According to an American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology study, more cancer patients and their loved one’s are making decisions about the treatment they will receive based on the advice of others.
Only 7 percent of patients with cancer made their decision to have treatment after speaking with family and friends in 2003. This number rose to 16 percent in 2007, however.
“There is so much information out there – both accurate and misleading – for patients to try to digest,”Dr. Louis Harrison, a radiation surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and president of ASTRO’s board of directors, said the following: “It makes perfect sense that patients and their families are collecting all this information and then asking their friends and family to help them make a smart decision.”
Along with other media, the Internet plays an increasing role in decision-making.
“With all the information streaming from radio, television, newspapers and the Web, Americans are simply inundated with information, and cancer patients and their families are no exception,”Bill McInturff is a partner at Public Opinion Strategies. Public Opinion Strategies conducted the survey for ASTRO.
ASTRO has created a patient web site to assist patients who are looking for information online. www.rtanswers.orgIt is available in English and Spanish, with clear sections. Radiation therapy kills fast-growing cancer cells. The brochures provide information about radiation and the treatment options available to patients. Patients can also find a doctor in their local area through the site’s doctor finder.
“Understanding how people with cancer think when they are making their treatment decisions will help their physicians know what resources need to be developed to help their patients make informed treatment decisions,”McInturff stated.
The pace of life today is rapid. People can check their kids’ soccer scores on the phone, while also sending emails to work with the help of digital technology. Consumers can expect the same conveniences and benefits from all businesses, except their insurance companies, thanks to the internet age. For many people struggling to pay their medical bills, this can seem like a long wait, even though 98 percent of claims for health insurance are processed in 30 days.
With almost two-thirds American households earning less than 2002, being insured is not enough. It is important to find out how fast and easy your insurance company processes and pays claims. This is important for both financial and medical recovery.
Recent research found that 66% would not be able to adjust to the high financial cost of serious illnesses or injuries. Only 49% of workers have over $1,000 to pay out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, rising healthcare costs are forcing employers into cost-saving measures that are putting employees under greater financial pressure.
* Increasing employees’ health care insurance copayments.
* Increasing employees’ share of premium.
* Implementing high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts.
A lot of people will have to wait for up to a few months before receiving their insurance payments. Many insurance companies strive to provide fast service with better technology and better understanding of customers’ needs. This is just one example. AflacIt is almost rare for insurance companies to offer policies that include claims processing, approval, and payment in a single day.
Fast payment policies are no longer luxury items of the past. It’s a necessity. It’s vital to have funds readily available for serious illness or injury. You should ensure that your insurance company can move at your pace.
Aflac’s One Day Pay Promise can be found at aflac.com/onedaypay.
