Back to school is a busy time, no question. You probably have a long list of to-dos from packing school lunches, to helping with homework and shuttling your kids to after-school activities.
And while it may not be top of mind right now, it’s a smart move to have convenient tools at your fingertips to help you juggle your family’s health care needs.
Here are a few helpful hacks that can help you conquer your family’s health care needs in a flash.
Virtual care
Your kids are probably happy to be back in the classroom with all of their friends, but this also means increased exposure to germs and potential opportunities to get sick. If your child comes down with a fever or cough at bedtime or during the middle of the night, when your doctor’s offices isn’t open, you can use a virtual visit to ‘see’ or speak with the doctor through a video chat, phone call or texting platform.
Many virtual care options, such as MedNow, are available 24/7 with a low cost that may be fully covered by your insurance plan. You can use this tool to connect with a doctor and secure a prescription from the comfort of your own home, on your own time.
Virtual care is a good option for issues such as:
- Allergies
- Back pain
- Bites and stings
- Cough, cold and flu
- Diarrhea
- Ear ache/pain
- Fever
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Nausea/vomiting
- Pink eye
- Rash and hives
- Sinus problems
- Sprains and strains
- Urinary symptoms
After receiving the care at your virtual visit, everything discussed will then be shared with your primary care provider, so your medical records stay up-to-date.
Online immunization trackers
When kids head back to school, often the school requests that your child have up-to-date records of all the immunizations they have received. When juggling the health care for the entire family, it can be difficult to remember if and when your child received all of their immunizations.
Websites such as the CDC and WebMD have online resources that help you keep track of each of your kids’ immunizations, as well as immunizations that your child may still need. You can even opt for email reminders that prompt you to schedule an appointment for your child’s upcoming immunization needs.
When you need copies of your child’s immunization dates, it will be much easier to secure if you keep accurate and up-to-date records that you can access on the go.
Cost Estimator
Did your doctor prescribe tubes for your child’s ears? The cost of this procedure, and many others, can differ based on which facility you choose, even if the quality of the care is the same.
As a parent, saving money where you can is always useful. With tools such as Priority Health’s Cost Estimator, you can research the health care costs of various procedures at numerous health care facilities ahead of time. With just a few clicks, you can calculate the exact amount you’d be expected to pay for medical procedures such as X-rays, lab tests or surgeries. This is especially impactful as people are selecting health insurance plans with higher and higher annual deductibles. Knowing the cost before the care could save you thousands of dollars.
Even during the busy back to school season, don’t let health care get pushed down your to-do list. With these hacks, you can keep your family healthy and save your time and money, a win-win.
