Going to the doctor is a stressful feat for many people. Between anxiety around the state of their health, noncompliance with a recommended course of treatment or just a lack of time, people don’t like seeing their doctor. One study showed that one-third of Americans report that they avoid going to the doctor. Yikes!
Another reason for avoidance is the feeling of a lack of control around health care and options. Some health plans limit the types of care that are covered and many people don’t go to the doctor simply to avoid an unexpected medical bill. Good news: there is a way — and good reason — to take charge of your health! We’ll talk through why it’s important to schedule (and keep) regular appointments with your primary care physician.
Finding problems early
A lot has changed over the past several decades. Rather than waiting until the advanced stages of disease and illness, people have the ability to become empowered about their health. By Preemptively visiting your doctor for routine check-ups, you can enjoy the benefits of preventive care and use screenings and lab work to nip health problems in the bud.
Limit risk of complications by monitoring existing conditions
If you are managing a chronic or an existing condition, seeing your doctor for routine check-ups is essential to keep a handle on your health. Whether it’s high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or another condition, support from your primary care physician can keep you healthier and make you more comfortable. Your primary care physician will create a treatment plan for your unique needs — and help you stick to it.
Reduce healthcare costs over time
Health spending per person in the U.S. hit $10,224 in 2017, so it’s not hard to see why people might avoid going to the doctor. No one wants to get saddled with that kind of medical debt and it’s easy (though misguided) to assume that avoiding the doctor means avoiding medical bills. Actually, the opposite is true.
Unfortunately, almost half of Americans say they don’t see a doctor when they feel sick or injured, mostly due to concerns about finances. This leads to negative consequences; delaying or avoiding care not only impacts the quality of care, but also leads to less desirable outcomes and increased cost of care.
A better doctor-patient relationship leads to more efficient treatment
The more you see your primary care physician for routine check-ups, the more familiar that doctor becomes with you and your medical history. This doctor-patient relationship is incredibly important. While patients are a little hesitant, many doctors believe this deeply and have changed from a fee-for-service model to a Direct Primary Care (DPC) model.
DPC is solely focused on the doctor-patient relationship. Patients pay a monthly (or quarterly or annual) fee that covers routine check-ups, lab work, certain screenings, clinical services, and other consultations. Rather than spending time dealing with insurance company red tape, doctors spend more time with patients and are incentivized to provide the highest level of care.
Decent makes routine check-ups free
Yep, you read that headline correctly. Both our Pathfinder and a Trailblazer silver plan offer free primary care. That means you get unlimited access to your DPC doctor and pay $0 out-of-pocket. You can access care via same or next-day appointments, telemedicine (video calls), and 24/7 phone, texting, and email support. You can kiss anxiety about hidden fees and surprise bills goodbye.
We believe strongly in the doctor-patient relationship and want to make it as easy as possible for you to get the care you deserve. Worried your primary care physician isn’t in our network? Don’t sweat it. Just send us their contact info and we’ll do our best to get them into our network.
Get your free quote today to see if one of our plans might be right for you.
