How to Advocate for your Healthcare Needs!

Every single person in this world has unique needs. This is especially true when it comes to health and healthcare needs. Everyone’s body is a little different and everyone’s circumstance is different. This is why it is so vital to advocate for your needs. Often times healthcare can come across as a one size fits all approach, when that just doesn’t work. If you don’t want to get lost in the system you have to be willing to stand up for your own needs. This can often feel intimidating though and make many people feel uncomfortable.

Here are some key things to remember about what advocating is/isn’t that might help you feel more comfortable about advocating for your healthcare needs.

What advocating is-

1. Clarifying/stating what you need to be able to thrive.

2. Acknowledging that your needs are different than other peoples’.

3. Making yourself heard.

What advocating isn’t-

1. Being pushy or rude.

2. Stating your needs are more important than someone else’s’.

3. Taking advantage of anyone.

It's easy to feel guilty about advocating for yourself, but the reality is, you and your health matter, are important, and deserve to get the care you need. At the end of the day, it is important to also remember, you are paying for your care.

Here are a few tips on how to effectively advocate for yourself.

1. Remain calm and kind. Nothing ever gets accomplished by being rude. The kinder you are the more likely people are willing to try to help you. I always try to think “If I were in their position how would I like to be treated?”.

2. State your needs as facts without making yourself sound like an inconvenience. You are not an inconvenience and when you state your facts with qualifiers it gives a way out. As a human being you deserve to take up space on this earth and to have needs that need to be met!

3. Be firm. This is a biggy! Just because you are remaining kind and calm doesn’t mean you can’t be firm. Once you have stated your need, stick with it!

4. Ask to speak with someone else. Not everyone is suited to deal with every problem, instead of getting frustrated with the person ask them if there might be someone else you could talk to that might be better suited to answer your question.

5. Have a great primary care doctor. Your biggest advocate is going to be your primary care provider. When your advocating for your needs just doesn’t work, your PCP can/should step in and help advocate on your behalf. If you need help finding a good doctor read this blog.

6. Don’t give up! The most important thing to remember when advocating for your needs is to not give up. Your health matters and you should not give up care just because you were told no.

Advocating for your needs can be scary, but it is so important. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you need!