Healthcare reform is in the news again. The House just passed a bill to repeal the healthcare reform law. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I don’t like certain portions of the law. As a citizen I like the idea of healthcare for all, but is it really healthcare that we should be talking about?

As with any law, some people will benefit and others won’t. The actual fallout won’t be felt for years. Costs will rise, due to cost of living increases over time, and segments of the population won’t fully be able to take advantage of what the law offers. These are my opinions and I reserve the right to be wrong.

The real question should be who controls your health?

I live a relatively healthy lifestyle. I’m human and I don’t do all things perfectly. But I take full responsibility for my health. As a result, I don’t run to the Doctor’s office at the first sign of an ache, pain or sniffle. I use home remedies and over the counter herbs, potions and elixirs. I don’t eat junk or fast foods in excess. I practice my Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga and Meditation to balance my mind, body and spirit.

Yet, it is cost prohibitive for me to get health insurance, even under the new healthcare reform law. It would be cheaper for me to break my arm in an automobile accident then if I broke my arm in my home. That’s because my automobile insurance is cheaper (on the order of 5 -10 times cheaper) than health insurance.

Why must we let the government, pharmaceutical companies or health insurance companies control our health? Keep in mind that the pharmaceutical and health insurance companies are not in the business to make us healthy. They are in the business of making money for their shareholders.

Take your health into your own hands. Eat healthy (at least more healthy than you are now), exercise more, get more sleep, remove stress from your life. If you’re unsure of what to do, educate yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Start small and be consistent and persistent with your efforts.

And before long, you’ll feel better just knowing that you are in control of your health.