Leaving things to the last minute can be habitual for many people, but it’s actually bad for your health. Replying to emails, school assignments and even doing the dishes can be put off until later, but they eventually need to be done. Waiting until the last minute to make your healthcare appointments can cause a chain effect of consequences.
We all procrastinate for various reasons, but there’s more to risk when it comes to your health. A major part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is having regular appointments with the right practitioners. Whether it’s for injury prevention or treatment for an existing condition, delaying your care will not result in optimal health. Your schedule of appointments may depend on your extended health benefits, but you can still be organized. Waiting until the end of the year causes unnecessary and avoidable challenges.
The Results of Last Minute Appointments
Scheduling Issues
Many people try to squeeze in appointments between September - December. However, healthcare practitioners in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area often work for various clinics that also become extremely busy towards the end of the year too. Practitioners are treating patients at home and in clinics, which means some of them can easily be booked up months in advance. Massage Therapy is a popular service that many people try to book at the last minute. It’s physically impossible to fit a year's worth of appointments into a couple of weeks. And, it defeats the purpose of the incredible benefits of a relaxing massage throughout the year. If you wait too long, you may not get the appointment times that suit your lifestyle.
Delayed Reimbursement
Due to the increased volume of claims at the end of the year, there are longer reimbursement times. Insurance companies tend to have higher claims scrutiny particularly to identify fraudulent claims. Podiatry, chiropody, orthotics and massage therapy are among the various healthcare disciplines that have been exposed to benefits fraud. Since legitimate claims are subject to additional scrutiny, it is best to book your appointments well in advance.
Longer Recovery
If you have a nagging pain or an injury you need to attend to, there is no quick fix. For example, a Physiotherapist can likely alleviate some of your pain or mobility issues during your first session. But, you will require a series of appointments that are spaced out according to your condition, injury and treatment plan. In between sessions there is time for recovery and any exercises or stretches that your Physiotherapist recommends. You can maximize both the physical and mental health benefits of healthcare services with regular intervals of appointments throughout the year.
Lost Benefits
There is usually a scramble during the last few weeks of the year by patients desperately trying to use up their benefits before it’s too late. Orthotics appointments are especially tricky at the end of the year, because insurance companies will only reimburse you for your claim once the orthotics have been dispensed. You must physically receive them and be fitted by your Chiropodist before reimbursement can take place. This means your orthotics appointment must occur by the end of the first week of December to account for 2-3 week manufacturing and shipping time. High volumes of orders and deliveries can also cause delays. You could potentially lose out on your benefits for that year if you can't get an appointment in time.
No More Healthcare Procrastination
The last few weeks of the summer are upon us, so why not get ahead of the crowd by planning out your appointments. Beat the back-to-school and work rush in September by organizing and prioritizing your family’s health care schedule. HealthCasa has a full suite of practitioners that can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Discover the benefits of mobile Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Chiropody and Podiatry in the comfort of your home.
If you’re in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area appointments are available 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. following all covid-19 precautions.
Contact us today to get started!