Make a Healthy Life a Priority

Most people who could take better care of their health but don’t tell me that two things stop them: lack of money and lack of time. Let’s start with money.

Many years ago, when I had just started my chiropractic practice, a couple come to my office seeking care. They both had back problems as well as other health problems, and both wanted the care I had to offer. When we discussed the amount of care needed and the cost, they lamented that they were on limited incomes, that the care was not covered by insurance, and that it would be a real hardship for them to stretch their budget any further.

I felt sorry for these two nice people, who obviously did not have the resources to obtain the care they needed, and accepted payment that was much lower than my standard fees. In other words, I gave them a great deal because they wanted to be healthy, I wanted them to be healthy, and apparently they couldn’t afford it.

A month or two later, they came into my office all excited and asked me to accompany them to the parking lot to see their newest acquisition. They had just bought a top-of-the-line automobile on a budget that could not cover the cost of the healthcare they needed. Their monthly payment for that car was well above the monthly payment for the care they could not afford.  That was an awakening for me. How could people who couldn’t afford healthcare afford a new car? It was a matter of priorities.

 

I can’t tell you the number of times people have said “I can’t afford to take vitamins,” when I know from their health history that they have a regular daily intake of alcohol or tobacco. I’ve heard people tell me they can’t afford a water filter for their home, and the next weekend they go to Las Vegas and lose hundreds gambling. People have told me they can’t afford to shop at the health-food store; meanwhile, they eat out five nights a week. Others have told me they can’t afford a good pair of shoes, and the very next week they’re showing me the jewelry they’ve just bought.

To these people, healthcare is not yet a priority. They’ll probably wait until they’re seriously ill before healthcare becomes important to them—at which point, of course, it will cost a lot more. If you see yourself here, don’t be embarrassed—just recognize that you have done or are doing the very same thing.

What is the cost of ill health? The average patient in my practice pays between $300 and $500 a year for preventive care. On the other hand, the person who’s been ignoring their symptoms and avoiding the cost of care will pay about five times that when they finally are in so much pain that they make healthcare a priority.

 

What is the cost of regularly missing work because you’re sick?

 

What is the cost for someone who ignores their health until they’re very sick, then must pay for doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, specialists, and possibly in-home care or assisted living? Not much, you say—their insurance will cover it. But what is the cost to them in terms of how it affects them, their family, and the rest of their life?

 

What is the cost to the person who can no longer garden or golf or exercise or sit comfortably or lift their children or make love to their partner? What is the real cost of not caring for the good health you have? Some people ignore small health problems until they become so serious that they’re disabled. What is the cost of being disabled for the rest of your life?

 

Insurance will usually cover any serious illness or injury care, but most insurance policies won’t pay for real preventive care ( I'm not talking about blood pressure screenings- which is what the insurance companies are currently calling preventative care).

 

  If you think you can’t afford preventive healthcare, think again. Yes, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for your vitamins, your pure water, and your exercise costs, be they for gym membership, league dues, or sports equipment for your home. You probably will also have to pay to see your homeopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage therapist. You definitely have to pay for your organic whole foods.

But make your healthcare a priority and you’ll be able to afford it. Paying for preventive care is not just an annual checkup with some healthcare provider to ascertain that you have no dreadful diseases. It’s a healthy way of living that you probably can afford if you decide you want it and budget for it—which is exactly how the people in my story could afford their new car.

I have a sign in my office that quotes prices for activities that many people do often: a round of golf, a day of skiing, movie tickets and popcorn for two, a month of cable TV, two packs of cigarettes a week for a month, dinner for two at a moderate chain restaurant, etc. The sign compares these activities to the cost of preventive health care so you can enjoy these activities. In most cases, the cost of care is the same as the cost of one of these activities.

 

Some people truly have a hard time affording healthcare. I have patients who are just scraping by—but bless their hearts, they’re so aware of the long-term importance of taking good care of their health that they put aside a little money each week so they can afford a chiropractic adjustment at the end of the month. They budget  their supplements into their monthly grocery bill. Their Christmas gift for the family is a water filter. They buy at least their produce at the health-food store. When it comes to their health, these people have real determination. They know that their health is their most valuable possession.

Most of us, fortunately, are not just scraping by, and can afford to make the same healthy choice that these people make. Does this mean you can’t have a new car or shouldn’t go out to eat? Of course not. But look at your priorities and decide where you can cut back a little, to increase your health. It really does make a difference.

Let’s talk about time. The average person spends 21.5 hours a week watching TV. Imagine how healthy you’d be if you spent just half that time exercising. In fact, you could spend a quarter of that time exercising and you’d be a lot healthier. How many hours a week do you spend at the computer? Make family time healthy time. Walk together, play a sport, or listen to relaxing music. You don’t have to take time from your family to be healthy.

If you give forty hours a week to your job, as most people do, why not give yourself just one hour a week for a massage, a meditation or yoga class, or some other healthy activity? It doesn’t take much time to pop your vitamins in the morning and drink eight glasses of water a day, but people have told me that they don’t have time to do even that. Maybe you’re one of those people who are so rushed during the day you don’t even have time to drink a glass of water. Imagine how rushing around like that is affecting your health. Imagine how stressful that is for your body, day after day. I suggest you talk to a counselor about getting more organized so you can have a little more time for you.

If you think you don’t have time to take care of your health, you haven’t made it a priority. How much time do you think it would take to recover from a serious health problem brought on by the effects of a too-hectic lifestyle? How much time do you think it would take to recover from a health problem that has been ignored for months? How much time do you lose when you’re really sick and have to lie down for a few days? If you take the time to take care of your health, you’ll be much less likely to find yourself losing time to one of these scenarios. Make healthcare a priority. You have the time.