76% of Canadians are lucky enough to have health and life insurance benefits.

If you’re one of them, do you get the most out of your benefits each year?

You should be taking advantage of every pool available to you and we’re going to tell you why.

It’s no secret that happy employees are the key to a successful business. In fact, studies have shown that happy employees are 12-20% more productive than their unhappy counterparts. So how do employers keep their employees happy? Simple. Decent wages, flexible hours (if possible), vacation days, parental leave and, perhaps most importantly, employee benefits.

We are huge advocates for employee benefits. We’re even bigger advocates for using those benefits to their fullest. The sad thing is, according to a recent article in Forbes, most people don’t fully understand what their benefits actually cover and an equally staggering number don’t even review their benefits package at all. While it can be tricky to parse through the jargon, if you haven’t taken a look at your benefits package recently, you should! If it’s still unclear what’s covered, book some time with your HR rep or a knowledgable co-worker.

It’s time you stop missing out. And here’s why:

You’re paying for those benefits

First and foremost, your employee benefits aren’t just a generous gift from your employer. No. You pay for them–though not as much as if you were to seek coverage on your own, but still. A percentage comes off of each paycheque to cover your portion of your benefits. So by not taking advantage of the resources covered you are actually losing money. For us, that would be reason enough to use every last available dollar.

Happy, healthy people get noticed and promoted faster

It’s true. As we said above, happy employees are 12-20% more productive. They have more energy, are more creative and are able to comfortably take on more. These are the people that employers notice. And, well, guess what, healthy people are happier. The link between happiness and health has been studied from both directions because the two are inextricably linked. However, those with less pain, more mobility, increased strength, better cardio, and higher levels of energy show up to work each day with a better attitude, more confidence and a willingness to tackle more. It’s no wonder they stand out.

So, how can you become happier and healthier? Work with a naturopath, in addition to your family physician, to rid yourself of disease. Use physio, chiro and athletic therapy to reduce pain. Take advantage of RMT to eliminate stress. Talk to a nutritionist or dietitian about the best diet for you. Speak to a psychologist if you are struggling with your mental health. The options are nearly endless.

Many of these professionals are covered under benefits packages. Even if you don’t think you need them, if they are available to you, use them to bring your health and wellness to the next level because it’s time you got noticed.

Healthy people feel more fulfilled

According to Statistics Canada, “Research has shown that people who have good mental and physical health are more likely to be satisfied with life. Canadians who reported that their overall health was excellent or very good were most likely to be satisfied or very satisfied with their lives (98.1%). In contrast, those who reported that their health was fair or poor were more likely to be dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their life (17.5%)” (Brule et al., 2019).

Again, how do we achieve good mental and physical health? Physical activity, good nutrition, seeking counselling when necessary, stress management, regular doctor’s visits and so on. Almost all of these can be optimized through the use of your benefits. You don’t have to struggle alone to achieve good physical or mental health.

By using your benefits you can enlist a whole team to help you reach your peak levels of wellness and happiness.

Ultimately

It’s up to you whether you make the most out of your employee benefits. Most people take advantage of their dental, vision and prescription coverage, but letting your other pools of coverage go to waste is only cheating yourself out of feeling like the best possible version of you.

Not sure what you’re covered for? Find out! Many plans include coverage up to a certain amount for visits to practitioners such as: naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, athletic therapists, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychotherapists, just to name a few. One of these professionals might be the missing link to optimizing your health. Plus, it’s always good to know what you’re covered for.

If you have pain, mobility issues or you’re just looking to maintain your current quality of life and you have coverage for Athletic Therapists or Registered Massage, don’t hesitate to reach out! Our professionals are happy to help no matter what your current goals.

**Not sure if an Athletic Therapist is right for you? Check out our blog to find out who can benefit from working with an Athletic Therapist. The answer might surprise you.

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References:

BetterHelp. (n.d.). What is the connection between Health and Happiness? Health And Happiness: Uncovering The Connection. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/happiness/what-is-the-connection-between-health-and-happiness/

Brule, S., McDonald, H., & McDiarmid, C. (2019, March 26). This is a health fact sheet about life satisfaction among Canadians. life satisfaction is a personal subjective assessment of global well-being. the results shown are based on data from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Life Satisfaction, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-625-x/2019001/article/00002-eng.htm

Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. (2022, September 15). Canadians received a record $113 billion in life and health insurance benefits, 2021 data shows. Cision Canada. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadians-received-a-record-113-billion-in-life-and-health-insurance-benefits-2021-data-shows-814774989.html#:~:text=Among%20the%20findings%20in%20the,per%20cent%20of%20the%20population