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SECTION I: Be Involved in Your Healthcare - Be Active in Your Healthcare
What other steps should I take to be more active in my healthcare?
- Be Prepared for Medical Appointments (from AHRQ):
- Did your clinician give you a prescription?
- Are you scheduled to have medical tests?
- Are you choosing a hospital?
- Are you choosing long-term care?
- Click HERE to view the entire brochure
- Know that "more" is not always better, concerning tests or treatment-ask:
- Why is the test or treatment needed?
- How can the test or treatment help you?
- If you have a test, do not assume that no news is good news
- Get the results
- If you have not heard from your doctor's office, call for the results
- If you have to go to the hospital:
- Ask your doctor which hospital he would choose for him/herself and a family member? Why?
- Check with the hospital you have chosen to see if they accept your insurance. If you do not have insurance, what kind of payment arrangement can be made?
- Know your health insurance rules and requirements:
- Does your health insurance plan pay for all tests or treatments?
- Some plans may require pre-certification or prior approvals
- How much does the test or treatment cost?