According to a new survey from The Vitality Group, most Americans – 82%, think that they are responsible for their health.
They also agree that lifestyle choices, like smoking, over-eating and under-exercising, have a direct impact on the health and health care costs.
However, nearly half of Americans – 44%, believe they should not have to pay for their health care.
What?
Am I missing something here?
How can 82% of people claim responsibility for their health while at the same time expecting someone else to pay when something goes wrong.
That just sounds wrong; and I am from Canada, the land of socialized medicine.
What’s Behind the Numbers?
When I first read this story, I was blown away by the hypocrisy.
And then I looked a little closer.
Vitality Group is the health promotion branch of Discovery Holdings Ltd. And according to Google Finance:
Discovery Holdings Limited
| 155 West Street PO Box 786722 Sandton, 2146 South Africa +27-11-5292888 (Phone) +27-11-5392958 (Fax) |
Company website: https://www.discovery.co.za News Releases, Investor Relations, Financial Information, Corporate History/Profile, Executives, Employment Opportunities |
.
So, can anyone think of a reason why an insurance company would encourage an employer to set up a health promotion / disease prevention program for it’s employees.
Hmmmmm
How about reducing claims and increasing profits.
My two cents
Okay, so we have two sides to this story.
On one side, we have an American (obviously, not just the U.S.A. – I see lots of fat Canucks every day) public that doesn’t want to actually take responsibility for it’s increase in obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Wrong, so wrong.
On the other side, we have an insurance industry that is using guilt along with the economic pressure of America’s employers to increase their own profits.
Even wronger.
But looking at this mess, I can’t help but think:
What happens if because of this initiative, America’s employees become fit and healthy?
Does that mean that these two wrongs actually make a right?
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Meh, companies are in business to make money; all the talk of consumer-engaged* this and that is just marketing. Whatever they need to do, say or be to make money is what they’ll do, say or be. I don’t see that as inherently wrong any more than a cat chasing a mouse is wrong. They is what they does and they does what they is, that’s their nature.
The case in point here seems to be a situation where one of these monetary juggernauts has found itself in the position where it’s financial interests happen to align with the common good. Something to be celebrated, I say. It doesn’t make the company good, any more than making money makes it evil; it just is. But if something good comes out at the end, it’s just as good as if it had been done by magical flower-pixies with the best interests of the human race at heart.
As for people expecting someone else to pick up after them and sort out their problems – the only thing surprising there is that a high proportion of them at least admit it’s their fault in the first place!
*Whatever that means.
Damn you Shadowduck!
Why in the world would you give me a calm, reasoned, and logical response to an obviously inflammatory post.
I was expecting some f-bombs and some accusations of fat-ism.
Just kidding.
Nice to hear from someone whose brain and heart can function simultaneously.
So wronger.
I feel like when people say they don’t want to have to pay for their healthcare, they don’t realize just how much their habits dictate how many trips they take to the doctor.
I think those 82%, when asked if they think whether their habits determine their health, are only thinking about little things; like colds, upset stomach, heartburn, constipation… you know, things that come and go.
I really don’t think they understand that most cases of heart disease, diabetes#2, and even cancer can be prevented with proper diet and lifestyle.
P.S. 82%? What on earth are the other 18% attributing to their health? A roll of the dice? God?
I think Shadowduck makes a good point. I don’t think that taking advantage of a hole in the market is bad as long as they do it honestly and offer value for the money they make (sorry DR, no f-bombs here).
Being a natural health advocate myself, I also agree with McBloggenstein that many serious diseases can be prevented by good diet and lifestyle (I’m very agreeable today).
I think that all governments should legislate that lessons on diet and lifestyle should be compulsory at school. This may be unpopular in some quarters as it would take time out from other academic studies, but in countries like Canada and the UK with socialised medicine it could save the taxpayer a fortune in the long term.
Pharmaceutical companies may not be so keen though as it could affect their long term profits.
When I was a kid (In Cincinnati, Ohio, circa 1960ish)…phys ed was mandatory as was health and nutrition courses in high school…
Families ate together well rounded meals in the evening, and moms packed decent lunches for their kids… Now families are busier than ever. Oatmeal has been replaced by snack bags and egg o muffins, the evening meal is delivered by Domino’s, and lunch…I’ve got two teenagers in school so don’t even get me started on school lunches.
As for who’s paying? Well look at about everything, not just healthcare. Those that DO pay for those that DON’T…why is demand of gas so high? because so many people insist on driving gas guzzlers…want to lower cost, lower demand…drive a Honda…. (see article on Honda’s amazing first quarter, and Ford’s dismal performance due to truck sales)…couple that with a 5% reduced demand last month, and the price of oil starts to come down…OK we could rant on that forever…. those that drive carelessly and cause all the accidents, we that drive carefully’s rates are increased….those that live in flood plains…and other areas of high risk (bluffs of Malibu)…increase our Homeowners rates…those that pollute and throw garbage out the window increase the costs of cleaning up our cities…paid for by…yep…those that don’t… those that get involved in high risk loans so they can one up the Jones, end up dumping their houses, resulting in a bail out plan paid for by me, the guy who purchased one home 17 years ago, and is content living here until I die… those that insist on being homeless….get free healthcare at University Hospitals…I know this because my wife has worked at one for 23 years…yes…a homeless guy/gal gets it all free of charge..oh wait…never mind…I gotta write a check for that one too…meanwhile…the divorcee with three kids working two jobs to make ends meet gets screwed when she it told she has to pay for her kid’s cancer treatment, or they won’t do it…because she has a job…is that f-bomb’d up or what???
See, we could go on forever, and it will not stop…until people start dying for the stuff they do to themselves…their kids will see them suffer and hopefully, just hopefully a few generations from now…the pendulum will swing the other way…
OK dude, there’s your rant… peace out!
“Does that mean that these two wrongs actually make a right?”
They might no make a right, but perhaps they will equal a sharp left- as in socialized medicine or some similar health care structure.
“On the other side, we have an insurance industry that is using guilt along with the economic pressure of America’s employers to increase their own profits.
Even wronger.”
I am not so sure it is even wronger. If I (as someone with a health care plan) want to pay lower premiums, the ability of the company to offer me low premiums depends on how many claims they handle from existing clients. Add on top of that legislation that demands they cover certain medicines and procedures, accept certain preexisting conditions, etc. and the costs can go way up.
At one point ensuring me (at 27 years old and in excellent health) and my 3 year old daughter cost over $290/month. I dropped that policy in favor of a super high deductible policy and catastrophic coverage for long term care. A much better priced deal.
It’s almost impossible to say something nice about an insurance company, but if this move towards health promotion / disease prevention helps people improve their health, I guess that I would have to agre…agr…agree with you charlie.
However, it makes the libertarian side of me cringe. The last thing I want is my insurance co. telling me I need to work out. But I guess that point is moot, seeing as I just came back from doing some hill sprints.
And Bloggy, I am continually blown away by the capacity of people to excuse themselves of all personal responsibility. I was recently on TPP’s New York Times health blog commenting on some diet study article and I suggested that people use their heads in selecting a healthy weight loss diet. I said that they should take measurements before beginning and be their own scientist by giving the diet a try for a couple of months and seeing how their measurements changed (BP, weight, circumference, body-fat, etc.)
I had some guy write me a long reply that people shouldn’t be their own scientists. That’s why we pay them to do the job (Obviously this guy owns a big pharmaceutical company or something)
Seriously
He thinks that it is better to blindly accept what the experts tell him to do.
Wasn’t that the excuse all of the Nazi guards at the death camps used. I was just following orders.
Seriously, have we all turned into a bunch of sheep?
Alright!!!
Barry Lauterwasser and totaltransformation
You guys effin rock!!!
“You guys effin rock!!!”
I don’t know what I did, but I’ll take that. Thanks. By the way DR, in the mood to give out some free advice?
I am training for Ninja Warrior and would love to see if you have any recommendations as far as traditional or nontraditional training methods/exercises I could use to improve my abilities to handle the strange and difficult obstacles in the course.
There are tons of clips of the course on Youtube if you haven’t seen the show before. If not, G4 shows Ninja Warrior like 4 times a day.
Ninja Warrior??? Are you serious??
I freaking love that show!
Are you saying you’re thinking of going to Japan to compete??
Did you see the latest American Ninja Warrior Challenge? I was impressed!
I must know details…
“Are you saying you’re thinking of going to Japan to compete??”
Yup, that is my goal. I would like to head over there next summer. I am still in training of course. And since I can’t afford a trainer I’ve mostly be grasping in the dark trying to figure out how to get ready.
I wish I was like those handy guys who can put together a course in their own backyard. Sadly, I can barely nail two pieces of wood together.
Alright Ninja Warrior,
I did my homework and here is my basic outline for a ninja warrior training program.
Overall Goals
Increase strength to bodyweight ratio
Increase agility – neuro-muscular co-ordination
Bulletproof your ankles/hands/wrists/shoulders/feet/core-lower back
Maximize Quickness/Acceleration (whole body)
Maximize explosive power through lower body
Develop technical skills particular to the contest
To do this, we need to:
Reduce body-fat as low as possible
All training should focus on speed, power,endurance – never, never train for hypertrophy
Lots of agility drills – start easy, move on to the circus tricks
Joint work
Develop lower body quickness through sprints & plyos – hills, xvest/resisted band sprints/overspeed work
Explosive Power – olympic lifts / kettlebell/throws/jumps/bounding/plyos/unilateral – all designed to perfect the stretch shortening cycle
Dore strength – want to train the core to resist all deformation – thunder ball/olympic lifts / sledge hammer / various partner assisted drills
Grip strength – grip/pinch/finger grip – rope work / fat bar / screwdriver
You probably know more about the show than I do – what particular skills are you most concerned with?
Where are you starting from? – body-fat? injuries? – athletic background? strengths/weaknesses?
Umm….DR I have to admit some of the words you used are totally unfamiliar to me. I will have to go look up stuff like “xvest/resisted band sprints/overspeed work” and “stretch shortening cycle.” This is why I need to win the lotto so I can afford a trainer to go through all this with me.
I will hit you back when I have some spare time and answer the questions when I can.
BTW, any suggestions on a workout that incorporate many of the things mentioned above? Would you do overall workouts that hit a bunch of areas or split agility work from grip strength work?
ummmm, it depends.
I need to know where you are starting from because the people that have won this thing are freaks.
With no info, I would suggest:
Buy an ab wheel and keep working it until you can go from a standing pos’n to all the way extended and back to starting
I would work on 1 leg squats
I would start doing hill sprints – short duration 10 yards to max 40 yards
Chin-ups galore
Start working a diet to get reeeeallly lean.
Go to http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/ironmind/Main/captainsofcrush1.html and start working the grip
Start working on flexibility and joint mobility
I can lay something out for you, but I really need to know height, weight, injuries, strengths, weaknesses
I would definitely split things up.
Some things can handle high volume – grip, flexibility/mobility
The sprints will really drain your neuro-muscular system at the beginning
If I was starting tomorrow, I would do sprints 3 x a week, 1 leg squats 3 x a week, chins 2x a week, grip work as much as you can, stretch every day, ab wheel as often as you can (your abs will hurt, but your back shouldn’t)
I know that I seem to be confusing the issue, but if I know a little bit, I can clear it right up
This is a hard one for me as a fellow cannuck.
Like you the part of me that is libertarian doesn’t want my insurance company or government telling me what when and how to eat and exercise.
The social-democrat in me will defend universal health care to the death.
The Hegalian “all four granparents & one parent diagnosed with cancer” self-interested part of me wants to know that when (and I do think that it is a when with me) I am diagnosed that I will not be bankrupted by medical bills if I am not able to afford top rate insurance.
The socialist in me (or perhaps neo-conservative) wants to preserve and protect our health care system by treating it as a valued resource and at the same time minimize the tax impacts, so I do want to see public education & awareness campaigns promoting healthy living.
Oh, the mixed identity dilemma of living with universal health care.
I think I am nationalistically pre-disposed to think insurance companies are inherently evil.
I’m Fat because I can Afford it. I can Afford the nicer things in Life. I can afford the choice cuts of meat, the expensive deserts, the great wine and Everything in between. I keep my Dr. in business with regualr check ups. I keep the drug manufacturers in business with my Meds. BECAUSE I can afford it. Skinny people do not support the economy. They are un-American.
Be Fat, Be Rich, Be an AMERICAN!!!!
Actually, the largest obesity problems have a direct correspondence to poverty. It used to be (during the rubenesque period) that fat was a sign of wealth.
Today, fat is typically associated with poverty, being uneducated on nutrition, unable to afford gym membership and being located in a socio-economic area where health care and health food are scarce.
In fact one of the concerns with the obesity epidemic, especially in every other country than the United States, is the impact that it will have on our health care systems, and the economic damage it can do.