Losing Money on Healthcare and Vegetables

 

When was the last time you went to Subway? Last week, last month, maybe it was last spring even? When it was doesn’t matter. I want you to think about all the toppings and dressings you can get on your sub of choice. Lettuce, tomatos, pickles, banana peppers and even olives. Who would have thought that I’d ever like olives on a sandwich, but I do… a lot!

 

What do sub toppings have to do with anything? Is this another lecture on the importance of vegetable intake? Nope, so don’t tune out just yet. 

 

Sub toppings are the perfect example to explain extended medical benefits and how you are LOSING MONEY AND HEALTHCARE!

 

Let me explain…

 

Let’s say you decide to hit up your local Subway and you order a sweet onion chicken teriyaki….mmmm right?

 

You make the bread choice and decide whether or not you want cheese. After it comes out of the toaster, (Don’t act like toasting this is a choice….it has to be toasted.) you get asked what toppings and sauces you want. 

 

Let’s say you just want some lettuce, tomatoes and banana peppers. Great deal, right? 

 

WRONG!

 

What the sandwich artist doesn’t tell you is that you are already paying for a completely loaded ‘sweet onion chicken teriyaki.’ You are declining to load it up with all the toppings you have already paid for. 

Now, by this point, you might be thinking I’m off my rocker….how is this in anyway related to extended medical coverage. 

 

Regardless of your provider, you and your employer are paying for certain services at an agreed upon cost. Maybe it’s partial coverage of each visit or there is a max amount to claim per year. It doesn’t really matter. 

 

What you need to remember is that you have already paid for these services in part or full in advance. It is up to you to do the legwork and book in with different practitioners and maybe submit some invoices from time to time. But, the bottom line is that you are already paying for them whether your heath benefits or not.

 

How do we know this?

 

Simple…unused benefits expire at the end of the year. 

 

And do you get a cheque in the mail for these unused services? Probably not.

 

Do you get a friendly reminder to book appointments every 4-6 weeks from your company? 

 

Definitely not. 

 

This would mean the company makes less money… and that’s a poor business plan. If you don’t go to your favourite Osteopathic Manual Therapist, the insurance company doesn’t need to foot the bill utilizing your monthly payment. They just stay quiet and hold on to the money.

 

Much in the same way that the sandwich artist doesn’t give you a ‘no veggie’ discount at the till. They just ring you up and throw your green peppers on someone else’s sweet onion chicken teriyaki. 

 

So, what’s your homework?

 

1. Take a look at your extended medical benefits. Maybe there’s a practitioner listed that can help you or your family with that low back pain, digestive unease or headaches. If you don’t, the company won’t do it for you. Or, best case scenario…you just go in for general visit to keep on top of things ‘on the house.’ 

 

1. Book the appointments BEFORE everyone tries to do the same thing and practitioners have no openings. After all, you’re already paying for it and on December 31st, your chance to get what you’ve paid for disappears. And your bank account and ‘health’ account will be the worse for it.

 

1. Next time you go to Subway, load that shit up! You’ve already paid for it and the extra veggies won’t hurt you.