Catastrophic Health Insurance – First Steps to Take After a Medical Emergency
Catastrophic Health Insurance and Medical Emergencies
Unlike other items you purchase, when you buy catastrophic health insurance, you hope you never have to use it. However, emergencies happen all of the time. When you least expect it, you may need to use your catastrophic health insurance. Some medical problems you may encounter in life may be:
- Car accidents
- Chemical ingestion
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Slip and falls
- Choking
- Poisoning
- Snake bites
No matter what happens in your life, you need to be prepared. Of course, one of the ways is through catastrophic health insurance coverage. Here are some tips for what to do before and after a medical emergency.
Catastrophic Health Insurance: Steps To Take Before a Medical Emergency
When an emergency occurs, there may be little time to gather all of the information and supplies you need, so you it is important to be prepared. Here are some steps to take to prepare yourself for any type of medical emergency.
- Keep a list of all of your emergency numbers by the phone. Make sure you include the numbers for poison control, the fire department, the police department, ambulance, your family doctor, and the local hospital.
- Update your list of emergency person contacts and your catastrophic health insurance company number in your phone. Place the letters “ICE” before these numbers in your cell phone. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency and is a well-known acronym. If you have an emergency and medical personnel can not speak to you about your medical condition, they will be able to able to look at your cell phone and easily identify your emergency contacts.
- Keep a list of all of your medications in your wallet, including dosages, drug names, your doctor’s name and contact information, and regimen.
- Make sure to keep a list in your wallet of any allergies you have.
- Take a first-aid class so you are aware of how to apply CPR, perform the Heimlich, and apply bandages safely. This practice will keep you calm and focused in the event of an emergency.
- Purchase catastrophic health insurance. When an emergency occurs, the last thing you want to worry about is the bill. If you purchase catastrophic health insurance, you will be covered no matter what happens.
Catastrophic Health Insurance: Steps to Take After a Medical Emergency
When a medical emergency, here are the first steps you should take.
- The first step to take in a medical emergency is to remain calm, know what to do, and make the decision to act on that knowledge. Action can mean calling 911, splinting an injury, performing CPR, or applying pressure to the wound.
- Decide whether the emergency is life threatening or could become life threatening before you reach the hospital.
- If the injury is going to require the use of emergency medical technicians or paramedics, or the injury could become worse during the trip to the emergency room, you will need to call 911. Even if you can not speak, 911 is always the best option. Operators can trace your call to locate where you are.
- After you call 911, stay where you, or the victim, are unless you are in immediate danger. Individuals who have spinal injuries may be hurt even more if they are moved. Wait for the paramedics to arrive.
- If you are well enough to call your catastrophic health insurance company, give them a call and let them know what is going on. This may help speed up your paperwork and get you treated more quickly.
When something unexpected happens, make sure you are ready by purchasing catastrophic health insurance and following these emergency tips.
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