Be a Savvy Health Care Consumer

Managing your health care, or the care of a loved one, can be overwhelming, especially if complex medical conditions are involved, or the list of providers and prescriptions is long. Here are easy ways to keep it all under control.

• Get organized. “Create a health care binder with the names and contact information for your health insurer, each provider you see, and the pharmacy and lab you use,” says phsycian Mark Brown, medical director at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. He recommends a three-ring binder so you can add and remove pages. Pick one that is brightly colored and label it clearly so it stands out from your other important documents. Include a calendar and extra pages so you can keep a running log of office visits and topics covered.

If you have a family member or trusted friend who assists with health care paperwork or transportation to appointments, show them your binder and explain your record keeping system. It’s good to have backup.

• Get connected. Create a member login for your insurer’s website and download the mobile app if it has one. Establish accounts with each of your providers’ online patient portals. These tools provide easy two-way communication with your care team and allow you to receive email and text reminders about appointments, screenings, and even lab results. Store the usernames and passwords in your binder.

“Make sure your providers are connected with each other by consenting to Rochester RHIO (Regional Health Information Organization),