Rising health care costs, decreased payments to Medicare physicians, increased insurance premiums. We hear and read about this every day. Some of us even have occasion to curse about this every day. Our health care system is so overburdened, so out of whack, that it is on the verge of collapse. Let’s examine a few of the reasons this is happening.
Economics. A recent report out of Washington, D.C., states that a majority of states are increasing co-payments and reducing Medicaid benefits. They are also removing some poor people from the "system." The reason they give: increasing costs and decreasing revenues. In addition to this, almost half of the states are freezing or decreasing Medicaid payments to doctors and other providers of health care (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.).
Private health insurance costs are increasing at a rate of 12 percent per year. I want to mention that this is a common topic among our clients at Images Fitness. I have heard of rates increasing $75 from one month to the next. We are paying more, and we are receiving less coverage. Some of us just cannot afford insurance -- an estimated 40 million Americans -- and that includes many middle-class citizens.
Some may wonder why a fitness professional would be writing an article concerning health care and health care costs. It is part of my job to provide information on various health-related issues. My job is not to just conduct exercise sessions, or simply count reps: 1, 2, 3, 4. I will put it all together shortly; please bear with me.
As far as the economic situation goes, it does not get better. In March of this year, it is anticipated there will be roughly a four percent cut in Medicare payments scheduled to be delivered to participating physicians. Last year, the physicians were handed roughly a five percent cut in payments. Each year, these "gifts" are scheduled to be delivered to participating physicians. Unfortunately, some doctors are no longer accepting Medicare or Medicaid patients. These patients have to be treated somewhere. Many of them are going to hospital emergency rooms to be treated.
A quote that I read recently expresses the financial squeeze and frustrations that many health care practitioners are feeling. "I have a hard and fast rule. I don’t take any new Medicare patients. In fact, I don’t take any new patients over the age of 60 who will be on Medicare in the next five years." This a quote dated March 16, 2002, from the then president-elect of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
One personal instance that I know of: The mother of one of my clients is diabetic and has heart disease. A few years ago there was an emergency. The ambulance rushed her to one hospital. She was stabilized and treated. The following day, she was moved to the other hospital because she did not have the required insurance coverage.
One thing that I remember from some years back, from an instructor, was something about economics. With his hand raised and index finger pointer to the sky, he exclaimed, "Economics! Economics determines everything!" I politely told him that could not be true, there were other things that sometimes had to take precedence. He told me that I had not lived long enough yet. In time, he said, you will see for yourself.
Population Health Status. The health status of our population is very poor. Our country does have the some of the best (if not the best) doctors and "meds," in the world. That is a fact. It is not the medical care that we receive that contributes to our poor health. It is our lifestyle(s). The ingestion of processed foods that are high in fats, sugar, or sodium (or all of these combined, etc.), coupled with a lack of adequate physical activity, are the cause.
Some of the more prevalent diseases in our country include heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. These chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. It costs all of us mucho dinero each year to treat these conditions. These diseases are some of the most preventable. Many of us can do something about this, starting today. Regular physical activity will decrease the amount of "meds" needed, and result in fewer hospitalizations and doctor visits.
Regular exercise and eating sensibly most of the time is your antidote to chronic illness and high health care costs. It is your front-line defense against disease and injury. And it is never too late to start!
A recent report published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (December 2002) states that even people 80 and over can benefit from exercise. The study evaluated elderly citizens over a six-month period. They exercised twice a week, doing mostly low-level cardiovascular activities (walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike), averaging 20 minutes each session. The individuals experienced decreased blood pressure and improvement in their aerobic endurance.
If you are interested in exercising, first consult with your doctor. After your doctor gives you the green light, you should consult with a fitness expert, such as a personal trainer. It does not cost you a fortune to get started correctly. A month or so will be enough to learn valuable techniques and tips. I advise you to shop around, and visit the gyms, spas, etc. Look for experience and references, not just certifications -- a lot of certifications are bogus, and can be purchased over the internet!
I personally know of an organization that is truly professional, and will meet with the individual on or off site. This organization also operates a personal training studio which provides a discreet, private exercise environment for those individuals who do not like to exercise with others around. Among the amenities provided at the studio to the client are purified water (nice, delicious, and refreshing) along with options to fit anyone’s budget.

(Images Fitness Services, LLC, provides professional fitness training services to Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and surroundng areas. The company was recently contracted by The Pain Management Clinic of Laredo to provide supervised exercise sessions to their patients. These sessions, conducted in a medical environment (Innovative Physical Therapy), are a fundamental part of the "Chronic Pain Management Program" provided by The Pain Management Clinic of Laredo.)