Life and Order: Health Insurance

Women are great at multitasking! Our families depend on us to do many different jobs. Our parents ask for our knowledge, our children need guidance, and our husbands get our opinion, whether they want it or not! Thus, you are the gatekeeper of your family’s health.

In this role, it is important to understand the health benefits before you purchase a policy. Did you know there are specific health insurance needs for each member of your family? It pays to know; the right comprehensive health benefits plan can be the difference between life and death.

>> First, let’s talk about you—the woman of the house. Do not put off health care for yourself because you are busy taking care of everyone else! Women have gender-specific health issues. If you have the correct coverage, you will be more likely to go for all of your exams without worrying if they will be covered. A good, comprehensive, health care plan will help ensure that you get treatment if diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition.

Do you have a family history of breast cancer or cervical cancer?
• Make sure your plan covers cervical exams, mammograms, breast reconstruction and other related procedures.
• Check your health insurance plan to see at what age it offers a yearly mammogram. A good policy will allow for earlier breast cancer prevention exams.
• Always make sure your policy includes coverage for preventive care, such as routine breast exams and a pap smear. Co-pay plans give you coverage for preventative health screenings and frequently cover 100% of your annual checkup.

South Carolina mandates private insurance companies offer breast and cervical screening tests for women. Also mandated are inpatient mastectomy stays for 48 hours and any policy that offers mastectomy coverage must cover reconstruction.

As a woman, make sure that your health insurance policy covers gynecologist visits. It is important that women over the age of 18 get a gynecological exam every year. This is important for the prevention and or early detection of several different forms of cancers.

You may want osteoporosis screening or hormone replacement therapy to be a part of your coverage. Check to see if they are covered services. Does your policy pay for screening for ovarian cysts, birth control or the HPV vaccine? Be sure to ask.

If you are in your childbearing years, make sure that your policy includes maternity coverage. If you decline maternity coverage and get pregnant, you will not be covered. Find out if fertility treatments are covered by your policy, as you may end up needing a fertility specialist. In addition you will want your plan to cover prenatal and maternity care, as well as potential pregnancy complications.

>> Now lets talk about your man. The state of a man’s health affects everyone around him. It is important he has health insurance and stays healthy. Men are usually the breadwinners in their household and their families’ daily survival depends on them staying healthy. Men are less likely to have health insurance than women and that gap is widening. Men are also less likely to perceive their health issues as significant and more likely to ignore important warning signs. Most health insurance companies encourage healthy lifestyles and you may qualify for wellness discounts available through them.

Several things work against men. They tend to smoke and drink more than women. They don’t seek medical attention as often as women. Some men define themselves by their job, adding stress to their lives. Preventative care is essential for men to stay healthy. There are several screening tests men should make sure their health insurance plan includes.

• Obesity: Men should have their body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.) His health insurance plan may include discounts on weight loss programs.
• High Cholesterol: Men need to have regular cholesterol checks starting at age 35 to minimize heart conditions. If younger than 35, the doctor may recommend cholesterol checks if your guy has diabetes or high blood pressure, if he smokes or if heart disease runs in his family.
• High Blood Pressure: Regular blood pressure checks at least every two years. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher and can lead to many serious health complications.
• Colorectal Cancer: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. If there is a family history of colorectal cancer, he may need to be screened earlier.
• Diabetes: Get tested for diabetes if he has high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Depression: His emotional health is as important as his physical health. If he has felt down, sad or hopeless for more than two weeks or has felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, he may be depressed.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: If he is between the ages of 65 and 75 and has ever smoked (100 or more cigarettes during your lifetime), he needs to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is an abnormally large or swollen blood vessel in your abdomen. His health insurance policy may also cover a smoking cessation program.

Ensuring your guy has a good health insurance policy and sees his doctor regularly is the best way to take control of his health. Providing you and your family with protection from the high costs of medical bills will give you peace of mind, your family financial protection and keep you all on the road to a healthy lifestyle.

Karen Cully is the owner of Harbour Health Insurance Solutions on Hilton Head Island. Harbour Health has set itself apart by delivering unparalled service, advocacy and cost savings.