Managing your healthcare needs and those of your family can be a daunting task. It can require a good deal of time, money, and specialized knowledge, and it involves making decisions that can affect the quality and length of your life and of those you love. Begin taking control by learning how you can be an active, confident participant in your own care in the following five areas:

Form & Identify Your Healthcare Team

The quality of your healthcare providers and the hospitals where they work is the cornerstone of the quality of care that you receive. That’s why it is so important to take the time before you are sick or need an emergency procedure to find healthcare providers who have the training and experience to do the job and a personality that puts you at ease. Click here to learn more.

Find the Best Health Insurance for You and Your Family

If you don’t understand some of the basic principles of how health insurance works, don’t worry. You are not alone. It’s not rocket science, but it can seem that way late at night when you’re trying to make sense out of a hospital bill. Click here for definitions, examples and tools to help you understand and get the most out of the health insurance you have now or to shop for new insurance.

Understand How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Affects You & Your Care

The ACA has brought about significant changes in healthcare law that have probably affected you and your family in some way. For example, you can no longer be refused coverage because of a pre-existing condition such as heart disease. Click here to learn about specific provisions of the law that may affect you and your family.

Learn How to Gain Access to New Treatments & Technologies

Innovations in technology and the treatment of cardiovascular disease continue to develop at a rapid pace. You may be eligible to try new treatment options that have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Click here to learn more about additional treatment options that may be available to you by participating in clinical trials.

Keep Track of Your Medical Records

If you’ve ever had to transfer or get copies of your medical records you know it can be difficult. Click here to learn strategies that may make it easier and to understand your rights in obtaining them when you change healthcare providers or are seeking a second opinion.