Chapter 3 Consumer Rights

Making Consumer Choices – Health consumer- anyone who purchases or uses health products or services.  Influence decisions:  Internal- habit, personal taste  External- opinions of family, friends, cost & media – Media: various methods of communicating information (tv, radio, newspaper, magazines, billboards, internet).

– Advertising: written or spoken media messages designed to interest consumers in purchasing a product or service. Primary purpose is to make you WANT to buy product. – Comparison shopping: a method of judging the benefits of different products by comparing several factors, like features, quality, and cost.

Things to watch for in Advertising Technique: Bandwagon: BANDWAGON Bandwagon is a form of propaganda that exploits the desire of most people to join the crowd or be on the winning side, and avoid winding up the losing side. Few of us would want to wear nerdy cloths, smell differently from everyone else, or be unpopular. Rich and famous Free gifts Great Outdoors Good Times Testimonial

Examples of Bandwagon 1980s we all had crazy clothes and hair…check out those shorty shorts that my brothers are wearing. Early 90s poofy hair….cool but took hours to curl and enough hairspray to kill ozone Early 80s Late 80s

Advertising will use rare lil cuties like this very rare albino hummingbird to sell their products!

Rich and Famous Really the Rich Gangsters wear these flip flops??? They use the idea that if you wear these or whatever they are selling…you too can be rich and famous.

Great Outdoors: Use of families having fun outside with beautiful scenery to sell… In fact where is this water that these kids are fishing? Who looks so stylish camping????

Good Times Ads will play off of good times that you remember or makes you remember the good ole’ times that you shared with your family.

Testimonials They will use rare cases of people to say how they lost all this weight and you can do it too.

Product/Services Considerations Cost: Compare prices of same or similar brands at different stores (Kroger vs Walmart) Features: What product features are important…don’t pay extra for things you don’t need Quality: well made products offer superior performance. An inexpensive product is no bargain if it breaks or doesn’t work.

Warranty: company or stores written agreement to repair a product or refund your money should the product not function properly. Ask about warranty before purchasing. Read entirely and make sure you understand terms and cost. Recommendations: Talk to others who used product or service before purchasing

Safety: Should be the most important in mind when choosing sports, recreation, or home- safety products. – Underwriters Laboratory (UL): product safety testing and certification organization. Logo found on electrical appliances, and other products to show it has passed safety standards. – Snell & American National Standards Institute (ANSI) :monitor safety standards for helmets and other protective equipment. Look for logo and safety info before purchasing.

Rights as a Consumer You have rights, before and after you purchase a product or service. Most stores want their customers satisfied so they recognize and respect these rights. You also have a right to complain. Safety- you have right to purchase products/services that will not hurt you/others

Choice: Have right to select from many products at competitive prices. Informed: have right to truthful information about products and services. Be heard: you have right to join in making of laws that govern buying and selling. Have problems corrected: you have right to seek compensation when treated unfairly. Consumer education: you have right to learn skills to help you make wise choices.

Online Shopping Using internet to buy products and services Considerations: – Price: offer lower prices but account for shipping, tax, return policy. – Convenience: delivered directly to home (but home to sign for pkg, what if left and stolen)…but return—you have to repackage and ship back (who pays). – Product information: online description accurate? You can only view online…can’t examine before you purchase.

Safeguards to online shopping Under 18, get parent permission. Make sure site is secure. How do you know? Will credit card info be accessible? Check and understand return policy. Save confirmation numbers and related info to your purchase in case problems arise.

Lets move on to section 2 Choosing health services Types of health Services – Health Care System: medical care available to nation’s people, the way they receive care, and method of payment. – Divided into 2 types: General Care (ex: Primary Care physician, nurses, dentists, etc.) Specialized Care (Specialists).

Facilities for Health Care Inpatient vs Outpatient Private Practices- Dr.s work for self but usually associated with certain hospitals Clinics- Community care Group practices- share office, equipment, and support staff. Hospitals- Offer inpatient and outpatient care Emergency Room- Located within hospital to provide care for life threatening emergencies Urgent Care- staffed by PCP to handle emergencies that are not life threatening.

How to pay for health services Health Insurance- plan for private companies or govt programs pay for part or all person’s medical cost. Premium- cost associated with belonging to insurance program Out of pocket- amount you have to pay for dr. visit Deductible- amount $ member must pay before insurance company pays. Co-pay: amount you have to pay every time you go to Dr. (most PCP $25, Specialist $35 except some things like preventative care are covered fully)

Insurance Plans HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations): pay monthly premium but few or little out of pocket cost, but can only see specialist after being referred from PCP and only doctors in network. PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization): Doctors in network agree to charge less that reg. fee, pay monthly premium to belong, can use drs in or out of network and can see any specialist when they choose. POS (Point of Service Plans) Can choose providers in or out of network but often have higher premiums

Trends in Health Care Birthing Centers Drug Treatment Centers Continuing Care and assisted living facilities Hospices Telemedicine

You and your health Know your medical history. Know your immunizations, allergies, any health problems that you have had and any immediate family members. Patient Skills: – Before you go to dr. write down your reasons for seeing the dr. and any symptoms. – Ask questions while you are there about diagnosis, medications or procedures that you do not understand or are unsure. – Inform them of any allergies or medications that you are taking.

Medicines or Herbal Supplements Make sure Dr. and pharmacists know all medicines including OTCs, Scripts or supplements that you are taking. Any problem that occurs with medicine, please contact Dr./pharmacist right away

Health Rights You have the right to your medical records. Laws protect your confidentiality by limiting access by other individuals or organizations. Name the law?

Managing Consumer Problems Fraud: deliberate deceit or trickery. Generally, those selling fraudulent products often go out of business once consumers complaints expose them. Health Fraud: known as quackery, sale of worthless products or services that claim to prevent disease or cure health problems.

– Areas known to susceptible health fraud: Weight loss products- some ads claim you can lose weight overnight or without changing eating habits or diet. Beauty and anti-aging products- tooth whiteners, hair enhancers, wrinkle creams—these work temporarily but none have permanent results. Clinics that specialize in miracle cures: not all clinics are fraudulent but check with health care professional before seeking treatment.

Health care mistakes Malpractice: failure of health care professional to meet accepted standards. Get second opinion from specialist and you can file a complaint with state medical board or American Medical Association.

Addressing Consumer Problems Better Business Bureau (BBB)- deal with complaints against local merchants. Core service is to help resolve dispute of service or product and follow up in truth of advertising. Consumer Advocates- groups of people who sole purpose is to take on regional, national, or international consumer issues.

Local, State, & Federal Govt Agencies FTC (Federal Trade Commission) work to prevent false or deceptive advertising that deals with health related products or services. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ensure that medicines and food are handled safely, effectively and properly labeled. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects consumers against harmful products and can recall dangerous ones. Small claims court/state court can handle legal disputes involving $ below limit.

Public Health Public Health- community wide effort to monitor welfare of population. State, County, and City health Dept.: oversee standards for water/sewer systems, waste disposal, sanitation of restaurants, health of residents. WHO (World Health Organization)- agency in UN trying to eradicate disease like polio, cholera, and pollution. International Committee of Red Cross: emergency aid to victims of disease outbreaks, conflict and natural disasters.