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Consumerism is a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers.
Applied to health care, consumerism seeks to protect the physical and financial well-being of consumers.
Consumerism challenges us to be involved in the decision making process (is this a medical emergency or
can it wait for a doctor’s appointment tomorrow?). It encourages us to weigh the pros and cons
(can I treat this cold with over-the-counter medication or does it require a prescription from my doctor?).
It requires us to take responsibility (does this prescription drug have a generic brand available?).
Health care and health insurance are here to stay, but here are 8 steps you can take to become an advocate
for your health and champion of consumerism.
1. Do your homework. Research health conditions and diseases online or at your local library before your
next doctor’s visit. Arm yourself with information. Learn the terminology related to your condition, so you
can better understand what your doctor is talking about. Be prepared to ask questions and bring a pen and
paper to take notes.
2. Shop around. Next time you need to fill a prescription for yourself or a family member – don’t forget
to shop around. Call local pharmacies and compare prices. You can also save money on prescription medication
if you ask for generic drug options. These simple and proactive steps can save you hundreds and possibly
thousands of dollars over time.
3. Check your calendar. Life is busy, but that’s no excuse to neglect your health. Make a schedule of
your preventative/routine visits. Do the same for your immediate family members. Creating a health calendar
will help prepare your time and your finances to ensure your family meets their routine medical visits.
Preventive care is critical for the early identification of serious conditions.
4. Save money. If you are enrolled in a high deductible health plan, open your health savings account (HSA).
Start contributing to the account and use the tax free money to pay for qualified medical expenses, including
doctor’s visits and prescriptions. You can also use the money in your HSA to cover over-the-counter qualified
medical expenses such as sinus medicine, aspirin, etc...
5. Maximize your discount. If you are not on a copay plan or have not yet met your deductible, you are
obviously concerned about the cost of services you are paying for out-of-pocket. Consider these options
for maximizing your health care discounts:
- Ask your doctor’s office if they provide a discount for paying cash.
- Stay in-network! Make sure you are utilizing in-network medical providers. Your health plan has negotiated rates with designated networks – don’t throw your money away on out-of-network providers.
- Let your doctor send you the bill. Ask your doctor’s office if they will wait and send you the bill after it is has been processed with your health plan. This will ensure you pay the negotiated discount rate and you can avoid the hassles of overpayment and waiting for reimbursement.
6. Check your fuel. The U.S. government just released new standards for a well-balanced diet – how does your
diet measure up? Review the new guidelines at www.healthierus.gov and share this information with your friends and family.
7. Get busy! If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times, but it still doesn’t hurt...you need to exercise.
Exercise is a crucial component to overall health and well-being and is totally in your control.
The USDA Dietary Guidelines suggest 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week.
Start simple -- commit to exercising 3 days this week for 30 minutes.
8. Ask for plan selection tools. Is your insurance provider helping you decide which plan is better for you financially?
Some providers will offer plan selection tools to help match your needs with plan capabilities and quality.
Side-by-side benefit comparison grids and calculators offer an easy way to align preferences, usage patterns and quality
metrics when selecting a health plan. They can help address the complex and competing drivers that affect health plan choice,
covered services, anticipated use, and plan structure. Armed with this tool, you might learn that the traditional
PPO plan would cost $2,500 per year while a high deductible plan would cost only $1550. You could then make an informed
decision about the value of each plan option. Be sure your insurance provider offers plan selection tools.
No one else is going to become an advocate for your health – it’s up to you. Your health is your responsibility.
Start today and put these easy steps into practice to become a champion of consumerism and proactive consumer of health care.
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