Pain is a unique and can vary widely from person to person. Your experience of pain is influenced by your body and mental state, social and emotional factors. Since no one (including yourself) can see pain, you may not understand it and others may not believe it is real.
If you suffer from pain, you may hesitate to seek out medical support to address it because often you have to pay out of pocket for treatments and health services that can help. Beyond the physical toll, having chronic pain can impact your work, social life and everyday activities – and your finances and job security.
What is Chronic Pain?
For most people, pain is temporary and serves as a warning that something is wrong, that something has caused or may cause damage to some part of our body. This is called acute pain, which usually gets better as we heal.
For too many, pain develops into chronic pain after they have been injured at work or home, through sports or motor vehicle accidents, or after surgery. Chronic pain lasts longer than three months.
Chronic pain can be a result of physical and mental health conditions like sickle cell disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety – and according to The World health Organization (WHO) it is a diagnosis in its own right regardless of other health issues. The pain impacts a person’s ability to work, attend school, and participate in family and community life.
Chronic pain is usually invisible, and when people experience it, they often feel like no one believes them. Living with the pain can really take a toll on their sleep, how they are able to move, the stress they feel and their relationships with others.
For more about chronic pain, click here for the Government of Canada site or watch What is chronic pain and how does it work?
Who does it impact?
According to Health Canada, nearly 8 million people in Canada live with chronic pain – that’s one in five Canadians. Chronic pain impacts people from all walks of life and all ages, but it is more common as we age. About one in three people over 65 experience chronic pain.
Health Canada estimates that the total number of individuals living with chronic pain will increase due to population growth and aging and predict that as many as 9.0 million Canadians will experience it by 2030.
Addressing chronic pain can help improve quality of life for people living with pain. People with chronic pain should choose and use different types of treatments based on their own needs to help manage and reduce the pain and improve their physical and psychological health.
How health insurance helps reduce the impact of Chronic Pain
Pain – whether acute or chronic – must be appropriately treated and/or managed. Chronic pain can lead to unexpected medical expenses. Health insurance provides a safety net, protecting you from high out-of-pocket costs and giving you peace of mind. It helps create more affordable access to a wide range of pain care that includes
Online evidence-informed self-management programs
Health insurance has online tools focused on improved nutrition and sleep, increasing your physical activity and support strategies for resiliency that can help to reduce the severity of chronic pain.
Access To Virtual Care
Virtual and telehealth care is convenient and eliminates the need to travel to talk to a medical practitioner to provide pain assessment, treatment and management strategies as well as referrals to specialists like rheumatologists or neurologists.
Prescription Drug Coverage
Most health plans cover prescription medications, which are essential for managing chronic pain, making it more affordable to maintain your treatment plan. Medications and substances that may help include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, antidepressants or muscle relaxants.
Therapies
Beyond medication, chronic pain management might include physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, or other alternative treatments. Many health insurance plans offer coverage for these services, helping you access a comprehensive approach to pain management that can include spinal mobilization and manipulation and osteopathic treatments.
Mental Health Services
Chronic pain can impact mental well-being, and insurance may cover counseling or therapy which can be invaluable in managing the emotional aspects of living with chronic pain. Tools for psychological interventions that aim to change your thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based interventions are often built in as part of your health insurance plan.
Home Care Support
Your health insurance will cover the services of registered health professionals, including registered nurses, registered practical nurse/licensed practical nurse and personal support workers. These trained and qualified home healthcare professionals can support you at home to assist with bathing, dressing and personal hygiene, provide medical care for complex medical needs, including medication management, and ensure that you have one-on-one support that helps make sure that you avoid unnecessary complications during your recovery.
Chronic Disease Management
Many plans offer specific support tools for other chronic conditions associated with chronic pain, like arthritis and back and knee injuries.
Choose a health plan that can help you manage Chronic Pain
Each specific health insurance policy covers different services and provides different built in support tools. To best understand the extent of coverage for chronic pain management in a plan you are considering, don’t hesitate to talk to one of our SBIS insurance specialists. We are ready to help you find the plan that best meets your needs and budget. You can visit our website or call us today at 1-800-667-0429 or 416-601-0429 Monday to Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET.
