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| A History Liberated |
We are conditioned to think others are responsible for our health. Many people pay into an insurance policy, which then is supposed to (mostly) pay for visits to doctors and facilities. When this is the scenario, most people are resistant to seek care that won't be paid for by their insurance. Even holistic folks, people who believe in prevention, understand the roots of stress and its impact on health and that their insurance doesn't pay for prevention-- they often only want to go to practitioners that insurance will pay for.
This is a mindset we buy into.We have abdicated control and responsibility of our health to those who don't really care about us, don't have our best interest in mind and who take the stand that we are beholden to them. It's a very dysfunctional relationship that dis-serves us. In this position we aren't allowed to determine what is best for our health; the type of healing and direction we think is the most sound. Our options are extremely limited under this umbrella'd corporate mentality. What are other possibilities we could invest in?
It takes a lot to change a mindset. One's healthcare values need to have a determined awakening. Having excellent, consistent outcomes with the experience of Complimentary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) is probably essential. With hundreds of thousands of people turning to CAM for care rather than conventional medicine and at least that many people uninsured, as well as thousands of physicians disillusioned with the insurance industry relationship, mainstream healthcare folks are beginning to think outside the box and get creative.
Some physicians and psychiatrists have begun not accepting insurance, sidestepping the mire entirely. Others have created a "care" program where a patient pays a hefty ($2-2.5K) a year and are promised to be served unconditionally in the office and hospital during that time. Progressive states like Oregon and Minnesota have healthcare providers creating their own "health co-ops" including a wide range of practitioners from massage therapists, acupuncturists to physicians Health Cooperatives Gain Backing as Alternative to Public Option. One joins the co-op for a fee and is expected to take advantage of all of the practitioners during the year. It is a health co-op; the understanding is one does prevention and doesn't wait for disease to show up to see a practitioner. The attempt is to change the mindset of how we look at taking care of health and disease.
Making CAM affordable for all socio-economic backgrounds is imperative. There are "community acupuncturists" that operate on reasonable sliding scales.Community Acupuncture Movement Goes Co-Op | AcuTake They practice as they do in China, in community. Meaning, several people at a time are treated in one room at the same time. This is a pretty foreign concept in America's hyper-HIPPA age. But the idea is, that a shared healing in the same space actually potentiates all the healing in that space. The sliding scale is $15-35 and you are encouraged to stay in the space (needles in) for as long as you feel is needed for the treatment. I've experienced acupuncturists in a private setting for $125 and have also have experienced this community acupuncture. They are both effective and healing environments.
Many people who primarily utilize CAM for health decide to disengage themselves from the insurance system (at least partially). They acquire a high deductible, low monthly fee catastrophic (hospital) insurance and then self insure themselves for maintenance visits (gym fee, yoga classes, massages and CAM practitioners) by creating an interest earning savings account dedicated to health, which of course, they control and which they feed with a percentage of their income. They often can negotiate conventional care fees (doctors, dentists) because they pay cash for their visits and are not related to insurance reimbursements, which for the most part, is a big headache and time-consuming paperwork for the practitioner.
Our bodies are designed to self heal. Obviously, awareness and providing excellent nutrition is part of this. Those hesitant to pay for organic or take the trouble to buy from local agricultural vendors because of the cost or inconvenience would be wise to reconsider. Although organic has now become a trend and can be "brand"-manipulated by corporations taking advantage of the trendy buzz-word, it is food that is more nutritionally sound and less taxing on the body. One has to have some knowledge and consciousness about it and realize Monsanto-owned (pesticide/GMO central) Whole Foods may not be the only place to get it. Sometimes choosing local produce (not certified organic) is a better choice over big agricultural organic farms operated far afield or in another country. Small, local farms often don't have the legal and fiscal stamina to jump through the certification process so don't, even though they don't use pesticides on their crops. A previously mentioned book (see Food Glorious Food), Omnivore's Dilemma, is a must read to understand the workings of American agriculture and the food industry.
Many people, even with the understanding of the benefit of decreased pesticide use and minimal mineral depletion in organic can't make the jump to paying more for it. Same with hearty (not easily squeezed) breads which can cost up to three times more, but which are nutritionally superior to store brands. Shocked at seeing your pre-pubescent daughter's nine year old friends sprout breasts and start to menstruate? (related to hormones in meat and dairy) Making choices, such as starting with organic dairy and working oneself (and one's family) to other food sources such as minimal amounts of organic meat and produce is a prudent approach. Looking at food (natural medicine per Socrates) as an investment in one's health is one approach for those with tight budgets. Also, looking at quality grocery buying from the radical (for most) perspective that quality always trumps quantity; buy better food and eat less. This surprisingly, is a shocking notion to many people I counsel, probably because we are so indoctrinated in this (obese-prone) culture to be consumers and food associations are hard-wired in us since birth.
Paying for health. It is our being duty to sustain and maintain this vessel we travel through in this life. It is our being duty to bring awareness, mindfulness to what we put in our mouths and how we choose to treat the organism when it is unwell. It is our being duty to maintain a relationship with it; a right relationship so it thrives and is optimally sustained. Relationship. Responsibility. Respect. Making the necessary inner and outer payments to keep ourselves well is our first duty to ourselves.
Community Acupuncture Documentary Trailer - YouTube
right on the money.
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