health care

*This article was originally published on 9/3/2017 and was updated on 1/29/2022 When I became a caregiver to my dad, I quickly realized that I was not going to be able to keep all of his medical information in my head. After years of packing my brain with medical facts, I began to feel I

*Please note that this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. You should always use your best judgment and the advice of your personal physician or another licensed healthcare professional when deciding when and where to seek medical care.*   Years ago, there were very few options for

It’s hard to believe, but 2018 is almost a wrap! I know this is the season for holiday celebrations, self-reflection, and goal-setting, but as a professional health advocate, I am always thinking about your health. Here are my top 4 healthcare tips as you prepare for 2019.       Many individuals underestimate the value

If you have insurance through your job, your open enrollment season has likely ended and you have chosen (actively or passively) a health insurance plan for 2018. Congratulations! Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment season is winding down and I am sick and tired of reviewing insurance plans. My husband and I have less than

Part 3 of a 3-Part Series in recognition of Health Literacy Month   I’m the parent of a strong-willed, teenaged daughter. Since she was a very young child, she’s always wanted to know the “why” behind just about everything, including the many directives issued by me and her dad. While this can sometimes be exasperating,

Part 2 of a 3-Part Series in recognition of Health Literacy Month Imagine being placed behind the wheel of a brand new car. Sounds really nice, right? Now imagine you are only 13 years old, you haven’t taken a single driver’s education class, and you have no idea what to do. Unfortunately, this is often

Part 1 in a 3-part series in recognition of Health Literacy Month   Before I became a caregiver for my dad, I had only peripheral knowledge of his medical challenges. I remember getting frustrated with him during conversations about his declining health. I would ask about his most recent visit with his primary care doctor

Less than 4 weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia’s new policy to deny Emergency Room visits later determined not to have been an emergency. At the end of last month, it was reported that Anthem, the parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has implemented

There are two extremes among my family and friends–those who go to the Emergency Room for paper cuts and those who would wait until their pinky finger was literally hanging by a “thread” before seeking medical care. I say this in jest, to some extent, but we all know people who fit into one or

Have you ever heard the saying, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you?” It’s sometimes used to glorify the “ignorance is bliss” mentality. The idea is that we can’t worry about issues if we don’t know about them. It is also used to justify lying by omission, the act of leaving out “small details” to