A Health Care Plan is Important to Your Self Care

Although the U.S. was instrumental in the creation of the vaccine in 2020, the global slowdown revealed critical issues in health care by way of social inequality. From biomedical research and cutting-edge medical technology, the medical system is plagued with a shortage of nurses, unpredictable cost increases, medical errors, poor amenable mortality rates, and a lack of transparency in treatment.

Most issues start early and they might even be preventable. However, the process can alienate people.

A Bad Experience with the Health Care System

Although growing up, my family visited the primary doctor often; I didn’t see my first dentist until I was nearly 24 years old. I have a vague memory of my mom going to get a cleaning once, which ended up with an allergic reaction. Consequently that led to her being hospitalized. Or, maybe she simply stayed at the hospital. When you are a kid, time seems to move differently. However, one thing was clear; the fear and the trauma likely caused her to never take us.

That’s the power of negative experiences. They often cause you to never go back. To make matters worse, those bad experiences were communicable.

Since she never went back, it meant that “we” never went back. Bad experiences become bad stories which we then fill with other short stories that validate why “We” should never go back.

Rather than face the fact that one experience doesn’t mean all experiences will be the same, we avoid those spaces. And, mark them as unsafe. Yet, it’s something we should have been doing. It would have also saved us a lot of money, especially since we went with gaps in insurance coverage.

Although the Affordable Care Act sought to reform the healthcare system, there are over 75 million Americans with no dental insurance. Out-of-pocket dental costs can range from $100 to $3,000. That’s scary enough for many Americans to never go at all.

Being Insured is Vital to Your Total Health

The nation’s oral health has greatly improved since the 1960s, however, these improvements haven’t been accessible to all Americans. Due to one bad experience, my family fell firmly into the inaccessible category.

Have you ever had tooth pain and couldn’t do anything else? Yup – that flashback you’re having now, is painful.

I realized my mouth issue was leading to deep insecurities so I started to make plans to make the change. After paying out-of-pocket costs of over $1,000 (with no insurance), just vibes, I had to take matters into my own hand. I would later learn that having my own dental insurance meant that I would pay way less.

That lack of financial awareness is really taxing. You end up paying double if not triple the costs if you were insured. At least I’m a quick study. I signed up for a High Deductible Health Care Plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Additionally, I learned about what adequate medical and dental coverage would mean to my overall long-term health.

Being insured saves you money in the short and long run.

Making the Correction on Paper and in Real Life

Fast forward years later, one thing I knew I wanted to get my teeth corrected.

I later learned I have a tongue thrust which could have been corrected in my younger ages with fewer interventions. Consequently, this would have meant a lifetime of better breathing. To correct this, I would need “myofunctional” therapy and orthodontic intervention. Both of which are expensive if you aren’t insured.

When I went to my general dentist, I mentioned my upcoming appointment and the receptionist kept saying the orthodontist you’re going to is amazing but not cheap. I gave her the slight knob saying ‘Oh, I know’ but this time, I’m prepared.

There were a few other places where I would save about $1,500 but their reviews weren’t the best. While others were located further.

After considering multiple factors in making this life-altering decision, I had an epiphany. I’m not that 24-year-old that didn’t know what she didn’t know. I precisely knew what I wanted and needed. It was time. I wanted to make the correction on paper and in real life. I wanted to change.

Ultimately, my HSA contributions (pre-taxed dollars) and my dental health insurance covered $4,200. The remaining I’m paying monthly with my HSA.

No stress, All Planned

The cost is the cost. This was something else, something new.

Having a plan and the means was freeing. I didn’t get worried or stressed. That’s what financial freedom is. The ability to do what is needed without the barriers of not having. And this is going to change my life – better breathing, confidence, and facial structure shifts. More importantly, this was an opportunity to go back to redress one bad experience that equate to a lifetime of preventable problems.

To understand the value and power of being insured, and to share new positive stories about how Health care or Dental care can work for you. It’s all proof that the contributions we make to our financial health are correlated to our overall health.

This is the future that I see for my family and my community. I urge you to find out about your health and the coverage you need. After that, make a plan to address it. And finally, instead of conjuring up vague memories, consider the benefits of your future investments in yourself and the dreams to come.

You won’t regret it.

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