Have you ever seen Apollo 13? This epic movie gives, “Houston, we have a problem…” a clear and scary and versatile meaning. Keep on.
Right here in La Crosse, WI we have world-class healthcare. If you are really sick, you can get into the emergency room for your immediate need. There are laws that protect your access to care there. And if you have cancer, or need surgery, you’ll get the treatment or procedure you need right here in La Crosse, but it’s exceptionally expensive for most everyone.
What about taking care of your health before you need treatment or surgery so you can enjoy longevity without going deeply into debt?
Flip the idea and split the word “healthcare” for a moment. Instead of needing healthcare when you are sick, where can you access care for your health before you get sick? What about caring for your health that helps you stay well, and fit, and happy? Let’s call it pre-healthcare.
In whole health circles, including Viaro, we call this form of pre-healthcare “health promotion and disease prevention.” Yet, it goes much deeper. We take care of you, including understanding your social determinants of health. We ask, “What do you need to be well and stay well in the first place?”
Well, “Houston, we have a problem.” True pre-healthcare doesn’t really exist in the conventional healthcare landscape. Access is severely limited, and the costs—along with the lack of control over when and where you receive care—can quickly lead to financial strain. For many, this means delaying healthcare, or even avoiding it entirely, at the expense of their well-being. From the perspective of those of us at Viaro, who are working to disrupt these dangerous and unsustainable conditions, the root of the problem may be your insurance card.
Your insurance card creates arbitrary boundaries, and within the U.S., we shouldn't have to navigate such restrictions—especially when it comes to pre-healthcare or care when you’re sick. You pay a premium for that card, along with a high deductible and co-pay, before you can even access its benefits. In many ways, your health plan acts as border control, determining your access to providers and defining the limits of a network that dictates where and how you receive care. It wasn’t always like this. While inflation plays a role, so do profit motives and greed.
Viaro is here to break down these barriers and open up access. As a Direct Primary Care (DPC) provider, Viaro isn’t bound by your insurance card. While your insurance plan may not allow you to use it here, you can still access high-quality, affordable care directly—without needing your insurance at all.
A Viaro membership is like an unrestricted passport. You don’t need anyone’s permission, approval, or a credit card with a high limit. All you need is the desire for affordable, quality care, available when and where you need it.
Visit our website for more information on Direct Primary Care. Whether or not you have insurance, we won’t send you away. DPC can be used in tandem with your insurance, in network or not. Visit us to see how we can save you money and get you the care you need. Be a disruptor along with us and become part of the “care for your health” solution.
A.J. Moore
Director of Business Development and Strategy, ViaroHealth
Teresa Pulvermacher, FNP-C
President, ViaroHealth
For questions or comments, contact wellness@viarohealth.com