I'm trying to understand this: why are we covered by insurance when something bad happens to us, or if we need glasses or special shoes, but we aren't covered when we're proactive about our health?
There have been enough studies by now showing that lifestyle has a considerable impact on our health. Why then aren't our health insurance premiums scaled according to how well we take care of ourselves?
It would work like this: Do you go to the gym three times a week? You pay less. Do you walk instead of drive? Pay less. Do you meditate, do yoga, run, or do something else to manage the impact of stress? You pay less too.
And it would work like this: Prove that you do something active once or twice a week, and that activity is covered by your insurance. Just like your glasses. Or your medication. And don't try to tell me that this system would be rife with fraud. Surely there's an intelligent way to make it work.
Not only would proactive health insurance reward people who are already healthy and active, but it would be a strong incentive for all kinds of people to work harder at staying healthy. Imagine if your gym membership was covered by insurance, provided that you checked in and worked out two days a week?
Or maybe you join AA. Or quit smoking. Health insurance should offer incentives to people who make positive changes that affect their long term well being.
Incentives aside, proactive insurance sends a message. It says: as an industry, an employer, a society, we're not just here when you need extra help, but we place a value on your quality of life and well being.
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