Healthcare is important, but we cannot afford some of the directions it has been going in. The cost of US healthcare significantly exceeds all developed countries in the world, and our results are far from the best. US longevity is roughly 50th in the world, of course, certain contributing factors the US has are much less in other higher rated counties. Specifically, murders and related violence, drug addiction deaths and traffic deaths. The US also ranks moderate to poor in many specific diseases and health areas.
Unlike many advanced countries, the US healthcare seems to have reversed the process. It, on the surface, seems like a pound of cure rather than an ounce of prevention. Healthcare should start from life’s beginning and focus on healthy lifestyles which include diet and exercise. Many people have various types and levels of health insurance, access to Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and health savings accounts. Still a very high percentage of health costs come after the health issues arise, usually amongst older people and those who have poor lifestyle habits. Moreover, many who have all the avenues to healthcare also are personally saddled with additional healthcare bills the system fails to cover, whether deductibles, insurance rejections, medical cost overruns, expensive drugs or what have you. In many ways healthcare has become health repair which is always more expense and troublesome than up front health maintenance through proper lifestyle habits. It is understood that many are born with health-related issues they had no control over.
Take care of yourself with a preventative lifestyle, and you can still have insurance as a backup.
Sheng RD