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Getting Sick Away from Home

Closeup Of Caring Mother Holding Head On Sick Daughter ForeheadAs we celebrate the Thanksgiving this week and more holidays in the coming month, many of us are traveling to be with family and friends. Long car rides, airplane trips, and holiday activities can unfortunately tire us, run us down, and make us sick. Plus all those cousins and friends you don’t see very often may unknowingly gift you with germs. So what should you do if you get sick away from home?

If you or your family get sick away from home, call your doctor. He or she can help you decide the best course of action and whether you need to see a doctor where you are currently staying or if it can wait until you get back home and can see your doctor.

When possible, call the doctor before the holiday. If Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or any other holiday is coming up and you feel the first signs of illness, go ahead and call your doctor now. It could be harder to reach a doctor on the holiday or the eve of the holiday when the office is closed but your illness is in full force. Calling your doctor early could prevent a costly holiday trip to the emergency room or urgent care.

Remember, too, that illness may begin before for you travel. Prior to leaving, assess how you are feeling and take action. Do you need to see your doctor? Do you need an antibiotic? Is your child getting an ear infection? Address any concerns before you leave so you’ll be prepared while away from home. And make sure to bring your doctor’s contact information with you.

Getting sick can ruin your holiday and while it may be unavoidable, being aware and having a plan can make handling illness on the road easier.

Be aware and proactive and you’ll be able to handle an illness during holiday travel.

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One Question Could Save You from Unexpected Medical Bills

Mother and baby in home officeYou’re scheduling an appointment with a doctor. It could be a well visit or one to discuss a particular concern. You’ve agreed upon a time and asked whether the doctor accepts your insurance. You’re all set, right?

Maybe not. Many doctor’s offices will accept your insurance even though they don’t participate in your insurance plan. The doctor may not have signed a contract with your insurance company agreeing on a total charge for the visit. This means your insurance may not cover the visit as you are expecting. It may cover a smaller than normal amount and you’ll be stuck with bills to pay the difference.

You can avoid a situation like this by asking a different question. When you call to schedule your appointment ask if the doctor “participates” in your insurance plan.

“Do you participate in my insurance plan?” This question could save you a ton of money.

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It is also important to recognize that some doctor’s offices are very large and have a number of doctors in the facility. If you have a specific doctor that you want to see, make sure your particular doctor and the office as a whole participate in your insurance plan. For instance, if you have Medicare or Medicaid some doctors in your practice may accept those, while others in your practice do not.

Avoid unexpected medical bills by ensuring that your doctor and the doctor’s office participate in your insurance. All it takes is the right question: “Do you participate in my insurance plan?”

Would you like to make empowered healthcare choices? Get started with the free MyHealthSpin Toolkit. Filled with free ebooks, workbooks, and videos, you will be able to spin your healthcare your way. GET YOUR TOOLKIT NOW 

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How to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday

Multi Generation Family On Countryside WalkLast Wednesday we held a webinar on 7 Strategies to Keep Your Family Healthy this Holiday. Thank you to everyone who attended. We are thrilled with your interest and participation.
We received a lot of great questions and, due to time limits, we were not able to answer all of them. So as we promised, here are some of your questions and the answers:
1. Do you have to go through your employer to get a Health Savings Account?
ANSWER: No, anyone can set up a Health Savings Account. To qualify, you must be under 65 years old and have high-deductible health insurance.
2. When should I get my flu shot?
ANSWER: Flu season runs from October to May, so the best time to get your flu shot is early fall.
3. What should I do if I think one of my relatives is depressed during the holidays?
ANSWER: Encourage them to see a therapist. Depression is a serious disease that should be handled by medical professionals. If you think your relative just has a case of the “holiday blues,” let them know you are there for them if they want to talk. Encourage them to exercise and get enough sleep. If they are stressed, offer to help in the kitchen, or help watch their kids, run last minute errands, and so on.
4.  How can I help my loved one in an assisted living facility celebrate the holiday?
ANSWER: There are many ways to celebrate with your loved ones in assisted living facilities. If they are unable to come to your celebration, bring some holiday cheer to them. Bring family photos and mementos, decorate Christmas cookies, watch their favorite Christmas movie with them. For my father, I had a special “small” Christmas tree decorated for his room. If the facility they live in is too far away, try Skyping or FaceTiming them and don’t forget to send a thoughtful Christmas card!
5.  How do I enroll in Medicare?
ANSWER: You may be automatically enrolled. If you are, you will get your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. You will need to sign up if you are not getting Social Security or RRB benefits or if you live in Puerto Rico. Apply online at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare/apply.html, visit your local Social Security office, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. 
Please continue to send us your questions. We will be scheduling more webinars soon. I’d love to hear from you!
To learn more about your healthcare, please subscribe to MyHealthSpin.com and receive a FREE copy of my toolkit which includes 2 free ebooks and lots of great information.