“Real Men Go to the Doctor” – June is Men’s Health Month

MADISON, Wisconsin (PRWEB) May 31, 2012

Studies show that the average lifespan for men is about seven years less than women. Men are also more likely to die of chronic disease. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men are 80 percent less likely than women to use a regular source of health care—which may be a major cause for the disparity. WPS Health Insurance, Wisconsin’s leading not-for-profit health insurer and provider of affordable group and individual health insurance, today observes Men’s Health Month by encouraging men of all ages to schedule an appointment with their doctors and to visit the WPS Health Center for interactive decision tools, resources, and tips.

Celebrated every year in June, Men’s Health Month is a great opportunity to raise men’s awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease. It serves as an important reminder because men typically don’t go to the doctor as often as they should.

“Many men see the doctor only when they feel sick or have a medical emergency,” said Dr. Marvin Wiener, Senior Medical Director at WPS Health Insurance, “and that’s not nearly enough. Like a muscle car or motorcycle, men’s bodies need regular maintenance. Routine preventive care is and always will be one of the best ways to stay healthy and help avoid serious problems down the road.”

And now, annual checkups and other preventive care services are available at essentially no cost to men, women, and children through their health plans. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurers must pay 100% for all preventive care services ranked A and B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. So men can no longer use cost as a reason to not see the doctor, as they won’t have to pay a penny in copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance for routine exams.

Regular medical checkups are an important tool in the fight to prevent cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes—some of the leading causes of death in men.

“Men can live longer and healthier lives by getting regular checkups and screening exams for cholesterol, blood sugar, prostate disease, and colon cancer,” said Dr. Wiener. “It’s absolutely vital because some chronic health problems, like heart disease, have few symptoms. For too many men, the first sign of trouble is a serious health emergency or even death.”

Men can also benefit from talking with their doctors about healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and drinking, eating a nutritious diet, getting more exercise, and reducing stress.

The WPS Health Center offers a fast and easy way for men (and the women who care about them) to brush up on topics ranging from smoking cessation and weight management to chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and low back pain. For the month of June, our interactive decision tools in the Health Action Center are focused on helping men make wise decisions to improve their health. These tools help men decide which health screenings they need; provide tips for cultivating a healthy, positive outlook; explain how to deal with negative thoughts; and more.

Also at the WPS Health Center, men can consult an online health encyclopedia and interactive symptom checker to understand their symptoms and prepare better questions in time for their next doctor visit.

WPS encourages individuals and families looking for more health insurance tips and strategies to check out the WPS Learning Center for free articles on controlling costs, preventing illness, making wise health decisions, and more timely topics. For questions or to request a quote for a high-quality individual or family health plan from WPS, please call 1-888-245-4197 to talk with a friendly representative.

About WPS Health Insurance
Founded in 1946, WPS is Wisconsin’s leading not-for-profit health insurer, offering affordable individual health insurance, family health insurance, high-deductible health plans, and short-term health insurance, as well as flexible and affordable group plans and cost-effective benefit plan administration for businesses. The WPS Medicare division administers Part A and B benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS TRICARE division serves millions more members of the U.S. military and their families. In 2012, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the third straight year. WPS is the only health insurance company to earn this distinction multiple times. For more information about WPS Health Insurance, visit ww w.wpsic.com.

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