Health insurance and healthcare are difficult in almost any country, but patients in the US have to grapple with a famously flawed healthcare system.
One Twitter user pointed out one of the United States’ most famous oversights.
Me: hello I would like to take care of my bones
Health Insurance: Sure thing! How about an x-ray? Would you like a cast?
Me: no, the bones in my mouth
Health Insurance: OH HO HO no, not your TEETH bones
— soul nate (@MNateShyamalan) December 27, 2019
Teeth are slightly different from the rest of your bones, but it’s pretty important to take good care of them. Good hygiene is crucial, but it only goes so far. An expert can help patients keep their teeth extra-clean and healthy.
Research shows that poor dental care can lead to issues such as heart issues, low birth weight during pregnancy in patients with gum disease (periodontitis), and pneumonia caused by bacteria that travels to the lungs. People with osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s require additional dental screening because these conditions could affect their teeth.
But there are other problems:
Me: Hello I would like to take care of my brain
Health insurance: Got you covered! Need scans? Surgery?
Me: Actually I’d just like the meds I need and to talk to someone for like an hour a week
Health insurance: Oh ho ho no, we only cover how your brain IS, not what it DOES
— skelton jon (@whyevernotso) December 30, 2019
Yes, mental health is also important!
In fact, research on the mind and body shows that mental and physical health are more intertwined than we thought. Access to better mental health coverage could help people process trauma, be more productive, and deal with other issues that affect their bodies as well.
Twitter isn’t going to solve this problem, but it’s great that some people are using their sense of humor to bring awareness to these important problems.
If you live in the US, how do you feel about your health insurance plan? Feel free to chime in with your thoughts.
And, as always, thoughts from other countries are also welcome. Maybe another perspective will give us some good ideas!
