#5 If you move, you will have a hard time finding a good doctor
And we’re not trying to discredit the hard-working doctors out there. But not moving and choosing to stay in your hometown means that you have seen the same handful of doctors for the better part of your life.
This means that from your family doctor to a physician or even the few specialists you or someone you love may need, you are familiar with them or you can trust a recommendation without any doubt.
If you move to another state, this whole security when it comes to medical aid goes away. Of course, you can end up moving somewhere where there are better medical services, but you will not have the familiarity you had at home. A recent study showed that people who have seen the same practitioner for years reported 12% fewer hospitalizations than those who changed doctors frequently.
It’s logical, after all: your doctor knows you and your problems the best, and moving away from them may end up being inconvenient. Especially if you plan to switch coasts.
I take issue with several of these comments as being relevant for only a small number of people. For instance, many of us have children elsewhere, and we move to get closer to them. We move because the weather is better somewhere else; we move because the house is now way too big and hard to take care of; and sometimes we move because we can find better medical care.
I AGREE WITH YOU.
For another perspective, my wife and I moved 15 months ago from our home (of 27 years) in Glenside, PA, to a Continuing Care Retirement Center just 30 minutes away in Ambler, PA. Our church and doctors have stayed the same and many of our long-time friends are close enough for a visit – three will be joining us for Christmas dinner tomorrow night. We see this is THE BEST of all the options. Our care is assured and our surroundings are familiar. I believe that your article would have been stronger if you had mentioned this option.
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I already have a very difficult time finding a good internist……VERY DIFFICULT
This list must have been developed by someone living in a liberal high tax cold weather state with poor doctors. Does not apply to most of us.