The Cost Of Looking After Your Health

Let’s face it, healthcare is expensive. Whether you go the private insurance or public system route, the fact is, all Australian women spend a pretty penny on their health care related expenses. It’s no surprise that many women skip a regular dental check up or put off a visit to the doctor because the monthly finances are a bit tight.

The fact is, although it might be a short-term solution to skip going to the physio or miss a routine skin check, this is not the journey that young women should be on as it can have some pretty serious long-term consequences.

Short-term solutions very rarely equate to long-term gain and when it comes to your health, this is definitely not the area to cut costs.

Planning for and being fiscally responsible in terms of health care needs to be a priority.

Here are some reasons why investing in your health is so important:

Early detection will help to prevent and fight disease. Don’t put off yearly examinations, these are meant for early detection of the onset of diseases and illnesses. Many can be prevented, treated and stopped if caught in time. It is more affordable to pay for preventative checks than it is to fund potentially expensive treatments down the track. It is also really important for your own mental health and emotional assurance to know that your body is healthy.

Protect your future earnings. If your life expectancy is reduced due to sickness, so too might your productive work span and income generating years. If you are healthy and active you are able to work hard and smart and keep the income flowing well into the future.

To live a happy and long life. Do not wait until something goes wrong to make your health a priority. The younger you start looking after yourself, investing in your health and wellbeing, the greater chance that you have to live a happier and longer life. Making healthy habits a priority will keep you in good stead in the long term.

For your family. Whether it’s your current family or future family, you do not want your health care issues down the track to become a burden for your loved ones. Your family needs you and they need you to be healthy, so if you need further convincing that investing in your health care should be a priority.

Here are some things you can do to look after your health that won’t bust the budget:

Crunch the numbers and shop around: If you have health insurance, make sure you compare all the different providers available and consider what policy you should have. It is possible to reduce your premiums by cutting out extras that are unlikely to relate to you. Spend time comparing policies and prices to make sure that you are getting the best value for money.

Create a “health care kitty”: It is a really sensible idea to put a small amount of money aside each week for health care costs. If you create a “health care kitty” it will reduce the stress when unexpected costs come up and even reduce the burden of regular and expected health related expenses.

Work the system: There are many ways that you can get regular health care checks and even see specialists by working the system. The key here is to do your research and be organised. The Internet is a great way to find local service providers who bulk bill. If you do need to pay a gap then do your homework and find the most competitive practitioners.

Make healthy lifestyle choices: One of the best and most inexpensive ways that you can look after your health is by making healthy lifestyle choices. Simple things like not smoking and limiting your alcohol, sugar and dairy intake will help to promote better health and reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise, keeping well-hydrated, eating well and practicing yoga or mindfulness techniques will also all play a part in positive health care.

Consistent care: One of the most important things when it comes to your own individual health care is consistency. Whether this be in the lifestyle choices you make in regards to diet and exercise or scheduling regular check ups you will find that consistency is key. Looking after your health is a long-term commitment – so consistency and follow through are essential.

Remember… “What you do today determines your tomorrow” so don’t neglect making your investment in your healthcare a financial priority!