Moving to a brand new area can be both exciting and stressful. Loving families get a fresh start and new opportunities. But starting over in a new community also requires significant due diligence. Along with identifying the best schools and recreational offerings, you need to understand the healthcare landscape.
If you plan to relocate, consider the following healthcare items carefully.
Identify and Enlist Healthcare Providers
Finding a primary care physician often tops the list of a family’s focus when moving. That’s certainly a reasonable concern, given that the primary physician provides comprehensive care and will come to know your health intimately. Therefore, families should quickly identify the following healthcare professionals.
- Pediatricians: Growing families generally need a go-to doctor if children show symptoms beyond routine and seasonal ailments. It may prove helpful to secure a list of pediatricians in your primary’s network to ensure communication remains seamless.
- OB/GYN: It’s not uncommon for women to consider an OB/GYN more essential than their primary doctor. Finding a person who is both experienced and women feel comfortable with can be something of a challenge. In addition, it may prove invaluable to ask other women in the community who they see and why that doctor is a good fit.
It’s also helpful to know what specialists have offices in the community and how far away others are located. For example, people who live outside major cities may discover they must travel for specialized treatment and care.
Access to Emergency and Urgent Care Facilities
The ability to get to an emergency room or urgent care facility ranks among the invaluable treatment assets. A well-staffed emergency room generally includes an ER doctor and an experienced physician’s assistant to diagnose sudden conditions.
When moving to a new town, it’s essential to understand that not every facility operates 24/7. That’s why taking notes about available services and hours can make a significant difference in your life. The availability of these healthcare services could emerge as an important relocation factor.
Access to Mental Health Professionals
Moving to a new community typically creates some uncertainty and anxiety. Studies also indicate that frequent moves may result in heightened psychosocial stress and feelings of exhaustion. Although the joys of a new living space can prove uplifting, it might still come with challenges for some. Those are why having a therapist and other mental health resources in place before the moving trucks arrive is crucial.
Determine the Heath Care Cost Differences
When families move to a new state, the health insurance system can differ immensely. To say the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs has become uneven would be something of an understatement. Consumers often discover that an established pharmacy charges far higher prices than another just blocks away. That’s why everyday people may want to identify how much companies charge and which accept discount cards. The combination can save a significant amount of money.
The same holds for health insurance plans that often offer complicated deductibles and co-pays. Check with your provider to make sure co-pays and coverage will continue with the same payment schedules. Better to make changes before moving than incur an unexpected bill.
Moving Help
Working families have a lot on their plate when moving to a new community. Enlisting the assistance of a moving company can help alleviate stress and give you more time to ensure your healthcare needs are in place. Contact us today for a free quote.