I’ve been spending a lot of time lately at the doctor’s office. Fortunately, for good reason; I am expecting my second child – soon! I really like my doctor and trust the care that I receive, but every now and then feel that I am at the mercy of their expertise and my lack of a medical degree. This becomes particularly true when dealing with my health insurance company.
Yes, the downside to my numerous doctor visits has been my increased interaction with my insurance company. Only two years has passed since my last pregnancy, but it feels like light years in regards to the changes and complexity of insurance.
What is most striking about this complicated system is that it feels like the onus is all on me. I, the patient, need to be sure to ask all the “right” questions. For good or bad, we can no longer blindly follow doctor’s orders. Before agreeing to any tests or procedures I have to first find out if it is covered by my insurance and then weigh the cost against the potential benefit to me or my baby. This would be a lot easier if we were talking about weighing the choice of car seat or stroller. I would ask friends and family for opinions and diligently read Baby Bargains and Consumer Reports. I would do my homework and as a skilled shopper make a decision. But, I am not a doctor. Being a savvy consumer of my healthcare is totally daunting and yet, totally necessary.
At the same time, I am incredibly grateful that my husband and I both have access to good medical insurance through our employers. We are fortunate to have choices. But even that gets tough as our plans our annually tweaked. As we weighed the pros and cons of each plan on the myriad of spreadsheets my husband designed only one thing became clear – we were comparing apples to oranges. High deductibles vs. monthly premium costs. FSAs vs. HSAs. Each option has risks and it was clear that any choice would affect the way we access our healthcare – how often do we go, when to fill prescriptions, etc. We have to know our plan and wisely navigate our usage. Again, it is our responsibility and it does not always coincide with doctor’s orders.
What bothers me most as I am struggling to understand the health care landscape is that I am one of the fortunate ones. I have access to insurance and the means to afford it. I am educated and have resources around me to get my questions answered. And yet, it is still hard!!! What about those who don’t have access to insurance? Who are not native English speakers? Who don’t have choices of doctors to see? What does the future of health care have in store for them?
I also keep thinking that with more pressure on individuals to navigate their own health care, what happens to the big picture? What does this mean for the overall health and wellness of our community? My health affects others. From the passing of germs as I go about my day to accessing preventative care or taking a sick day from work, my personal health has an impact on those directly and indirectly connected to me.
With all of this in mind, I thought it would be relevant to invite Dr. Josh Riff to be the next speaker at our At the Table lunch series. Dr. Riff is the Medical Director of Target and will present “The Do It Yourself Patient: Alternate Sites of Healthcare Delivery.” He will address how the future of our healthcare system will affect the way in which we access our individual care and how consumer driven healthcare affects the broader community. If you are interested in attending the session, click here.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: health care
