Caring for your health and well-being is something to be practiced every day. As you get older, self-care plays a vital role in maintaining your independence, managing chronic conditions, and supporting your emotional well-being. By taking care of yourself, you’ll be able to stay more active and engaged and enjoy activities and relationships that bring you happiness.
By taking care that you have health insurance in place, you can create a safety-net that helps you take the health-care steps you need for self-care while reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
What is self-care?
Self-care is anything you do to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. It isn’t selfish, it’s essential. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Sometimes, the simplest habits can have the biggest impact.
The key is to focus on managing your physical health, finding mental clarity, and focusing on your emotional well-being. Self-care’s importance cannot be overstated—practising self-care can help you navigate some of the challenges you face as you grow older, like going through a gray divorce or moving into retirement.
Here are seven ways health insurance helps with self-care
With simple and effective self-care practices, you can nurture your physical, emotional, and mental well-being to maintain your independence, stay active, and have time to appreciate this stage of your life.
1. Engage in physical activity with the help of physical therapies
Staying active and engaging in regular exercise is a self-care practice that strengthens your mind and your muscles and keeps you strong and agile. Even just a daily stroll or a low-impact fitness class once or twice a week can have a positive impact. If injuries or strains hamper your ability to exercise, physical therapy may be the answer.
Health insurance provides coverage for registered specialists and therapists including acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropodists, podiatrists, massage therapists, and physiotherapists. These services are not covered by your government health plan, and you will be charged a fee, which may be partially covered by your health insurance. The dollar amount covered per visit (if there is one) and the annual combined maximum benefit will be outlined in your health insurance plan.
2. Nourish with a balanced diet with the help of a dietician
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and fiber is crucial for optimal health and senior self-care. The right diet helps you maintain energy levels and supports your immune system, which is critical in your later years. Becoming more mindful of what you eat with the help of a dietician can be incredibly helpful.
Dietitians are healthcare professionals who specialize in nutrition and dietetics and can work with you to create a healthy eating plan. They provide evidence-based advice on a range of nutrition-related topics and can support your goals. When you choose to work with a dietician you are receiving private practice nutritional counselling – and private health care is not covered by your government health plan. That’s why your health insurance plan may cover some of the costs for your sessions – which can range from $80 to $500 depending on your needs.
3. Prioritize mental health
Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially as you age. Identifying and addressing feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression is essential. There are simple ways you can practice self-care that emphasize mental health — being in a positive and productive frame of mind can bring you joy and fulfillment.
If you’re struggling, expenses for marriage and family therapy, or addiction counselling can really add up if you need them. Psychologists, counsellors and others can provide talk therapy, and your health insurance can help pay for those costs. Both in person and virtual appointments are eligible expenses, provided your healthcare practitioner is allowed by their college or governing body to offer virtual care to their patients.
4. Keep regular medical check-ups
Committing to regular healthcare check-ups is essential for detecting and managing potential health conditions. By visiting a healthcare provider and getting routine preventative exams, screenings, and vaccinations, you can catch most health conditions before they become more serious.
Many health insurance plans include access to medical professionals for video consultations, eliminating the obstacles of travel and waiting room time delays. It can help you shorten the cycle between identifying a health problem and implementing a clinical solution, making taking care of your health more convenient and easier than ever.
5. Take care of yourself if you have health problems
If you are faced with a chronic condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, need glasses after you have your regular eye exam or need hearing aids after your hearing tests, your health insurance can help cover some of the costs.
Health insurance help with costs for medical equipment including blood glucose monitors, casts, canes, and crutches, walkers, standard non-electric wheelchairs, and hospital adjustable beds, glasses, and hearing aids – the things you may need to get back on track with better health.
6. Practice meditation and relaxation techniques
Practicing relaxation techniques daily can really help your physical and mental health. Meditation and yoga are both proven in research to relieve stress. Relaxation techniques can improve overall well-being and promote a sense of calm. Just a few minutes a day can make a substantial difference in your life.
Many health plans include built-in tools for meditation to help you take moments throughout the day to stop, relax, and practice mindfulness with a series of deep, calming breaths to help reduce stress and improve overall health. Some include audio experiences to make daytime happier.
7. Get adequate sleep
Sleep is important at any age, but adequate and quality rest becomes essential as you enter your golden years. Studies have linked poor sleep to a possible increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and insomnia is the most common sleep condition in adults over 60. Getting enough sleep can help with memory care, cognitive functioning, and more.
Yes, health insurance can also aid with you sleep practices too. Most health plans include digital health applications that help provide guidance on getting sleep to feel rested and sleep exercises for nighttime. You get access to recent articles on finding care, managing your health, and preventing illness, and easy-to-use search tools to help you find a doctor, health facility, or community support group in your area.
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifelong practice. Health insurance isn’t a luxury, and it lasts for life.
Remember that self-care isn’t just about taking care of yourself now, it’s about taking care of yourself for life. Health insurance is also renewable for your entire lifetime – always there when you need it.
Plans are available to any Canadian resident covered by a government plan between the ages of 18 and 80, or even older even if you have a pre-existing health condition. If you are coming off a group health plan, the good news is that you can apply within 90 days of leaving the group and qualify for a specifically designed guaranteed acceptance individual health insurance policy.
Making sense of your insurance options doesn’t have to be complicated. You’re only a phone call away from gaining a better understanding of the coverage that will best suit your needs, now and in the future. Contact us at SBIS today 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.
