HSF

Seeing the point in regular health checks

30th Nov 2007

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of good health must have regular health checks.

The importance of regular check-ups to maintain health is well established, but many of us will procrastinate and fail to visit health professionals on a regular basis, and in doing so we can risk the good health we currently enjoy.

The reasons for this are simple. In today's busy lifestyle, people are pressed for time and they are unlikely to think pro-actively about their health. In other words, they don't take action until they have to.

But there is also the cost involved. Few people decide to spend the extra money they may have in a week on a health check. They are far more likely to spend it on something that they will perceive as a treat - and oftentimes that 'treat' is likely to do some damage to their health rather than improve it!

A recent survey in the UK showed that half of all 25-34 year olds put off health checks because either they can't afford them or they simply don't want to pay what they see as high fees for a once-off consultation they can easily postpone until later in the month or year. In the end, many never schedule a check.

And the long-term damage they can do to their health by avoiding such check-ups can be serious.

Given this information, the only effective way to ensure that regular health checks are taken is to make them as financially painless as possible, and to actively encourage people to get checked.

This is the benefit in a health cash plan, which is a system whereby a small sum of money is deducted from an individual's pay every week or month, and in turn, their everyday medical expenses - or a percentage of them - are covered.

HSF Health Plan, for example provides 100,000 Irish people with payouts toward medical check-ups covering dental and optical services (including eye laser treatment) and a range of other services - everything from day surgery to birth and adoption grants.

This encourages the individual to take regular checks on their health and takes the cost issue out of the equation.

When was the last time, for example, you had your eyes properly tested?

For many people, the gradual reduction in their ability to see properly is something they don't notice simply because it is gradual and happens slowly over time. But they may be putting themselves at risk of further damage to their health by not dealing with the problem immediately.

For example, it is estimated that there are 200,000 people in Ireland who have diabetes but are unaware they have the condition.

And early detection of diabetes is hugely important - the longer a person has diabetes the more likely they are to develop a condition known as diabetic retinopathy - a serious disease of the retina which causes irreversible damage and blindness. But this condition can be treated successfully when caught in the early stages.

Another symptom is blurred vision, which can occur when diabetes has been established for some years. And both these conditions can be managed much more effectively when it is known they exist.

Taking out a health cash plan to cover these type of medical checks ensures that an individual will avail of optical checks on a regular basis and these types of problems will be identified early and dealt with.

But it's not just medical checks that a health cash plan can help with.

More and more people are concerned with their appearance in our image-driven society.

Eye laser surgery is an increasingly popular option for people who need glasses or contact lenses. But in Ireland, the cost for many people is prohibitive - with costs being up to €4,000 per eye. However, some of the cost of eye laser surgery can be covered with a health cash plan - making it more accessible to everyone.

Investing in a health cash plan is like an SSIA for your health. It may seem an unnecessary expense when you start, but your vision will prove to be a boon for your health for the rest of your life.