The best advocate for your health is you, and the more time you invest in incremental care means better health overall and lower medical costs. Incremental care is about making your health a habit and keeping up with it regularly to prevent and treat conditions. An important step in this direction is the relationship you have with your health, budget, and insurance.
The key to great care is developing a relationship with your doctor so you can get the most out of your healthcare. Primary care physicians are the gateway to the medical world because they are the first person there to help guide you through the healthcare system. Primary care doctors manage patient’s health and have worked together to solve and regulate any health bumps along the road. This builds up a history of working together and trust between you and your doctor. Studies show that the more incremental care you receive, the more likely you are to visit your doctor and prevent serious health problems from becoming debilitating. This is an invaluable money, time, and health saver.
A great relationship with your doctor is also partly founded on the ability to pay for services. When you are shopping around for insurance services there are a few things to consider. Start with how your health is doing. Do you have chronic conditions, or do you generally go once a year for a checkup. If you need to see a doctor more often, then consider plans with higher premiums so you can budget your needs and pay less out of pocket for the frequent visits. If you rarely go to the doctor consider a high deductible health plan (HDHP), which pays out of pocket for services and offers preventative visits free of charge. An HDHP comes with a Health Savings Account (HSA) to help you save money and offset the cost of your medical expenses, further helping you budget.
Keep in mind there is also the benefit of supplemental insurance. If you plan ahead or know what your health care usage will be like, a supplemental plan like disability insurance when you’re pregnant or cancer insurance can help cover costs where your core health plan does not. Supplemental insurance is an added safety net that helps offset the cost of big health insurance costs and their repercussions.
Get the most out of your insurance by investing in your health. So remember to use your benefits, get to know your doctor, and plan for a healthy future.