Taking control of healthcare starts with your own

In last year’s healthcare issue, my call to action was to start changing your mindset by taking control of your own health first. That meant researching health insurance options, visiting the doctor once a year, regardless of whether you are sick or not, and educating your employees to different options available to them, especially if you do not provide health insurance. 

I accomplished all of these things in terms of my own healthcare. Did you?

I went to the doctor (a wellness doctor) and got on a plan to exercise more and eat better. She checks my blood pressure, fat content, weight and cholesterol. I haven’t lost the amount of weight that I was hoping, but I go to boxing classes three times a week and lift weights at least two—so my cardiovascular is strong.

I shopped around and changed my health insurance program. I switched to Humana One because they have a plan tailored to the self-employed (and they are an advertiser, and I always try to use and endorse their products.) The new plan is cheaper, and it gives me a free checkup each year.

I also educated people around me about ways to research health insurance like: www.ehealthinsurance.com.

The main feature article in this issue talks about a new program that was spearheaded by the Travis County Hospital District. It is a bold attempt to insure the working poor (people that are working, but their employer doesn’t provide health insurance).  The model is innovative, and could go a long way to help small business owners provide health insurance to their employees for a very low cost.

On another subject, we also wanted to address the local economy. We’re hearing a lot of talk about recession on a nationwide basis, but it doesn’t seem to be the case in Central Texas.

A few weeks ago, I had coffee with a fellow business owner that conducts business both here and in St. Louis. I was telling him that I really wasn’t seeing the indications of a recession. His reply was, “well certainly not in Austin. We’re seeing slowdowns in every major market, but our Austin office is taking off!”

The economists on the panel remain somewhat optimistic about growth in the area, despite rising fuel prices (this has some positive effects for Texas) and the real estate crash (not as bad here because we had less subprime loans and people continue to relocate here). I'm bullish on Central Texas and I believe our mindset will create the reality we seek. 

So all in all, the outlook for this year is positive. Keep plugging away, and remember, regardless of whether the economy is up or down, there’s always opportunity if you keep your eyes and ears open.