middle aged doctor looking at patient’s x-ray in office
Let’s be honest—most preventive care visits don’t really prevent illnesses. When we go to the doctor to get poked and prodded during our annual physical, most of the tests are intended to determine if we already have or are susceptible to something that, without treatment, could become more serious.
Don’t get us wrong, these tests are critically important, but we think they’re also misnamed. The goal of a preventive visit is to catch things early and intervene before they get worse. Think of it like pulling a weed as soon as you see it, before it grows, multiplies, and takes over your entire yard. But treating your yard so that those weeds never appear in the first place—that’s preventive care.
It’s about lifestyle choices
Preventive care really involves lifestyle choices that are made so that the conditions don’t occur in the first place: Exercise. Eating right. Getting plenty of sleep. Reducing stressors in your life. In other words, wellness.
Too often, people wait until after they’ve had a health scare to get in shape. We sometimes hear people say that a heart attack was actually a good thing because it served as a wake-up call and caused them to make some important changes. Or we hear of people with diabetes who control their condition with diet and exercise and actually see their health improve. This is great, but it’s also reactive. Wouldn’t it be better if people ate right and exercised more on a proactive basis? That’s what preventive care is all about.
The health plan can help
The good news is that many of today’s health plans not only cover preventive visits but have built-in wellness benefits as well.
Our work is important
We have a for-profit health care system in this country, and those who provide this care like to know that they’re going to get paid for the services they provide. Health insurance is a way to guarantee this payment, so it really is a requirement if people want access to the best care possible. Agents sell access to life-saving medical care.
Additionally, the wellness and preventive benefits, if explained properly, can also save people’s lives, or at least help them enjoy life more.