Tips to Maximize Your Health
Author: Erin Incarnati
With a New Year just underway, many of us have our health top of mind. We want to lose weight, eat better and exercise more, all good intentions.
If you have a new insurance carrier or are new to Medicare, you will also want to be on top of your coverage. It is important to pay attention to what is in-network and what is not, what is covered in full and what is not, what your co-pays will be, and that you understand your prescription plan.
New insurance may also bring you the opportunity to choose a new primary care physician. Picking a doctor in-network will usually save you out-of-pocket costs. Your physician can also help you navigate ways to save on prescriptions, including switching to generic drugs whenever possible.
A primary care provider serves as your first line of defense for everyday health issues and can help catch diseases earlier through screening and testing. They can also advise when more treatment options are available.
“Having a primary care physician (PCP) is important because it allows patients to have a doctor that is familiar with their medical history, as well as someone who knows what type of resources are available in the area that patients can utilize,” said Kosta Vergos, DO, family medicine physician at McLaren Flint Community Medical Center. “When looking for a PCP, I think it is important to find someone that you are comfortable discussing your health with, as well as someone who is willing to work through any of the questions that you may have for them.”
Along with a primary care physician, annual physicals are also important, and many employers require their employees to undergo physicals to continue to receive benefits.
“Annual physicals are a good time to make sure that patients are up to date with all their health care screenings, lab work, and immunizations,” said Dr. Vergos. “It is also a good time to review medications as well as make sure all the diagnoses that the patient has are accurate and up to date.”
Your primary care provider can serve as your family’s medical home, being the hub when specialty care is needed. Family medicine providers also offer unparalleled convenience for families, as they see patients of all ages at one location.
“Family medicine physicians don't necessarily have one specific specialty but have a broad knowledge base that allows them to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions,” said Dr. Vergos. “They also know when patients need to see specialists when diseases progress to the point when they require more specialized treatment. Compared to more specialized doctors however, family medicine physicians generally know more about healthcare screening and preventative care. This includes, but it not limited to cancer screening, vaccinations, routine lab work, and other disease monitoring measures. Family medicine physicians are trained to see patients through all stages of life. This includes newborns and children as well as the elderly population and everything in between.”
If you are meeting with a physician for the first time, be sure to come prepared. Bring a current list of medications you are taking and any surgeries or procedures you have had. It can also help to write down your questions ahead of time, so you don’t forget something important you want to ask.
Dr. Vergos also suggests asking if you are due for anything and if you need any future screenings based on your health history.
“Patients should ask questions about different aspects of their health so they can have a better understanding,” said Dr. Vergos. “This includes questions about why they are on certain medications, what certain diagnoses mean, why did they have or need certain procedures, and what they should be doing or not doing based on their health. The more engaged patients are with their health, the better a physician can understand and care for them. Knowing your health history, including what medications you take or have tried, and what, if any, procedures you’ve had performed helps us as physicians direct care and work towards solutions more efficiently.”
As the year progresses, your relationship with your new physician will grow, and your knowledge of your new insurance will, too. In late fall, make it a habit to evaluate the following to get the most benefit from your insurance plan:.
Review Your Deductibles: Deductibles reset at the end of each year, so see where you are at before another New Year begins. If you’ve met your deductible, it’s best to take full advantage of your health plan's services before your deductible resets.
Review Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Balances: If you have an FSA, check to see if any unspent funds will roll over into the New Year.
If you are seeking a new physician, many of McLaren Flint’s primary care providers are accepting new patients; click here to find a doctor near you.