Risk & Business Magazine Cooke Insurance Group Spring 2016 | Page 31

Can You Afford to Put Business On Hold? Priority Care Can Help BY: DANNY CORRIVEAU, COOKE INSURANCE T he Canadian health care system, while a valuable and essential asset to citizens, is not perfect. One of the primary issues plaguing the health care system is the wait times which are associated with various treatments. Unfortunately, the reality is that our system is getting overloaded by an aging population and that can often leave people who have nagging injuries or need quick treatment waiting much longer than they would like simply because their issue is not immediately life threatening. It also leaves individuals seeking diagnostic testing out in the cold for weeks or months in many cases. The system is simply overloaded, and people are clamoring for treatment, often simply to alleviate the worry and stress of waiting. The Way Things Stand The overloaded health care system has significant implications for individuals and business owners. For one thing, extended wait times can lead to people being on extended disability. Individuals often cannot afford to be laid up waiting for care for weeks or months. On the flip side, business owners will be left in the lurch if their top earners or performers suffer from an extended illness. That extended period of time translates to lost wages and lost earnings. Another side effect of the overloaded system is that many family physicians will not be willing to do certain diagnostic tests, leaving them to specialists (who have their own wait times). In all, the current system is not set up in such a way that proactive care is an option for many people. If you want to get a CT scan, for instance, you may be subject to long waits. Thus, many individuals choose to go to expensive private clinics in order to avoid the wait lists. Where Priority Care Comes Into Play Priority Care is a stand-alone healthcare policy that takes effect anytime an insured individual is put on a waiting list for more than 14 days. At that time, they have their choice of any physician in the United States or Canada that they wish to see for access to doctors, diagnostic tests, specialized equipment, and treatment which would otherwise come with long delay times. The Priority Care program also covers medical services related to your health issue, including a case coordinator who will see the treatment through from the first consultation through completion. The program carries up to $2M lifetime coverage for medical care, regardless of the cost of individual treatments. It also includes travel (if pre-approved), accommodations, meals and the cost of one accompanying friend or family member. Best of all, it covers proactive care as well. Priority Care puts an individual’s health into their own hands. For business owners, it is important to note that you can take the Priority Care policies out on employees, because caring for them is the same as caring for your company itself. If you would like more information or to see if the Priority Care program is the right fit for you or your business, you can contact us by phone at (902-566-5666 Ext 4482) or email at ([email protected]). Danny Corriveau, President of Cooke Capital, has a passion for consulting with businesses, large and small, seeking customized Group Health Plan solutions. His experience serving a broad client bas H[