Obamacare

   With the current government shut down and the start of open enrollment for "Obamacare" aka the Affordable Healthcare Act going on I have been getting a lot of people asking me for my opinion on it. What do you think about Obamacare Dr. Austin? Now I do not like to get in to political discussions with patients, but I will tell you this, Giving more people access to an already broken and failing healthcare system is not going to make people healthier.
   We need an entire healthcare overhaul, not in who gets access or who pays for it, but a focus on prevention and health. Our entire way of looking at health is flawed. Our current healthcare model is failing us miserably. We don’t have a healthcare system, we have a sickcare system. We don’t promote health and prevention, we wait until you have problems and stick you on a bunch of drugs to mask the symptoms. Health insurance or Obamacare doesn’t pay for organic groceries, chiropractic, yoga, meditation, vacations, gym memberships, they pay for little pills that cost them peanuts but can cost you your life. And giving more people access to this failing healthcare system doesn’t give us better results. We need a complete paradigm shift, a different way of thinking. 
   In 2011, we spent 2.7 trillion on healthcare. We spend more than two countries behind us combined! Yet, we rank 37th in overall health according to the World Health Organization. We are only 5 percent of the world’s population (even though we think we are more sometimes), and we consume 73 percent of the world’s drugs. Reread that last sentence, 5 percent of the world’s population,  73 percent of the world’s drugs. If that statistic doesn’t blow your mind check your pulse. So obviously, our model isn’t working. We are not getting the results we pay for and deserve. If we spend the most money and have more resources than anyone else doesn’t it make sense that we should have one of the best healthcare systems? Or am I just simple minded? We should at least be in the top 5, or top 10, ok top 25… We are at 37th! Not even close.
   So what do I think about Obamacare? I don't. I don't think about it at all. It's not going to make anyone healthier. You can not rely on the government to make you healthier or take control of your health. You have to take responsibility yourself. You are the only one who is responsible for your own health. Insurance and Obamacare isn't going to pay for all the things you might need to make you healthy. So are you going to let them decide on what you should do with your health? If you go your whole life making healthcare decisions based upon what is "covered" you will be very disappointed with the outcome. Put yourself in to a position with your health that you don't need the "system". You are self reliant, proactive, and healthy all by yourself. If you would like to sit down with me one on one and discuss steps to achieving this contact my office Adjust Dallas today for a free consultation.  

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