What are some steps people can take to improve their health literacy skills?
Employers should encourage employees to look for reliable online resources to educate themselves about health topics. When visiting their doctor, people should take time to ask questions when they do not understand test results, instructions or other health information. While some doctors might fear lengthy appointments, research shows that if allowed to speak freely, the average patient would initially speak for less than two minutes. What is health benefits literacy? Health benefits literacy is the ability to understand and navigate health insurance options and benefits, and it is essential to helping employees become well-informed health care consumers. Increasing health benefits literacy provides a pivotal opportunity for employers wanting to increase the adoption rate of increasingly popular consumer-directed health plans. Working in partnership, health benefits providers and employers should offer educational materials in easy-to-understand formats, along with credible health inf