Recently, I took my daughter to see a specialist at my health club. He practices chiropractic, active release therapy (ART) and acupuncture. His varied approach is brilliant for athletes in need of medical attention. While he was assessing my daughter, I asked if he could "check me out" and see what was not working correctly with my body. I was joking but kind of serious. He said,
“Of course, some of my patients see me for an injury or problem; others come for overall wellness, kind of like a tune-up for your car.”
As the end of the year approaches, I realize I haven't used my wellness benefits. That's a good thing because it generally means I'm healthy. But it seems remiss of me not to use coverage that could help with some nagging health concerns.
As I get older, I look at health and wellness differently. My commitment to exercising and eating healthy should be no different from my commitment to seeing a chiropractor to assess my spine alignment or a dietitian regarding foods that cause me discomfort. Preventative medicine is going to become an essential part of my wellness regime.
I believe companies are beginning to realize the long-lasting impact of preventative and alternative medicines. Benefits that cover these treatments increase overall health and wellness, reduce time away from the office due to illness, and drive job satisfaction and appreciation; employees accept that employers care about their well-being.
I am grateful to work for a company with robust health and wellness benefits. I know I am covered to take care of myself and my family. And for the first time, when my daughter complained about her foot, I booked an appointment with a chiropractor rather than her pediatrician. Old dogs can learn new tricks.
I wondered whether others are more diligent than me about utilizing their wellness benefits. And, in general, are these benefits commonplace?
According to the 2018 Canadian Life and Health Insurance Facts report, 25M Canadians (67% of the population or 79% of the working population) are covered for Extended Health benefits either through a group plan (90%) or an individual plan (10%). Extended Health represents 75% of the $34B annual health premiums. This massive amount includes claims for dental and prescription drugs, travel insurance, hospital stays, vision appointments, glasses, and paramedical claims.
I hypothesize that people utilize benefits for prescription drugs, dental work, hospital visits and vision – because those needs typically get addressed. Paramedical benefits, however, can get overlooked without an apparent injury or ailment. Sometimes, we get so busy that we push nagging health problems to the side, often worsening the issue.
I found statistics that the fastest-growing paramedical claim category is massage therapy. This makes sense to me because massages generally aid with relaxation, stress relief and overall wellness. But why don't people prioritize seeing a specialist for headaches, poor sleep, weight management, sore feet, back issues, food allergies or poor hearing? Those are some of the most common ailments people face daily but don't address.
I thought it would be helpful to include some basic information about critical categories of alternative medicines for those who are curious but have never sought treatment. Each category has a link to an information site should you wish to learn more.
Acupuncture is an ancient, safe and effective treatment that stimulates the body's ability to heal and relieve pain by inserting tiny needles into specific acupuncture points. The tiny needles are left between 15-30 minutes and do not hurt when applied or removed. Some benefits of acupuncture include improved mood and body function, increased energy and pain relief.
Chiropractic includes spinal manipulation and other treatments to ensure alignment in the body's musculoskeletal structure. Treatment can restore joint mobility and relieve pain in muscles, joints, bones and connective tissue to improve overall health and wellness.
Physiotherapy helps to restore movement and function when you are affected by injury, illness or disability. Treatment can help with a breadth of conditions including neuromusculoskeletal (e.g., back pain, sports injuries, arthritis), neurological (e.g., stroke), respiratory (e.g., asthma), and cardiovascular (e.g., heart disease).
Osteopathy uses a drug-free, non-invasive form of manual medicine that focuses on the whole body's health rather than just the injured or affected area. Focus areas include joints, muscles and spine. Common ailments treated through osteopathy include arthritis, headaches, tennis elbow, and posture problems.
Reiki is a Japanese stress reduction and relaxation technique that promotes healing. Reiki works with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
Audiology is the treatment of the auditory and vestibular portions of the ear. Audiologists are trained to manage or treat hearing and balance problems. They also make sleep earplugs if you have a husband that snores!
Naturopathic medicine is a science-based tradition that promotes wellness by employing non-toxic natural therapies to restore physiological, psychological and structural balance. Naturopathic doctors are typically trained in nutrition, botanical medicine using plants for healing, homeopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and physical medicine, including massage and exercise therapy.
In an age with increasing acceptance of alternative medicines and therapies, exploring your benefits is worthwhile. Confirm your coverage per family member and benefit categories. Learn about alternative therapies and explore which practices could best serve your needs.
The self-care movement is growing for a reason, so prioritize caring for yourself. We all know how much easier it is to care for others when we have good health. The old "pushing through" strategy is no longer suitable.
Mindful practices, rest, exercise, proper nutrition, social support and a little pampering go a long way. Do yourself a favour; see someone for that nagging problem you ignore.