From the flu to broken bones, illnesses and medical emergencies
seem to be inevitable parts of raising kids. It can be stressful
any time your child needs medical attention, but even more so when
you're worried about where to get that care and how much it
will cost.
About Consumer-Directed Health Care
We have more options for getting health care and paying for it
than ever before. There is a movement toward
consumer-directed health care
, health insurance that is designed to get those who use health
care - like parents - to play a bigger part in keeping costs in
check.
Many different types of consumer-directed health care plans are
available, each with its own benefits and limitations. Many of
these plans feature high deductibles (the amount of money parents
must spend before health care is covered by insurance) as well
as health care savings accounts, which allow parents to save
money to pay for the services that insurance doesn't cover.
Some plans cover preventive care, routine checkups,
vaccines, tests, and regular disease screenings, but others
don't. So when you're choosing health insurance,
it's important to look for a plan that meets your
family's needs.
Navigating the Health Care System
Rising costs and increased variety among health care plans can
make it challenging to find your way in the health care
system. The good news is that making decisions while everyone is
healthy can help reduce the stress and financial strain when
someone in your family does need medical care.
-
Choose your coverage carefully.
Carefully consider your family's health care needs. While
it's impossible to predict sudden illnesses and accidents,
you can anticipate some things. For example, if your child has a
chronic disease (like
diabetes
,
asthma
, and
allergies
) that requires frequent checkups and tests, make sure to pick a
plan that covers them. A representative from the insurer - or
your employer - should be able to answer any questions about
those kinds of issues.
-
Make a medical home.
Try to establish a long-term relationship with a
pediatrician or family doctor who can:
â—Š get to know your family
â—Š provide well care and most of the sick care your child might
need
â—Š keep complete medical records of things like immunizations and
growth
â—Š become familiar with your family's medical history
A doctor who has all this information, and gets to know your
family over time, can better determine when your child is healthy
and developing well and when something is off track.
-
Don't skip checkups.
It's important to keep regular
checkups
even when kids aren't sick - this way, doctors can make
sure they're developing as expected and can catch any health
concerns early so that they don't become expensive and
hard-to-treat medical problems later.
Letting regular check-ups lapse may save time and money in the
short-term, but ultimately might translate into bigger bills
and longer waits at the doctor's office. If parents wait
until kids are really sick to see the doctor, they're likely
to require more intensive - and expensive - medical care. And if
hospitals and doctors have to provide a larger amount of more
expensive care, they'll ultimately have to charge consumers more
to cover their costs.
-
Keep vaccines up to date.
Checkups are especially important so that kids can stay current
on their
immunizations
. In recent years, vaccines have been developed to stem illnesses
like the flu, infantile diarrhea (rotavirus), hepatitis,
meningitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). Parents have more
opportunities than ever to keep kids healthy and safe from
contagious illnesses.
-
Don't delay care.
When kids are sick or injured, it can be difficult to decide
how much medical care they need. Ultimately, if you're unsure
about what medical care your child needs, your doctor - or a
nurse who works in the office - can help you determine what to
do. The important thing is to ask questions before something
turns into an emergency.
-
Check it out before you act on it.
More health and
medical information
is available than ever before - on the Internet, through support
groups, in magazines and newspapers. All that information can be
helpful, but you should never rely on it as a substitute for
medical care or advice given directly to you by a medical
professional. It's important to check out anything you hear
or read that might be relevant to your child's health with a
doctor or nurse before you act on it. He or she can tell you
whether that information is accurate and appropriate, given your
child's health and medical history.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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