case of an emergency. It is your right to request a medical record from your healthcare provider - you can start by checking their online patient portal, available on their website, or by calling in and requesting this via phone. If you have any concerns about the information on record, it’s important to contact your health provider and discuss these. Accidents do happen, and it’s important that your details are correct to a point of total accuracy.
Reviewing Medical Bills
After receiving care, you may receive a bill stating how much is due to be paid. This document can take many different forms but should contain the same core information, outlining the services, dates, and costs (both individually and in total). These can sometimes be split into several documents depending on your department. When reviewing these, keep an eye out for overcharges and double-billing, and make sure the dates are correct. You should also compare these against your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) - this is a statement related to your plan describing which costs will be covered. You can also seek out typical healthcare costs and compare your bill against these to ensure they are fair.
Seeking New Healthcare Providers
If, for any reason, you’re unhappy with your current service, it could be worth carrying out research for a new healthcare provider. To help with this, start by using online directories such as the American Medical Association’s ‘DoctorFinder’ - each hospital has its own listing of physicians and you can search within your local area to see who is available and where.
Changing Lifestyle Habits
Ultimately, the best way to save money and protect your personal health is to change aspects of your lifestyle. Living healthier can mean introducing new exercise routines - these may start off as small adjustments (such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a daily walk around your neighborhood) and evolve into more strenuous activities. Additionally, you could try adapting your diet to include more fresh fruit and vegetables - there are plenty of recipes available online that can help you to make the change in a cost-efficient manner.
Taking ownership of your health can take time and energy, but once you have a grasp of your own requirements, it will make seeking help easier and save you money in the process. Above all else, make sure that you’re keeping active and eating well to avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital altogether.