A recent report shows that about 8.5% of the American population doesn’t have health insurance. Even those who have health insurance find themselves paying close to $5,000 in premiums alone.
If you’re waiting for healthcare to be cheaper before you see the doctor, you’ll be waiting a long time! Instead of waiting, you need to learn how to maximize your healthcare budget by prioritizing what doctors are a must-see.
Read on to learn about four types of doctors that deserve your money.
1. Primary Care Physicians
A primary care physician is usually the first medical professional you’ll see when you’re having some type of issue. For instance, let’s say one day you wake up and notice your right-hand is tingly and numb.
You’d first visit your primary care doctor to explain your symptoms. From there, it’s like your primary care physician would recommend you to a specialist who can take a closer look at what’s causing your problem.
Other times the primary care physician will be the only medical professional you’ll need to see to help with a healthcare issue. For instance, let’s say you have a respiratory infection. You’d likely only need 1 trip to your primary care physician to get a prescription for a medication that can help.
Regular Doctor Check-Ups
It’s also a good idea to visit your primary care physician when you’re healthy for routine checkups.
By establishing a good relationship with your doctor, it’ll be easier for them to have a baseline for the status of your health. Instead of going to a stranger for your healthcare needs, you’ll have a friendly familiar face to guide you through things.
2. Urologist for Men and Women
First on our list of different types of doctors is urologists. You may think that urologist appointments are only for men. However, urology is a part of health care that both men and women can benefit from.
Urologists help deal with diseases that affect the female and male urinary tract. Your kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder all fall under the scope of urology.
Tips for Men
For men, a urologist will also be able to monitor the health of their testes, prostate, penis, and scrotum. They can also assist with male fertility problems.
Here’s what men can expect to happen at a typical urology appointment:
- Provide a urine sample
- Fill out paperwork
- Enter exam room
- Give medical history
- Physical exam
If you’re dealing with problems like incontinence your urologist may also order imaging studies. For instance, they may want a sonogram of your bladder, kidneys, or prostate.
It’s also possible the urologist will recommend an outpatient office-based procedure like a cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is minimally invasive and it allows the urologist to examine the urethra and bladder.
Tips for Women
Women can expect to have almost identical experiences at the urologist as men. You’ll need to provide a urine sample upon arriving, fill out paperwork, and provide your medical history.
The biggest difference however is that after taking the limited physical exam, women will usually have a limited pelvic exam as well. Finally, the urologist may suggest further tests or treatments.
3. Eye Doctors
Ophthalmologists and optometrists are commonly mistaken as being the same type of eye doctor. However, while both of these doctors are medically trained to care for your eyes, they each have unique specialties.
Let’s start by looking at the role of an ophthalmologist. These eye doctors specialize in the health of your vision as well as surgical eye care.
The ophthalmologist will be able to monitor your eyes for signs of diseases or conditions that might be developing. By quickly diagnosing issues before they get worse more effective treatment plans can take place.
The second type of eye doctor you should see regularly is an optometrist. An optometrist can help with vision problems like farsightedness or astigmatism. They’ll be able to prescribe you the right type of contacts and eyeglasses after an easy eye exam.
Keep in mind that over time, your vision changes. If you use glasses or contacts now regularly seeing an optometrist is the best way to make sure your prescriptions are accurate.
We find that it works best if you have a primary optometrist and ophthalmologist that you visit annually. By taking a team approach to the health of your vision, it’ll be easier to monitor how your eyes are doing overall.
4. Dermatologists Do More Than You Know
When you hear the word dermatologist, do you instantly think of a doctor that takes care of your skin? While skincare is a part of a dermatologist field of study, it’s not their only specialty! They can also help you with treating your nails and hair, whether you’re a baby or 100 years old.
Oftentimes people with acne will wind up seeing a dermatologist help their skin clear up. However, even if you go to the dermatologist for acne, that’s not the only thing they’re going to treat.
Dermatologists are there to help you you with every skin, hair, or nails problem that you might have, even if you aren’t aware you have a problem. That’s why scheduling an annual appointment is a wise choice, even if you don’t think you have any skin, hair, or nail issues. If you’ve never been to the dermatologist before you’re probably wondering what your first appointment would be like.
First, when you arrive you can expect to fill out forms and provide your medical history. After entering the exam room, you might need to change into a paper gown for a full body checkup. For instance, the dermatologist can check for suspicious-looking moles that could be cancerous.
Know the Types of Doctors You Need
Now you know about four types of doctors you need to see regularly. Don’t wait to start booking your appointments today.
After all, every step you take to invest in your health is a step towards a happier life! For more ways to infuse your life with joy, read another one of our articles.