Every woman I know loves her annual visit to the lady-doctor. After all, there's nothing more fun than your yearly gynecological exam, right? Let's be honest, climbing into those stirrups is rarely anyone's favorite time of year, so let's talk about how to make the most out of your annual exam.
Read MoreThanks to the Affordable Care Act, access to health insurance is easier than ever before in our country's history. Every single one of us should have health care (and are legally required to do so). There are a lot of "shoulds" in this world, and it is important to let go of some of them. Having health insurance is not a "should" to let fall by the wayside, and no one knows this truth more than an uninsured person looking at a bill from the emergency room.
Read MoreCall it what you will: a physical, a check-up, or a wellness exam. If you've got health insurance, your plan is required to cover one wellness visit per year. The trick about these physical exams is that their scope is very limited - if you refill a prescription or ask your doctor a detailed diagnostic question, it may be billed as a different type of visit, resulting in a hefty medical bill in your mailbox. Let's talk about the do's and don'ts of your annual check-up.
Read MoreDid you know that your medical bills are (somewhat) negotiable? This is not to say that you get to decide how much you want to pay. However, with a bit of preparation and knowledge, you can ensure that you are not being overcharged for your visit.
Read MoreInsurance shminsurance. You paid your premium, you're done, right? Not if you're wearing your Health Avocate Hat! Understanding a few basic terms around your health insurance can take a lot of stress out of your life, particularly in relation to the documents you receive from your insurance company. While learning how to read documentation can sound a bit boring, doing so will not only make you a better health advocate, but can also save you money.
Read MoreTo be an effective health advocate for yourself or others, approach health care as business. After all, health care in the United State is business: we pay for services, and profit is involved.
With any business, there are basic rules of interaction. For example, when you wear shoes and a shirt to a restaurant at lunchtime, someone takes your order and brings you food. Learning the operating rules for health care, and how to work with them to meet your goals, is at the core of health advocacy.
Read MoreA health advocate is a person who campaigns actively to protect and support patient's rights in health care situations.
Ideally, all health care providers have the time and desire to advocate for each and every one of their patients. In reality, this is not always the case. I recommend that you walk into every medical situation expecting that you will need to be your own #1 health advocate.
Read MoreTreat yourself or a valued member of your community to care at our clinic.
Laura McKinley Acupuncture
Queer-owned | Woman-owned | Established 2015
3401 Quebec Street, Suite 4500
Denver, CO 80207
720.583.5785
