With the outrageous cost of medical care in this day and age, there is no question that without some insurance coverage, you risk a financial crisis–possibly even bankruptcy, if you are hit with a very serious injury or illness. According to a 2019 study from the American Journal of Public Health, “roughly 530,000 people reported falling into bankruptcy annually due partly to medical bills and time away from work.” Going without some insurance coverage is like rock climbing without ropes. So, do I believe you need health insurance? Yes. Do I believe people view health insurance properly? No. Let me explain…
Most people look at their health insurance as a means of being healthier. Health insurance is not a supplier of health, it is a way of offsetting healthcare costs should the need for healthcare arise. While most people view health insurance differently than other insurances, such as auto, home, or life insurance, it is actually there to provide assistance when in a crisis. You understand that your auto insurance is to be utilized if you have an accident. You do not expect it to pay for car washes, tire rotations, and tune-ups. With homeowners’ insurance, you would expect it to pay for damages sustained in a fire, a storm, or a flood. You do not expect it to pay for pressure washing the deck and siding, gutter cleaning, or new paint on the walls. Health insurance is no different. It is there to provide assistance in the event of a health issue or crisis. It is not there to pay for gym memberships, healthy food from the grocery store, or your yoga or massage sessions.
Understanding this is critical if you are to attain true and optimal health. The stuff health insurance might cover… doctor visits, diagnostic testing, medications, and surgeries… usually come AFTER a health problem has occurred or is occurring. Even calling it “health” insurance is a misnomer, as it is actually “crisis” insurance, or “sick-care” insurance.
Each year the coverage of your health insurance gets worse. Your premiums go up, your deductibles and co-pays go up, and the services that are covered go down. Why? Because health insurance companies are in business to make money. How do you make more money? You collect more money… and spend less. So, they raise the premiums and reduce your coverage.
As discouraging, frustrating, and scary as this is, if you shift the way you think about health insurance, you’ll be much better off. First, know that the primary person with the biggest control over your health is you. The biggest factor in terms of how healthy you are now, or how healthy you will be in the future, is your lifestyle choices. Sickness and disease show up when your health gets low, and it is your lifestyle choices that build up your health. No matter how smart your doctors are, how advanced the local hospital is, how many drugs or surgeries you have access to, or how good your health insurance policy is, none of those build health. So, never put more faith or confidence in anything over you and your daily lifestyle health choices.
Second, understand that health insurance is crisis insurance, not “health” insurance. Just because your health insurance does not pay for something does not mean that you don’t need it. I am surprised how often I see patients let their health insurance dictate what they do regarding their health. Just because the insurance company does not cover a service or procedure does not mean you do not need it. The sooner you realize that the health-building stuff is your responsibility, not the insurance company’s, the better off you’ll be. You have to join the gym, purchase the healthier foods, do the mediation, take the time, put in the effort, and of course, spend the money.
Personally, I have a high-deductible policy. I know that I need the coverage for unforeseen health issues or serious injuries, but I can keep my premiums down by having that higher deductible. It is still ridiculously overpriced, but I know that in a serious crisis, I will be protected. I take responsibility for paying out of pocket for all the stuff that I know has the biggest impact on my health and will reduce my risk for sickness and disease.
Turning your health over to a health insurance company is foolish. Thinking they have your best interest in mind is naïve. They are in business to make money. They will charge as much as they can, pay out as little as they can, and do not care one bit about you, or the doctors (like myself) who are trying to help you. Rethink health insurance. Take charge of your own health. It is YOU who has the most impact on how healthy you are and will be down the road.
