Dr. Mike Roizen here with a tip about prescription drugs that will help you stay younger. Generic drugs cost a fraction of the named brand versions and they're very much like the real ones. Here's what you should know about them, they're strictly regulated by the FDA the active drug involves the brand-name version and the generic version must be the same. 

How the generic medication is absorbed and how soon it's delivered to where it's needed in your body must be bio equivalent to the brand name drug. They are usually a third of the brand price that's because the manufacturers of generic drugs don't have to earn back the expense of research and development. 

When possible choose a generic drug that's made by the same company that makes or made the brand-name drug. However if you're taking a drug that requires very precise dose control, a generic medication's equivalent status may not do the trick for you, this problem is common with thyroid medications. 

Bottom line pay attention to how you feel if you don't think the medication is doing what it's supposed to, call your doc for more ways to that being a smart patient can help you stay younger, watch all of our health tips right here. 
   

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Why I Care: Dr. Darria Long Gillespie

I think there's a differences of abilities as to how health can be delivered and managed and how we engage the consumers. So how healthy it can be delivered and managed I think both the science of medicine and the science of information has advanced to a point where we can manage much more effectively healthcare than we ever did before, we can personalize healthcare and that's one component of meeting the consumer where it's appropriate for them not just from a psychological perspective if you want but even from a clinical perspective. 

So I think we are in a position right now, and we are getting closer and closer in personalizing treatments. 
  

How Can Healthcare Be Effectively Delivered and Managed?

There are a number of reasons you may want to access your medical records. Maybe you need proof of a medical condition. Perhaps you need your records to schedule an appointment with a new doctor. Or, maybe you just want to add them to your personal health record. Whatever your reason, getting a copy of your medical records is easier than you think.

You have rights to your health information 
Under the federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you have the right to receive a copy of your medical records -- including billing records as well as X-rays or other test records -- from any health provider or plan. Your provider may require that you submit your request in writing; call to find out what information you need to include in your request. Many hospitals have online forms for submitting your request.

At the very least, you should get a paper copy, but electronic methods of delivery are becoming increasingly available. If it will take longer than 30 days to provide the records, your doctor must explain why. The provider may charge you a small fee for copying and sending the records. You can also request access to view your original record at the office or hospital.

You can get another person&#39;s medical records if you have written consent. For example, if you are acting on someone&rsquo;s behalf as a Healthcare Power of Attorney, or if you&rsquo;ve been designated as a person&rsquo;s legal ward or guardian, then you can access his or her records.

You can access your children&#39;s medical records -- with exceptions. If you&#39;re a parent or legal guardian, federal law allows you to see your child&#39;s medical records. However, there are certain restrictions. Some states don&rsquo;t allow parents to access records for certain sensitive services, such as treatment for sexually transmitted diseases or drug addiction. In other places, healthcare providers may use their discretion to decide when to give parents access.

You can also receive medical records of a deceased person under certain conditions. Whether appointed by will or by the court, if you&#39;re acting as the personal representative of the deceased&#39;s estate, you have access to their medical records under HIPAA. And if you&#39;re related to the deceased and their medical history has an impact on your own health, HIPPA gives you access to that information, as well.

There are some records you can&#39;t see 
For the most part, you have a right to view most original medical records. But health providers can withhold certain types of health information under HIPPA regulations and privacy laws, including:

<ul>
	<li>The provider&rsquo;s personal notes and observations</li>
	<li>Psychotherapy notes</li>
	<li>Health information compiled by the provider for a lawsuit</li>
	<li>Information a provider thinks may endanger your life, safety or the safety of others</li>
</ul>

In the event your request is denied, the provider often sends you a denial letter in the mail. And you do have the option to appeal your denial, too.

Learn How to Get a Copy of Your Medical Records

Understand the basic types of coverage most adults should consider purchasing.

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Why I Care: Dr. Jennifer Caudle

Life insurance is an important way to provide protection for your family. However, it&#39;s often misunderstood, and misconceptions are plentiful&mdash;including that it&#39;s expensive and difficult to purchase. But once you have a basic understanding of what life insurance is, how it works and the two main types of life insurance, you&rsquo;ll be on your way to providing protection and financial security for your family.

What is life insurance? 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/video/health-topics-a-z/financial-health/how-do-i-know-which-type-of-life-insurance-is-right-for-me">Life insurance</a> is a contract between you and an insurance company where you make a monthly or annual payment&mdash;the premium&mdash;and the insurance company pays a specified amount of money&mdash;the death benefit&mdash;to your beneficiaries when you pass away.

If you have people who depend on your income, like underage children, a spouse or elderly parents, then life insurance is imperative. You should also consider life insurance if someone would incur additional costs if you pass away (like childcare for example). The money obtained from a policy can help your family pay their regular monthly bills, your children&rsquo;s future college tuition or for your funeral expenses and outstanding medical bills. In some cases, people decide to purchase a policy when a major life event takes place&mdash;like getting married, buying a home, starting a business or having a baby&mdash;but life insurance can be purchased at any time.

In fact, the sooner you buy life insurance, the lower your monthly or annual payments will likely be. Other factors that determine the cost of life insurance are your health status, medical history and driving record. Smoking status is also a large determinant of your payments, with non-smokers generally receiving significantly better rates.

While historically, purchasing life insurance required medical exams and blood testing, this is often no longer the case. In fact, for relatively healthy individuals, many insurance companies offer a benefit of up to $1 million without a medical exam or blood test. For larger policies or for people with extensive medical histories, a medical exam can still be required.

Two basic types of life insurance 
The <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/financial-planning-health-care/what-different-types-life-insurance">two main types of policies</a> are term life insurance and permanent life insurance.

Term life insurance offers a cash payout if you pass away during a specific period of time (for example, 10, 20 or 30 years); you pay via a fixed monthly or annual premium during the term of the policy. Term insurance is a viable option for covering specific costs such as a mortgage or college education. Often times, insurance companies will allow you to convert your term policy into a permanent policy for a specified period of time after purchase.

Permanent life insurance offers lifetime protection with a cash payout at the time of death, regardless of when that is. It often includes a cash account value that you may be able to access while you are alive, which has the ability to grow, similar to money in other investments (mutual funds, or bonds). Your monthly payments may be fixed or they may be flexible depending on the type of policy you choose. Permanent life insurance is a viable option for people looking to pass money on to their family after they pass away, or for people concerned about paying for funeral costs or medical bills at the time of their passing.

Some employers offer life insurance as a benefit to their employees. While this is generally temporary&mdash;good only while you are employed with the company&mdash;it may be wise to take advantage of this benefit, as the monthly payments may be offset by your employer. But if you have family who is dependent upon your income, additional insurance, outside of work is generally required. Life insurance can be purchased online, over the phone or from a licensed financial professional.

Health care