You are in charge of your own body, so you deserve a leadership role in your healthcare decisions.
Healthcare is a team effort. The team could be made up of your primary care professional, specialists, pharmacists, mental health professionals, and, of course, you. They bring their medical expertise. But you are the expert on your body and life experiences.
People who take the lead tend to have better treatment outcomes and more positive feelings about their care,
As a Veteran, you have unique healthcare needs, so you should feel empowered to speak up if you feel like your healthcare team isn’t hearing you or addressing your concerns. But it’s not always easy to let your voice be heard in a healthcare setting, especially if you have unique needs.
Below, we cover some ways to advocate for yourself in a healthcare setting.
In a healthcare setting, you have many rights as a patient, including:
- the right to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect
- the right to express any personal, religious, or cultural beliefs that should influence your care
- the right to be informed about the risks and benefits of treatment
- the right for you or someone you designate to decide if or when to end treatment
You can also take an active role in your own care by understanding your VA healthcare benefits.
In addition to learning about care and benefits you are eligible to access at the VA, get familiar with assistance you may be eligible for from an employer’s insurance plan, or government programs like Medicare or Medicaid, as they can also help with pharmacy costs, transportation, meals, and more.
Healthcare visits can go by in a flash. To ensure you get what you need from appointments, it helps to prepare to advocate for yourself. Here’s how:
And remember, communication is a two-way street. If anything a healthcare professional says is unclear, ask them for…
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