Acknowledgements -- doctor is in -- Disclaimer -- note to the reader -- Introduction -- most important policy you will ever own -- Heath insurance, savings accounts, and costs -- Consumer driven health plans (CDHPS), health savings accounts (HSAS), and personal responsibility -- Types of health insurance plans -- Financial terms -- Do I qualify for an HSA? -- What are qualified expenses? -- Investment options -- HSA example -- Spending wisely -- It's not for everyone -- Real-life example -- quality of your health insurance plan matter! -- Do your homework. Question everything and pay nothing (right away) -- You're on your own -- Recently lost job and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) -- Between jobs/recent college graduate -- Health care costs - how much does it cost for procedures and tests? -- Take-home points --

Mastering the ten-minute doctor office visit -- importance of a medical history -- Real-life example -- Providing the perfect history -- Example one : typical patient A -- Example two : wise patient -- First, set the agenda -- Real-life example -- Example : agenda of a wise patient -- Next, tackle each issue : when, what, where, and why -- Examples of personal histories using the four W's -- Putting it all together -- Know yourself - your personal medical history -- Past medical/surgical history -- Medications and allergies -- Family history-- Social history -- Make every office visit count -- D.A.T.E. -- Establish visit -- Real-life example -- g second opinion visit -- Real-life example -- Real-life example -- Informed consent : is it okay with you? -- Don't see your doctor -- Take-home points --

Do the right thing regularly and repeatedly -- prudent approach to staying healthy -- Real-life example -- American cancer Society -- Cancer guidelines for women -- Cervical cancer screening -- Breast cancer screening -- Ovarian cancer screening -- Cancer guidelines for men -- Testicular cancer screening -- Prostate cancer screening -- Cancer guidelines for women and men -- Colon cancer screening -- Lung cancer -- American Heart Association (AHA) -- Heart disease -- High blood pressure -- High cholesterol -- American Diabetes Association (ADA) -- Diabetes -- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) -- Grade A recommendations -- Grade B recommendations -- Immunizations and vaccinations -- Tetanus -- Hepatitis B -- Pertussis (whooping cough) -- Meningiococcus -- Human papilloma virus -- Pneumococus -- Influenza -- Happy birthday to you -- Age-specific guidelines -- Twenty to thirty-nine years old -- Forty to forty-nine years old -- Fifty years old and older -- Denied coverage? Reimbursement letter -- Take-home points --

Meet your medical team -- Your health advisors : physicians -- Check out your doctor before he checks you out -- Importance of Board Certification -- Licensing -- Training -- Internists and family physicians -- Specialists -- Medical specialties -- Allergist/immunologist -- Cardiologist -- Dermatologist -- Endocrinologist -- Hematologist/oncologist -- Nephrologist -- Neurologist -- Pulmonologist -- Rheumatologist -- Surgical specialties -- General surgeon -- Ophthalmologist -- Orthopedist -- Otolaryngologist -- Other primary care fields -- Obstetrician/gynecologist -- Pediatrician -- Other specialties -- Emergency medicine physicians -- Psychiatrist -- What's the deal with DOs (doctors of osteopathic medicine)? -- Other providers -- Physician assistants (PAs) -- Nurse practitioners (NPs) -- Office settings -- Private practice -- Residency training programs/academic medical centers -- Integrated healthcare offices -- Take-home points --

truth about medications -- magic pills -- business of marketing medications -- Real-life example -- Generic and branded medications : what's the difference? -- Partnering with your doctor : having a frank discussion -- Making sense of over-the-counter (OTC) medications -- Pain relievers -- Decongestants -- Antihistamines -- Cough medications -- Real-life example -- Take-home points -- Caveat emptor, or "let the buyer beware" -- Concierge care -- Body scans -- Real-life example -- Herbal and dietary supplements -- Real-life example -- Take-home points -- Twenty-first century medical care -- Looking forward : trends redefining healthcare -- Hospitals -- Real-life example -- Group visits -- Real-life example -- Evidence-based medicine -- Take-home points --

Take control : excellent health pays -- Self-serve health care -- Insurance -- Office visits -- Stay healthy -- Stay active -- Protect yourself -- Real-life example -- Maintain a healthy weight -- Using the Internet for research -- future of America's health care -- Take-home points -- Appendix : Referenced websites -- Notes -- Index.