Imagine waking up one day with a sudden heart health issue. Without health insurance, the healthcare bills can be overwhelming. But with health insurance, you can rest easy knowing that you have help ‘in your pocket’ to cover some important costs and tools to help you focus on your health and well-being.
Should you be concerned about heart disease?
Here are some heart disease numbers you should know:
- 2x – Men are twice as likely as women to suffer a heart attack
- #1 -Heart disease and stroke is the top cause of premature death among women
- 10 Years – Men newly diagnosed with heart disease are ten years younger than women
Consider the numbers: While heart disease remains the second-leading cause of death in Canada and the top cause of premature death among women, the good news is that the number of adults with new heart disease diagnoses has been steadily dropping since 2000, and the mortality rate associated with heart disease has declined by 21% in the same period.
Why? Experts say this downward trend is in part due to more effective risk factor management strategies — in other words, better prevention.
So how, exactly, can proactive lifestyle changes play a role in lowering the risk of heart disease?
Can health insurance actually help you prevent heart disease?
While it is important to note that genetics and age play a role that cannot be fully controlled, studies show lower rates of heart attacks and better outcomes with lifestyle changes—even among those with genetic predispositions.
We know that almost 80% of premature stroke and heart disease is preventable. That’s a massive number.
What are some great ways health insurance can help support you so you can avoid or manage heart disease?
Improve your diet
You have access to a dietician covered by your health insurance you can get some very good guidance about what will work for you.
Stay active and move more
The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology’s 24 Hour Movement Guidelines provides recommendations by age, and there’s some good scientific evidence behind them. Staying active helps you maintain a healthy body weight, reduces your stress, improves your sleep, and more. Health insurance programs like Manulife’s Vitality* to help you exercise more – just like Kevin did.
Get enough sleep
People who don’t get enough sleep have higher rates of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, which can all increase the risk of heart disease. Developing a sleep hygiene routine and aiming for seven to eight hours of sleep a night is important. Here’s how health insurance helps with that.
These lifestyle changes can significantly improve your heart health; heathier habits can control your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, which are the biggest factors that can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
Discover how Manulife Vitality* can help you develop and maintain healthier habits
Why have health insurance with Vitality. It tackles the things you care about most: helping you prevent heart disease problems, making sure you have some financial security against healthcare costs, and giving you peace of mind for your future.
Health insurance helps you prepare for unexpected healthcare costs like out-of-pocket healthcare costs for prescription drugs, dental care, visits to a therapist or even nursing care. It provides real peace of mind with financial protection if an unexpected illness or accident happens. Health insurance also covers ‘health maintenance’ costs, like regular dental care – and that makes health insurance a ‘good sense’ choice for everyone.
If you sign up and make Manulife’s Vitality part of your health insurance choice you get peace of mind, day-to-day healthcare support plus help with improving your health — and you get rewarded for it too with discounts and gift cards on popular brands for health and wellness activities you may already be doing!
Want to get healthier and save? Manulife Vitality is a program that comes with any Flexcare® and FollowMe™ Health & Dental plan for just $5/month. The Flexcare or FollowMe plan you choose will reimburse you for many routine and unexpected health-related expenses that may not be covered by your government health insurance.
Flexcare
Whether you need an all-around health and dental plan or targeted protection in a specific area, Flexcare provides affordable, flexible coverage for
- Prescription drugs
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Registered specialists and therapists
- Other extended health care services
Flexcare plans pay a portion of eligible health-related expenses either by cheque or direct deposit into your bank account.
Got gaps in your health insurance coverage? Flexcare plans have got you covered, so you can afford the care you need, whenever you need it. Your coverage is portable, which means it goes with you as you change jobs or even if your health changes. It’s available no matter when you decide you need it, from age 18 when you may exit your parents’ coverage, during work transitions throughout your life, and even into your 60s and 70s. You can protect the ones you love and get discounted rates if your family has three or more children.
FollowMe
When you lose health and dental benefits at work or your family plan – whether you leave, lose your job, or retire, get divorced or lose your spouse – FollowMe plans can help keep you protected. You must apply within 90 days of the date your benefits end. When you do, your coverage is guaranteed with no medical questions. FollowMe plans pay a portion of eligible health-related expenses either by cheque or direct deposit into your bank account. Your plan can cover
- Prescription drugs
- Vision care
- Registered specialists and therapists
- Other extended health care services
- And dental care.
Don’t wait. Take control of your heart health today with the help of health insurance
Ready to tackle your risk of heart disease? Go online at SBIS.ca to learn more about health insurance, get a quote for Manulife and add Vitality or get a quote for any of our other great health insurance plans, or give us a call at at 1-800-667-0429 or 416-601-0429. Our business hours are Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. eastern time.
