There is a particular brand of “self care” that seems to get passed down through generations of men. It’s the kind where a guy will duct-tape a broken finger, keep mowing, and call it a Tuesday. It’s charming, honestly. It’s also quietly dangerous. A 2024 survey from the Cleveland Clinic found that 65% of men avoid seeking medical attention for as long as possible. Dads say they’re too busy, or they believe symptoms will heal on their own, Some guys own that they don’t want to deal with potential bad news. And 37% admitted they had withheld information from their doctors because they weren’t ready to face a possible negative diagnosis.

Here’s the tough truth: that brand of health care avoidance is costing years off their lives. According to research published in the National Institutes of Health, American men now live an average of five to six years less than women and lead women in mortality rates for nine of the ten top causes of death. Six years. That’s a lot of life to miss. 

If you’re a dad, a husband, a son, or a friend of any of the above, this one’s for you. The research tells us something important: most men aren’t avoiding their doctors because they don’t care about their health. A Texas Health survey found that more than 80% of men said their personal and family responsibilities are exactly what drives them to want to be healthier. They want to live longer, they want to be present, and they don’t want a health issue to make them a burden to their family. The motivation is there. What’s missing is the follow-through.

So what actually gets in the way? The research points to a few recurring culprits:

📰 Fear of bad news. That 37% statistic above, how men said they withheld information from their doctor specifically because they weren’t ready to face what they might hear, is a big deal. Understandably, none of us want to hear something alarming about our health. But here’s the deal: the earlier you catch most conditions, the better your odds, by a lot depending on what health issue.

🤕 Childhood messaging. A Cleveland Clinic study found that 41% of men say that they were told as children that men aren’t supposed to complain about health issues, and they carried that belief straight into adulthood.

🩹 The “put some dirt on it” logic. Okay, not literal dirt. But the idea being that if you give something enough time, it will heal up on its own. Sometimes that’s true, but often times, medical intervention is not only necessary but can be lifesaving. Men are significantly more likely than women to delay care until a health situation starts interfering with work or daily function. By that point, a condition that might have been more easily treatable is now worse than it needed to be.

🗓️ No built-in trigger. While women’s health care has more effectively put into a health routine that an annual OB/GYN visit is the cornerstone of healthcare, the same pattern of an annual checkup hasn’t been as talked about or supported for men. Many men simply have no equivalent appointment anchoring them to routine care. (If you’re a male Altrua HealthShare Member age 50 and up, this is one of the great healthy habits built from the required testing schedule for a PSA, every 24 months. It helps protect your health and gets you into the habit.) 

Here’s the good news from that same research: when men do go to the doctor, when they get past their objections and get through the front door of their medical provider, they usually engage well. The barrier isn’t actually the appointment itself. It’s the making of it.

💙💛 This is where being an Altrua HealthShare Member (or considering becoming one) is genuinely good news for the dads in your life. One of the most common reasons men delay care? Cost and complexity. Health sharing is designed to remove those two excuses. When you understand exactly what your membership shares in, what your MRA (Member Responsibility Amount) looks like, and that a telehealth visit is available right through your HealthWallet app without navigating a confusing traditional insurance system, the friction goes way down.

Starting this Father’s Day, we’re issuing a simple challenge: book the appointment. Not because something is wrong. Because you love the people who need you around. If you’ve been putting off a check-in with your doctor, consider starting with a telehealth visit, no waiting room required, no half-day out of the office, no excuse strong enough to hold up.

Ready to make healthcare simpler…and actually use it? Learn more about Altrua HealthShare membership options here.

Already a Member? Open your HealthWallet app today and schedule a telehealth check-in. It takes less time than watching the Father’s Day game pre-show and with more important results.

QUICK READ

What a top heart surgeon learned after having his own heart attack — and what every man should know from it: 

When a Top Heart Surgeon Has His Own Heart Attack 

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Telehealth is changing the game for routine and urgent care. Discover how virtual care has gone hospital-level: 

Virtual Care Has Now Gone Hospital: What Does That Mean for You?