Aging can scare a lot of us. Your body gets weaker your mind may become less stable. No one wants to lose their independence. That’s why it so important to proactively take care of your body so you can live longer and be able to live comfortably.
Here are a few ways that your health insurance can help empower you to deal with the problem of aging.
Health insurance helps you budget for taking care of your health
What if you unexpectedly need healthcare not covered by your government plan? How will you manage that financially? Accident and illness can strike anytime, and cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in unexpected out of pocket healthcare costs.
That’s where individual health insurance can help. Individual health insurance provides supplemental coverage options for everyday health needs and medical emergencies by covering a wide variety of services, so you can afford treatment that will help you feel your best.
No matter how prices change or how your health changes, knowing your finances are protected from out-of-pocket healthcare costs that can add up like prescription drugs, dental care, visits to a therapist or even nursing care is real peace of mind.
You can find a plan that fits your budget, regardless of your current health status, and depend on it for your entire life – simply by paying your premium each month.
Direct Billing means less out-of-pocket expenses when you least expect them. With health insurance, many of your eligible health care expenses can be processed automatically between your health care provider and insurer, like prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, some registered specialists, and therapists, and, of course, emergency medical expenses when you’re travelling. That’s efficient and convenient – and keeps you in control of your money and your health!
Health insurance makes prescription drug management easier
Nearly 7 in 10 adults aged 40–79 used at least 1 prescription drug in the past 30 days in Canada (65.5%), and around 1 in 5 used at least 5 prescription drugs (8.8%). If you’re taking medications, you should check in with your doctor and discuss these during your regular check-up, especially as you age. Review what’s working and what isn’t and if there are other options. This will ensure you’re not taking anything you don’t need or that’s too expensive.
Most health insurance plans cover costs for a wide variety of prescription drugs and have tools to help you understand them. If you are given a prescription for a certain medication and are uncertain if it is covered under your health insurance plan, contact your insurer with the Drug Identification Number (DIN) of the drug and they will let you know if it is covered. You can also take your benefit plan card to your pharmacist, and they will be able to advise you if the medication is covered.
If taking your medications at the right time is crucial to managing your illness, but you have trouble doing that, some health insurance plans have services built in to help you stay on track and save money. Simply go online through the website or handy app to fill prescriptions and the majority of the cost will be managed directly with your insurer soyou may not have to pay so much out of pocket . All your medication will be delivered to your door by Canada Post in plain, discreet packaging and if you have questions, you can live chat, text, or schedule a phone call with a pharmacist at your convenience.
Manage pain effectively with health insurance
Its critical to be resilient as we age – as the saying goes, “getting older isn’t for sissies”. About one in four Canadians aged 15 or older, live with chronic pain. Health insurance delivers tools to help you proactively work on your resiliency and wellbeing, and helps you pay for therapies you may need to manage chronic or occasional pain.
Physical therapies like naturopathic doctors, Swedish, and shiatsu massage performed by registered therapists and eastern-based acupuncture are options you may choose as you get older. Chiropractic adjustments can help release muscle tension and correct the body’s alignment and overall physical function and chiropractors can offer relaxation techniques to help you manage stress.
It’s important to know that these services are not covered by your government health plan, and you will be charged a fee. Health insurance will partially cover these costs. The dollar amount covered per visit and the annual combined maximum benefit will be outlined in your health insurance plan or can be found online under the plan details SBIS provides .
Your health and wellbeing are part of a larger combination of factors that includes prevention, exercise, nutrition, and mental health. Many of us are getting more receptive to emerging services, such as virtual care, online medical appointment scheduling, referrals, and prescription delivery. And, while we still have respect for standard medical practices, many of us are embracing alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, and naturopathy.
That’s where individual health insurance can help. Individual health insurance plans provide supplemental coverage options for everyday health needs and medical emergencies by covering a wide variety of services, such as massage and acupuncture, so you can afford treatment that will help you feel your best in 2022.
Health insurance delivers what you need when you age
Health insurance is expertly designed to empower you to make better preventative choices to maintain your health. It is ready to protect you from out-of-pocket pitfalls, deliver tools and services you can trust and enable you to engage the health care professionals you need.
Your health insurance can help connect you to the professionals you need for video consultations. In fact, you can use telehealth to overcome the obstacles of travel and waiting room time delays. It is a growing solution specifically designed to shorten the cycle between identifying a health problem and getting a clinical solution. In fact, you may even consider using a wider range of healthcare services for your health maintenance needs, without having to travel to a healthcare facility, like talking to a dietician.
Let’s face it. We are all aging. Health insurance helps.
There is always a learning curve that comes with properly taking care of our health as we age. With your health insurance in hand, you can make a clear plan for learning about better health management and dealing with troubles you encounter.
Health and dental insurance for you and your family provides coverage for services and treatments not covered by your government health plan like:
- Prescription drugs
- Dental care for Basic, Comprehensive Basic and/or Major Services
- Extended healthcare costs like vision care, accidental dental, ambulance transportation, hearing aids, home support, medical items, eye examinations, professional/registered therapists including chiropractor, foot-care specialist (chiropodist/podiatrist), naturopath, osteopath, physiotherapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, psychologist, registered social worker, speech therapist
- Travel
- Optional hospital accommodation for semi-private and/or private rooms.
Many health insurance plans guarantee coverage with no medical questionnaire, giving you the flexibility to choose based on your budget and needs.
Look forward to healthier aging with health insurance
Of all the challenges that lie ahead as you age, managing your health is vital and you will benefit from having health insurance and using it as an important part of an overall wellness plan. At SBIS we have access to almost 50 different plans from many major insurance companies like Manulife, Greenshield Canada and GMS. If you’re ready to start taking better care of your health, contact us today. We can provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your health and dental insurance needs.
