Ramaswamy triumphs in tackling neglected health care debate
A presidential candidate is finally addressing the importance of exercise in fixing the broken American “health” care system.
During the Republican debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy called on the health insurance industry to prioritize preventative medicine over expensive procedures that are only sought after disease has already taken hold.
“They’ll pay for anything like feeding tubes, doctors to be pill pushers,” Ramaswamy said, “but not for the procedures that can actually improve these patients’ health.”
“Here’s the solution,” Ramaswamy added. “We need diverse insurance options in a competitive marketplace that cover actual health, preventative medicine, diet, exercise, lifestyle, and more.”
— Tristan Justice (@JusticeTristan) December 7, 2023
“We don’t have a health care system in this country. We have a sick care system,” Ramaswamy explained.
He’s absolutely right. If Americans wonder why health care remains a major issue in every recent presidential election, they need to look no further than our current level of baseline health. U.S. life expectancy has essentially stagnated as 6 in 10 American adults suffer from at least one chronic disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four in 10 suffer from two. Additionally, nearly 42 percent of American adults are categorically obese and can expect their lifetime health expenditures to be double that of non-obese Americans.
US life expectancy in 2022 is at levels not seen since 2001 largely because of drug overdoses and chronic illness. Suicides also just hit an all-time high with a per capita rate not seen since 1941
America is very sick pic.twitter.com/Eze9c3vv0Y
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) November 29, 2023
Dr. Peter Attia highlighted the flaws in our current health care system in his book, Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, published in March.
Health insurance companies won’t pay a doctor much to advise a patient to change their eating habits or monitor their blood glucose levels to prevent type 2 diabetes. However, insurance will cover the same patient’s expensive insulin after they have been diagnosed. Similarly, there’s no billing code for putting a patient on a comprehensive exercise program designed to maintain their muscle mass, balance, and resistance to injury. But if they fall and break their hip, then their surgery and physical therapy will be covered.
The U.S. spends around $3.6 trillion on health care annually, but only 3 percent or less of that spending is focused on prevention. Meanwhile, U.S. health care spending has risen to over 18 percent of GDP in 2021, up from 5 percent in 1960.
If the emphasis on American health care shifted to healthspan rather than just lifespan, Americans could not only live longer but also live better for longer. Instead, the dietary guidelines endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA) since 1960 have led Americans down a detrimental path of the low-fat diet craze. Americans need to prioritize not just diet and exercise, but the right diet and exercise programs tailored to their individual needs.
Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University with a major in political science and a minor in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.
How can insurance options be diversified to cover preventative medicine, diet, exercise, and lifestyle interventions?
G in the effort to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent heart disease, but there are plenty of codes for open-heart surgery and cardiac rehabilitation,” Attia wrote.
Ramaswamy’s call for diverse insurance options that cover preventative medicine, diet, exercise, and lifestyle is an essential step towards fixing the broken American healthcare system. Currently, the system focuses on treating diseases after they have already taken hold, rather than addressing the root causes of these illnesses.
The importance of exercise in preventing chronic diseases cannot be overstated. Regular physical activity has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and various other health conditions. It is also crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and promoting mental well-being.
However, despite these proven benefits, Americans are not getting enough exercise. According to the CDC, only 23% of adults in the United States meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. This lack of exercise contributes to the high rates of chronic diseases and the soaring healthcare costs associated with treating them.
By prioritizing preventative medicine and incorporating exercise into insurance coverage, we can shift the focus from treating diseases to preventing them in the first place. This will not only improve the overall health of the population but also reduce healthcare costs in the long run.
In addition to insurance coverage, there is a need for broader systemic changes to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. This includes creating safe and accessible spaces for exercise, implementing policies that encourage physical activity in schools and workplaces, and providing education on the importance of regular exercise.
It is encouraging to see a presidential candidate like Vivek Ramaswamy addressing the importance of exercise in fixing the American healthcare system. His call for diverse insurance options that cover preventative medicine and lifestyle interventions is a step in the right direction. However, it is crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and individuals to come together and prioritize exercise and preventative care to truly transform the broken healthcare system into one that promotes and supports holistic health.
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