Let’s assume you just returned home from the annual physical appointment with your doctor, who shared that your diabetes and cholesterol levels are too high, and if you don’t get them down in three months, you will need to consider drug therapy. She suggested losing weight and starting to eat better.
While all that sounds good, how do you get started? You might want to consider hiring a health coach. Learn more about who they are and what they can do to help you achieve your health goals.
What is a Health Coach?
They are your advisor and partner. Their services can come through corporate wellness programs, insurance offerings, and even apps (i.e., BetterMe: Health Coaching, Rally Coach, Noom).
Often, a health coach is a doctor, personal trainer, nutritionist, or counselor. They are certified in health coaching. However, in this role, they cannot offer medical advice.
The coach’s mission is to help you achieve your goals by asking questions. In other words, their job is to help you build self-awareness, take the appropriate action steps, and evaluate those actions. The coach will check in with you via email, phone calls, videoconferencing, or in-person visits. The typical engagement is 3-12 months.
How Can a Health Coach Help?
The most common reasons to hire a health coach are:
- Smoking Cessation
- Stress Reduction
- Weight Reduction
- Nutrition Counseling
- Increasing Activity and/or
- Getting Better Sleep
A Health Coach helps in three significant ways:
- Accountability – There is usually a weekly or bi-weekly check-in call or visit to see how you are progressing toward your goals
- Encouragement – A coach is there when you are not having such a great day or week.
- Support – Coaches are not meant to judge you but rather help you overcome the obstacles keeping you from your goals.
Where Can You Find a Health Coach?
To find a certified health coach, you can:
- Check with us to determine if your insurance carrier offers this service. Many health insurance companies now cover health coaching because it costs less than medical care, and studies have shown tangible results.
- Ask your employer if this offering is part of their group health insurance.
- Ask your doctor for recommendations or
- Look online
Conclusions
Working with a health coach can help improve your health and life. They can help you move past barriers and encourage you to keep moving toward your goals.
At AIDI, We Can Help You Find the Right Insurance
Some health and benefits feel like a nice bonus. Still, in most cases, employees see healthcare as a core part of the compensation package–arguably as important as the salary itself. Buying group health insurance is an economical way for your business to recruit and retain staff and increase the likelihood that they’ll be fit to work.
Call us today at 330-753-8700 to learn more about your insurance options!
