Consumer Health

Consumer Health

Being an active health consumer is an important job. A health consumer is anyone who seeks medical care, or takes prescriptions or over the counter medications to improve or maintain a healthy life. In addition, a health consumer can also make lifestyle choices, such as how much to exercise to get or what kinds of food to consume.

There are many types of health choices a health consumer makes in their lifetime. A health consumer can decide what type of insurance coverage to have. They can choose what type of doctor to see, whether it be a general, a specialist, or even an alternative medicine doctor. A health consumer can decide what path or plan to follow if a diagnosis is given, and choose to accept or decline treatment for that diagnosis. An example would be that a doctor has told a patient she needs surgery, and she can choose whether or not to have the surgery done. Two of the most common choices we all make as health consumers are what types of foods to eat and how much exercise to get.

It is important for patients or health consumers to be knowledgeable about their choices because they need to be able to ask questions about their health concerns. They also need to be able to develop a trustworthy relationship with their doctor, and be an active partner in healthcare decisions with that doctor. Moreover, a health consumer needs to be able to voice their opinions and ideas about the care they are receiving. Finally, they need to know what kinds of care are covered and not covered by their insurance and how much things cost out of pocket.

There are many different terms that apply to health insurance. A premium is a payment, usually due every month, that is made to an insurance company in order to have insurance coverage. It is paid each month, whether the health consumer uses the insurance or not. My dad has our family’s premium payment taken out of each of his paychecks. A deductible is usually a set...