February is Wise Health Care Consumer Month, established by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine so consumers can make educated decisions about their own health. Getting the most out of your health care visits and your relationship with health care providers isn’t just good for your health—it also benefits your pocketbook.

Think about your car and how regular maintenance can help you avoid massive repair bills later. Taking wise preventive health measures works the same way. One example is getting your age-recommended screenings and trusting your physician to recommend the ones that make the most sense for you. The screenings your best friend gets may not be the right choice for you based on your family history or current health status.

Here are some steps to becoming a wise health care consumer and becoming your own best advocate for your health:

• Select a physician that is right for your personal needs—and your pocketbook. It’s fine to get a referral from family members, co-workers and friends – in fact, that’s a good way to start. But it's also a good idea to make sure a physician participates in our medical plan network, as you will pay less out of pocket for your services. Once you've found a physician, don’t feel obligated to stay with them if the relationship doesn’t feel right to you. You should feel comfortable discussing personal details about your physical and mental health, and you should feel like they are listening to you with both concern and respect. ‍
• Prepare for your doctor visit. Make time before your appointment to identify and list your concerns and questions. Be sure you know what medications you’re taking and in what doses. This includes your current prescription medications, as well as any over-the-counter drugs, herbal, or homeopathic remedies you’re taking. ‍
• Don’t hide anything from your doctor. They are not there to judge you - so share everything, as it could impact your diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. ‍
• Understand your medication and any side effects, as well as what you should not do or take while you take it, such as driving, drinking alcohol, or over-the-counter drug interactions.‍
• If you are waiting on test or lab results and don’t hear back, don’t be afraid to call your doctor’s office and follow up. ‍
• If you have been diagnosed with a concerning health condition, consider taking a friend or family member with you to record the doctor’s advice so you can focus on you and your treatment provider. Also, consider seeking a second opinion. If you participate in Transocean's medical plan, your benefits include second opinion services with leading physicians—or if you merely want some advice—through 2nd.MD. These services are available at no cost to you.‍
• Ask about generics. Talk to your health care provider about whether you can fill your prescription with a generic drug to save money. Generic drugs must meet the same FDA requirements as brand-name drugs, with some subtle differences for certain medications.

Remember, your free wellness visits available under Transocean’s medical plan make preventive health care easy and could help you identify a serious health condition before it becomes more serious—and costly—to treat.

Transocean also offers free tools and resources like UHC Rally to help you assess your overall health and get personalized recommendations for improving it. When you improve your health, you generally make fewer trips to the doctor and may even be able to eliminate certain medications, which can save you money.