PermaPatients

In the partner blog, Health Insurance: Keep It Simple (conoutofconsumer), I discussed an article that describes the costliness of preventive screenings that are not statistically justified. In that article I harshly referred to what I call the Permapatients, those addicted to medical services.

While I believe that permapatients have other issues and while I can understand that in managing fear overuse of medical services to reassure ourselves that there's nothing going on with us is a kind of superstitious tic that has been exacerbated by access to consults with medical services providers for the cost of a copay, here I note my concern for permapatients.

Fear is why we purchase insurance but testing is not insurance. It is important to note that real risks often aren't readily visible on tests. While we watch permapatients run from one medical services provider to another, in some ways the process discourages independence and maturity...meaning that permapatients become accustomed to ignoring their health unless someone else is telling them how they feel.

It is my hope that Permapatients who are often the harshest critics of those who choose not to participate in extensive screenings understand that they too are costing the "system" money and that they too are being irresponsible, the two most vocal critiques I hear from permapatient acquaintances. As consumers, berating one another has created divides in the unified goal that we have access to affordable quality health care when we need it.