Take control of your healthcare

Question: When you get sent out of town for a healthcare procedure, is it because: (1) your physician’s medical group makes more money, (2) it’s what you signed up for, or (3) it’s not available locally? Answer, it depends. Usually it’s not #3. Quite often it’s a combination of the first two.

Our healthcare system has gotten very complicated and chances are, if you have an HMO your healthcare providers have a capitated payment agreement with them, meaning in part that they send you to contract specialists and facilities.

But alas, you have choices, and now is the time for you to act, as this is the open enrollment period for most health plans.

If you’re not satisfied with your healthcare providers and/or being directed out of town for routine healthcare, diagnostic testing or inpatient hospital services, you can do something about it. You can select a different health plan that supports your healthcare interests over the interests of some medical groups that put their interests first.

This may sound a little inflammatory, but ask yourself this: “Why would I be sent 20-30 miles away for a procedure I can have done locally? Who benefits from this and who suffers?”

If any of this is resonating with you, explore your healthcare options, talk to your physician or another physician about the plan(s) that will best suit your needs.

Stephen Abbott

President

Board of Directors

Fallbrook Healthcare District