4 Tips From a Doctor on Your State Reopening

Imagine what it will be like when your state and city or town reopen again. Your front door will slowly creep open, a growing sliver of sunlight illuminating your dim, dusty cave as you peek through the crack wondering, is it really safe to go outside again?

The answer is yes. Sort of. If your state and town authorities have given the green light, then it’s reasonable to follow suit. However, just because government authorities have deemed it okay to return to a relative, gentle semblance of normality again, this doesn’t mean that you can cannonball into an over-crowded swimming pool or plop down at a jam-packed beach amongst un-masked sunbathers. You have to play your part, too.

I’ve laid out below some step-by-step tips that we can all follow. If we follow the same habits and practices—we’re all in this together—we can enjoy life outside of quarantine without the risk of re-sequestration, a likely scenario if too many of us throw caution to the wind.

Always Wear a Face Mask When You Go Out

Just because you can go outside and mingle in ways that you couldn’t a month ago doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. Yes, go out to get things you need. Reward yourself from time to time by heading outdoors to enjoy the summer sun and maybe some food from a kitchen other than your own. But don’t flow out like this is spring break on a Florida beach.

According to the CDC, the virus is at its most contagious between people who are in close proximity to each other — and for 15 minutes or more.  This means not letting your guard down. Especially with close friends and family (outside of your household), people with whom we might feel compelled to let our vigilance down.

If you’re going to a restaurant, sit outdoors. If servers and other restaurant employees are not wearing face masks, choose another eatery. And be sure to wear your own face mask. Many restaurants and businesses will not allow entry without a mask but call ahead prior to dining outside to ensure staff are wearing face masks.  The decision to wear a mask (or not) shouldn’t be about your politics. It should be about your survival and the health of the people around you.

We need to be open and comfortable with the new reality we’re about to experience. That means getting used to allowing your temperature to be taken before entering certain businesses or workplaces, never leaving home without your mask, gloves and hand-sanitizer, and washing your hands constantly. The easiest way to catch covid-19 is by being careless. If you stay attentive and continue to restrict some activities, prevention is within reach.

It’s Time to Check In With Your Health care Provider

As the saying goes about apples and doctors, it’s true that eating healthy is important but at some point, going to the doctor is necessary and inevitable. We know that COVID-19 is causing our kids to fall behind on vaccines.  We all need to resume our routine physicals and specialist appointments for chronic health conditions, preventive screening and overall wellness – Which most of us have been putting off for months now.

Your state might be reopening soon, so it’s time to think about making that medical appointment. If you’re making the appointment via telephone, it’s a good idea to ask what you can expect from the office visit:

• What safety measures are in place?
• Will you be allowed to wait in the doctor’s office lobby?
• Should you come a few minutes early?
• If you’re feeling sick, especially with flu-like symptoms, let the office know before going in.

And for those who don’t have health care or lost their health care as a result of the many COVID-19 job terminations, there are low-cost insurance options. For your prescription medication needs,  be sure to use RxSaver™ tool to find coupons and save up to 85% on prescription medications.

Post-Quarantine Family Fun

Whether you’re an individual or part of a family unit, double-thinking safe activities is a must in these post-lockdown times. There is no such thing as a zero-risk outing until a vaccine is on the market and a critical portion of the population has been immunized.  How you act now what you do is worth investing significant consideration. As a basic rule for now, think outdoors versus indoors and places with fewer people versus destinations that are filled with masses.

And please keep in mind that your risk of developing severe symptoms from COVID-19 depends quite a bit on your age and health. So, factor in these personal considerations when weighing your risk in partaking in all activities.

For now, stay away from dining inside restaurants, working out at the gym, frequenting nightclubs and bars, attending an indoor house party, walking around a shopping mall, and avoid any large gathering of humanity, even when it’s outside.

In contrast, it’s lower risk to dine at a restaurant outside, work out/do exercise in a park or other open spaces, go to the beach (as long as it’s not wildly packed with people), go camping, attend a friend’s backyard boîte (socially distanced please), or have a picnic in a park. Enjoy yourself. Just do it mindfully.

Post-Pandemic Health care Costs

“Affordable health care” should not be an oxymoron but at times it certainly can seem that it is. So many people have either lost their health care due to COVID-19-related job termination or had their salaries slashed in half (or worse) that it’s more important than ever to keep money-saving health care strategies at the top of your mind.

The first tip, after you get your bills for medical treatment, review them thoroughly. You’d be surprised how frequently errors pop up on bills, and usually not in the patient’s favor.

There are obvious reasons why you should be avoiding the ER at all costs—no pun intended—right now. But a less evident one might be that a visit to the emergency room is pricey. Unless you need immediate treatment or are in worrisome pain, consider an urgent care facility first.

If your doctor suggests an MRI/CT or lab tests, shop around before turning up at the facility your doctor recommended. The costs at labs and radiology centers vary widely and you might save some money by spending a few minutes to call around to check prices.

If your doctor doesn’t already do it, always ask for a generic version of a prescription medication. Generics are almost always cheaper and equally as effective as brand-name versions of drugs. Also, it might be worth asking for some free samples first when trying a new drug—if it doesn’t work out, you won’t have wasted money on a long-term supply.

Don’t forget about RxSaver™ tool where you can access significant savings—think up to 85% on prescription medications—that will give you peace of mind that you’re paying the lowest prices for this necessary expense.

Follow these guidelines and we’ll all be able to better navigate this brave new world as healthily as we can.