Heart Failure Treatment is Affordable in Dallas - Ft. Worth

Heart failure is a close second to cancer as the leading cause of death in Americans over the age of 45.  The number of people suffering from heart failure continues to climb as our United States population grows older, and advanced medical treatments allow more people to survive heart attacks.  If you’re a member of a discount healthcare plan or other medical savings plan and you are diagnosed with heart failure, which direction should you go for treatment?  American Health Benefits’ physician directory houses dozens of cardiac specialists in the DFW Metroplex, and offers the following information regarding healthcare for your heart:

“My primary care physician has always cared for whole body, and he was the one keen enough to find my heart problem.  Why do I need a heart specialist?”  According to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, “patients with severe heart failure fared far better in the care of heart failure specialists than primary care physicians.”   A study on the hunt for the most quality and cost-effective treatments for the increasing problem of heart failure was conducted by John R. Wilson, professor of Medicine and director of VUMC's Heart Failure and Transplant Program. "This study found that patients with severe heart failure do better under the care of heart failure specialists, compared to internists, general practice physicians or even general cardiologists who do not specialize in heart failure....The next step needs to be to make sure the insurance companies understand that not only do patients do better, but the treatments cost less."

While your general practice physician can take care of the rest of your body’s needs using a discount health plan or other medical savings program, many times he or she is unable to diagnose a particular set of symptoms or behaviors of your heart.  At that time, a heart failure specialist should be brought in for in-depth diagnosis and care.  

"How do I get to a specialist?"  Most specialists will not see you without a referral, so talk to your doctor about his or her recommendation of a specialist based on what is known about your heart condition at the time.

Some primary care physicians may be hesitant to refer you to a specialist right away, stating that it would be best to wait and see if the symptoms change; but you still feel strongly about taking your diagnosis a step further, ask for a referral to a specialist anyway.  Only you know your body’s quirks and variations, and it’s best to trust your intuition.

“But don’t specialists cost more money?”  Not necessarily. Cardiologist care of patients with heart failure is not more expensive or resource-intensive than care given by primary care physicians and family doctors, particularly when using a discount health plan.  Keep in mind, however, that a visit to a heart specialist may entail further testing for diagnostic purposes that are not part of the office visit fee.

The American Heart Association Journal states "concerns that specialists' care is more expensive is probably a major barrier to specialty care in this country," the researchers write. "But our work does not support the notion that cardiologists' care for congestive heart failure is too expensive."

Savings on medical care for heart failure and virtually all of your other healthcare needs is within reach and can be found at American Health Benefits.  Contact an agent at 1-866-484-1991 to learn more abut program membership benefits and start saving today!