Want to save money?

Does you Doctor make money by getting you healthy or preventing you from getting sick?  Or does s/he make money by doing ‘procedures’.

Which is better?

I guess if you were sick, you’d say that you want to get healthy and are willing to pay for it.

If you’re healthy, I suppose you’ll want someone who will help you stay that way.

No one wants ‘procedures’ unless it’s the only way to solve the problem you have.

Prevention is always best and it often doesn’t cost much.  So why don’t we see more of it?

  • Could it be that drug companies don’t make money from it?
  • Could it be that insurance companies don’t pay for it?
  • Could it be that most Doctors aren’t trained to do it?

Probably all of the above.

In dental school, there’s a course in ‘Prevention’.  It’s often slotted in with other much more difficult and ‘important’ courses in the second or third years.   Most of a student’s time is taken up by learning ‘procedures’.   That’s the skill the schools teach.

Then the student graduates.  S/he might do some advanced study in guess what?   Procedures!  And when s/he finally gets into practice s/he finds out that not only doesn’t it pay to take the time to do prevention, even insurance companies don’t cover it.   Not wanting to upset their new patients and charge for it, out of pocket, they just don’t do it.

I’m not justifying the process.  I’m just explaining it.  The system is broken.

That doesn’t mean that you have to buy into the system.  It does mean that you have to educate yourself to ‘do it yourself’.  That’s why it’s so important to read this book, as it gives you information that will help you save money and prevent disease.

It means that you have to aggressively seek information from your healthcare providers.   If they’re good, they’ll know about prevention even if they chose not to share the information with you.  Make them.

Prevention isn’t costly, it’s just time consuming.   If you’re lazy, go ahead, wait and get sick and then see the Doctor.   Just don’t complain about it.

To your health and wellness,

Michael

Sequestration and you

I don’t know about you but when I hear the “S” word, my eyes glaze over. The reality of a government in paralysis is beyond my ability to control or understand so I just don’t worry about it.  I did my civic duty and voted.  I’ve even written letters!

I don’t worry about it and neither should you. While we’re unable to change Washington, we can control our own actions.   And, we can make decisions that protect us.

I can’t give you advice about money. Should you buy gold?   Invest in the Market?  These decisions are beyond my expertise.

One of the decisions you make every day is about your health.   Staying healthy is the best strategy to save money. Preventing health problems goes a long way to reduce your dependence on expensive treatment and expensive medications, not to mention the time it takes away from other pursuits.

When it comes to dental health, prevention is the key to long-term overall health and minimizes long-term financial expense.

Who can help you make such decisions? NOT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

Insurance companies care about their bottom line. If you don’t receive the correct care or have ‘big problems’ they have limited their exposure.  That’s one reason why they limit their yearly maximum payout.

So whom should you trust?

Trust yourself.  Trust your intuition. Gather information (read my book).  Look at your health care provider’s eyes. Do they truly care about you?  Do they rush you in and out without answering your questions?  Do they take the time to ask about your health and habits?  Do they look out for the cause of problems and not just recommend treatment for conditions?

Does insurance cover the time it takes to do thorough exams, histories and preventive care?  You know the answer.  If you’re lucky they’ll cover a “cleaning or 2 a year.”  What if you periodontal care more often?  You’re out of luck….and money.

During all times and especially during fiscally challenging times, preventing problems and uncovering causes makes sense.  It makes sense for your overall health and for your oral health.

We’re living longer and as a result have to take better care of out bodies. Over 35 years, it’s impressed me that those who take the best care spend the least.

Don’t worry about things out of your control. Controlling the things you can such as your dental care and oral health makes more sense now than ever.

To your health and wellness,

Michael