Health Care in 2009 has changed.
With the world spinning as rapidly as it does, you may not have noticed that health care in 2009 has changed from even two years ago. Remember when we used to complain that HMOs restrict
ed doctors to 20 minute visits. In 2009, the average doctor spent only 8 minutes with the average patient. Toss this into the equation, your health care is spread out. You have a Primary Care Physician. You may have a nutritionist in another office across town. Maybe it is a dermatologist three towns over, or an oncologist a good two hour drive at the big university medical center. If you look at your health care in 2009, it is more diffuse, shorter in length and more expensive. It is enough to make any Frugal Yankee frustrated, but there are steps you can implement.
Health Care in 2009 is all about staying healthy. Prevention is a key to keeping you out of the medical industry and saving money. The insistent beating of the same drum - eat well and exercise should also include sleep well. Eating poorly will lower your immune system, probably add weight and cost more. Yes, eating processed products, fast foods and too much meat will cost you both in the pocket book and in the belly. Exercise may not be as daunting as imagined. A little as 20 minutes of brisk walking three times a week will enhance your health. You don't have to do a marathon. Just consistent, mildly aerobic exercise. Your health care in 2009 must include understanding the importance of sleep. Regular bed times and regular wake up times help your body regulate itself and stay healthy. There is even evidence that now suggests going to bed early will help you lose weight. Sleep is vital.
But even if you manage the prevention side of health care, illness does occur. The diffuse nature of the medical industry makes it more and more difficult to get a good handle on it. Communication, despite all the technological advances of 2009, between the various parts of your care, is spotty. No one is taking responsibility. Many well meaning people try, but breakdowns occur with scary regularity. This necessitates the patient or someone in the family becoming the case manager. One easy way to make this function easily is to buy a daily planning book. Every day you can track statistics like blood pressure or glucose levels, or certain pains. It is also a good place to write questions. Then when you have a doctors appointment, the questions are there. At the same time, when the doctor is explaining something, you can write it down.
There are some other tips for making your health care in 2009 effective. Understanding your health ins
urance, negotiating with providers and shopping for prescriptions are just a few of them. Please check our other medical blogs Ten Medical Tips, Ten Best Medical Websites and our recent video report on NE Cable News for more information. Remember the old cliché, "A taste of your own medicine'? In 2009, your health is too important to leave it to well-meaning, but over worked people. In 2009, everyone should own their medicine. Everyone should actively participate. If they do, they will save and more importantly, stay healthy.
Looking for more info? Try our RECOMMENDED MEDICAL SITES page.
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From traditional tips to savvy perspectives, the Frugal Yankee knows how to enjoy life and spend less. Find out more by going to FrugalYankee.com. While you're there, sign up for the Frugal Yankee Newsletter, tips, factoids, jokes and more. Garen is now on Twitter with posts several times a day. Be sure to check out Hollywood Breakdown in Gather's Movie Essential for some smart takes on the film business.
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Comments: 10
As I'm one of the UNinsured, I know the importance of being careful.
Oh, on taking our Aunt to Dr's - one told her she had two months to gain 20 lbs, (never weighed her), went back to the primary and he agreed, but he'd never weighed her either, so I told him that - he didn't believe me and looked through all of her files (on his computer), blushed bright red and did a weight on her, but it was the only time he ever did it.
Didn't that used to be a normal part of going to the Dr's?
Marilyn
It's a very sad statement of the condition of things when the only way a company can make it's profit is by paying it's employees such a low wage, the employee cannot even begin to afford to purchase the products of it's own employer, or have to budget so tightly, to afford the basics of life, like food, clothing, shelter.
In my life's experience, it is a living wage that is much more important, than any other thing, if one is to pay ones own way in this system.
I'd like the single payer health coverage, but a lot of even that would depend on the particulars.
Would I really even be able to afford this, after the fees are deducted from my below a living wage pay?
That was also my experience in the U.S. Regardless of what anyone has heard about Canadian medical care, in my experience the average visit to an M.D. here is about 30 minutes and quite thorough. Since the care is not profit driven, the doctor can concentrate on why they went into the field in the first place...people.
There are a couple of take aways form all this. 1) we better stay healthy and 2) lets hope Washington finally gets its act together and help regular folks with this increasingly tough burden.
((( The best tip is staying fit! My Motto...Thank you for the wonderful write! )))