There are convincing statements about health care pointing toward each of our own individual mirrors as the sources of a cure for the cost of health care.
Here’s the equation: Cost = the unit price of the health service X (times) utilization (how much of it we consume).
Health insurance is not what causes health care to be so expensive…the cost of health care is what causes health insurance to be expensive.
There are four factors that influence our health:
- 20 percent is genetics
- 20 percent is environment
- 10 percent is the health system
- 50 percent is individual lifestyle choice
Obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, stress and inactivity ALL, according to the Wellness Council of America, are related to lifestyle choice and account for 70 percent of this nation’s medical costs. Each is preventable or significantly modifiable.
The health care in this county, in the main, is designed to keep you from dying once you get sick. It is not designed to keep you from getting sick.
Look into our individual mirrors and make changes to reduce our personal consumption of health care. The fewer units consumed, the less the cost.
Lifestyle drives the cost/benefits of being healthy. It pays to be healthy. So, let’s get with it!
Arvid "Dick" Tillmar is a partner at Diversified Insurance Services Inc. in Waukesha. He also is the co-chair of the Health Care Team of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, Blueprint for Economic Prosperity. Additional information is available at www.div-ins.com.
