14: Health Care Choices
- Page ID
- 11783
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 14.1: Understanding your Health Care Choices
- This page discusses health literacy as the ability to understand and utilize health information for informed decision-making, highlighting its importance for vulnerable populations. It emphasizes that low health literacy negatively impacts health outcomes and raises healthcare costs. The page underlines the significance of self-care and proactive health management, suggesting that improving health literacy can lead to better health decisions and overall outcomes.
- 14.2: How to Read Health News
- This page stresses the importance of caution in interpreting health-related headlines, as they can often exaggerate or misrepresent research. It encourages critical evaluation of articles by analyzing scientific backing, sample size, control groups, and funding sources. Readers should consider if studies involved humans, accurately addressed health claims, and had robust methodology. With many seeking health information online, reliable sources are emphasized.
- 14.3: Health Care Choices - The Affordable Health Care Act (ACA)
- This page discusses the U.S. healthcare system, divided between public and private sectors, with Medicare and Medicaid as major programs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reformed healthcare by expanding Medicaid, protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and mandating insurance coverage. It included provisions like premium regulations and preventive care coverage.
- 14.4: Health Insurance - Key Terms
- This page emphasizes the importance of understanding essential health insurance terms for informed decision-making when choosing a plan. Key concepts include in-network vs. out-of-network providers, plan types (EPO, HMO, POS, PPO), and costs such as premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, alongside the significance of the out-of-pocket maximum. This knowledge aids individuals in effectively navigating their health insurance options. More information can be found at Healthcare.
- 14.5: Choices in Medical Care
- This page discusses the importance of selecting the appropriate medical professional based on individual health needs, highlighting the roles of Primary Care Practitioners and specialists. Effective communication with providers, the importance of quality health facilities, and the assessment of accreditation and ratings are emphasized. Additionally, the page notes that FDA-approved generic drugs offer cost-effective alternatives to brand-name medications, ensuring safety and efficacy.
- 14.6: Alternative Medical Practices
- This page discusses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which includes non-standard practices like acupuncture and herbal remedies used alongside or instead of conventional treatments. While 38% of U.S. adults utilize CAM, its safety and efficacy remain under investigation. It also highlights health scams targeting older individuals, advertising untested products with false promises of miraculous cures for chronic diseases.
- 14.7: Health Disparity
- This page discusses disparities in the U.S. healthcare system, highlighting how race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender affect health outcomes. Minorities, especially African Americans, suffer from higher disease rates and decreased healthcare quality. Access and treatment inequalities are exacerbated by social determinants such as poverty and education.
Thumbnail: Doctor Talking with a Patient. (Public Domain; National Cancer Institute, an agency part of the National Institutes of Health).