I have a health concern, what do I do?

It’s inevitable that sooner or later (and for most of us, it’s sooner) we’ll have a health concern. But, whether it’s a sore shoulder, a migraine that keeps coming back, digestive issues or a skin condition, it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to getting help.

And when you do get help, do you know what to ask? How much should you budget for all the specialist visits?

Give it more than a moment’s thought and you’ll probably end up with more questions than you had when you did that Year 12 physics exams.

That’s where we come in. To help keep things simple, we partnered with nib Group Medical Advisor Dr Hamish Black to answer some of the biggest questions you might have when you’ve got a health concern.

Related: Have you tried nib Symptom Checker?

The best port of call when you feel like something isn’t right, or you think you should get something checked out, is to make an appointment with your GP or primary healthcare provider. Hamish recommends that you try and be consistent with which doctor you see, as they’ll then have a better overview of your health journey.

“You should also consider signing up for My Health Record, so that if you do visit a different GP, they’ll be able to access important information from your past appointments,” explains Hamish.

Related: Know the kinds of health checks you should be getting at every stage of life.

• If you’re aged between 20-29, find out more with our article Health checks in your 20s

• If you’re aged between 30-39, we’ve put together this article: Health checks in your 30s

• Aged 40-49? There’s a dedicated article on The Check Up, Health checks in your 40s

• And, for the young-at-hearters (or those of us between 50-59), check out Health checks in your 50s

Are you one of those people who like to refer to Dr Google before visiting the real-life doctor? It’s not necessarily a bad thing to do Hamish says.

“There’s nothing wrong with arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible; especially when it comes to your health. Just make sure you use good resources and don’t become fixated on a certain ailment or illness.”

One of the big mistakes that patients make is being passive during their appointment. Hamish encourages patients to take an active role in their health and ask questions when they’re not sure about something.

If you’ve got a health concern, state it up front when you visit your GP.

“If you’ve got a health concern, state it up front when you visit your GP. Tell them exactly why you’re concerned and what you think you might have. Let them know if you have any fears, especially related to family history.”

If your doctor recommends a procedure, surgery or treatment that you’re uncomfortable or nervous about, it’s essential that you ask some questions to ensure you’re educated and empowered. Finding out if there are risks and knowing what the recovery period will be like is important. For a more comprehensive list of things to ask, check out our article, 7 questions you need to ask your doctor to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Looking for a specialist? Head to nib’s Find a Provider tool. This tool allows you to search from a community of specially selected health providers.

If you’re being recommended an invasive procedure or a treatment plan, it’s important to talk to your GP or specialist about your options. If your condition doesn’t require urgency, you might find that losing some weight or incorporating more exercise into your lifestyle could help reduce your risk. At nib, we offer a number of Health Management Programs to help our members improve their overall health and wellbeing and stay out of hospital.

Some GPs bulk-bill their patients, which means that you won’t be out-of-pocket for treatment, but if your GP doesn’t bulk-bill, you’ll be required to pay for part of the cost of the appointment – Medicare covers a percentage. We’ve put together an article on bulk-billing to explain it in more detail: Everything you need to know about bulk-billing.

Whoever you plan on seeing, always request a quote before going to any appointment, that way you reduce your risk of getting an expensive surprise. For nib members who are planning on visiting a dentist, optometrist or physiotherapist, we recommend searching for a provider using our Find a Provider tool. Although you’re welcome to see a specialist of your choosing, this tool simply allows you to see the locations and contact information of local providers Depending on your cover, nib may also pay benefits for your visit. If you’re not sure what you’re covered for, head to member account, opens in a new tab to view your policy details.

If you're planning on going to hospital, it’s important that you contact nib for advice on reducing out-of-pockets. We can also, provide you with a cover check and give you average treatment costs for many procedures. Check out our article, Going to hospital? Here's why you should contact nib first., for more.

The information on this page is general information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Do not use the information found on this page as a substitute for professional health care advice. Any information you find on this page or on external sites which are linked to on this page should be verified with your professional healthcare provider.