Corporations are starting to take a closer look at wellness programs for their employees. Reasons for this might not be as altruistic as we might hope, but with rising health care costs and the general health of most Americans these days hitting what is now a “crisis” level, even the corporate giants can’t help but address this large monetary investment.
The statistics speak for themselves:
*Health Care costs in the U.S. rose at twice the rate of inflation in 2008. National Health spending reached $2.5 trillion in 2009, accounting for 17.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
*By 2018, national health care expenditures are expected to reach $4.4 trillion – more than double 2007 spending.
*Over the last decade, employer- sponsored health insurance premiums have increased 119 percent.
*A study found that 62 percent of all bankruptcies filed in 2007 were linked to medical expenses.
*Recent studies indicate that approximately 50% of corporate profits now go for health-care related costs versus only 7% three decades ago.
We are not going to solve the present health care crisis with the same thinking and problem solving that created it. Doctors treat symptoms, few of them treat the underlying problem. Why should they? Those pills and medications are what keeps you coming into their office and paying their bills. This is where a holistic health coach comes in. Not only do they address an individual’s symptoms, but they work together to find what one’s individual needs are. Then they educate, support and empower you with knowledge and tools you need to heal yourself.
If we can create a healthy internal environment, then our external environments improve because we feel better, have more energy, and are able to focus on the task at hand. We are also happier which benefits both our co-workers and our families.
Sometimes it takes a crisis for people to address a problem. Prevention and lifestyle changes are difficult but with the right support to make sure you follow through consistently until healthy living becomes a habit, it is certainly not impossible.
The time for change is now. The present is all we have. Make it count.
Odette Maria Artime is a certified Holistic Health Counselor, certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP), and founder of Organic Soul. Odette's work encompasses supporting and empowering individuals to regain their physical health, improve the quality of their lives, and reach their personal goals. Odette and Organic Soul offer newsletters, online health and self-growth classes, and one-on-one as well as group health counseling sessions (privately and online).