Dangers of Delaying Care: How We Help You Afford Care

About a third of American adults say they have skipped or postponed necessary healthcare in the last 12 months, according to leading health policy research firm KFF. That includes 75% of uninsured adults under age 65. Executive Medical Director of Emergency Medicine Dr. Kevin Hanson says this is a very troubling trend that can cause real harm to patients.

"Delaying care can make manageable conditions become more severe," said Dr. Hanson. "That copay to see your primary care physician is nothing compared to the financial and lifestyle-limiting costs of a chronic disease."

So why are so many Americans delaying care, and what are they risking when they do?

The Dangers of Delaying Care: An EvergreenHealth Series

With so many people across the country and in our community choosing to delay care, EvergreenHealth is sharing a three-part blog-and-podcast series called "The Dangers of Delaying Care" featuring perspectives from EvergreenHealth providers and financial services experts to help you understand your care options and avoid delaying needed treatment.

• Part 1: "Dangers of Delaying Care: How to Avoid the Emergency Room" features Dr. Kevin Hanson, Executive Medical Director of Emergency and Urgent Care. He shares simple ways to stay on top of your health and prevent minor conditions or injuries from becoming more serious.
• Part 2: "Dangers of Delaying Care: Seek Care Sooner to Avoid Complications" features hand surgeon Dr. Avi Goodman with additional guidance on the risks of delaying care from an orthopedic perspective.
• Part 3: This final installment includes EvergreenHealth Financial Assistance team members, who will explain options that may help make health care more affordable.

EvergreenHealth Financial Assistance and Charity Care

EvergreenHealth offers several options to help patients afford care and better understand their insurance and medical bills.

"We don't want patients to postpone care they need because they're concerned about the cost," said Richard Gould, EvergreenHealth Executive Director of Revenue Cycle. "We offer programs and services to help low-income and uninsured patients. We have specialists to help them find and apply for insurance coverage, and we also offer financial assistance to low-income patients."

The terms "financial assistance" and "charity care" are often used interchangeably, said Rebecca Fisher-Saad, Director of Patient Financial Services. She said the application for financial assistance is available to everyone, and patients should not assume they won't qualify.

"Just because you're working or have insurance doesn't mean you won't qualify for full or partial financial assistance," Rebecca said. "If your financial situation or something else changes and you need a little help, I encourage you to apply. Even if you don't qualify, we can still connect you with a financial counselor or provide a care estimate."

Financial Counselors and Cost Estimates

Healthcare is complicated. Between deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and payment plans all while you or a loved one receives care, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Our financial counselors can help with that.

"Financial counselors at EvergreenHealth can help patients understand their insurance, cost estimate and financial assistance options," said Liz Schaper, Director of Patient Access.

"The financial counselors walk through the estimate in detail, step by step," Liz said. "We can explain exactly what is going into it and talk through anything that might be unclear or could potentially change, including financial assistance. For us, it's all about transparency and support. We want patients to feel prepared, never surprised, and just to know that they have a partner to walk through the process with them."

Patients can contact a financial counselor by calling, emailing or visiting the Financial Assistance office in person.

Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT)

EvergreenHealth created the Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT) to residents of King County Public Hospital District 2 access healthcare and other community resources free of charge. Supported by tax levy funds, CHAT partners with many community organizations to help low income and uninsured residents obtain insurance, healthcare referrals, transportation, financial and patient pharmaceutical assistance, psycho-social assistance and more.

"CHAT is a great example of how patient-centered care at EvergreenHealth doesn't stop at the bedside," Richard said. "With CHAT, we offer not just medical support to patients, but logistical and financial support too. CHAT staff are all certified navigators for the Washington Health Insurance Exchange, and they help people sign up for insurance every day."

"We are very proud to be a community-owned hospital with such great support from our region," Richard said. "And it is our mission every day to give that support back to our community."

"Don't hesitate to ask for help," Rebecca said. "We are here to help, and our team is dedicated to making it easier for you to access the care you need. We believe financial concerns should never stop anyone from seeking care. And we're here, ready to partner with you every step of the way. Call, send us an email or just stop by and talk with us!"

To learn more from the EvergreenHealth Financial Assistance team, you can listen to the full Check-Up Chat podcast episode or click to watch the vodcast.