Happy August – it’s the mid-point of Summer, and insurance carriers are calculating premium increases for Fall rate actions. Will COVID raise or lower premiums? Kaiser reporting released a preview showing 2.4% average increases, though carriers are saving millions on lower spending due to canceled elective procedures and shuttered doctor offices. 20 years in insurance still has me studying trends. Telemedicine is on the rise and benefits now cover virtual visits for more routine care. This is good news for patients, because that means expanded conversations and more options for care.

Options are good, and necessary if we are to find the best value in healthcare. Traditional care consisting of a 5 minute MD visit ending in another prescription hasn’t solved the problem when 42% of Americans are obese, and suffer with hypertension, diabetes, and systemic inflammation causing cancer and shortened lives. For years I have been writing about the benefits of CBD for overall health, and how cumulative dosing of full spectrum whole plant oil can reverse and heal disease. It is imperative we address the root cause of health, and lower costs not by negotiating lower contracts, but by improving health outcomes.

The #1 way to improve health is clean nutrition – food is medicine. #2 is to increase self-love which makes eating well easier. #3 is to rebalance the ECS – the Endocannabinoid system with nutrients from the cannabis plant that rebalance all of your physiologies. Phytocannabinoids supplement the ECS back to health – and CBD, THC, CBG, CBDA, THCA etc., all work in concert with lifestyle changes to restore homeostasis and health. The best part is that it is personalized medicine – you are empowered to care for yourself, and we can teach you how to do it.

Holistic Caring telemedicine visits through Zoom have increased during COVID, helping more people dial in effective results quicker, saving time and money. Genetic testing is now available to prevent adverse reactions and optimize results. Medical cannabis programs in 33 legal states grants safe access, and all Americans can order quality CBD by mail. Coupled with our 1:1 guidance we hope to help many people find better health by regulating the ECS and coaching you to better health.

We can’t do it alone, so we’re recruiting all with a health background to become a CBD & Cannabis Health Coach. Our comprehensive curriculum and coach toolkit will train providers of all stripes to become proficient in healing the ECS, improving the root cause of disease. The tools of technology provide access to information, connection, and support – but we must take advantage of these opportunities to truly improve healthcare, lower costs, and find value. COVID economics make every dollar precious, and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Health is Wealth. Make the most of your healthcare by maximizing wellness, and your ECS.