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Is an apple a day enough? We think not. Although the benefits of healthy eating are many, consumers of health-related services and products are more and more indicating an interest in self-care and preventive care.
The cost of American health care continues to spiral upward. The confusion surrounding health care access and delivery has also been exacerbated by the political debate accompanying the phasing in of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, “Obamacare” to some of you.
Using health insurance premiums as an indication of cost, The New York Times reported this year that a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the average annual premium for family coverage through an employer reached $15,073 in 2011, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year. (The Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit research group that tracks on a yearly basis employer-sponsored health insurance.) So cost, as a motivator, could certainly be recognized by consumers and researchers alike as a primary catalyst for businesses and individuals to focus on preventive care as one way to mitigate the growing expense of health care services.
February is National Wise Health Consumer Month. The event has been established by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine to give more visibility to the importance of medical self-care and wise consumer programs. The objective of the community-oriented promotion is to instruct individuals, families and businesses in ways to be more involved in their own health care and the care of their employees.
Since most of us who are covered by private insurance plans receive our health care through our employer, business- and industry-sponsored programs can have a direct impact on the fundamental strategies of being a good health care consumer. The benefit to business is a healthier, happier and less-absent workforce while helping to reduce unnecessary use of costly medical services.
From health screenings, nutrition facts, vaccination programs and on-site exercise time-outs to the promotion of successful self-care stories, recreation benefits and preventive medicine tips, business and industry are more routinely inserting themselves into the health and fitness lifestyles of the employees for whom they feel responsible – and who are responsible to them. As one employer quipped, “It just makes dollars and sense!”
Individuals and families, too, are attempting to save trips to the doctor, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses by acting more wisely when making health care decisions. As part of National Wise Health Consumer Month, these 10 tips are offered as a way to reduce cost and improve health.
- Take the time to carefully select a doctor or health care provider.
- Prepare for visits to your health care provider by compiling lists of questions or concerns you wish to discuss during your appointment.
- Ask questions about medications you are prescribed.
- Keep a checklist of all medications you are taking and share this list with your health care provider.
- Be aware of routine medical tests and examinations. You may be able to avoid unnecessary and expensive tests.
- Use home medical tests when available.
- Keep a well-stocked home pharmacy with commonly used medicinal items.
- Understand your health insurance plan.
- Take care of your mental health as well as you would your physical health.
- Keep a list of health agencies handy as a reference.
Experimentation with alternative forms of medical care is also on the upswing. For instance, recent focus group research has suggested that would-be patients are willing to explore options to reduce pain while cutting back on prescription medicines. Chronic sufferers are looking into or at least trying alternative forms of noninvasive medical treatment for which they qualify. Individuals, however, are cautioned to be selective, research licensing and certification of medical providers and use common sense.
An apple a day? Sure, why not? But further individual responsibility in preventive care for one’s self, one’s family and one’s employees can not only help reduce illness, it can save money, too.
(Craig Douglass is an advertising agency owner and partner with Zoe and Ernie Oakleaf in InFocus, LLC, a Little Rock-based focus group research company. Douglass can be reached at Craig@CraigDouglass.com.)