March 17, 2023
“Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.” ~ Hippocrates
A medical advocate accompanies you on your health care journey and assists you with doctor appointments – recording each appointment, asking questions, relaying information to additional family, and providing transportation as needed.
Finding the best medical advocate for you can be tricky, but this article provides some essentials to monitor making your decision.
Though there are not many medical advocacy services, there are some. Gauging which one is the best fit for you involves assessing the following:
Let’s look at each aspect in greater detail below!
Understanding the credentials of those caring for you as their medical advocate is essential.
Are they a volunteer? Just someone you know? A CNA? Or an RN?
Do they have an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or a Masters? Finding out the credentials of those that will be assisting you is imperative.
If you want the best care, consider someone with higher credentials (for example, a registered nurse).
Do you desire the highest level of care? That will come with more expense.
Here at Your Medical Advocate, we charge $89.99/hr for our medical advocacy service. We understand not everyone can afford the price, but you get what you pay for.
We provide registered nurses with at least 5+ years of experience in the medical field.
Determining how much you can afford is imperative in paying for medical advocacy services.
Take time to write a budget, the average appointments you need each year, and how much you will need to pay.
Finding out if the medical advocacy service is covered by insurance is essential.
Determining if companies will accept HSAs is also imperative to understand.
Private pay will not be an issue if you can pay out of pocket.
Finding out if a company allows HSAs or insurance coverage will help cover expenses.
As of 2022, insurance does not cover medical advocacy services (as this is a newer service offered to the public by limited companies).
Finding out what is provided with a medical advocacy service will help you decide what works best for you.
Are you in need of transportation with a medical advocate? Or are you just looking for someone to accompany you to your appointments?
Do you desire to have information shared to family members? Or are you only wanting a medical advocate for yourself?
Figuring out what the services provide will help you optimize your care and get the best for the money you desire to put down.
Knowing what you need will help you decipher what company you choose to go with for medical advocacy.
Again, some aspects to consider are the following:
Finding out whether this service is just for you or includes additional parties is crucial.
Do you want to keep your adult children up-to-date with your medical information? Do you desire it to be appropriately recorded in a neat, easily-accessible file that can be shared?
Deciphering if the service is just for you or includes other parties (such as family members) will help you decide which medical advocacy service to use.
Now that we have reviewed how to compare and choose the best medical advocate, we would encourage you to read the following articles:
Are you feeling ready to find your medical advocate? Visit Your Medical Advocate and download our app.
We will connect you with a personable and professional registered nurse to translate, note-take, and advocate for you during your medical appointments.
Lance VanTine
Founder & CEO
