If you don’t have a doctor in the family – ask for the next best thing...

Most of us don’t have a doctor or medical expert in the family or at our disposal – but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some help on the inside...

Dr. Charles B. Inlander, author of “Take This Book to the Hospital With You,” says there are quite a few knowledgeable health-care specialists out there who really can help:

• Nurse navigators. These skilled registered nurses or nurse practitioners help patients receiving inpatient or outpatient care with all aspects of their treatment, including scheduling and insurance.

• Medical social workers. Most hospitals have staff that help patients with medical concerns and issues such as aftercare follow-up. They can help with transfers and even intervene with insurance companies if there is a dispute.

• Your insurance company. Most larger insurance companies, including Medicare, have put together teams of personnel including nurses, social workers and even doctors — whose primary role is to provide customer assistance and guidance.

Dr. Inlander says someone who works within the system can be a great ally in helping you get through difficult or confusing medical situations. In most cases, these specialists are either free of charge or covered by insurance.