Healthcare for All: The Real Promise of Functional Health

Functional health was once a beacon of hope. It promised to help people live healthier lives by focusing on the root causes of illness. But today, it's often seen as a luxury for the rich. This shift has left many people feeling confused and frustrated. The idea of functional health started in the 1990s. It was about making healthcare more accessible and natural. But over time, it has been hijacked by wealthy "biohackers. " These individuals chase immortality through expensive treatments like full-body MRIs and cryotherapy. This trend has turned functional health into something performative and polarizing. It's no longer about helping everyday people live better lives. Millions of Americans are still searching for basic answers about their health. They don't want to reverse their biological age or spend thousands on fancy treatments. They just want to understand their health better. They want to live life to the fullest, not just add more years to their life. Functional health was meant to be a proactive approach to care. It was supposed to help people live healthier, longer lives. But it has been drowned out by the noise of expensive treatments and influencers. It's time to bring it back to its original promise. The reality is that functional health has become a luxury. It's out of reach for many Americans. Those who need it most—people with limited access to preventive care or who can't afford pricey wellness plans—are left behind. Instead of transforming public health, functional health has become exclusive. Functional health services can cost up to $25, 000 a year. The average appointment runs over $1, 600. For most Americans, that's out of reach. Meanwhile, the loudest voices in functional health are pushing expensive interventions. This creates a space that looks more like an exclusive club than a health care revolution. To make functional health more accessible, insurance needs to evolve. Most plans cover only reactive care like prescriptions and procedures. Proactive items like diagnostics, nutritional counseling, and exercise plans are often considered "nonessential. " But they play a proven role in improving health and reducing long-term health care costs. If we want functional health to work for everyday Americans, we need to bring it back down to Earth. This means removing barriers for providers, cutting the exclusivity, and getting insurance on board. It's time to open the doors of functional health to everyone.