At the Doctor
Mobile is Amazing
Use your device to monitor your health, manage your care, and conserve your cash
Oh the ease! The convenience! The information! Having a mobile device in the palm of your hand is like having your own personal assistant. You can search for a restaurant. Read reviews. Check the menu. Call for a reservation. And find directions.
Your mobile device helps you get things done every day -- quickly and efficiently. (And sometimes, you use it just to have a little fun.) You also can use your mobile device to make the most of your health care. (Even the fun part. Really.) Here's how.
First step
Every health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more has a secure website where you can register to access your private health information. To get the full use of your mobile device in managing your health care, you need to register online first.
Use mobile to… find a doctor
Let's say you need to find a doctor. You can use your mobile device to go online and "search docs" with various tools. Generic tools let you search by zip code and specialty. More targeted tools let you search for doctors in your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more's networknetwork
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more. That's important if you want to save money. (Going to doctors outside the networknetwork
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more can cost you a bundle!) To use targeted tools, you'll need to register for your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more's website. It's free, secure and painless — and online help is available if you need it.
Use mobile to… see costs
Would you like to know what that doctor's visit will cost you? Some health plans have tools that estimate costs. (Remember that they're only estimates, though! Giving an exact figure is tough. What starts out as a basic office visit can turn into something more complex, depending upon what the doctor finds.)
Use mobile to… share information
Of course, you can use your mobile device to schedule an appointment and get directions to the office. When you get there, the staff will ask for your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more ID cardID card
The identification card carried by a subscriber or dependent that provides important information rel... more. Oops. Left yours at home? No problem. Just go to your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more's website on your mobile device. If you're registered, you can log in and look up your ID number. You might even be able to see a "virtual ID cardID card
The identification card carried by a subscriber or dependent that provides important information rel... more" on your screen.
Use mobile to… check coverage
Your doctor thinks it's time for you to try a drug to lower your cholesterol. Because you're a wise health care consumer, you know that your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more pays for some drugs, but not others. So you use your mobile device to check the drug list.
Hmm. The drug your doctor wants you to try is not covered. You'd have to pay $130 a month! Speak up. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different drug that your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more will pay for. It might be a generic drug. Generics work just like the famous brand names you see advertised on TV and in magazines, but cost a lot less.
While you're in the drug section of your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more's website, you might notice that you can save even more money by using their home delivery service. You can get a three months' supply of your new drug sent right to your door — and you pay for only two months!
Use mobile to… find a network specialist
That foot pain you've been having isn't getting any better. You use the "notes" app on your mobile device to jot down "plantar fascitis" so you can read about it later.
Your doctor recommends a certain foot specialistspecialist
A physician who provides medical care in a medical or surgical specialty or subspecialty (for exampl... more, but you remember that networknetwork
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more thing. You don't want to pay extra to see a doctor who is not in your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more's networknetwork
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more. So, you pull out your mobile device to check and… yeah! This specialistspecialist
A physician who provides medical care in a medical or surgical specialty or subspecialty (for exampl... more is in the networknetwork
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more.
Before mobile, you'd have to remember to schedule an appointment with the foot specialistspecialist
A physician who provides medical care in a medical or surgical specialty or subspecialty (for exampl... more when you got home. Now you can do it before you leave your doctor's office. And you can set a reminder about the visit on your mobile's calendar. Nice.
Use your mobile to… have fun
Not everything about managing your health care has to be about insurance and bussiness. Many health plans have online programs to help people lose weight, stop smoking, deal with stress and more. You can track your fitness goals and check calorie and nutrient info to maintain a healthy diet.
These tools help make the work of managing your health a little easier and more enjoyable. Sure, you can do all these things at your computer, but the benefitbenefit
The term "benefit" may refer in general to a health plan (your "benefits"), specifically define the ... more of mobile is the ease and convenience of doing things right now.
Final word
You are in charge of your health and your health care. There are others on your team.
Your doctor, of course, has the training, knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat you. Your health insurer negotiates rates to help keep your costs down and gives you tools to track your spending. Your mobile device helps make you more efficient in handling tasks. (So don't forget to send it some flowers on Personal Assistant Day.)
© 2012 Aetna Inc.