Admittedly, the topic of Millennial healthcare is somewhat broad, but I chose to focus on millennial's inability to afford healthcare and the gold that is workplace wellness programs.

A very basic plan in confronting the issues mentioned above would include increasing workplace incentives, such as workplace wellness programs, and recalling the Affordable Care Act. Yes, indeed, you read that right. Yikes.

First of all, it's important to note that Millennials already have a high interest in workplace wellness programs. 55% of workplaces already have a wellness program in place. "The top five stress symptoms causing missed work days are constant fatigue (29%); sleeplessness (26%); aches and pains (24%); high anxiety (23%) and weight gain (18%)—wellness programs can help limit these issues with proper education, exercise advise and training regiments" (The). Workplace organizations have taken note that the up-and-coming generation of Millennials have a more holistic understanding of wellness than older generations and could benefit highly from workplace wellness programs.

The goal to increase workplace wellness incentives not only would promote overall bodily wellness but would make the environment of the workplaces healthier for its employees. Healthier people tend to equal happier places to work. It would be wonderful to see the number of workplace wellness programs either increase in quantity (between 60-70%) or to see the sheer quality of workplace wellness programs increase. For example, some employers penalize their employees for having high blood pressure, waist circumferences above a set number, high triglycerides, etc. Penalizing employees seem to be the wrong way to go, it breeds animosity in the workplace. Instead, I propose just the opposite. Should an employee have acceptable blood pressure, etc., they could receive breaks on their health insurance. I'm aware that many employers do this, but not all of them.

The second part of a potential plan, recalling the Affordable Care Act, is much more daunting in comparison to workplace wellness programs. The truth is that the Affordable Care Act has succeeded in getting insurances to pay for more procedures, but an unpleasant bi-product of this is the fact that insurance plans also much charge higher premiums and deductibles to cover these services. This fact has led to the undeniable fact that most Millennials cannot afford private health insurance. CNBC reports that "One in 5 adults ages 18 to 36 said they could not afford routine health-care expenses, according to a recent Harris Poll. Many of those Millennials are uninsured because of the cost. An additional 26 percent said they could afford routine health-care costs, but with difficulty." If, in some way, the Affordable Care Act could be repealed, health insurance would once again become somewhat affordable for young adults. It would take time, effort, etc., but it could be possible. Although young adults rarely go to the doctor, it's risky not to have health insurance and, should a tragedy occur; medical bills would quickly bury an uninsured Millennialist.

There are numerous challenges that would have to be faced if this plan was put into place. Although the workplace wellness programs would be an easier item to tackle than repealing the Affordable Care Act, it would still have its share of difficulties. It takes significant funds, time, personnel, etc. to develop and implement a worthwhile wellness program and many companies are not willing to spend the needed resources to accomplish these goals. Unless it is mandatory and regulated to have a worthwhile wellness program, many institutions would be willing to fly under the radar with a substandard wellness program. Although 55% of employers already have some form of a wellness program in place, it's a much smaller percent that actually makes an impact on the lives of the employees. Millennials have an understanding of wellness that older generations didn't, and it's important to capitalize on this quality while it's still viable.

Challenges that we may face when repealing the Affordable Care Act are nearly insurmountable. The ACA has come under fire numerous times but, each time has emerged unscathed. This fact could be allotted to the mountains of paperwork, loopholes, and documents it hides behind. Granted, some aspects of the ACA are positive, but it is the ACA in general that has led to health care being unaffordable in regards to the Millennial generation. The challenges are very daunting at best. It would be necessary to have a dedicated, tough team of lawmakers that would spend weeks (or months) working diligently to repeal the act. In all honesty, it may not be plausible to repeal the act in the next 5 years, but that doesn't mean it should remain solidly in place.

The strengths of this plan, if implemented as wished, are numerous. If workplace wellness programs were implemented and regulated (not just in quantity but in quality) then we could potentially see a healthier, older generation when the Millennials reach middle-age. Baby Boomers are beginning to take the healthcare industry by storm, and many have advanced health issues that cannot be reversed. The healthcare industry itself would have less strain if a generation came into their 40's and 50's already educated and practicing good wellness activities, i.e., the Millennials. Productive, well-rounded wellness programs in the workplace could help accomplish this goal.

The main strength of recalling the ACA is simple in the fact that Millennials could afford healthcare again. They wouldn't have to fear the doctor's bill after having a routine physical and, if there was a problem, they could return without fearing going into debt. Healthcare will never be perfect, but it's vital that the younger generations be able to afford healthcare for themselves.

We could be facing a much healthier, stronger aging generation in 20 years if we tackle the problems mentioned above. The Millennial generation could be the one to turn the tide in understanding wellness on a deeper, more holistic level and it could lead to a healthier world.

Issues of wellness impact modern society in a multitude of ways. If we examine these impacts through each of the four lenses of wellness (i.e., social sciences, natural sciences, historical and humanities) we see a complex, ever-changing yet ever-present relationship. Just as a refresher, wellness can be defined as having a proper balance and understanding of each of the wellness dimensions, emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. Each of the eight dimensions of wellness as a place in each of the four lenses. Wellness issues in the social sciences could have their roots in the intellectual, occupational or social realm of wellness. Likewise, a wellness issue in the historical lens could have its roots in the environmental, occupational or physical realms. Modern society owes its wellness to the four lenses, to history and to study of wellness itself.

In regards to Millennial Healthcare, the four lenses fit quite perfectly within the issue itself. Socially, healthcare has seen a widespread change since Obamacare came on the scene. Physically, we can see the importance of the natural sciences lens as healthcare is supposed to revolve around bodily health. Historically, healthcare has shifted and changed as the culture has. Though the Humanities may be a bit trickier to pinpoint in Millennial Healthcare, the Millennial generation itself has a healthy love for the humanities. We continue to learn about ourselves as human beings through the humanities and wellness is a large part of that proposed learning. My idea of wellness still has a lot to be imagined in regards to Millennial healthcare. I see what it is and I see what it can be, the disparity is somewhat disappointing, but that doesn't dissuade me trying to make a change. Even if the change is a small one, I can make one.

Someday, I wish to go into the publishing world, and with a sedentary job such as publishing, wellness and a proper appreciation for it are of paramount importance. If a publisher wants to live past 50, it's vital that he or she implements a regular workout routine, manage stress appropriately and find ways to cooperate with difficult authors and patrons. There is no aspect of publishing that couldn't benefit from a fine understanding of wellness.

I have a love/hate with wellness both on a personal and professional level. It isn't exactly easy to be a fully realized person, it takes time and effort, and there are times when I don't want to put forward the effort. I'm thankful that I understand the benefits of being a fully "well" person and know I'm healthier for it, in every possible meaning of the word. On a personal level, I try to maintain my physical health by eating right and exercising on a regular basis. But I don't fall into fad diets and fad exercises. Through much trial and error, I figured out what works for me. My Millennial education in wellness has taught me how to figure out what I personally need. On a professional level, I've had to develop appropriate coping mechanisms for stress, find ways to keep my mind stimulated, properly manage finances, learn to deal with difficult people, etc. There is no dimension of wellness that I personally do not appreciate and, at least try, to make well-rounded.

All in all, the very issue of Millennial Healthcare is an example of changing attitudes and choices in regards to healthcare. Millennials live their lives vastly different than any generation before them, due in no small part because of wellness shifts. If we could harness the Millennial's already-present love of wellness, we could face a healthier future in regards to holistic wellness.