Understanding Your Health, On Your Terms

Every October since 1999, organizations across the country have observed Health Literacy Month — a time to focus on understanding and using health information to take care of yourself. It's a fitting time of year for the observance: as routines shift with the season and Medicare Open Enrollment gets underway, many of us are already thinking more about our health, our coverage, and the paperwork that comes with both.

As we age, keeping track of medications, appointments, and health instructions can sometimes feel overwhelming. Having the right tools and knowledge helps prevent mistakes, ensures timely care, and supports independence. Health Literacy Month is a reminder that understanding your health information isn't a small or secondary skill — it's central to staying well.

What Is Health Literacy, Exactly?

According to the federal Healthy People 2030 initiative, personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. In plain terms: can you get the health information you need, make sense of it, and actually put it to use — filling a prescription correctly, understanding a diagnosis, knowing when to call a doctor, or following through on a treatment plan?

It's a skill that matters for everyone, and it's more common to struggle with it than many people realize. National research has found that a large share of American adults — some estimates put it at nearly 9 in 10 — have difficulty with at least some aspect of understanding or using health information, and that even people who are strong readers in other areas of life can still find medical language, insurance paperwork, or discharge instructions hard to follow. Health literacy isn't a reflection of intelligence or education; it's a reflection of how clearly health information is communicated, and how well the systems around it are designed to be understood.

Older adults are especially affected by low health literacy, in part because managing several chronic conditions, multiple medications, and more frequent appointments raises the stakes for getting it right. Research has consistently linked limited health literacy to poorer health outcomes, more emergency room visits, and higher health care costs — which is exactly why building clarity and confidence around health information is so valuable.

Why It Matters More As We Age

Health information doesn't stay simple. A single doctor's visit might come with new medication instructions, a follow-up test to schedule, insurance paperwork to interpret, and lifestyle recommendations to remember — all delivered in a short appointment window. When that information isn't clear, it's easy for something to fall through the cracks: a medication taken at the wrong time, a follow-up that never gets scheduled, a symptom that goes unreported because it wasn't clear it mattered.

Clear health information is key to making informed choices and maintaining your quality of life. 

That includes:

• Knowing what questions to ask your doctor, and feeling comfortable asking them
• Understanding what a diagnosis or new medication actually means for your daily life
• Keeping medications, dosages, and appointments organized and easy to track
• Knowing where to turn when you're unsure — whether that's a pharmacist, a doctor's office, or a trusted resource

Aster Is Here to Help

Aster is committed to helping older adults feel confident in managing their health and communicating with doctors and care providers. Our Outreach and Social Services team is here to help you navigate Medicare, Medicaid, and other community health programs through free, private, and unbiased consultations — because understanding your options is the first step toward using them well.

Whether you have a specific question about a Medicare plan, want help making sense of a benefits letter, or simply want a second set of eyes on paperwork that feels confusing, our team is a resource you don't have to navigate alone.

A Few Simple Habits Worth Building

Health literacy isn't just something to think about once a year. A few small habits can make a real difference year-round:

• Ask questions freely. No question about your health or your care is too small to ask.
• Bring a written list of your medications, symptoms, or questions to every appointment.
• Ask for the "teach-back." If something is unclear, ask your provider to explain it a different way, or repeat it back in your own words to make sure it clicked.
• Keep records organized, whether that's a simple notebook, a folder, or a personal health record you can bring to appointments.
• Reach out for help when paperwork or a decision feels overwhelming — that's exactly what Aster's Outreach and Social Services team is here for.

Learn more about Health Literacy Month at odphp.health.gov.