Transcendental Meditation: Medicare Coverage Explained

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple, natural technique where the individual sits comfortably with their eyes closed for 15–20 minutes twice a day. It is a form of meditation that has been shown to be effective for stress and anxiety. TM has been found to reduce healthcare costs by 28% and is the only meditation technique that has been found to lower blood pressure. However, it is unclear whether Medicare will cover transcendental meditation.

Transcendental Meditation reduces health care costs

Transcendental Meditation (TM) has been proven to reduce healthcare costs by 28% for people with consistently high healthcare expenses. This is significant because, in most populations, a small fraction of people account for the majority of healthcare costs. For example, in the US general population, the highest-spending 10% incur 60-70% of total medical expenditures annually.

A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2011 found that people with consistently high healthcare costs who practised TM experienced a 28% cumulative decrease in physician fees after an average of five years, compared to their baseline. The non-meditating control subjects experienced an increase in fees to physicians over the same time frame. The study compared 284 high-cost participants, half of whom were TM practitioners, and found no significant differences between the groups in payments to physicians in the year before the intervention. During the five-year assessment period, the TM group's annual rate of change in payments declined significantly, while the comparison group's payments showed no significant changes. After the first year, the TM group's payments decreased by 11%, and after five years, their cumulative reduction was 28%.

The primary measure for assessing the effectiveness of TM practice in decreasing medical costs was the fees paid by the Quebec health insurance agency to private physicians in all settings for treating study participants. In Canada and the US, physician payments constitute 20% of national health expenditures. This study's results are important because doctors' decisions determine most medical expenses, including tests, prescription drugs, hospitalization, surgery, and other treatments.

The distinctive stress-reducing and health-enhancing properties of TM practice have major policy implications, particularly for Medicare and Medicaid. Chronic stress is a leading driver of high medical expenses, and if Medicare and Medicaid started covering the most effective stress-reduction methods, such as TM, it could help to reduce skyrocketing healthcare expenditures. Robert E. Herron, Ph.D., the author of the 2011 study, stated that the findings have "major policy significance for saving Medicare and Medicaid without cutting benefits or raising taxes".

Chronic stress is a leading driver of high medical expenses

The impact of chronic stress on health can lead to increased medical costs for those experiencing it. Stress-related health issues can result in frequent doctor's visits, medication costs, and even hospitalisations. Additionally, chronic stress can contribute to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as increased alcohol or drug use, which can further exacerbate health problems and expenses.

The link between chronic stress and high medical expenses is significant. A study by Robert E. Herron, Ph.D., found that individuals with high medical costs who practiced transcendental meditation for 10-20 minutes daily experienced a 28% reduction in doctor's fees over five years. This is a significant finding, as it suggests that stress reduction techniques can play a crucial role in managing medical costs.

Chronic stress can affect anyone, regardless of income level. However, it is important to note that financial concerns, such as the rising cost of healthcare, are a major source of stress for many individuals. This creates a vicious cycle where stress drives up medical expenses, and the worry about those expenses further adds to an individual's stress.

To break this cycle, it is essential to address the root cause of chronic stress. This may involve making lifestyle changes, such as improving time management skills, setting realistic goals, and engaging in leisure activities. Additionally, stress reduction techniques, such as transcendental meditation, have been shown to be effective in managing stress and reducing healthcare costs.

TM is the only meditation proven to lower blood pressure

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a powerful tool for reducing chronic anxiety and stress and protecting heart health. It is the only meditation practice that has been endorsed by the American Heart Association to lower high blood pressure.

TM is a scientifically validated approach that has been proven to reduce the three major physical risk factors for heart disease. During TM, the mind effortlessly settles inward to a quiet state of restful alertness. In this meditative state, the brain functions more coherently while the body experiences a profound level of rest, which helps dissolve accumulated stresses and fatigue.

The National Institutes of Health in the US has funded over $26 million in research on the Transcendental Meditation technique for the prevention of heart disease. A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin and presented at a conference of the American Heart Association showed that deaths, heart attacks, and strokes were reduced by nearly half for at-risk patients who practised TM, compared to controls.

A five-year study on patients with coronary heart disease reported a 48% reduction in heart attack, stroke, and death among those practising the TM technique compared to controls. This study also found that people with high cholesterol who practised TM significantly reduced their cholesterol levels compared to a control group.

TM has been shown to be particularly effective in treating hypertension in African Americans, with several studies demonstrating significant reductions in blood pressure for this demographic. In one study, TM produced significant declines in blood pressure after three months for both men (by 12.7 mm Hg systolic and 8.1 mm Hg diastolic) and women (by 10.4 mm Hg systolic and 5.9 mm Hg diastolic).

TM has also been found to reduce healthcare spending, particularly for individuals with consistently high medical expenses. A study by Robert E. Herron, Ph.D., compared physician costs for 248 individuals with consistently high medical costs over five years. The researchers reported that participants in the meditation group experienced a 28% cumulative decrease in doctor fees compared to their baseline, while the other group saw no significant change in costs. Herron suggested that adding coverage for learning the transcendental meditation technique could help rescue Medicare and Medicaid without the need for cutting benefits, raising taxes, or borrowing money.

TM improves mental and physical health

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple, effortless technique practised for 20 minutes, twice a day, in a seated position with the eyes closed. It is not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle, and anyone can learn it. TM is an effective way to improve mental and physical health.

TM has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. A Stanford University meta-analysis of 146 independent studies found that the TM technique is twice as effective at reducing anxiety compared to other meditation techniques. TM also reduces the severity of psychological distress, with a 2016 study published in Military Medicine showing it to be a powerful treatment for distress and other symptoms of PTSD. A further study showed that 50% of veterans with PTSD no longer met the criteria for the disorder after three months of TM practice, compared to just 10% of the control group.

TM has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia. It also has a positive impact on heart health, with research showing a 44% decrease in insulin resistance in patients with coronary heart disease, a 48% lower risk of heart attacks and strokes, and a reduction in cholesterol. TM also normalises blood pressure, with one study showing a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure when compared with control techniques and health education.

TM improves energy and focus, with one study showing improved focus for people with ADHD. It also improves brain coherence and memory.

TM can help rescue Medicare without cutting benefits

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple technique where the individual sits comfortably with their eyes closed for 15–20 minutes twice a day while practising a specific form of mental repetition. This evidence-based approach has been proven to reduce healthcare costs by 28% and can be a solution to rescuing Medicare without cutting benefits.

How TM Can Help

TM has been proven effective for stress and anxiety, with research showing it is twice as effective as other methods. Chronic stress is a leading driver of high medical expenses, and if Medicare started covering this effective stress-reduction method, it could be possible to reduce healthcare expenditures and rescue the program without cutting benefits or raising taxes.

The Benefits of TM

More than 240 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals have shown that TM improves mental and physical health. Many of these studies were randomised clinical trials and meta-analyses, with several funded by the National Institutes of Health to examine the impact of TM on cardiovascular health. TM has been shown to be the only meditation that lowers blood pressure and has been proven to reduce illness across all disease categories.

The Results

A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2011 showed that people with consistently high healthcare costs experienced a 28% decrease in physician fees after an average of five years of TM practice. After the first year of meditation, the TM group's physicians' bills declined by 11%. The study compared 284 high-cost participants, half of whom were TM practitioners, over five years, with no significant differences between the groups in the year before the intervention. During the assessment period, the TM group's annual rate of change in payments declined significantly, while the comparison group's payments showed no significant changes.

The Bottom Line

The largest and quickest reductions in medical costs could be achieved by providing the TM program to consistent high-cost people. With the evidence showing that TM practice significantly reduces medical costs, it is a viable solution to help rescue Medicare without cutting benefits.

Frequently asked questions