No matter what you think about health care reform – love it, hate it, couldn't care less – one thing is certain. It has brought to light the fact that health care has never worked like other businesses.
Think about buying a car. We spend weeks thinking about which car to buy. Then we do research, and go on test drives. We go online to check quality and safety measures. We ask friends and family for advice about what to buy and what to avoid. We compare prices at local dealerships and online to look for the best deals. After all of that, we buy a car.
But when our family doctor says, "You need surgery," we wait to be pointed in the right direction. We should ask:
- which hospital has the best results?
- what surgeon is the best at this procedure?
- how much of the cost will my health plan cover and how much will I pay?
Armed with information, you can review your choices and make wise decisions.
Being a smart health care consumer means looking at health care as a business. It's in your best interest to be informed about the quality and costs of what you're buying, just like any other purchase you make. Why?
Greater awareness can help you:
- find high quality care
- stay safe
- reduce your costs
If any of those sounds good to you, read on.
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