Hi Friends,
During our most recent open enrollment period, did you wonder if your premium is even worth it anymore? According to a commonwealth fund survey , 9% of the US is uninsured, and 23% lack appropriate coverage for their health needs. Today we’re diving into the state of American health and its connection to the rising cost of premiums
If you’re on your own to find health insurance, you’ve likely noticed a seemingly unjustified rise in your premium. This is one of the main reasons independent contractors and business owners alike are seeking alternative solutions. In truth, this is just the beginning. The rising cost of health insurance is an issue that affects many Americans but unfortunately, it is not arbitrary.
Actuaries, who assess financial risk for insurance companies, have observed a significant decline in health among Americans. According to the CDC, approximately 6/10 Americans have at least one chronic health condition, and 4/10 have more than one. This may not be surprising depending on what you’ve seen and/or experienced firsthand, but in recent years, new research from the National Institute of Mental Health and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health draws more links between between chronic mental health conditions and chronic diseases.
Understanding the Link Between Mental and Physical Health
If you really think about it, it makes a lot of sense, right? Our brain is a part of our body and vice versa. Chronic conditions can worsen your quality of life and trigger mental illness over time, just like mental illness can cause physical manifestations of your emotional state. No matter where these links start, both can make taking care of yourself a struggle.
This article from the mental health foundation has a great outline of how this works, but to sum up my basic understanding: when you struggle with mental health, you are more likely to develop preventable chronic conditions due to a variety of factors ranging from genetics to motivation to even physical symptoms of the condition itself.
Researchers have been observing the effects of many mental conditions and their physical symptoms for some time now. Depression and migraines are linked as well, not to mention poor gut health being linked to both depression and anxiety. The thing is: the more mental illness we see, whatever the cause, the more physical illness seems to mimic these statistics.
Interestingly, when the CDC conducted its 2024 study of the prevalence of chronic illness in the US, they found its most prevalent areas for chronic disease by geographic statistics. When doing a side by side comparison with mental health studies, you can actually see that these areas have the least access to mental health care or are in rural America where there is a lack of mental health specialists.
This connection underscores the importance of integrating mental health into holistic healthcare and promoting lifestyle changes to prevent chronic illness.
Challenges in the Current Healthcare System, What Can We do?
We all know at least one person, or maybe we are that person, prioritize their current lifestyle over their health. Whether that includes things like smoking, living on fast food, sitting all day, or pushing yourself to burnout, it’s up to the individual to make the changes they need to take care of their health. After all, your doctor can’t follow you home and make sure you’re eating healthy or working out every day.
Our healthcare system isn’t equipped to handle every aspect of our health. Often criticized for focusing on treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes, issues in our healthcare are currently coming to light. Some systemic issues, such as understaffing with an influx of patients, cost and lack of sufficient benefits, and a general lack of patient responsibility outside the clinic among other factors play into a large part of the healthcare overwhelm. Our health system simply can’t keep up, and it’s becoming more important than ever that we as individuals take responsibility for managing our own health – both physical and mental- and seeking out support on our own.
This is not to say our health system isn’t doing anything to address this. In fact, many providers are now offering depression and anxiety screenings to the annual preventive visit, but all in all, it is still the individual who needs to be responsible for their overall health and ensure they are getting proper care. Improvement starts with us focusing on doing our part as the patient; unfortunately, it’s easier said than done, and many people need the additional support to stay on top of it.
There are many options out there to get access to health and lifestyle coaching, wellness programs, online mental health libraries, and more. To bridge the gap between getting the most support and access to healthcare at an affordable rate, one particularly interesting option to explore is modern health sharing programs.
These membership-based healthcare systems often offer resources and support for healthy living, in addition to providing access to affordable healthcare benefits, including mental health and virtual care options. Starting with a company like indipop, for example – the experts in subscription healthcare – can help you ensure you have all the benefits you need and know exactly what’s in your membership. By prioritizing preventative care and a holistic wellness lifestyle, individuals can improve their health and potentially reduce healthcare costs.
The connection between mental and physical health is undeniable. Chronic illness and untreated mental health conditions can lead to a snowball effect, which drives up healthcare costs. While many issues are present and in need of being addressed, one place to start is simple: By actively seeking care for mental health concerns and adopting a holistic approach to your health, you can improve your overall well-being and contribute to revolutionizing our currently overwhelmed healthcare system. If you’d like to know more about your options to receive wellness support, visit indipop.co today and find quality resources, affordable health plans, and valuable supplemental programs to strengthen your wellness journey.
Comment below or send us an email to let us know what you’d like to hear about next! Health and wellness is always a top priority at indipop. You can compare options here .
