Healthy Living - Take Charge of Your Health

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Be a Wise Consumer & Take Charge of Your Health

In recognition of Wise Consumer Health Month, KePRO, the Medicare Peer Review Organization in Pennsylvania, encourages you to take an active role in your health care by working closely with your doctor. The two of you are co-captains of your health care team.

Visits to your doctor or other health care provider are most helpful when you are prepared for your appointment. This preparation may include: (1) bringing a list of questions to your doctor visit; (2) keeping a record of all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take, and being sure to share this with your doctor; and (3) when discussing symptoms, describing your more serious ones first.

When you go for a sick visit, taking care of your sickness may take the whole visit. Preventive health services may get missed. Medicare covers preventive services including the pneumonia vaccine, flu vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine. You can help your doctor provide good care by asking if all your preventive services are up to date.

Finally, if you have problems with a medicine your doctor has prescribed, do not stop taking it. Call your doctor and talk about it. Health is your most valuable asset. You owe it to yourself to take charge of your health.