Long Term Care Insurance
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Articles & Related Information Consumer Strategies for Good Outcomes © Patricia Foote, April 2001 Note: If you are unable to take on the proactive role of managing your illness, designate someone who is willing to do this for you. • Become the team leader of your medical team. Hire (you are paying) professionals who are competent, communicate well, and compassionate. • Be informed about your condition. Today, with the use of trustworthy sites on the internet such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Library of Medicine, the Genetic Alliance and the National Organization for Rare Disorders, it is easy to find information. This enables consumers to be prepared for doctor visits with a list of intelligent questions and to have information about different treatment options, including clinical trials. • Manage the routines of dealing with your condition: take medications, attend medical appointments. Keep a health history form up to date so that this can be easily sent to new doctors and also for your own ease in remembering what screenings, medications etc. you have had. • Acknowledge the emotions the diagnosis of, or life with, a genetic condition can bring. Recognize fear, anger, depression, frustration, and isolation. Seek professional help if things are really bad or perhaps locate a support group for people with your condition. Find ways to reduce stress that are enjoyable such as walking, reading, listening to music. Be sure to schedule a break for yourself if you are the primary caregiver. • Reach out to friends and family, even if activities
have to be modified. Try to maintain relationships by clear communication.
"I need", "I feel", "I'm afraid of..." • Stay apprised of health insurance issues. For example, what procedures do you need preapproval for, what is your annual deductible, and what is your lifetime cap? • Be aware of privacy issues. Who needs to know the information? If in doubt, don't disclose. • Maintain a positive outlook - an "I can do" attitude. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones - not "why me?" but "what can I do?" • Learn to accept your diagnosis. Integrate the business of living with a chronic condition into your life and seek to move on. Remember you are more than your illness. Accept and understand your "normal" which may include an increased amount of time spent on medical issues and some physical discomfort. It may not always be possible to "win" the fight with a genetic condition - some are terminal. Perhaps the knowledge gained from the battle could be considered precious, and victory a deeper love of those who shared the journey. • Realize that sometimes blessings and insights come from living with a genetic condition. Perhaps you learn to set priorities, to value the use of time, become more empathetic, learn who your true friends are, and take care of unfinished business. Think of all the above in simplified terms: think of the five vowels - those little letters that all words need:
A recent PBS TV special, Critical Condition, stated the following: "The quality of your healthcare depends as much on you as your doctor, on your being informed, on your asking the right questions, on your being your own best advocate. Your life may hang in the balance." We as consumers need to be proactive in our healthcare in order to avail ourselves of the promise of medicine in the 21st century. Patricia Foote is a trainer for Stanford University's "The Chronic Disease Self-Management Course" and is the author of How Are You? Manage Your Own Medical Journey, available from Amazon.com or local bookstores.
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