Whether you already know it or not California has a lot of options for health insurance. There are companies that we all heard of and there are some companies that we never heard of. With all the Health Insurance Companies out there you might be wondering what the differences are and which one is right for you.

First in state of California the health insurance companies you should be looking at are; Aetna, Assurant, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, HealthNet, Kaiser, Nationwide, PacifiCare, Celtic and new company that is going to be available in state of California is Golden Rule. These are the largest carriers that are available in the State of California. If you are looking at any other company that was not mentioned previously, use caution. With all the health insurance premiums going up there are companies that prey on people with low premiums and coverage that does not cover anything. They are just out there to make a quick buck buy collection as much premiums as they can before you cancel your coverage. Stay away from companies that you never heard of, not matter what they tell you. If you hear something like, “affordable health insurance for self-employed”, run.

Second what you have to understand that the actual cost of insurance no matter what company you go with is about the same. So how do insurance companies have so many different plans with different premiums? If it is a large insurance company and the company ran efficiently that is how you get great premium with great coverage. What creates variety of prices for coverage is the creative aspect of the insurance company designing their plans. The way they do it is by deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, drug coverage deductibles, whether the plan covers brand name drugs or generic drugs only, maternity coverage, maximum out of pocket, deductible and co-pays for all kind of different services.

The name we all know is Blue Cross Blue Shield. Blue Cross has been around since the recession of 1929, and it used to cost only 1 cent a day. The times have changes since then, but the Blue Cross name is still around. Blue Cross has been over the years the most stable largest health insurance provider in the United States. Their strategy is to keep rates stable and have stable rate increases. While most other plans might lower their rates to get more people on their coverage and then keep increasing their rates. There fore as some plans might be more attractive in premiums at the moment over time eventually they have to catch up with the actual market health insurance cost. Sometime the company has to charge people more for health insurance in the future so they can give more affordable rates today. Blue Cross will give the one of the largest varieties of plans to choose from and you can always downgrade a plan without going through underwriting is the monthly premiums because to expensive.

The most competitive health insurance coverage you will be able to get in California today is through Aetna and once Golden Rule plans come out by United Health Care then Golden Rule plans are going to be the most completive plan. Every time most of the large insurance companies enter a new state with a new plan they make that plan more competitive just to capture the percentage of that market eventually the company will have to raise their rates to the market level. Aetna plans in California are the most competitive. This is where you can get the most coverage for your money. Keep in mind that the Aetna Individual plans in the state of California do not cover Maternity.

Assurant Health Plans is provided through Fortis Insurance Company witch is the 26th largest company in the world and Fortis Insurance Company has been around since 1892. Assurant Health Plans are the most widely accepted and flexible plans that are available on the market today. Assurant Health Plans utilizes dozens of provider networks Nationwide to give you the worlds largest selections of doctors in United States and worldwide. Assurant Health Plans are the only plans that will cover you world wide as they will cover you in the United States. There is a big difference when insurance company says that you are covered for emergencies worldwide. Insurance company can make a final decision on whether that was true emergency or not. Assurant Health Plans have no such restrictions. Assurant is the only company that will allow you to move to different state without going through underwriting process all over again. That meant that with most companies even if it is a same company if you move from one state to another you have to cancel you policy in the current state and re-apply in the state that you are moving to. The down side with Assurant in some states is that they are not the most competitive and harder to get approved for. If you considering HSA plan, Assurant Health is the best options available to individuals and families.

Blue Shield of California is great coverage especially if it is young family looking for a plan with maternity coverage and for a family where one of the adults on the plans is significantly younger than the other. Blue Shield bases their monthly premiums on the youngest primary policy holder. This can be any adult in the family. Blue Shield plans have low maximum out of pocket and wide acceptance with doctors. A lot of doctors in state of California prefer Blue Shield plans because Blue Shield reimburses them faster than most other insurance companies. Keep in mind that in some states Blue Cross and Blue Shield are the same company in state of California they are two different insurance companies competing for your business.

HealthNet of California is the insurance company available in western states. HealthNet family plans are affordable, have some of the lowest maximum out of pocket and designed for healthy individuals and families. The new line of plans form HealthNet are their popular no deductible PPO plans. Which are some of the worst plans for families. No deductible plans are not designed for families since they have extremely high maximum out of pocket witch might be a great fit for single healthy individuals. HealthNet of California also offers some of the best HMO plans available on the market. Health Net’s simple design and affordable plans are perfect match for healthy families. The way their family plans work is that once you meet your deductible HealthNet will pay 100% for all of your medical expenses after that. The down side is that their family plans do not cover regular sick doctor visits. The money that you are going to save monthly is going to be way worth no having doctor visits covered until the deductible is met. All you will get is negotiated rates that HealthNet has with doctors and hospitals. Your doctor office visits are going to cost you anywhere from $65 to $65 per visit.

Nationwide Health Plans have some of the great unique options that other plans just don’t offer. The only way you can get Nationwide health plans is by being a member of California Farm Bureau. Anyone can become a member of California Farm Bureau also know as Farmers Association. Because it is a group plans it has some options available that most individual plans do not have. You still have to qualify medically to get health insurance through Nationwide. Nationwide offers some of the most comprehensive health plans available on the market today. Nationwide health plans offer low maximum out of pocket. Some plans that they offer work similar to the way HealthNet’s plans work. Once you meet your deductible Nationwide covers everything at 100% and Nationwide plans cover doctor visit before you meet your deductible and Nationwide is the only health insurance company that has no prescription drug deductible on most of their plans. If you are looking for the most competitive HSA plans, Nationwide will be your choice.

PacifiCare is company that has been available to Californians for a long time until recently they were bought by United Health Care. PacificaCare will be replaced by Golden Rule health plans. If you have PacifiCare you might want to find out if you will have to re-qualify medically for new health insurance once they take the company of the market. Golden Rule owned by United Health Care witch known as the quality company and recommended everywhere. If you are considering PacifiCare I would wait for Golden Rule or get something else. For more great resource on Health Insurance visit www.GuideToHealthInsurance.org



By: Dennis Alexander

Archit s asked:


I am looking out for any health insurance plan which covers expenses related to maternity in the first year of the policy.Though i have screened lots of them but none of them has offerred me the same.Also if somebody can tell me about the best policy available in the market i would appreciate.

Having more than one health insurance is not a bad idea provided that you have the capacity to pay for them all. There will be no problem if a person can pay for his/her policies on time; and if he/she will not tamper any documents needed in processing his/her health insurance policies. A person has the freedom to choose the company, policy, and number of policies he/she can buy. There might be special offers for those who have more money but everyone is still welcome to enter the doors of the health insurance companies. Health insurance companies exist not just for revenue but for genuine customer care service as well.

According to a study, about 1 million Americans do not have insurance. A lot of people die too because of this lack of insurance. Now, Millman, Inc., a pioneer consulting firm revealed in their studies that an average American family with four members will usually spend a total of $15,600 per annum for medical expenses alone. If this is the real amount needed for a family of four to be healthy, then a big chunk of their money will be allocated the wrong way if they don’t have insurance. This amount covers not only the fee of the doctor but also that of the drugs needed for further treatment.

The 2008 Presidential election in the United States brings better entertainment than the newly released movies in the movie houses near your home. They have been pounding on each other, trying to outdo one another.

But the latest among the battle of the parties is concerned about the issue of health insurance. The democrats still prefer using the federal government to provide the people options of whether they prefer a private or public health insurance. Also, people who belong to the lower income bracket can avail of subsidized plans. McCain on the other hand would like to have a universal coverage for all.

The main purpose of nursing homes is to care for people who cannot take care of themselves. It may be short-term condition, while recovering from an illness or injury, or long-term one, due to either physical or mental incapacitation that makes it impossible for you to look after yourself. They offer 24 hour health care which may be:

Skilled nursing care – care given for medical conditions in which the patient is recuperating from, needing qualified personnel to do the job;

Intermediate care – providing therapy or training for the rehabilitation of the patient

Custodial care – assisting the patient in his personal requirements: bathing, eating, dressing, usually performed by caregivers.

A good health insurance policy includes a number of coverage: hospital expense insurance will pay the costs of your room and minor services if you’re hospitalized; surgical expense insurance is for professional fees of surgeons and surgical procedures; physicians’ expense insurance covers the professional fees of your attending doctors when hospitalized or when you consult them at their clinic. Large insurance companies provide a wide range of coverage with maximum benefits designed to cover for grave illness or major injuries. Additional benefits to be considered when deciding to buy a health plan are: prescription drugs, mental health benefits, maternity, eye and dental care.



By: Jon Caldwell

It’s a staggering fact that almost half of people in the UK have no form of life insurance, many don’t have home contents insurance and many have only the minimum level of car insurance. This amazing fact was disclosed recently by one of the world’s major insurance companies.

If you’re single, have no dependants, no debts and no worries, then obviously life insurance wouldn’t come high on your list of priorities. For the rest of us, there must be a lot of families out there who would be in real trouble should the breadwinner of the family pass away.

For homes, buildings insurance is often a requirement made by mortgage companies but contents are often left uninsured to save money. That could be very risky in the event of a major event, such as a fire.

It’s a sad fact that this could happen. OK, we all know about the elderly relative who’s smoked for forty years, swears on a tot of whisky to get them going in the morning and has never had a day’s illness in their lives. We also probably know the cousin who was killed in a car accident, leaving a two year old toddler and a pregnant wife. Accidents and illnesses are an unfortunate and sometimes very sad fact of life.

Maybe you don’t understand the mechanics of life insurance? It’s hardly a subject that gets discussed over dinner. It’s seen as boring and may be a bit of a mystery, talk of “term this and term that, whole of life” and other confusing terms don’t exactly engage your attention. Lack of interest could explain the apathy, but do please at least think about it.

Life insurance might not be as expensive as you fear and you’ll never know what the cost will be if you don’t get around to checking it out. Life insurance at normal, standard rates is reasonable. However, there has been an increase in recent years in people having to pay loaded premiums. If you’re fit and healthy, you’re fine. If you’re not, this is when higher prices may kick in.

Application forms for life cover are very comprehensive and some conditions which were formerly covered under standard terms may now attract higher premiums. You may have diabetes or a history of heart problems for instance and an assessment would be made on how this would affect your payments.

For a younger, healthy person, this is the time to get life insurance in place. As you get older, problems can occur and once you reach your mid 60’s it would be extremely difficult to get cover.

Don’t let the insurance application deter you. The forms can be long and complicated but if you’re lucky, you’ll be in the just under one third of people who’ll be given an immediate decision and offer of life insurance. For the rest, there can be delays. There could be further questions to be answered and possibly medical examinations to arrange. The result could be weeks of waiting before you’re made aware of the costs of the premiums. Hopefully the final figure will be affordable and you can get go ahead and join the ranks of the insured.

For car insurance policies it’s very important to understand the level of insurance being provided. The best insurance is not always the cheapest insurance. Make sure you get good value cover and expect to pay a fair rate for cover from a respected company.

Insurers are anxious to correct recent falls in the number of uninsured people. They claim that premiums are lower than they have ever been. Risk assessment methods are improving and they promise improved, more simple marketing of their produces.

Internet discounts have reduced the cost of premiums. An internet broker will guide you through the whole procedure and will offer you a range of options to suit your needs. They should have the answer to all your questions and a chat with them will put you on the right track.

For the sake of your family, make it your priority to get that advice and protect their future. You’d never forgive your self it you failed – would you?



By: Michael Challiner

Shopping for individual health insurance can be a pain, but finding the best rates on health insurance in Tennessee doesn’t have to be. Once you search http://EZQuoteGuide.com for Tennessee’s most affordable health insurance quotes and choose the policies with premiums that most appeal to you, simply narrow the search further by finding out which policy offers the health coverage that most appeals to you. After all, there’s no point in purchasing a cheap health insurance policy if it doesn’t provide the care you need.

As you take a look at the medical services and other treatments available, keep both the present and the future in mind. For example, does the individual health insurance plan offer coverage for pre-existing conditions? Find out before you go through the process of purchasing the policy only to discover you’re required to pay for that treatment out-of-pocket. Chronic conditions should be considered, too. If you or someone in your immediate family suffers from alcoholism, asthma, AIDS, or cancer, will the policy take care of medical costs? Be sure to ask about prescription coverage for medications you’re currently taking, too.

Females and married couples should always make sure the plans with the most affordable health insurance quotes also cover pregnancy care, including doctor visits and delivery costs. Even if you aren’t planning a family, surprises are known to happen!

Once you know whether your health needs will be taken care of, it’s time to find out how they will be taken care of. Finding the best rates on health insurance in Tennessee sometimes means purchasing plans with networks of medical providers. If so, will the plan cover out-of-network care, too? What is the process to change your primary care physician, or see a specialist? What happens if you have an emergency situation and don’t have time to get a referral? Will you be reimbursed? You should also ask about common alternative care such as chiropractic treatment.



By: Angela Farnsworth

The nineteenth century may not have been so kind to natural healers. Western medicine was witnessing the dawn of many fascinating achievements, after all, and commandeering the spotlight: antibiotics, advancement in surgery techniques, and better trauma care were seen throughout Texas and the United States.

The love affair was in the lab, not in the garden. Somehow, much of the traditional knowledge has been forgotten in the excitement, but even residents of cities like Dallas and Austin can grow sage, rosemary, and marjoram in their own backyards.

As Western science becomes more mature, more well-rounded, and more self-aware, however, natural remedies are gaining a renewed sense of appreciation. Many individual health insurance plans now even cover treatments like chiropractic care, and Western doctors are more open to recommending natural remedies for at least part of their treatments.

Every day we hear about what wonderful things a single nutrient can do: lycopene (found in tomatoes and other vegetables) can help prevent specific cancers; antioxidants (particularly high in berries, acai and pomegranate) counteract the damaging effects of free radicals; zinc can single-handedly shorten a cold by several days.

In fact, with the constant stream of facts from whatever the latest study may be, it can become difficult to know what, and how, to apply principles of natural health into everyday life. Doing so can not only improve immunity, mood, and productivity level, but may also grant access to better individual health insurance premiums by improving overall health.

The truth is, it’s really not so difficult. In fact, it’s frighteningly easy to utilize at least one natural remedy a day to maintain good health, and you’re probably already doing it. Did you have a cup of chamomile, green, or mint tea today? Perhaps you sprinkled some oregano, garlic, or basil into your pasta, ate a dish with hot peppers, or bought a bouquet of aromatic flowers. At any given point, you may be unwittingly participating in very basic herbal, nutritional, or aromatherapy. Here are some common examples.

(1) Spicy food. Many traditional dishes use culinary spices so hot our eyes water just thinking about them. Foods from South and Central America, and East Asia are perhaps the most well known for their heat content, and Texas adapts many of its recipes from the former. But there’s a reason for this burning experience: many hot peppers, commonly found in dishes from Dallas, Houston, and across the Southwest, are known for their antibacterial and/or antiparasitic properties, infections with which are more common in tropical climates.

In essence, the tradition of eating spicy foods (like chili) could be seen as an adaptive response to disease; i.e., in this case, medicine created from the local environment to treat a common illness. Many hot peppers also aid in circulation, increase sweat production, and temporarily heighten metabolism. So, the next time you power through that habanera-laced guacamole, just think how many unpleasant things you may be scalding out of your system

(2) Common Culinary Herbs. Many powerful medicinal herbs can be found in the kitchen, passed off as mere spices. Particularly in their freshest (and tastiest) form, they have proven to be dependable allies in the fight against common complaints, such as muscle soreness and insomnia, and common illnesses, such as cold and flu. When taken internally, rosemary displays antibacterial properties; when applied externally (through use in oils, baths, or vaporizers), it can relieve eczema, anxiety, muscular pain and insomnia, and improve peripheral circulation. Oregano oil is believed to be not only antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic, but also a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Parsley acts as an effective diuretic and a mild antihistamine. Everyday, you are probably consuming at least one tasty medicinal herb. The fresh (versus the dried and stored) variety retain more of their therapeutic and nutritional qualities, so go ahead – cook, eat, enjoy! It’s good for you!

(3) Tea. Tea is the most popular drink in the world, next to water. Technically, it’s just a short-lived infusion or an extract prepared by steeping or soaking certain parts of (an) herb(s)and since there are thousands upon thousands of edible herbs, the possibilities are endless. Sweetened, black, iced tea, of course, is popular in Texas and the Southwest, but the United States is really just getting in on the amazing variety this ancient tradition offers. Cities like Houston and Austin house thriving businesses based entirely on the supply, preparation, and consumption of this endless assortment of drinks – from black teas, to green, to red, to white, to herbal.

Nearly everyone today has at least heard of chamomile, mint, or green tea, and is probably fairly familiar with others, as well. Chamomile is well-known for its soothing effects, as is rose and lavender, and can ease a mild case of insomnia, muscle cramps, or arthritic joint inflammation. Green tea is fortified with antioxidants, is low in caffeine, and can aid in weight loss. Peppermint or spearmint may calm an upset stomach, and a strong ginger brew helps digestion. Echinacea and sage are commonly steeped for colds; nettle, raspberry leaf, and red clover are traditional tonics for women.

While one needs to be careful when choosing an herbal tea some may be harmful to those who are pregnant, nursing, or have certain health conditions in general, they are easily-prepared, therapeutic beverages for everyday good health.

(4) Aromatherapy. While learning the extensive details of it is a discipline, the basic premise of aromatherapy is simple: utilize scents for their therapeutic effect. Once passed off as folklore, aromatherapy’s popularity is booming – ads for candles, incense, oil burners, detergents, and home products abound. Companies touting the “zesty” and uplifting sensation of their soaps are actually applying the basic principles of aromatherapy.

If you’ve ever felt comforted by the fragrance of home-cooked food, inhaled the scent of your morning coffee to get you going, or lit a candle just to “brighten your mood,” you, too, are treating yourself to aromatherapy. Aromatherapy encompasses a wide variety of applications, from massage oil treatments, to soak baths, and overlaps with many herbal remedies. The scent of chamomile, for instance, is part of the soothing experience of drinking the tea.

Be conscious of the aromas around you and how they may affect your mood or state of mind. Sleep with lavender under your pillow, don’t be afraid to splurge on that soy-based, essential oil candle, and remember that just the smell of coffee can do wonders for you in the morning.

So it would seem we’re beginning to come full circle in appreciating the traditional plant knowledge that was humanity’s first form of medicine. Much of it is still valid, and easy to integrate on an everyday basis to optimize health. Don’t be afraid to smell something pretty, boys, and sip that chamomile tea at night. Sound sleep and increased immunity just may ward off the next round of office flu.



By: Pat Carpenter

James Pendergraft asked:


What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. There are two types of mammograms. A screening mammogram is used to detect breast changes in women who have no signs or symptoms of breast cancer. It usually involves two x-rays of each breast. Mammograms make it possible to detect tumors.

A diagnostic mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to check for breast cancer after a lump or other sign or symptom of breast cancer has been found. Signs of breast cancer may include pain, skin thickening, nipple discahrge or a change in breast size or shape. A diagnostic mammogram may also be used to evaluate changes found during a screening mammogram, or to view breast tissue when it is difficult to obtain a screening  mammogram because of special circumstances, such as the presence of breast implants.

When should women begin to have mammograms?

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that women age 40 and older have mammograms every 1 to 2 years.

Women at higher than average risk of breast cancer should talk with their physicians about whether to have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have them.

What are the risk factors?

As a woman gets older, her risk of having breast cancer becomes greater.

The following factors increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer:

Personal History.

Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop a second breast cancer.

Family History.

A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer is increased if her mother,  sister and/or daughter have a history of breast cancer, particularly if diagnosed before age 50.

Changes seen with breast biopsy.

Women who have had two or more breast biopsies for other benign conditions also have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. This increased risk is due to the condition that led to the biopsy itself.

Genetic Alterations/Changes

Specific alterations in certain genes increase the risk of breast cancer. These alterations are rare; they are estimated to account for no more than 10% of all breast cancers.

Reproductive and Menstrual History

Women who began having periods before age 12 or who went through menopause after age 55 are at an increased risk. Women who have their first child after age 30 or who never have a child are at an increased risk.

Long-term Use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Women who use combination estrogen-progestin menopausal hormone therapy fr more than 5 years have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast Density

Breasts appear dense on a mammogram if they contain many glands and ligaments and do not have a lot of fatty tissue. Because breast cancers tend to develop in the dense breast tissue of the breast, older women whose mammograms show more dense tissue are at an increased risk.

Radiation Therapy

Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including the breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer throughout their lives.

DES (Diethylstilbesterol)

The drug DES was given to some pregnant women in the US between 1941 and 1971. Those who took DES during pregnancy may have a slightly higher risk.

Body Weight

Studies have found that the chances of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight.

Physical Activity Levels

Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Alcohol

Studies suggest that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her chances of developing breast cancer.

What are the chances that a woman in the United States might get breast cancer?

Age is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. The older a woman is, the greater her chance of developing breast cancer. Current rates suggest that 13.2 percent of

women (or one in eight) born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives. This statistic is based on population averages.

How Much Does A Mammogram Cost?

Screening mammograms usually cost between $50 and $150. Most insurance companies now have laws requiring health insurance companies to reimburse all or part of the cost of screening.

Remember to check your breasts every month!

If you have not had a chance to take a look at Individual Aetna health plans in California, then you should. Aetna offers a variety of affordable health insurance plans to fit anyone’s budget. What Aetna is known most for is group health insurance plans that you might be familiar with that you can get through your work. Nationwide Aetna is known as a quality reputable insurance company that offers group health insurance until couple of years ago they started offering individual health insurance in California. From day one when Aetna release individual health insurance plans in California they became almost instant success.

What makes Aetna individual health insurance appealing to a lot of individual and families in California? If you are comparing Aetna to any other individual health insurance what you will find out is that Aetna offers very competitive rates on individual health insurance plans. The main reason that they can do this is because of their plans design. The way Aetna was able to cut their health insurance prices so drastically is by excluding maternity coverage. If you are looking for a plan that covers maternity Aetna is not your choice. Aetna offers great comprehensive plans with very competitive rates. Here are some plans to consider is you looking at benefit rich plans with competitive rates. First take a look at “Open Access” plans they are especially great for families. If you or your family is healthy and do not go to a doctor that often then you might want to consider “Open Access Value”. The main difference between “Open Access” and “Open Access Value” is that “Open Access” plans cover preventative care right away with a co-pay. “Open Access” plans cover your doctor visits and physicals right away with a co-pay and “Open Access Value” cover everything after you meet your deductible.

Aetna also offers HSA (Health Savings Account) Plans which are some of the most competitive plans for the money that you can get in California. When looking at your health insurance options make sure to compare your options before applying for a specific plan. At the bottom of this article you will find a website where you can get quotes, compare Aetna to all other health insurance companies available in the state of California.



By: Dennis Alexander

Funny thing pain, if you’ve never had a severe pain then the suggestion of taking simple analgesia and resting the affected area all seems quite reasonable. I was reminded of this when I read recently of a doctor’s advice to someone who was suffering from sciatica. Having personally experienced sciatica, it’s a condition I would not recommend to anyone who wishes to walk, sit, laugh, sleep, or to just simply pull up your trousers. It’s a bit like a dentist drilling your teeth without an anaesthetic, but it affects your whole leg. In other words the pain is consuming, exhausting and without respite. Clinical studies do show that in the majority of cases the pain will eventually subside and surgery may not be necessary, but in the meantime the patient has to deal with the pain or deal with the medication required to dull the pain. Remember, pain-killers are not selective to the area affected. They affect the whole of the nervous system and elsewhere so there may be significant side-effects from these medications.

Dealing with severe pain can be a complex issue, but I suggest that you have to treat this sort of pain fairly aggressively as acute severe pain is relatively easier to treat than chronic severe pain. In the early stages of an injury or insult to an area of the body, most of the pathological processes are happening at the site of the injury or insult. Throughout time the brain begins to modulate this pain and so no only do you have the injured area to deal with, but you also have complex neural pathways within the brain to deal with as well. This often means a far more complex management plan and a far more protracted recovery time. Specialists are very skilled at dealing with these issues but they do rely heavily on the stories their patients give them. That means being honest in answering their questions and not being heroic with a grin and bear it grimace! Often the use of a pain scale is helpful with zero being no pain at all and a 10 being the worse pain you have ever experienced.

Another health issue we commonly down play is influenza. Over the years I have frequently heard people say that they would not have the flu vaccine because either they never get the flu or that they had it last week for a couple of days and then it was all over! Influenza is a serious debilitating disease that will usually last from 10 days to two weeks and often leave you flat on your back exhausted. It’s not a happy 10 days either as patients do not have the energy to read a magazine or even watch a DVD. You will literally feel ancient with every movement being a real challenge and that doesn’t include the aching all over or the fevers and sleepless nights. The influenza virus is also extremely contagious and most people are unaware that if you spread it to someone who is more frail than yourself that you may actually be putting their life at risk.

With the ‘flu the big challenge is to vaccinate as many people in the community as possible, including children, those employed and unemployed, the elderly and the infirm, to reduce the chance of an epidemic occurring. Recent research has also showed that vaccinating pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy will help protect their new born infants born during the ‘flu season.

Medicine has evolved over the last 40 years, but the change has been fairly slow with doctors by nature being very cautious and conservative people. But we can’t leave the doctors to take all the initiatives. As patients we need to be good listeners in our approach to health by heeding all the great health messages that keep being given to us about vaccinations, smoking, alcohol, exercise and healthy eating. We also need to be good communicators and tell our doctors how we are feeling with conditions such as pain. If the team treating you doesn’t have the best information then it may be that you will not end up getting the best treatment!

 



By: HBF Health Funds

Determining which plan from among all the options companies are offering these days can be a bit overwhelming. If you have looked online at the different choices you can relate. As in anything if you break these plans down, it all starts to bring clarity to what might be important for you or your family. Here are some basic nuts and bolts to look for in a health plan.

Why do I need an Individual or Family Health Insurance Plan?

The bottom line as in all insurance plans is to protect you and or your family from devastating expense should there be an illness or accident requiring medical expense. Many consumers are able to obtain health insurance through employer sponsored group plans and in many instances this may be the best route. However not all employer plans are ideal and as such many are to comprehensive for your entire family making the premiums much higher. Unless the employer covers the entire cost for you and your family you actually be paying a higher premium than you could obtain buying individual health insurance on your own. In other words suppose that you have a fully comprehensive corporate sponsored health plan that is fully funded by your employer. If you then chose to add a family member to that same health insurance plan your employer may not cover any of the cost for those members and in turn you may be grossly overpaying for family health insurance, and should at least do some shopping and compare plans from outside of the corporate sponsored plan to see if you could obtain sufficient coverage for your family for less.

Additionally self employed workers should consider an individual health insurance plans or a family health insurance plan. In recent months many people have lost their jobs, and experienced transitions in the workforce causing many to lose their employer sponsored health insurance leaving both them and their families without crucial coverage. Many cannot afford at the exorbitant cost of a COBRA plan they are offered when the leave an employer and may go unprotected for a few or many months while seeking employment.

Most insurance companies now offer Short Term Medical Insurance also know as Temporary Insurance as an alternative to COBRA these plans can be purchase from 1 to 12 months to cover the in between employment transition time.

How Can I Determine What I Want in a Health Insurance Plan?

There are a few variables to consider when determining what plan will work best to suit your needs. You must determine what features are important and how comprehensive you want your plan to be. Would you prefer a plan that includes co-pays for doctor visits and medications? Would you prefer a plan that pays everything from day one, or a plan that has coverage for a major medical expense but offers low premiums and tax advantages. Let’s break this down a little further.

Fully Comprehensive Plans – These plans usually have a choice of deductibles once they are met the insurer will cover the first dollar of all medical expenses these plans are usually considered the Cadillac and will have the most protection for you and your family from day one but will also be reflected in the premium cost.

Co-Pay Insurance Plans – A insurance plan that will pay just a fixed amount of the cost of prescriptions drugs and Doctor Office visits. Some insurance carriers provide a discounted co-pay plan that limits the plan to two Dr office visits per year.

Coinsurance Plans/ Major Medical Insurance – This is a middle of the road plan that typically has a higher deductible of your choice ranging from $1000-$5000 that requires you to pay for all medical expenses until the deductible is met then pay 20% of all treatment and the insurer pay 80%. These plans are only a good choice for those who prefer to exchange a lower premium for covering more of the initial cost of routine medical expenses (co-pays, Dr. Visits) and just want the coverage for any major medical issues or accidents.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) – This plan is like a self managed insurance that offers low premiums combined with high deductibles, the insurer pays 100% of expenses after the deductible is met . The insurer sets up a tax sheltered savings account for you where the money can grow tax deferred to use for covering your deductible. The account comes with a debit card to use for office visits and prescriptions. This plan goes with you wherever you go and is owned by you. The premium savings can be huge but it is important to contribute to the plan consistently in order to cover your deductible in the event of a major medical expense. These plans are gaining popularity with self employed and even corporations as an alternative to high insurance cost. The benefits are one deductible per family per year, low premiums, tax savings, and more control over insurance expenditures.

Keep in mind that insurance companies will combine different features of the plans above to offer different ranges of premiums. Most plans will allow for you to choose a coinsurance amount from 0 to 50% where you choose the portion of all medical expenses you will pay after you pay the deductible. Other options are deductibles themselves which range anywhere from $500 to $5000 dollars before the insurance coverage kicks in. Many rider options may be available as well such as a maternity rider, dental, life insurance and the Health Savings Account also offers an Indemnity rider should you have a major medical expense before you have accumulated enough cash in the HSA to cover the deductible.

Where Should I Purchase Health Insurance?

Most any reputable Licensed Agent can help you, most people research rates and options online these days and can run a spreadsheet from most agents’ website. You can usually choose what features you want on the plan such as deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and plan type this will help you narrow down the options presented to you then work backwards from there.

Regardless of what any agent may tell you the rates are set by the carriers.

You will find the same rates with the same providers everywhere and in fact when you apply online you are actually going direct to the carrier. You should stick with carriers that have a high Rating with A.M. Best or Standard and Poors which rate Insurance companies on the financial strength and ability to pay claims. Avoid companies that offer plans with rates that seem to low compared to other health plans, plans that accept you even if you have serious preexisting conditions or major illnesses, plans that claim to not be regulated by the state and plans that avoid calling the plan insurance. Most importantly do your homework and speak with an agent if you are unsure what plan suits you best.



By: Christopher Beard