Guide Overview

Seminar Goals

It’s no secret that seeking medical care keeps getting more and more expensive. The inflation rate for medical care costs is about twice the inflation rate for the rest of the economy. What does this mean for you, the consumer? You pay more for your own medical care. Some ways you do this is through increased deductibles, co-payments, and premiums. Also, services that were once covered through your insurance company may no longer be paid for. Knowing when and how to take care of common health conditions on your own can help you save money.  Some of the costs associated with unnecessary doctor visits are:

• Physician office expense

• Lab cost, amount of co-pay or deductible

• Cost of travel

• Cost of time off work

It can also save you time. How much time do you normally spend in the waiting room at your doctor’s or health care provider’s office?

What kind of medical consumer are you? The medical consumerism continuum can help you answer this question. On one end of the continuum, we have a passive, uninformed consumer. One the other end, we have an active, informed consumer. Make a mental note on this line as to where you would place yourself.

Some of the characteristics of an active, informed consumer include:

• Asks questions

• Comes with a checklist of things to discuss

• Lives a healthy lifestyle

Some characteristics of a passive, uninformed consumer include:

• Doesn’t ask questions

• Doesn’t follow good health practices