Navigating Healthcare Decisions: Experts Matter
A client with cancer once remarked, “I thought all I needed was a good oncologist, but there are hundreds of micro-decisions I need to make for my treatment.” This sentiment captures the reality many face when confronted with myriad healthcare choices. When making complicated decisions, most rely on experts like attorneys for legal matters, wealth advisors for finance, and even travel agents when planning a trip. Here’s how you can use an expert to support your care.
Narrow Your Choices: Research shows that having fewer choices can promote happiness. This is because the more options you have, the more opportunities you have to regret your choice. Furthermore, making choices can be exhausting. In a University of Minnesota study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, having more shopping choices interfered with the ability to pay attention and complete simple arithmetic problems. Narrowing your choices can greatly simplify your decision making.
Get Outside Input: Decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,” says Dr. Lisa MacLean, a psychiatrist and Chief Wellness Officer at Henry Ford Health System. “The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.” Decision fatigue is a common family issue as it affects many caretakers. By delegating the responsibility of navigating complex choices to experienced professionals, individuals can mitigate the mental exhaustion that comes with it.
Choosing groceries or a sweater color may present minor dilemmas, but when it comes to healthcare decisions, the stakes are significantly higher. Opting for the wrong healthcare insurance could result in exorbitant bills or limited access to care, while selecting an inappropriate treatment may have detrimental effects on one's health.
Wellworth helps individuals and families make smarter healthcare choices to mitigate risk. With nearly 100 years of combined patient care experience, our multidisciplinary team provides top-tier guidance and support, covering physical and behavioral health, addiction treatment, and health insurance.
We offer consultative and advisory services in 50-hour retainers for family offices and 12-hour retainers for individuals and families. To learn more, contact us at insights@wellworthadvisors.com or (646) 883-9717.