A Role for Everyone:
Online Resources:
Consumers
Information, tools and resources.
Family Health Budget
Find out what you really spend on health care and create a budget moving forward.
Medline Plus
A comprehensive source of information from the U.S. national Library of Medicine.
Wellness Information Zone
Comprehensive health information and resources.
America’s Health Insurance Plans
The national organization representing health insurance providers.
What Can Consumers Do?
View real-world examples of change for consumers »
Get Involved!
Submit your ideas to the Innovation xChange »
summary
People can have more control over their health care by becoming active consumers, assessing health risks and budgeting for health care.
The health care industry has never had a consumer focus because it has never had to. Patients used to be, well, just patients. Insurance companies told them which doctors to see Doctors in turn told people what pills to take and how to take care of themselves. Not anymore. Patients have become consumers.
Now, they want to shop for coverage specific to their needs. They want to finance their health care in innovative, cost-effective ways. And they want to maintain health, youth, appearance and vitality—well, indefinitely. That’s why observing, understanding and listening to consumers is no longer enough. That’s why it’s time for a change—now.
Be An Active Consumer, Not a Passive User
Demand simplicity, transparency and guidance, not just from your physician, but from your health care plan as well. Know what’s covered and what’s not. Be skeptical. Question your physician each time you visit the office. Did you know that 45% of Americans get the wrong care? Don’t be one of them.
Take a Health Assessment
Did you know that 75% of major illnesses are caused by behavior? If your Dad has heart disease, you can’t control that. But you can put extra care into preventive steps to help keep your heart healthy…like watching what you eat and exercising. Understanding how your daily habits and your family history affect your health gives you power.
Budget For Health Care
Health care costs keep going up. Get back some control by creating a health care budget. Doing a budget helps you get a better sense of what you spend regularly—such as for checkups, vaccinations, or routine prescriptions. And you can always pad your budget for sudden expenses you can’t foresee. The Family Health Budget tool at www.familyhealthbudget.com can steer you through the process.
Know Where To Go For Help
Find a Web site that can answer most of your health questions and bookmark it. That way, every time you need answers, you know where to go. Having an objective source of reliable information can really put your mind at ease when you have questions about health. www.medlineplus.com or www.wellnessinformationzone.org are great places to start.
