Creating a Personal Health Safety Net Services You Hope You'll Never Need

Creating a Personal Health Safety Net: Services You Hope You’ll Never Need

ByJames Hook

Want to plan for the unplanned?

Emergencies don’t arrive with reminders. They happen at 2 AM on Sunday. They occur on holiday weekends. And they love to show up when your normal doctors’ offices are closed.

Here’s the good news…

Having a personal health safety net makes those panicked moments a lot less stressful. Think of it like insurance for your sanity.

What you’ll discover:

  • What every type of Emergency Services has in common
  • Why Dental Emergencies are so important
  • How to Build Your Own Personal Health Safety Net
  • What You Can Do Before an Emergency Happens

Let’s Take a Look at Emergency Healthcare

Did you know that per the CDC, dental problems are responsible for 1.8 million annual visits to hospital emergency departments nationwide? That’s almost 59 visits for every 10,000 people who end up in the ER just for tooth related issues.

And that’s just dental problems.

The reality is that no one thinks about emergency services until they desperately need it. Then it’s panic stations. Rushed decisions. Wasted money.

There has to be a better way.

Preparing for medical emergencies – and dental ones – before they happen is the best way to build a personal health safety net. Whether you need immediate attention for a freak injury or you can’t shake that nagging toothache until Monday, it helps to know where to go.

When Dental Emergencies Strike

Here’s a health crisis most people never consider…

Tooth pain.

Broken teeth. Abscesses. Lost fillings. Something crack your tooth on a fork. Whatever the problem, serious dental pain is why many people visit their local ER in the middle of the night.

And that’s a problem.

When you aren’t prepared, you turn to Google. “What hospital in Henderson, NV is open right now and has emergency dentists?” You call the first result. You hope you’re not charged an arm and a leg.

Finding emergency dental services ahead of time is one of the best things any family can do. Yes, even if you have regular checkups every six months. Because dentists don’t take holidays and weekends off. And when you need them, you need them badly.

Here are a few reasons dental emergencies are different:

  • They require special tools you won’t find in a hospital
  • Emergency rooms can band-aid the problem, but they can’t fix it
  • The longer you wait to treat it, the greater the chance of permanent damage
  • Toothaches can absolutely ruin your day

The American Dental Association even found that people who visit the emergency room for dental issues pay three times more than dentist visits. Yep, you read that correctly. You’ll pay more for an ER to punt you to the dentist.

Instead of scrolling through Google when the damage is done. Set your dental safety net now.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Rooms

Not every injury or illness requires a trip to the hospital.

There’s a reason urgent care centers exist. They’re meant to fill that gap between minor-at-home issues and legit emergencies. Think funny stitches, sprained ankles, early signs of infection, and so on. Urgent care centers will see you the same day without the super expensive ER bill.

Examples of care for urgent care:

  • Lacerations that may need stitches
  • Sprains and small fractures
  • Ear infections
  • Sinus infections
  • Minor allergic reactions
  • Strep throats and fevers

These things are ER material:

  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Severe bleeding
  • Potential stroke symptoms
  • Serious injuries
  • Loss of consciousness

Knowing the difference can save you money. And keep you out of long Emergency Room waiting rooms.

Assemble Your Personal Health Safety Net

Having a game plan for medical emergencies is great. But where do you start? Here are a few simple tips to build that safety net:

Step 1: Know your emergency contacts

Research local hospital ER info, urgent care centers, and emergency dentist contacts. Write down address, phone numbers, and hours of operation.

You can keep a list on the fridge. Or save the contact info in your phone.

Step 2: Double check insurance

Look over your insurance coverage and see what’s actually covered when emergencies happen. You’d be surprised how many people realize they don’t go to “in-network” hospitals until the bill shows up.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Which hospitals are in my insurance network?
  • Do I have coverage for urgent care centers?
  • How much is my copay for emergency services?
  • What about dental? Is emergency care covered?

Step 3: Have an Emergency Health Kit

Every home should have a basic supply of medical necessities on hand. Bandages, disinfectant, pain relievers, allergy medications. You get the idea.

As far as dental emergencies, keep these at home:

  • Dental wax. It’s helpful if you ever crack a wire on your braces.
  • Temporary filling material. Yes, they make it! Keep it in your medicine cabinet.
  • Clove oil. Trust me, it works for tooth pain.
  • Small bucket. Seriously. If you ever knock out a tooth, you need to keep it stored in milk.

Step 4: Create a Health Information Card

Grab a piece of paper and write down important health information for each member of your family. Include: allergies, medications, blood type, emergency contacts.

You’ll be glad you have this easy to read info if you ever need to rush someone to the hospital.

Stop Emergencies Before They Happen

Here’s a secret…

The best emergency is the one that never happens. Don’t wait for something to pop up before you take action.

When it comes to your teeth, that means:

  • Visiting the dentist twice a year
  • Taking care of small problems before they turn into big ones
  • Wearing a mouthguard for contact sports
  • Don’t use your teeth as tools

And for your overall health:

  • Keep up with vaccines
  • Visit your doctor regularly
  • Don’t ignore symptoms
  • Manage your existing conditions

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And cleanings are way cheaper than emergency procedures.

Final Thoughts

Piecing together a personal health safety net is about being ready for anything. We can’t predict every injury or illness that comes our way. But we can anticipate needing care outside the office.

That includes:

  • Knowing where to go
  • Understanding your insurance coverage
  • Staying prepared
  • Preventing damage before it happens

No one wants to think about medical emergencies. But having a plan in place can give you – and your family – peace of mind when every second counts.

Take an hour this weekend. Pull that information together. Because someday, something will happen. And you’ll be glad you did.