As the economy fumbles, patients now more than ever will be seeking cost-effective health care. For those paying out of pocket (an ever-growing percentage of US residents), why pay for 10 minutes with a primary care physician when you can have more time and personal attention with a naturopathic doctor? Why pay hundreds of dollars for a prescription when you can treat the cause and pay less? Focusing on prevention has always been shown to save money, you pay a little bit here and there and avoid the massive medical costs that are accrued when health become a crisis.
Am I concerned about the economy? Absolutely! Will I cut back on healthcare? Absolutely not! Naturopathic and Chinese medical services are a necessity, not a luxury. I figure if I could pay for it when I was working for $7 an hour, I can pay for it now. I know that the smaller investments I make now, on a daily and monthly basis are going to really payoff when I am not facing the potential costs of chronic disease.
