Is there really a difference between women’s health and men’s health in Canada? According to The Real Face of Men’s Health report yes, there is. Why? Men overall have less healthy lifestyles than women and often engage in more risky behaviours, like smoking and drinking. They are less likely to eat fruit and vegetables and to be obese. After age 62, men have higher rates of chronic disease than women like hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure, gout and Parkinsonism.
Of course, they don’t try to have poorer health. Men are invested in their good health. And to better maintain it, there are solid reasons they should invest in health insurance.
Why are men twice as likely to die from “preventable causes” than women?
According to this Stats Canada report on men’s health, the gap in longevity between men and women is even more pronounced when it comes to “preventable causes of death”—those that could potentially be prevented by avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and maintaining good nutrition.
The problem men face is that they are less likely to ask for help when they need it
- 65% of men waited more than 6 days with symptoms before visiting the doctor
- 26% of men felt a sense of stigma engaging with health education (e.g., healthy lifestyle information and programs) and this increased to 39% for young men aged 25-34
- 54% of men reported facing one or more barriers to effective engagement with healthcare providers.
Health insurance can help men feel confident to manage their health
While many men are supported to look after their health and have positive experiences in healthcare, there are still too many men who face barriers in doing so.
Fortunately, health insurance provides support to overcome these barriers so men can depend on it to improve their health and wellbeing.
Mental health support
When life throws a curveball, many men have been taught that it is a sense of pride in being able to dust yourself off with no one else’s help. But there are repercussions when someone does not get the mental health support they need, like drowning depression with alcohol and drugs. Even having a chronic condition or serious accident or illness may mean that a care team focuses on physical recovery but doesn’t support a person emotionally to ease worry, guilt and anxiety and that can take a mental health toll.
Health insurance provides tools and coverage for mental health therapy that can help a man, or anyone come to terms with their journey and understand what truly matters and to support their healing. GMS plans have Care Network assistance program with services to help you be your best and most productive self. You can access help just by using your phone or go online from wherever you are. You can talk to an expert about stress, anxiety or depression, or consult about legal matters, financial planning, career and life transitions by video, phone, or in person. If you face a crisis, you can get support 24/7/365. If you don’t like the provider you are matched with, there is no problem. You can unmatch yourself and choose a new one. You can also access online self-directed programs for cognitive behavioural therapy to help.
Health promotion programs
Although diseases that are amenable to interventions cannot always be prevented, they can often be delayed and effectively managed – like obesity and diabetes.
Many health insurance plans provide incentive tools and health promotion services that are focused on reducing risks for developing these conditions and more. Manulife Vitality added to a Flexcare or FollowMe plan offer discounts on your coverage, will reimburse you for many routine and unexpected health-related expenses that may not be covered by your government health insurance, provide a wellness screening – free of charge. With motivational support tools Vitality helps you improve your lifestyle, but you’ll also earn rewards for the healthy choices you make along the way.
Accessible healthcare
One in six Canadians don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Health insurance helps by providing telemedicine support.
You have access to timely telemedicine appointments to address your health concerns and easily respond to your needs quickly and privately. With a PRISM health plan you can make a telemedicine appointment that can help you reduce unnecessary hospital visits by connecting you to healthcare professionals that often are able to resolve 92 percent of health concerns in the first appointment.
Health insurance helps men take care of their health
With health insurance provided by their employer or purchased on their own, men have more options for managing their health than they do with provincial insurance alone. Because supplemental health insurance covers additional treatment options not covered by provincial plans, men have greater freedom to choose the treatment that is best for them.
Health insurance plans can cover health care costs government health plans don’t, helping to remove the financial barriers to taking care of your health including
- All dental services, if your household income is over $90,000 and you don’t otherwise qualify for the national plan
- Coverage for prescription drug costs that are not administered in hospital
- Paramedical services, like massage therapy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic care to help with muscle, joint or back pain
- Specialist consultation with a Dietician if you are dealing with weight issues
- Vision care, such as glasses or contact lenses
- Hearing care because your government programs may only cover a portion of the cost of hearing aids — and the remaining out-of-pocket costs for hearing aids can be substantial.
- Ambulance transportation
- Private or semi-private hospital rooms
- The cost of assistive devices, such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and hearing aids
- Part of the cost of home care services, such as personal support workers or health care aides or nursing.
Face up to your team’s need for health insurance
Health insurance is designed to provide the necessary coverage and resources to help a man, or anyone manage medical conditions to take better care of their health. At SBIS we offer a wide variety of plans, regardless of any prior health condition you may have. Feel free to reach out if you need any guidance or support 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.
For more tips of managing your health go to Don’t Change Much – Easy Health Tips For Guys
