5 ways to feel your best without spending any money!
Maximize your health and well-being through supplemental health treatments
Many individuals and families have health and dental coverage through their employer or a third-party insurance plan. We all know that these insurance plans can be very valuable, especially when it comes to coverage for pharmaceutical prescriptions and dental health. But are you making the most of your plan? Your plan may have coverage for practitioners or treatments you have never thought of using, and you may be missing out on excellent resources that may elevate your health and your life.
Wouldn’t you like to heal from some of those nagging aches and pains? How good would it feel to have energy restored and to be able to complete tasks and activities with fewer difficulties?
Many people are taking advantage of their extended benefits to improve their well-being, and you can too.
First things first. Find the details of what you and your family are covered for. You may have had a booklet given to you as part of your hiring package, or you may have access to an online portal or website. Check to see the complete listings of the types of practitioners for which you have coverage. Some examples are; massage therapists, physiotherapists, (including specialized pelvic health physiotherapists), naturopaths, chiropractors, osteopaths, speech therapists, and psychologists. Make note of whether your coverage is a maximum per year or a percentage of treatment cost.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcare profession that promotes recovery from illness, injury, disability, or aging. The aim is to restore normal movement and functional ability to make a person as independent as possible and reach their full potential. Physiotherapy is treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, function, and well-being. Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness. Physiotherapists get you involved in your own recovery.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is a form of manual therapy that involves moving soft tissues in the body to reduce stress, ease muscle tension, and promote relaxation and overall well-being. It is a hands-on technique performed by trained massage therapists. Massage has been practiced for thousands of years.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy works with the structure and function of the body. It is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together. Osteopaths use physical manipulation, stretching, and massage to:
increase joint mobility,
relieve muscle tension,
enhance the blood and nerve supply,
and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a patient-centred, non-invasive, hands-on, regulated healthcare profession focused on your spine, muscles, joints, and nervous system.
Chiropractors use the best available evidence and clinical expertise to diagnose issues that affect your body’s movement. They treat them without medication or surgery and prevent them from returning. Chiropractic care can also promote health and improve your quality of life, as well as alleviate pain.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counseling. The goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person - that means mind, body, and spirit. It also aims to heal the root causes of an illness - not just stop the symptoms.
Your local community likely has a number of skilled and caring professionals and practitioners in each of these areas of treatment. A quick Google search will give you listings of your options and reviews to help you narrow down one or two practitioners in the area of treatment you are interested in pursuing. An initial meeting or consultation can help you and the provider determine if you will be a good fit and if they can help you.
Some important questions to ask as you explore your options:
Where are you located? What kind of parking is available?
Do you offer direct billing to the insurance company? (some can offer this for all or only certain companies, and some may require payment upfront, and then you would be required to submit receipts to your insurance company for reimbursement)
What is your appointment cancellation policy?
If you decide to work with more than one type of practitioner, ensure they all know what other types of treatments you are receiving, as your practitioners may work together, or adjust your treatments accordingly, to help you reach your health goals.
Using your existing coverage for supplemental health without paying anything extra out of pocket is a wonderful way to boost your health and well-being. Take a moment today to look into what kind of treatments and providers are available in your community and set up an appointment to start on your path towards improved health.