Honestly, I have no idea what is covered and not covered in my health insurance. I’m sure that not many of us know this either. After review the contents of this week’s lecture, I still have a vague understanding of the financial aspect of health, what it covers and how to assess patients for any financial barriers.
Overall, I do understand the basics of asking financial questions in regards to what type of income the patient is receiving and how this impacts their ability to pay for health services and how it determines quality of to maintain health after an acute exacerbation of an illness.
Due to the sensitivity of asking a person for their financial status can be uncomfortable and perhaps rather rude situation. In order to ask about a patient’s financial status without being intrusive and overly overwhelming, perhaps presenting these questions in a non threatening and very standardized way such as one would ask every one.
During my simulation with my standardized patient, I had the opportunity to assess that rather quickly; however, my patient appeared to have been financially stable. Feedback that was received during my simulation was to not ask too many questions as financial status wasn’t pertinent to my patient. However, if the pertinent questions are not asked about financial status; how can you really assess a patient for any financial barriers. If you don’t ask, you won’t know, and people dont voluntarily tell you their financial status, so how do you ask in the most appropriate way?
Honestly, that is the question in which I hope to answer during this week’s lecture.
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