usernamehedkfjdf's Blog

Healthcare in America: Health Insurance

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:49 +0000

In the United States, people without health insurance and other vulnerable populations depend on a loosely organized health care safety net for access to care. Three factors threaten to overwhelm this safety net:
the increasing size of the uninsured segment of out population; the slowly dwindling financial assistance for subsidized care providers; and intensified competition for Medicaid patients under managed care.

Can’t Afford to Get Sick: A Reality for Millions of Working Americans, a study by the Commonwealth Fund found that many under the median income of $35,000 go uninsured without obtaining necessary care having poor health and trouble paying their health care bills. The same study showed that two of five workers earning less than $20,000 are not offered or eligible to participate in employer provided plans.[1]

Nationally, from 1990 to 1994, the uninsured population grew from 13 percent to 15 percent while the percentage of people obtaining coverage through their employers dropped. Without any future Medicaid coverage expansions, it is estimated that the percentage who are uninsured will grow to 24 percent by 2002.[2] As Claude Earl Fox, M.D., M.P.H., acting administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, stated, “Widespread access to primary health care for uninsured, underserved people simply cannot be achieved without more health centers and outreach such as the voucher programs.”[3]

The 1994 National Access to Care Survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examined the likelihood of having a usual source of care, inability to obtain needed care, and number of physician visits for persons with private insurance, Medicaid coverage, and no insurance. Medicaid participants were found to be half as likely as the uninsured and twice as likely as the privately insured to report difficulty with health care. Access for those on Medicaid closely resembled that of the privately insured than that of the uninsured.[4]

HMO’s: A Simple Way Out of a Maze of Health Insurance Choices

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:45 +0000

The rapid advance of medical, pharmaceutical and diagnostic technologies has left a host of financial and human problems inadequately addressed. Regulators approve of new methods and medicine with increasing frequency and patents result in most of these advances being available at quantum
jumps in cost to the Health benefit provider or the patient, if coverage is not possible. New disease detection methods involve genetics and bio-physics with the involvement of incredibly expensive reagentsand hardware.

The bludgeoning Healthcare cost to the economy has increasingly become a vital concern for all stakeholders. Health Insurance providers who work for profits have become increasingly wary of offering products with unlimited coverage. Lay people are left to decide on matters such as exclusions, co payments and lifetime limits that they do not understand in full.

Health Insurance coverage for children, the elderly and for women involves deep and extensive knowledge of a number of fields. Agents, doctors and other professionals who can apply relevant criteria to select a Health Insurance product that suits all members of a family are rare. Those who have a feel for the key nuances may not always represent the best interests of a potential client. It is entirely possible to pay an enormous premium for health services that are fortunately not required, but to be left without coverage for essential consultation, tests, hospitalization, surgery and medicines. Differences of opinion between doctors on new technology only confounds patients and makes decision-making ever more difficult.

How to Read a Health Article

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:42 +0000

While the popularity of the internet has made it possible for anyone with information someone might consider valuable to share it with the rest of the world, the internet has equally made it possible for every half-baked opinion to find its way onto your desktop. The same applies to
the endless stream of magazines coursing through the marketplace. Today, anyone with a voice can make themselves heard. But then how are we to know who to listen to? How are we to gauge fact from fiction in this environment, with no clear authority to guide us on our never-ending journey of self-diagnosis and self-medication? How are we to separate the viable from the suspect?And that’s not our only concern. Even if the information we read in a health article is 100% accurate, the question remains, for whom? No body is built alike, nor is any article advising how to better care for it. Yet nearly every human being living in a body (and that’s all of us, as far as I know) yearns to live as long and healthy a life as possible. Thus each one of us is susceptible to any new hint, tip, suggestion, or advice on how to best achieve that common, and coveted, goal. How are we to know that what makes you stronger won’t kill me, for example?Then, once we’ve identified information that is both reliable and applicable to our specific circumstances and physical condition, it still remains to be seen whether said health advice should actually be taken.Let’s say you’ve just read a health article that seems to resonate with you. It describes your symptoms and offers a way out. What next? Well, before semi-haphazardly taking on a whole new habit, in essence turning yourself into both guinea pig and scientist, maybe you should take some extra time to really examine what you’re considering getting yourself into. The following are 9 simple guidelines on how the average Joe and Jane consumer (like myself) can evaluate the veracity and suitability of any health claim read in a publication, online or off. One final note before moving on to the checklist; the last item on the list is the most important of all, whether you like it or not. In fact, it might be more important than all the other items in the list combined. Keep that in mind when you apply this checklist to the next health article that seems to be speaking directly to you.1. Who wrote it? A doctor, nurse, surgeon, psychiatrist? If so, what’s their specialty? A pharmacist, holistic practitioner, naturopath, homeopath, massage therapist? Is the information you’re reading in the author’s area of expertise? CEO of a major pharmaceutical company? A medical device manufacturer? Are they simply pushing their own product (see more in question #4) Or is the author a simple freelancer like me? Most of us, with definite exception, write about a variety of topics, gathering our data from extensive research through a variety of sources (or maybe not). What are the author’s credentials? Is he or she really in a place to know whether the health advice they’re touting has any basis in fact, and how much?2. Where’d they get it? What are the writer’s sources? Do they even list any? Run each of the sources through the same evaluation process you’re putting the original article through. 3. How current is it? We as a global culture are learning at a breakneck pace, accelerating our understanding of the world and our place in it like never before. Because of that, discoveries of yesteryear are constantly being revised and rewritten. Today’s cure-all could be tomorrow’s public enemy number one. Make sure that anything you’re considering doing to your body for the benefit of your health is based on the most current data available. If the information you’re reading is not current, and yet still intriguing, then do some additional research on whether it’s been further backed-up over time or completely invalidated or, worse, proven harmful.4. What are they selling? I know, it sounds like a cynical standpoint, but consider this; every article you read is selling something. Not necessarily something tangible, that you could put a price on, though that’s certainly possible too, but selling something nonetheless. In the case of health articles, maybe they’re selling a drug, an exercise regimen, or a new medical device or procedure. Maybe they’re selling their services as a health practitioner. Maybe they’re selling a particular modality of healing or a school of thought. Maybe they’re selling an idea. This article, for example, the one you’re currently reading, is selling discernment. Figure out what the author is selling you in any health article that piques your interest and then, really ask yourself…5. Are you in the market for it? If the health article espouses a product, are you willing to go out and buy it? If it recommends visiting a professional, are you willing to set up an appointment, whether once or on an ongoing basis? This is one area where you can really determine if a tip you read is right for you. If you’re not willing to shell out the dough or time (because whatever the tip, it’ll undoubtedly demand at least one or both), then the health advice, however good, is not relevant for you.6. Will you do it? Will you really do it? This question examines how realistic the advice in the health article is for you. So far there is no one-stop, cure-all, magic bullet for any significant health concern. Most any suggestion you come across will involve repeated uses, doses, visits, etc. Following the advice in a health article usually entails taking on a new habit. Do you have both the time and the inclination to follow through with the steps suggested in this great-sounding idea you’ve just come across long enough to be able to see real results? Or will this just become the next fad to come and go in your life that didn’t work for no other reason than because you never gave it a chance? Don’t set yourself up to lose – that’s no fun at all.7. Who doubts it, and why? For every article promoting a health-related course of action there is another article decrying it, warning you vehemently against it. Before taking any health advice you read, make a concerted effort to look up the contrary opinion(s). You must weigh both sides of an issue in order to properly determine where you stand on it. Then, when you decide to try out a new habit (doctor, diet, or such) you can go into it in full awareness of all the reported risks.8. What else are you already doing? What other actions are you taking towards improving your heatlh, whether related to this specific condition or another, or to your overall health in general? Sometimes, one part of your health program may impede another part (such as a supplement that makes you sleepy in the mornings sabatoging your other goal of waking up early each morning to go jogging). Make sure the steps you decide to take towards improving your health aren’t counterproductive to one another. If you don’t know, then it’s time to do a bit more research.9. What’s your doctor think? You thought you could get away form him or her, didn’t you? But alas, there is no escaping the single most valuable asset you have in your quest for wellness. If your doctor is not the sort of authority to whom you would turn for guidance when considering new methods of achieving well-being, then it’s time to search for a new doctor. You should be able to run ideas by your doctor, knowing that their knowledge of your body is somewhere on par with yours (at least), and that they’ve got nothing but your best interest at heart. Maybe you’re considering something outside your doctor’s area of expertise. Fine. Discuss it with them anyway. You don’t have to take your doctor’s health advice any more than you have to take the health advice in an article you read, but you should at least be armed with the information and opinions of a trained medical expert, particularly the one to whom you’ve entrusted the better part of your program of health.And that’s it! With this handy checklist by your side, you should be able to properly evaluate whether a change you’re considering making to your health program, something could have a profound effect on your life, is truly right for you.

Temporary Health Coverage

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:37 +0000

As health care costs rise, the need for health insurance is a vital one for most Americans. Most have access to insurance plans through an employer or a retirement program but for those who don’t qualify for a plan, there is a solution: temporary health insurance.

Recent graduates, new hires who have not yet completed a probation period, part-time employees, early retirees, recently divorced individuals, unemployed individuals, and students who no longer qualify under a parents’ health coverage plan are just some of those who may seek temporary or
short-term health insurance.

Unlike standard group coverage plans, temporary health insurance is often inexpensive and flexible. Most short term options range from one to twelve months, few are available for more than a year. Pre-existing conditions – a health condition previously diagnosed – can limit access to some temporary plans. Many services often require pre-certification before treatment is allowed. Although deductible amounts are often low with temp insurance, it’s wise to make sure that the deductible needs to be met one time only because some plans will require a deductible for each service. That could up the out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatments, even a simple office visit to your doctor. And, short term plans can vary from state-to-state so be aware of your state’s regulations and requirements.

Most short term plans do offer a greater flexibility than many standard health plans but with choice often comes lower coverage or payment for services. Depending on the options chosen, short term health insurance may or may not pay for surgery, blood work, x-ray, hospitilization, and other treatments. Know what is and is not covered.

If you’re between jobs, maintaining your former group coverage can be an option. the 1984 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reduction Act (COBRA) allows qualified employees to continue group coverage for a specific period. Such coverage may be better for your individual needs than temporary coverage so ask if you might be qualified.

Lesbian Health Issues

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:33 +0000

The quality of lesbian health is directly related to the overall quality of a lesbian’s life: her self acceptance and how out she is, her acceptance by her family and the greater community, laws that guarantee her rights, and the knowledge and sensitivity of her healthcare system.
Ideally, lesbian health would be no different than that of heterosexual women.

Probably due to the greater stressors in her life, a lesbian is twice as likely to be a heavy smoker than her heterosexual sister, somewhat more likely to be obese, and more likely to be a problem drinker. However, in the past twenty years, all of these unhealthy lifestyle problems that impact lesbian health have lessened and probably reflect the greater level of “outness,” more legal rights, and greater social acceptance.

There is still a ways to go and lesbians have higher levels of anxiety and depression due to:

- Social stigma
- Rejection by family member
- Abuse and violence
- Being treated unfairly by the legal system
- Hiding some or all aspects of one’s life
- Lack of health insurance

Lesbians are less likely to get Pap smears because they and many doctors hold the mistaken belief that lesbians don’t get cervical cancer. Lesbians are just as likely as heterosexual women to get the virus for genital warts, the precursor to cervical cancer. In addition, many butch women are loath to have pelvic examinations and require doctors who are sensitive to their needs.

Unless she uses contaminated needles or has sex with men, a lesbian is at low risk for HIV. However, she can get all the other sexually transmitted infections that the heterosexual woman is prey to.

Top Health Food Stores in St. Louis, Missouri

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:30 +0000

Today, as the baby boomers age, obesity is at record levels and adult onset diabetes is at an almost epidemic stage. More and more of this demographic is realizing that healthy foods, products, and lifestyles are part of a preventive package they can take into
Top Health Food Stores in St. Louis, Missouri their own hands. The natural and organics industry is experiencing an annual growth rate of about 10 percent. At a recent Natural Products Trade Show, more than 36,000 professional and trade attendees from over 80 countries attended. Some of the almost 1500 exhibits at the show focused on children’s and even pet’s health food products. There seems to be an ever-changing opinion among the experts as to what is and isn’t healthy. First it was the animal fats and hydrogenated oils, then carbohydrates and trans-fats became the bad guys.. Now some carbohydrates are good and others are considered bad. Pretty much everyone agrees that natural, organically grown food is healthier than its chemically processed brother. The fast food industry has responded by offering more low fat choices on their menus, but not all of these are healthy to eat. The snack food industry doesn’t seem to be worried either, knowing that we all crave something sweet or salty at times. For those of you who may have included eating healthier as one of your New Year’s resolutions, here are some of the best health and natural food stores in St. Louis:

Whole Foods Market 1601 South Brentwood (314) 968-7744 The largest of the health food stores in St. Louis, Whole Foods tries to bring an all-inclusive shopping experience to its customers. They have a full-service bakery offering hearth baked breads and delicious pastries. Seafood is shipped from their own wharf and arrives at the store within 24 hours. All of the meats and poultry are free of hormones and growth stimulants. All of the produce is, of course, organically grown, some of it coming from local sources. The natural foods industry has expanded to include not only all of the food categories, but also nutritional supplements, cleaning products, and even pet foods. If you’re looking for selection, then this is the place to go.

Who Can Claim the Health Coverage Tax Credit?

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:27 +0000

The Health Coverage Tax Credit was enacted by Congress in the Trade Act of 2002. It is a federal income tax credit that pays up to 65% of qualified health plan premiums for eligible workers whose health coverage has been impacted because they lost their jobs due to foreign competition.
The credit is also available to certain retirees whose pensions from a former employer were terminated and who are now receiving benefits from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The credit is intended to make health care coverage more accessible and available to persons who otherwise might not be able to afford it.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), works in conjunction with other federal and state agencies, such as the State Workforce Agencies, and the private health industry, in administering the Health Coverage Tax Credit program.

If you are eligible, this credit can be claimed as a refund when you file your annual U.S. federal income tax return, or you can also receive advance payments of the credit monthly, in order to pay your health insurance premiums throughout the year as they become due.

Who Is Eligible?

The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) is intended to help certain groups of individuals. There are three groups of people who are potentially eligible for this tax credit:

Travelers Beware: Most Health Insurance Policies Do Not Provide International Coverage

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:23 +0000

Unfortunately, many travelers fail to learn whether their health insurance policies provide coverage when they are outside the United States. And the sad fact is that most policies do not pay medical bills from outside the country.

Additionally, most policies will not cover the very expensive cost of having to be flown back to the United States by an air ambulance. It is also worth noting that Social Security medical benefits do not apply outside the United States.

However, if you are willing to do a little research, you will be able to find policies to purchase which will provide a large assortment of coverage options at a variety of price ranges.

A number of resources are available to assist travelers seeking supplemental health insurance while outside the United States. Among the coverage travelers may find necessary includes guaranteed payment to a foreign medical provider, assistance by means of a telephone support center to talk with physicians, and emergency medical transport to the United States or elsewhere.

A popular program among travelers includes International SOS: (www.internationalsos.com.) Members of this program pay a membership fee which entitles them to a wide variety of medical insurance options while abroad. Additionally, members receive on-line services which include medical and safety travel advisories, assistance with your itinerary and, most importantly, computerized storage of your medical records which could be accessed world-wide.

Another popular program with travelers is MEDEX: (www.medexassist.com). This program provides access to 24-hour coordinators who locate medical assistance when you need it and coordinate insurance payments to foreign medical providers. Their varied insurance policies include coverage of emergency evacuation, emergency dental care, and medication replacement. Other services they provide include reports on travel destinations, outlining many practical tourist topics as well as medical and safety concerns.

What is Natural Health?

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:20 +0000

Quite simply, natural health means maintaining good health naturally through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods and fluids we consume, our daily physical movement and activities, rest and sleep, and interactions with other people. In summary, it
is how we live in our bodies on a daily basis.

Natural healing involves moving from a state of non-health into health using only natural means. If we fast to cleanse the body of mucous, seek massage therapy to ease aching muscles, or take herbal formulas to soothe an irritated throat, we are using a natural healing modality.

Natural health modalities such as homeopathy, herbology, iridology, bioenergetic methods, and nutrition, are non-invasive methods of health practice, which are designed to stimulate and maintain the body’s intrinsic self-healing processes. Let’s take a brief look at each of these modalities.

Homeopathy – Homeopathy, as founded by Samuel Hahnemann, is based on the concept of “like cures like” with the idea that remedies and symptoms sharing certain similar characteristics work together to aid the healing process.

Iridology – Iridology is the study of the colored part of the eye, the iris. According to Iridology, the iris contains fibers and pigmentations, which possibly indicate states of physical and psychological health. By determining the placement of fibers and variations in pigmentation in the iris, physical strengths and weaknesses due to environmental reactions, past physical reactions, emotional patterns, and inherited physiological qualities can be used to maintain and improve general health.

Herbology – This is a health practice, which utilizes the therapeutic applications of herbs and other botanical substances, such as roots, leaves, bark or berries of plants. These substances can be made into various forms of tablets, capsules, teas, lozenges, or poultices, and are generally sold over-the-counter in health food stores and neighborhood pharmacies.

Weight Control Health Care Consultant: What to Look for

usernamehedkfjdf — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:08:17 +0000

Weight concerns are plaguing the United States. Millions of Americans are overweight, and because of this the rates of serious health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are skyrocketing. Being underweight is also a concern for thousands of
American men and women who are going to extreme measures to make their bodies fit unrealistic ideals. These extreme measures are degrading their health by increasing the chances of various types of cancers, of organ failure, and even of death. With the seriousness of the health risks that are linked to weight problems, it is obvious that taking control of your weight is vitally important to maintaining your health, improving the quality of your life, and even in extending the length of your life. While it is obvious that taking control of your weight is important, it is also unfortunately very hard for some people to do. In order to overcome the difficulties that are related to weight control a weight control health care consultant may be needed.

What to Look for in a Weight Control Health Care Consultant

The first thing that you will want to look for in a weight control health care consultant is that they are knowledgeable about healthy weight control options. There are many weight loss scams out in the market ranging from unhealthy restrictions of calories and food groups, to the exclusive use of unproven drugs and stimulants to reduce a person’s weight. If you are looking to improve your health, you will want to look for a consultant that will be able to modify your current diet and exercise levels to something that is more healthy, and that will be able to produce real and lasting results for you. This means that they will need to have an understanding of nutrition, biology, and physiology.