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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
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Multiple Health Conditions (Comorbidity)

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It is not unusual for people to have more than one health condition ("comorbidity").This is especially true for older people. 

Multiple health conditions make it even more important to follow the guidelines for maximizing care. 

With respect to doctors:

  • It is wise to appoint one doctor to oversee your health and treatments. This is generally your primary care physician, but can just as easily be one of your specialists if he or she agrees to take on this role. 
  • Be sure the overseeing doctor is kept to date. Every time you see a doctor, or take a test, ask that a copy of the doctor's notes and all reports be sent to the overseeing doctor. It may be a pain to have to keep asking, but it's important.  (If there is a particularly important meeting, such as one when you receive a new diagnosis, consider checking with your overseeing doctor's office to be sure the report was received.)
  • To maximize time with each doctor, learn about each health condition. Since keeping track of more than one condition can be difficult, record or take notes of each session. If you take a patient advocate with you to doctor's appointments, it can help if the same person or people go with you to appointments for each condition to help you keep an overview. To learn more, click here.

When you are prescribed new medications, or a change in existing medications:

  • Ask about the effect on your other condition(s). It is up to you to prioritize which is most important at any given time. To learn more, click here.
  • Let the doctor(s) in charge of each of your health conditions know about suggested changes in medications or treatment before taking them. Drugs and lifestyle advice can work at cross purposes.  To learn what to look for when agreeing to a a treatment with more than one health condition, click here.

If new symptoms appear, let a doctor for each of the health conditions know. Even though one doctor thinks it relates to the condition he or she is treating, it may appear differently to a doctor in charge of a different condition.

It is preferable to incorporate your medical care into your life so you don't feel as taking care of your health has taken over your life. For tips, click here.

Emotional swings, particularly stress and depression, may be even more difficult because of your extra burden. There are medications and techniques to help with each. For more information, click here.

If you apply for disability income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), be sure to list all your health conditions. Any one may not not be considered to be disabling, but the combination may be.

For additional information, see:


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