health-care shortcuts
Get Dentalplans.com Coupon Here
Take the headache out of dealing with doctors and insurance companies. These time-saving strategies will get you on the fast track.
QUICK AND EASY are two words not usually associated with health care. Just trying to get a convenient doctor’s appointment can be an ordeal (hello, endless loops of Muzak while on hold for the receptionist). But it’s possible to save time and hassle when dealing with physicians, pharmacies, and even insurance companies–plus get great care to boot–by being a little savvy. The trick isn’t to act like a squeaky wheel. (In fact, complaining to the front desk about how long you have been waiting may actually land you at the back of the line.) “The key to quicker service is knowing how to navigate the systems,” says James King, M.D., board chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Here, learn smart tactics for resolving your most frustrating health-care woes.
THE PROBLEM
You can’t afford to waste hours in the waiting room.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
See an open-access doctor.
Some physicians have started offering their patients same-day appointments instead of scheduling weeks or months in advance. This discourages double booking and unclogs wait time, says Davis Liu, the author of Stay Healthy, Live Longer, Spend Wisely: Making Intelligent Choices in America’s Healthcare System (Stetho Publishing, $25) and a physician in Sacramento, California, who uses this system in his practice.
Fill out forms beforehand.
Ask the office to fax or e-mail any forms a few days before your visit. Bring them with you to the appointment, completed.
Avoid the busiest times.
Nab the first appointment of the day. “We tend to start on schedule,” says King, “but get behind because it’s impossible to predict how much time each patient will need.” Another good option? The first appointment after lunch. Days to avoid: Mondays, Fridays, and the days before and after holidays.
Call ahead.
Most receptionists are happy to tell you if the doctor is on time and, if not, how much later you should arrive. And if you do get stuck in a packed waiting room, it’s OK to ask if you have time to run an errand without losing your place.
THE PROBLEM
You have a question for your doctor but don’t have an appointment.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
Speak to your doctor’s nurse or the physician’s assistant.
You’re more likely to get one on the phone quickly. He or she may be able to answer a routine question for you or relay it to the doctor and call back with a response. Be sure to give instructions that it’s OK to leave a message on your voice mail or with a person answering your phone, advises Liu. Privacy laws prevent doctors’ offices from leaving messages with others unless authorized.
Ask if you can e-mail.
Some doctors like to correspond with patients via computer, while others prefer not to out of concerns for patient privacy or fears that an emergency will be missed. The receptionist can tell you if this is a good way to contact your doctor and, if so, approximately how long it will take for her to get back to you.
THE PROBLEM
Staying on top of insurance-claim forms is exhausting.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
Create a master sheet for each family member.
Fill in a blank form with all the basic information (name, address, birth date) and make several copies. Then, when you need to file a claim, just sign and date a copy and attach the doctor’s portion. Many insurance companies will even allow you to submit claims by fax, so you don’t have to search for an envelope or find time to go to the post office.
Be sure your claim is complete.
Missing details can cause the insurance company to bounce a form back to you. Check that your doctor’s statement includes his tax-identification number. “When a physician leaves this off, it may slow processing of the claim,” says Mary McElrath-Jones, a spokesperson for United Healthcare. And make sure the billed amount is itemized if there were multiple charges.
Enlist tracking software.
Often, even after careful reading, your insurance company’s explanation-of-benefits letter may not explain much at all. A product that helps: Quicken Medical Expense Manager ($50 for Windows only, quickenmedical.com). With a little information from you, it will check your reimbursements, deductibles, and flexible-spending account. And if you’ve been shorted, it will create a customized dispute letter for the insurance company.
THE PROBLEM
You need to fill a prescription and don’t want to wait at the pharmacy.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
Make sure the pharmacy has your current insurance information.
“Incorrect data is the biggest time drain at pharmacies,” says Kristen Binaso, a registered pharmacist and a spokesperson for the American Pharmacists Association. “If you wait until pickup time to inform the pharmacist that you have a new insurance card, it could add an extra 15 to 20 minutes per prescription.”
Ask if your doctor e-prescribes.
Many doctors are subscribing to services that transmit prescriptions from a computer or a PDA to a pharmacy, cutting down on time and errors. Or ask your doctor to call the prescription into the pharmacy directly.
THE PROBLEM
You have an uncomfortable ailment, and your doctor can’t fit you in for a week.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
See the nurse or the physician’s assistant.
These professionals work under the guidance of the doctor and can treat simple problems. Some are even able to write prescriptions.
Head to a walk-in clinic.
No appointment is necessary at convenient-care clinics, which are popping up in retail stores and pharmacies across the country. They are generally staffed by nurse-practitioners and may be open every day. Most visits take 15 minutes or less and are typically covered by insurance. “These clinics are ideal for minor problems, checkups, and adult vaccinations,” says King. “But you should always go to your own physician for continuing care of a serious or chronic condition.” To find a clinic, log on to ccaclinics.org or call your local pharmacy.
THE PROBLEM
You need to go to the ER and get treatment stat.
TIME-SAVING SOLUTIONS
Call your primary-care doctor before you go.
She can call the emergency room to let them know you’re coming, explain what kind of care you’ll need, and order tests ahead of time. “Of course, if it’s a true emergency, don’t waste time tracking down your doctor,” says King. “Call 911 immediately.”
Be prepared.
Every ER’s triage system ensures that the sickest are treated fastest, and there’s no way around it. “But having certain information can speed your treatment once you are seen,” says Nicholas Jouriles, M.D., president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. First, always carry your insurance card. Also keep a card in your wallet that lists all your doctors’ contact info and all your current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, and dosages. “If you can, take along the herbal-supplement bottles,” says Jouriles. “I like to check the ingredients to safeguard against drug interactions.” In addition, bring a personal-health record with all your medical info. This will save time and help prevent treatment errors. Create a free one at medem.com (click on “For Patients,” then “Create an iHealthRecord”). Once complete, it can be printed out and saved online.
[BOX]
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
| MyDentalWebsite.com |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
|
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
You have the freedom to choose from many quality discount dental plans. There is sure to be a plan to fit your needs and the needs of your family. There are no sign up fees, no claim forms and no deductibles. Join online instantly and start saving today! |
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
