Who’s in charge here? It is your responsibility to get the appropriate screenings at the appropriate time based on your age, gender, race, risk factors and family history. If your doctor does not offer the tests, ask for them. You’re the one who ultimately pays — in poor health.
*Frequency and starting age will differ by risk factors. For instance, if you have prostate cancer in your family, you will probably start screening at age 40 or 45. For more information, click here. A detailed list of screening tests Sources: American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, |
Looking for reliable sources of health information? Here are a few... |
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For a tutorial on evaluating health information on the Internet, click here. |
Inherited risks
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There are several diseases that run in families and are passed down from generation to generation. A family history does not guarantee an illness; it raises the odds. Examples of inherited diseases are:
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Risk factors |
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Another good reason to visit the dentist |
Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research |
Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week is May 8 – 14. |
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Get screened for head and neck
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The ABC’s of health insurance
HMO, PCP, PPO, POS — feel like you’re wading through alphabet soup? Read on for translations of common terms.
• Health maintenance organizations (HMO) require you to choose a primary care physician (PCP), who coordinates all of your care, including visits to specialists.
• Preferred provider organizations (PPO) let you make your own choices from a network of preferred providers (in some plans, you can pay a higher fee for out-of-network care) and may not require you to have a primary care physician.
• Point-of-service plans (POS) let you choose between receiving care from participating providers (you’ll be reimbursed more for this), or non-participating providers(you’ll be reimbursed less for this).
Some plans offer lower premiums (monthly payments) in exchange for a higher yearly deductible (the amount you must pay personally before insurance provides any coverage). Some plans require co-pays, a set fee you pay for health care visits or medications. Others ask you to pay co-insurance, which means you’re responsible for a portion (20 percent, for example) of eligible expenses charged by a provider or the amount the insurer agrees to pay for specific services.
Many plans require preauthorization or precertification for certain services, such as surgery or visits to a specialist. Some pick up the tab on preventive care services, such as flu shots, cholesterol tests, or colonoscopy. Most have formularies that list pre-approved, commonly prescribed drugs.
You won’t learn the answer if you don’t ask the question
Below is a list of questions you should always ask when
the situation arises:
1. What is the test for? 2. How many times have you done this [procedure]? 3 .When will I get the results? 4. Why do I need this surgery? 5. Are there any alternatives to surgery? |
6. What are the possible complications? 7. Which hospital is best for my needs? 8. How do you spell the name of that drug? 9. Are there any side effects? 10. Will this medicine interact with medicines that I’m already taking? |
For additional questions to ask, click here.
Any questions? Click here.