Healthcare Consumerism
Can lead to better outcomes
The cost of healthcare continues to rise. In the United States 3.5 trillion dollars is spent on healthcare and that is expected to rise to 6 trillion dollars by 2027. This is an increase from around $11,000 per individual per year to $19,000 per individual per year. As the cost goes up the patient is also seeing an increase in their expected out of pocket costs. Over the previous 20 years the CPI for medical care has grown 3.5 percent per year. More expensive service does not always equate to better service and cheaper is not always better. We must approach healthcare as consumers and make logical, rational, and educated decisions about the care we receive.
When your television at home breaks do you go straight to the store and purchase the most expensive or cheapest television available? When you need a new phone do you just go to the store and choose the device that is flashiest, has the prettiest color? If I had to take a guess, I would say that most people probably spend more time researching and comparing televisions, cable packages, and telephones than they do the healthcare provider they use. I know I am annually on the phone with my cable company making sure I have exactly what I need at a price that makes sense, but I do not think I have ever talked with someone at my benefits office.
Let’s think about your car for a moment. A car is similar to the human body, both require maintenance, fuel, and regular checkups to make sure everything is okay. If you were in an accident and had to get your car repaired how would you decide who to go to? Maybe the insurance company recommends a preferred auto body shop, a friend may tell you about their neighbor and the ‘awesome’ work they do. You may even have a local garage a few blocks away. Having many different choices can make the decision process more difficult. Would you research each business and find which would be best? I would hope so. Think about it, if you went to a garage without researching them, they did the work, it was not too expensive, however they messed something up and you have to go back over and over again, were they then the best and most reasonably priced place? The simple answer is no. If you would have researched ahead of time you may have seen reviews about the poor quality of work they provide, or that they are amazing at transmissions but not at body work. Then you could have chosen the best garage that meets your specific needs.
The same idea must be done in regard to healthcare. Just because your neighbor or family member had a great experience with a healthcare professional does not mean you will have the same. Not every physician is perfect for a patient’s specific wants and needs. Maybe you are an individual who wants to be much more conservative in your treatment, or focus on lifestyle changes, maybe you want to get the pill and be ‘done’ worrying. If you take the time to research healthcare facilities and professionals you will be able to read reviews, compare them, and learn about affiliations, certifications, and recognitions.
As the out-of-pocket health care spend continues to rise it is as important than ever to pick the best practice, professional, or facility that fits your needs. This can help you receive the best treatment, which will help to not waste your time or money. You are hiring them to work for you not the other way around. You wouldn’t just leave a kid with a random baby sitter without verifying their credentials and asking at minimum a few questions. They should be willing to address your priorities. Yes sometimes certain conditions or events supersede what you may want, but ultimately they should address it in that way, telling you that they will work with you on what you want but suggest a focus on something else to ultimately make it easier and safer.
You may be wondering how to strategically approach healthcare and how to become a better consumer.
- Think about what you want: What would you like to accomplish health wise? Do you want to treat your condition through medications, lifestyle changes or both? Ask yourself what has worked in the past and what has not.
- Do you research: Taking your understanding of what you would like, what has and has not worked, research who is out there to help you. Make sure they are certified and/or licensed from a reputable governing body. Review what others have said about them, and their philosophies.
- Ask questions: Through your research prepare questions, whether it’s specific about treatment, their background, how they handle specific situations. Remember you are hiring them to work for you not the other way around.
- Remember it is not only about cost, but also the results: An MRI is an MRI no matter where you get it and there can be drastic differences in costs. Child birth is expensive no matter what but going somewhere with a facility with lower rates of complications may reduce the risk of a catastrophic event but also reduce your out of pocket costs. These are the types of considerations we need to be making.
Why do we research our next television or phone, but we will not take time to research a hospital that has a low readmission rate? Why do we vet our mechanic more than the doctor we need to see for our life-threatening condition? By becoming a consumer in your health, you are taking a more active role in receiving the best possible care. By being more active in your health you will have better more rewarding results. Being a consumer is not a bad thing, it’s the way we live our day to day life. Why should the way we treat healthcare be any different?
- https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2019/03/why-are-americans-paying-more-for-healthcare
- https://www.kff.org/medicare/report/medicare-beneficiaries-out-of-pocket-health-care-spending-as-a-share-of-income-now-and-projections-for-the-future/