PARTNERSHIP MEDICAL COVER OPTIONS
Picture: 123RF.COM/RASTUDIO
WELLNESS
I
n today’s stressful world, we often overlook the importance of self-care, assuming it to be an indulgence rather than a necessity. Self-care is about individuals taking charge of their own health and wellbeing — a shift in focus from sickness to wellness. Self-care encompasses various activities, from regular exercise and a healthy diet to meditation and mindfulness practices. Anthea Towert, a certified financial planner and principal consultant at Insight Advisory Solutions, says that those who prioritise self-care improve their overall health status and wellbeing, and reduce the risk of developing lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. “By engaging in regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet, most individuals can maintain a healthy weight, lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of developing obesity-related conditions,” she says, adding that self-care helps people manage stress levels and reduce burnout that, if left unchecked, can lead to a range of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Problems occur when we neglect self-care for too long in terms of poor diet, lack of exercise and a lack of attention to mental health. “The cumulative effects are increased risks of chronic disease. By the time these diseases are diagnosed, they are much more difficult to manage and can be life-altering,” she warns. Medical aid schemes, the primary funders of private health care, are under growing pressure to find ways to manage the increased cost of health care while improving affordability and value for members. One way they are doing this is by shifting
IS THE NEW CURRENCY IN HEALTH CARE Members are increasingly seeking health-care products and solutions that promote health and wellbeing — Anthea Towert, Insight Advisory Solutions
15 LifeStyle
11•06•2023
Sunday Times
the focus from exclusively funding treatment for sickness to including wellness to help prevent or manage chronic health conditions before they become more serious and costly to treat. “Members are increasingly seeking health-care products and solutions that promote health and wellbeing alongside the treatment of illness,” says Towert. “Medical aid schemes are responding to these changing needs by offering more comprehensive preventative care and self-care benefits paid from risk cover and not from members’ medical savings. These include annual health checks, vaccinations and immunisation, cancer screening and early detection of disease tests, wellbaby and well-child check-ups and preventative dental care, to name a few.” To help prioritise and promote a shift to this wellness culture, schemes and health insurers are supplementing preventative care and screening benefits with ancillary wellness-focused lifestyle and rewards programmes to incentivise members who take steps to improve their health through selfcare, she adds. These programmes aim to promote healthy habits and behaviours, advancing a culture of wellness over sickness and increasing member engagement and satisfaction. Members who actively engage benefit from tangible and significant rewards, including discounts on health and wellness products, travel and entertainment, as well as shopping vouchers. “With or without a supporting wellness programme, we can all improve our health and wellbeing and positively impact our longer-term health-care costs by incorporating self-care into our daily lives,” says Towert.