The Health Gurus

Last year, I decided to be an outlier and questioned our insurance package at work. I had just experienced a brutal health year, in which our insurance company complicated matters by delaying tests, requiring further tests and analysis, and declining coverage. So when I began to hear the rumors that the entire system would be forced on a high deductible plan and the possibility of losing the system's contribution, I felt the need to speak up. Certain administrators seemed to forget that my former career was as a human resource specialist and that I had negotiated health contracts for my clients, so I began to be outspoken, asking questions about the costs, savings, implications, and the policies, procedures, and accountability for the employee, library, and insurance company. In the meantime, I had meetings with our human resource director, insurance representative, insurance consultant, and library director to discuss my concerns. In the end, our director decided not to push everyone onto the new health package.

There has not been much discussion as of yet on what packages will be offered next year, but one major change involving our health care is an alteration in our wellness screenings and credits. Previously, we would receive credits towards our premium if we met certain criteria during our health screenings. The problem with this system was the standards were nearly impossible to meet, forcing most of the staff to have their doctors complete forms stating the employee was being treated or improving that health "problem." These forms were so convoluted that some of the doctors couldn't complete them correctly.

So this year to earn credits, we must attend the health screenings at work and receive credits for taking a required test, signing a non-smoking voucher, completing a health assessment and meeting with a health advisor to discuss our assessment. Now, I don't mind taking the tests, but I dislike the assessment and discussion. I completed an assessment three years ago and was very frustrated by my session. The session is essentially someone lecturing you, personally, on not meeting the established criteria, but without any consideration to your personal health situation because these consultants are not your doctor. Last time, I was told to lower my stress. People who say this should not be in the health care profession. I was lectured non-stop about my cholesterol levels, which are genetically high. I am predisposed to high cholesterol and my doctor can explain the many ways that we have lowered it over the years and why we are avoiding meds at this time. According to the BMI criteria, I am overweight. This is the one that really makes me furious because a health consultant saying this to a twenty-something girl could lead to eating issues. I am not overweight. I am thirty pounds lighter than my heaviest weight. My body is shaped like a pear, which means I'm tiny on top and exponentially larger in the hip and bum area. I am proud of the fact that I have a curvy body and have learned to accept it, which I believe makes me a mentally healthier person.

So I will attend the screenings and the lecture in order to obtain my credits, but I definitely won't like it. And what I can't understand is why I can't have a physical done by my doctor who knows all my health issues instead. The conspiracy theorist in me fears I know the answer to that question.