With the fate of Obamacare and the future of America’s health care policy still undecided, it’s more important than ever to take control of your own health. Taking a proactive approach to your health has shown enormous cost savings in annual health care costs. These simple lifestyle changes can cut your doctor’s bill, make you feel better, and live longer.
1. Exercise Is Worth $2,500 Per Year
Yes, this one is obvious. Cardio exercise a few times a week is the single most effective lifestyle change you can make to take a proactive approach to your health. What might not be so obvious is how much exercise can affect your net worth. Studies have shown that illness due to sedentary lifestyles cost almost $68 billion annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. For the first time, a recent study looked at the individual cost savings of exercise. The study found that those who did moderate activity for 5 days per week spent an average of $2,500 less in medical expenses than those who didn’t.
2. Don’t Skip Your Dental Appointment
A 2016 survey from the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reports that nearly 40 percent of adults 65 and over neglected to go to the dentist in 2016. While many cited the cost of a visit as the top reason, putting off your oral health can get more expensive in the long run. Many common health problems are associated with or are even caused by poor oral health, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, cancer, kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Paying a little for the dentist can save a lot in treating these diseases, plus you’ll have a better smile. What a deal!
3. Catch Cancer Early With Screenings
Nobody believes they will be diagnosed with cancer until they are. The unfortunate truth is that at least 39.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, a rate that will rise as other diseases are conquered. Cancer is likely the final frontier of medicine, and a silver bullet cure is unlikely to arise any time soon, if at all. This makes it as important as ever to get screened for cancers at the appropriate intervals. Talk to your doctor about how often you should be screened for various types of cancers.
These relatively inexpensive routines can save more than just your wallet, in the long run, they can also save your life. Take control of your own health today by being proactive.
