First and foremost, I’m a chiropractor who specializes in movement coaching. I’ve had my share of patients that chose not to see me because I don’t take their insurance. I’ve played the insurance game, and this is what I’ve learned:
You get what you pay for.
I don’t want to misconstrue you by assuming I mean quality of care. That’s not to what I’m referring.
I mean YOU – YOU get out of something what you invest in it.
Every healthcare advisor and coach I seek is not covered by insurance. This includes the movement coaching, acupuncture, and strength coaching I use. I spend my hard-earned cash, sacrificing in one place to invest in myself with these coaches.
What I’ve gotten out of these investments is immeasurable. I work much harder to follow through with their suggestions when my bank account sees subtractions.
Now, I’m not stating you can’t seek practitioners under your plans. But I think one must research and make certain that their copays and deductibles deliver the benefits of the money spent.
I’ll provide examples.
1. I spent 4 months on my own, with my gym membership, failing to strict press a 20 kilo KB. With two good suggestions from 2 solid coaches, I could press it bilaterally 2 weeks later.
$70/month in gym fees x 4 mo = $280 (no changes)
2 coaching sessions, plus ditching the gym for my correctives and home pressing = $200 (bilateral goal achievement)
Interesting.
2. An orthopedist referred me a patient that didn’t want to pay my fee, since it was uncovered by insurance. The good doctor said this:
“You’ve been to physical therapy 3x/wk for 6 months with no significant changes. That’s $120/week, $480/month, $2,800 over the past 6 months you paid to have slight improvement. It might be time to invest a few sessions in Dr. Dooley.”
Boom. The good doctor notes the value in a coach.
There’s just something to putting an investment in yourself that is more than a copay. When I started getting coached, I saw dramatic changes in my mindset, mobility, stability, and strength.
So, I eat out less and buy less stuff. I budget to make it happen, because I know I am worth the investment in great coaches. If you can make it work, please do it.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley