How you can help yourself
One thing you can do is ask plenty of questions about medications and treatments. A U.S. Food and Drug Administration study found that 96 percent of patients receiving new prescriptions failed to ask any important questions about the medication. That can be unwise.
If you need extra time to talk about treatment options, ask for it. When you schedule an appointment with your doctor, ask the receptionist to schedule in an extra 10 or 15 minutes so you have time to ask questions. Write your questions down in advance, and bring the list with you. Ask your doctor to go through your options step by step. Write down your doctor's advice if you think you won't remember. Or, ask a trusted friend or partner to go with you to help remember the details.
Cost-cutting measures in health care have made it harder to be seen by a specialist. If you have a choice of health plans, choose one that lets you see a dermatologist. If you are a member of an HMO, ask your primary-care doctor to refer you to a dermatologist who specializes in psoriasis or a rheumatologist who specializes in psoriatic arthritis. Many primary-care doctors can treat psoriasis, but few have the time to keep up with the latest treatments, have access to phototherapy facilities or have access to new medications being developed for psoriasis. A conscientious primary-care doctor will not be threatened by your desire to be seen by a specialist.
If your insurance company refuses to pay for your psoriasis treatments, use the appeals and grievance procedures in your health-care plan. Contact your employer's human resources department to find out how this is done, and ask for their help. It is in your employer's best interest, too, to help you get your psoriasis treated appropriately.
If you are not employed or do not have a human resources department, the Psoriasis Foundation advocacy department can help you write an appeal to your insurance company. Call the Psoriasis Foundation at 800.723.9166 or e-mail insurance@psoriasis.org to get in touch with someone who can help you appeal your claim denial. You can also check out our insurance advocacy section to learn more about it.
Clinical trials are also an effective way to get access to treatments that you may not be able to get because of unemployment or limitations of your insurance plan. For more information go to www.psoriasis.org/research/trials/, call a patient education support specialist at 800.723.9166 or e-mail getinfo@psoriasis.org.
The waiting game
The average patient waits 19 minutes for a scheduled appointment, according to the American Medical Association, but that can seem like an eternity when your medical condition and the time lost out of your day are dominating your thoughts. Here are a few ways to play the waiting game:
- Call ahead: When you call to make your appointment, let the person on the phone know exactly what you need to discuss with the doctor, especially if there are several separate issues. If you think you will need extra time with your doctor, ask for it.
- Know what to expect: When you check in with the receptionist, ask if the doctor is running on time, ahead of time or behind schedule, and the approximate time you should expect to wait. If you have been waiting longer than 20 minutes, walk up to the reception desk and ask nicely how much longer you should expect to wait.
- Practice diversion: Balance your checkbook, bring your own magazine or book, check items off your to-do list or bring portable headphones to listen to music. Do whatever you have to do so that the time will fly. How comfortable and relaxed you are in the waiting room will influence your experience in the exam room.
- Be prepared: You know your time in the exam room will be brief, no matter how long you spend in the waiting room, so make the most of it. Be able to describe your symptoms, history and previous medication in detail (use notes if you have to). If you tend to freeze in this situation, bring a trusted friend or family member who knows your condition and can speak for you. Don't wear anything that is difficult to slip in and out of for your examination. And don't wear makeup–that way the doctor can get an accurate view of your skin.
Updated October 2007
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