What are you looking for in your Texashealth insurance plan

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Texas health insurance can be categorized into three different categories. It all depends on what you're looking for in your plan and the coverages you expect when receiving health care services. Some plans may have all co-pays or all deductibles or a mixture of both. The best thing you could possibly do is talk to a knowledgeable broker regarding your plan. They will be able to help you decide and show you the different options available to you and your family regarding healthcare services. At EasyToInsureME we have broken this down into three different categories. The first category being all co-pay plans, every healthcare service in this plan is covered by co-pays. The second category would be plans with the deductibles and co-pays usually referred to as a PPO plan. The third category we call straight deductible plan. This plan has only deductible's that you must pay before you receive any benefits from the insurance company.

Texas health insurance co-pay plans

Co-pay plans are great and are usually referred to as HMO plans. For every healthcare service you will know exactly how much you have to pay regarding that service. It is outlined in the plan showing you exactly how much you will pay for something like a doctor's visit or an outpatient surgery. For instance, the Vista HMO in Miami, Florida allows for Dr. co-pays between 10 and $20 and outpatient surgery at $100. This plan is simple to understand that the consumer can receive great benefits at a known cost to the consumer. These plans can be rather expensive when compared to other plans but not always it really depends on your age bracket.

Texas health insurance co-pay and deductible plans

These plans are a combination and are usually referred to as PPO plans. You will pay a deductible for services such as x-rays, lab tests, and hospitalization. However, for all other services you would still be paying a co-pay. The flexibility of the deductible actually allows the consumer to make their insurance very affordable. With a lower deductible, may be somewhere around $500-$1000 you will see that the premium is a little bit higher compared to a PPO plan with a deductible of around $2500. You may ask what exactly is a deductible? Will for instance if you have to go to the hospital and you have a bill of $10,000 for one day and your deductible is $1000 you will have to pay the first $1000 before you receive any benefits from the insurance company towards the hospital bill. But, if you go into the hospital for an emergency room visit you will only be paying $100 co-pay under most plans. Now you may ask yourself how am I going to pay this thousand dollar deductible god forbid I may have to go and be admitted to the hospital? Well the hospital is more than happy to set up any type of payment plan with you and your family in regards to your deductible. So don't be worried about taking a higher deductible if you like to save some money, just remember that you are responsible for this deductible that occurs once per year.

Texas health insurance deductible plans

Texas health insurance deductible plans are the most affordable option available in today's market. The reason is because most of the risk is put on to the consumer in the form of a deductible. When an insurance company has to pay less for your healthcare services you will be surprised how much less your premium will be per month. And the reason for that is because if you need to receive any kind of healthcare services you will have to pay full price until you meet your annual deductible. Now if you do take a higher deductible you might be able to receive tax benefits. This straight deductible plan is known as a health savings account and is also still a PPO plan. If you are comfortable with paying full price for your benefits from your healthcare service provider until you meet at an annual deductible than this plan is for you. At EasyToInsureMe we recommend this plan to our most stable clients that are able to afford let say a $2500 deductible because they know that they have $2500 in a bank account in case an emergency does happen.

Texas health insurance quotes from EasyToInsureME

If you would like to further research these options you can visit EasyToInsureME. You can quote every health insurance plan and company in your area in under 20 seconds. All these options are available on our quoting system and it is very easy and fast to use. Whenever your looking for new coverage or a new plan you should always use EasyToInsureME first because we represent every health insurance plan available on the market today.

Health Care Plan will Lead to More Government, Higher Taxes : U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison

the most important issue facing our country today is health care reform. Like many of my colleagues, I believe that health care reform should be done in a careful, constructive, and bipartisan way. Unfortunately, the Democrats’ health care reform proposals meet none of those standards. That is why we are seeing Americans across the country voice their concerns in town hall meetings and in letters and phone calls to Congress.

Americans from every walk of life know that the Democrats’ plan will lead to more government, more taxes, and more expensive health care. Even the Congressional Budget Director advises against this approach, stating that the Administration’s proposal fails to make the fundamental changes needed to reign in skyrocketing costs of government health care programs.

I am particularly concerned about the impact of this legislation on the fiscal health of our country and the cost burden it will place on our small businesses and their employees.

The Administration’s proposal contains tax penalties and fees on small businesses that are not able offer health insurance. To pay these added costs, many small businesses could be forced to decrease workers wages, hire fewer employees, implement layoffs, or cut into other benefits. And some employers will have to pay a tax even if they already provide health insurance! A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that roughly 3 in 5 small businesses will be hit with new taxes under the Democrats’ proposal.

Imposing new taxes on small businesses promises to wreak havoc on our economy. By raising taxes on some small businesses as high as 45 percent, they will be paying 10 percent more than what major corporations pay – and the U.S. corporate rate is among the highest in the world.

Instead of giving this power to the government, we should be helping employers provide more affordable health insurance options to their employees. We especially need these options for Texans. Texas ranks in the bottom five states for adults who receive health insurance coverage through their employers.

For this reason, I co-sponsored the Small Business Health Plans Act, which will make it easier for small businesses to purchase more affordable health insurance. Under our bill, small companies will be allowed to form insurance pools across state lines, expanding negotiating power and health insurance options for small businesses.

This legislation will not only lower health care costs for small businesses; it will also increase the number of Americans with health insurance. But this bill should be part of a larger solution.

To that end, we must empower patients with the freedom and ability to make informed choices. All Texans should have the flexibility to choose the health care plan that is best for themselves, their families, and their pocketbooks.

That’s why I am also an original co-sponsor of a bill that will allow all Americans to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums as long as they purchase qualified private health coverage. Just as tax benefits are given to employers for providing health insurance, tax benefits should be available to those who purchase coverage from the individual market. While research shows a tax credit would provide a greater incentive for those seeking health insurance, an above-the-line deduction is a positive start.

The solution to health care issues is not to give more power to the government; the solution is to give more power to the American people and small businesses. They deserve a system that lives up to the idea that America has the best health care in the world.

We should reject the Administration and Democratic Leadership’s hasty, costly, and poorly crafted legislation. We should be working toward a bipartisan plan grounded in the principles of choice, competition, patients’ rights, and reducing costs. I will not support a plan that fails to encompass these principles, and I encourage my colleagues to stand likewise.

Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior U.S. Senator from Texas.

pitching health care plan to the insured

His approval ratings slipping, President Barack Obama is retooling his message on health care overhaul, aiming to win over Americans who already have insurance.

Polling shows that Americans — especially those who already have coverage — are skeptical of the Democratic proposals to expand coverage to the nearly 50 millions who lack it. So Obama will use a potentially boisterous town hall-style meeting in New Hampshire to highlight how his proposals would affect workers whose employers provide their health insurance.

Critics of the president's plan — his top domestic priority — have grabbed headlines by disrupting town hall meetings, putting the White House on the defensive.

Hours before Obama was to arrive at Portsmouth High School, the road leading to the event site was lined with people — about 100 supporters of Obama's health care overhaul on one side and about half as many opponents on the other.

"I'm here because I'm an American, I believe in free speech and I'm scared to death," said Barbara Taylor, 65, of Exeter, N.H.

She arrived at 7:30 a.m. and was soaking wet from a severe downpour earlier in the morning. The rain had blurred the red ink on the sign Taylor carried: "Hands Off Our Health Care."

On the other side, Linda McVay held her own sign calling attention to Americans without health insurance. She said her son has been without insurance since losing his job in November.

Obama is prepared for possible disruptions Tuesday, said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, appearing on television talk shows.

"I think what the president will do is turn to that person and probably ask them to be civilized and give them an answer to their question," Gibbs told CBS' "The Early Show."

Concerns over Obama's proposal are heating up meetings, chat rooms and radio shows, driving his approval numbers down and threatening the future of his signature issue. While Congress is in recess for the month of August, lawmakers are hearing from frustrated constituents worried about government's role in health care and the costs of an overhaul.

"There's a lot of fear out there," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a New Hampshire Democrat.

To calm that fear, Obama plans to spend the month highlighting the upside of health overhaul for Americans already with insurance, starting in a state in which 89 percent of residents have health coverage.

In Portsmouth, N.H., Obama will speak directly about his proposal to ban insurance companies from denying individuals coverage because of pre-existing conditions. During a Friday trip to Bozeman, Mont., he will talk about how his plan would block companies from dropping an individual's coverage if he or she becomes ill. And in Grand Junction, Colo., the president will talk about how the Democrats' plan would end high out-of-pocket costs in some policies.

The Democratic National Committee began running television ads that ask, "What's in it for you?" and then highlights those goals. Officials said the ad started running Monday night in Washington and on cable; it would follow as early as Tuesday in states Obama planned to visit, including New Hampshire.

About 1,800 people are expected for that midday event in the Democratic-leaning Seacoast region of the Granite State. Of those, 70 percent were given tickets based on a random lottery — a potentially dicey crowd in a state known for its grass-roots political activism.

"Participating in government here in New Hampshire is like putting on socks for the average American," said Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

Outside, a dozen grass-roots organizations plan a counter-rally.

Republicans say the heated debate is a sign of widespread public dissatisfaction with Obama's ideas. But with some of the anxieties spilling into angry disruptions and even threats, Democrats have accused Republicans of orchestrating the events to sabotage legislation. In an article published Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote, "Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American."

Obama and his aides stayed away from such provocative language.

Fired U.S. Workers Seek Health Plans as Subsidy Wanes : Margaret Collins

Unemployed workers facing the end of a U.S. subsidy that pays 65 percent of their group health insurance premiums may be forced to find individual policies. Those who need it most might not qualify.

Diane Nelson, 48, of Riverview, Florida, has terminal lung cancer and worries she’ll have to stop medical treatments once her Cobra subsidy ends.

“I have no idea what I’m going to do come December,” said Nelson, whose husband lost his job in February. “We’ve been paying $377 a month. It will go up to $1,100.”

U.S. workers who lose their jobs can remain on their employer’s health plan for as long as 18 months under the 1986 law known as Cobra. Workers typically pay the entire cost of the premium, plus a 2 percent administrative fee.

The economic stimulus plan passed in February included a $24.7 billion subsidy to reduce health-care costs for the growing number of fired workers. It covers 65 percent of a monthly Cobra premium for up to nine months.

Cobra enrollments have doubled since the subsidy began, according to an analysis released Aug. 18 by Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Hewitt Associates Inc. It’s available for employees who lost their job from Sept. 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2009. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates about 7 million people will use it for some part of 2009.

Employees of companies that went out of business or had fewer than 20 workers may not be eligible, according to the Department of Labor. The subsidy phases out for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income above $125,000 for an individual and $250,000 for those filing jointly.

‘Life Saver’

With the subsidy, the average family pays $377 a month, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation of Menlo Park, California. The cost rises to $1,078 a month without it.

“The subsidy has truly been a life saver, a major reduction of monthly bills,” said James Fisher, 59, of New York City, who pays about $150 a month for coverage. He was fired in February from Hetrick-Martin Institute, a non-profit counseling center for teens.

The benefit expires in November for those who took the subsidy at its start on Feb. 17, according to the Department of Labor. The average time out of work is 25 weeks and the number of Americans out of work longer than 27 weeks rose by 584,000 to 5 million in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Many of those people may butt up against this nine-month limit and at that point might not be able to afford their coverage,” said Karyn Schwartz, a senior policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Fast Growing

“The full cost of (unsubsidized) Cobra is typically more expensive than the cost of individual plans,” said Schwartz. “People with pre-existing conditions may end up paying more or get rejected.”

Individual plans, as opposed to an employer-sponsored group plan, are the “fastest growing sector of the business,” said Humana Inc. spokesman Mitch Lubitz. The number of customers has grown 17 percent in the past year to 345,000 in June 2009 from 295,000 in June 2008, he said.

The average monthly premium for an individually purchased policy was $217.75 for one person and $483.25 for a family in 2007, according to America’s Health Insurance Plans in Washington, which represents the health-care industry.

Insurers have added temporary plans with increased customization and more deductibles this year. “It was really in response to the changing market and the economy,” Lubitz said.

Short-Term Options

Humana, based in Louisville, Kentucky, began offering short-term insurance in April for unemployed or part-time workers. Applicants can choose from many features found in group health plans, Lubitz said, and may opt for a policy length from 30 days up to six months or one year. Humana added individual dental and vision options in May as many Cobra users were continuing to pay for dental coverage, Humana’s Large Group Actuarial Director Beth Grice said.

Golden Rule Insurance Co., a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc., started offering dental and vision plans in the past 12 months, said Ellen Laden of the Indianapolis-based company. The company also added two temporary plans in June, “for consumers whose lives are in a time of transition,” Laden said.

A family of four, with parents in their mid-30s and two children under age 10, who choose 6-month coverage with a $1,000 deductible would pay between $133 to $163 in monthly premiums, she said.

‘Slowly Sinking’

Policyholders with a pre-existing condition should stay on Cobra because it’s most likely cheaper and they could be rejected for an individual plan, Laden said. It’s also possible for a company to charge a higher rate when renewing a short-term policy, Kaiser’s Schwartz said, and individual plans may offer a smaller range of benefits than group plans.

“I’ve looked into other insurance, but I’ve been denied a couple of them because it’s a pre-existing condition,” Nelson, the cancer patient, said. Her husband, who was fired as a heavy- equipment mechanic in February, has found work as an auto mechanic but doesn’t receive health benefits, she said.

“We’ve deplenished our 401(k)s and are trying to keep our heads above water, but we’re slowly sinking.”

If you decide to switch, make sure you’re accepted into another plan before you stop payment, Golden Rule’s Laden said, and don’t assume that a new employer’s coverage will start the day you do.

US as a health plan provider? Reform idea losing ground. : Peter Grier

Is the “public option” dead?

President Obama favors inclusion of a government-run insurance plan – a “public option,” for short – in health reform legislation. The president and his allies say such a plan is needed to help contain medical insurance costs and ensure that people in all parts of the country have adequate insurance choices.

But the public option has attracted strong opposition from Republicans and other critics who say it would be unfair competition for the private sector and could drive today’s insurers out of business.

Some analysts now say that the future for the public option looks bleak. It has been rejected by key players on the Senate Finance Committee, for one thing. For another, Mr. Obama has not actually insisted that it must be part of any health bill he will sign.

“There’s a lack of support for it, even in a significant portion of the Democratic political caucus,” says Thomas Miller, an American Enterprise Institute fellow who served as health policy economist for Congress’s Joint Economic Committee.

Theoretically, a government health insurance plan would introduce an element of competition into a marketplace that in many areas of the country is dominated by a few big players.

With nonprofit status, this public option might have lower costs and thus be able to offer consumers lower prices, keeping private competitors honest. Again, that is the theory.

The House health reform bill currently includes a public option provision, as does the version of Senate legislation produced by the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee.

But the Senate Finance Committee, which is struggling to pull together a health reform bill with at least a modicum of bipartisan support, appears set to reject the public option, due to opposition from GOP and centrist Democratic lawmakers. Instead, its bill is likely to offer a an alternative plan: customer-run health insurance cooperatives.

And at his town hall meeting in New Hampshire on Monday, Obama said only that he thinks a public option is a “good idea.” Properly constituted, a public plan would provide customers a baseline for what basic insurance should cost, said Obama. He noted that some critics believe any such plan would inevitably push private firms to the sideline.

“I think that’s a legitimate concern,” said Obama. “I disagree with it, but that’s a legitimate debate to have.”

But with the legislative year fast ticking by, and Senate Democrats still struggling to produce health reform legislation that could pass the chamber, not a lot of time is left for policy debates. In an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Washington Post, Democratic strategist Paul Begala noted that Democrats might soon have to choose between the bill they want and the bill they can get.

Leaving out a public option would be a “bitter disappointment,” writes Mr. Begala. But he implies that it might be one of the disappointments that liberals will have to accept, if they want to see any legislation at all.

“Aside from race, healthcare is the most difficult domestic issue of the past century,” according to Begala.

Health Insurance Quote Reform Weekly : EasyToInsureME : 8/14/09

With Congressional lawmakers back in their districts for summer recess, the health reform debate is heating up. The national discussion on reform has shifted away from Washington, as members of Congress convene town hall meetings across the country. Many of these meetings have been filled with loud outbursts, heated debates and hot tempers, largely from opponents of reform proposals. In addition, the partisan messaging battle continues.

Health Reform Activities

President Obama Holds Town Hall Meetings: In Portsmouth, NH, on Tuesday, President Obama sought to reassure the public about health care reform at his first health reform town hall meeting. Compared to other town hall meetings, the crowd of 1,800 was less contentious. Despite the relative calm at the meeting itself, approximately 2,000 demonstrators from both sides of the debate gathered outside the facility. President Obama spent much of the forum debunking misconceptions about reform proposals to those who fear their current coverage will be jeopardized.

President Obama will hold two more town hall meetings within the next week: today in Bozeman, MT, and Saturday in Grand Junction, CO.

Pelosi and Hoyer Criticize Protesters as "Un-American": On Monday, a USA Today editorial co-authored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer denounced ongoing town hall protests as "un-American." President Obama sought to distance himself from these comments.

Hot Tempers Continue at Town Hall Meetings: Because of the growing number of protests, some legislators increased security at meetings this week, while others opted to facilitate meetings via teleconference. In an effort to prepare lawmakers for the protests, House Democrat leaders set up a so-called "War Room" to answer lawmakers' policy questions and help prepare them for potential disruptions. Organizing for America, which earlier served as President Obama's election campaign group, launched a campaign aimed at encouraging supporters of Obama's reform legislation to visit their lawmakers' offices to express support.

President Obama Confronts Health Care "Rumors": White House officials have undertaken aggressive tactics to dispel public misperceptions about reform legislation. During Saturday's weekly radio and Internet address, he confronted the rumors directly. "Let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, or cut Medicaid, or bring about a government take over of health care," said President Obama. "That's simply not true."

To further grassroots marketing efforts, White House officials on Monday launched "Reality Check," a website that provides information with viral marketing tools, allowing users to share that information on social networking sites.

Opinion Polls

Public Polls Show Division: A July USA TODAY/Gallup Poll indicates that while Americans are divided about health care reform, the divide doesn't appear to be drawn along party lines. According to the poll, Americans appear to disagree about both the primary goal and the urgency of reform legislation. Seniors are the most resistant to reform, and fewer than half of seniors polled want reform enacted this year.

Advertising Activities

New Coalition Sponsors Support Ads in Select States: On Thursday, Americans for Stable Quality Care launched a $12 million television ad campaign in support of President Obama's health reform plan. The new group, which is expected to be the largest spender in support of health reform, is primarily funded by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, with assistance from the American Medical Association, FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the Service Employees International Union. The coalition seeks to counter increasingly aggressive protests at town hall meetings while solidifying support from swing senators and Blue Dog Democrats.

Financing the Plans

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Indicates Cost of Preventive Care Outweighs Savings: The CBO announced Friday that even though public health may improve with expanding preventive medical services - including cancer screenings, cholesterol management, vaccinations and wellness training - the costs of such expansions will offset any savings ultimately generated.

Looking Ahead

The intense national debate is likely to continue throughout the month as President Obama and legislators continue to hold town hall meetings across the country. Lawmakers are slated to return to Washington on September 8.

Dealing with Inadequate Student Health Insurance

Jason Whitehead was practicing for the Ohio University football team in 2001 when he was injured during a workout. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, and suffered temporary paralysis, according to a story in The New York Times.

The university’s insurance covered most of Whitehead’s surgery. But six years after the injury, he learned that he still owed $1,800 in medical bills, which he discovered only when he tried to buy a car and found that his credit rating was abysmally low.

“The coach says: ‘You’re on full scholarship. If you ever get hurt, we’ll make sure to take care of you,’ ” Whitehead told the Times. “There’s a lot of us out there that get used.”

A Growing Problem

Many student athletes find that after an injury, the medical insurance they rely on from their university is inadequate. This becomes a health issue if the student cannot get proper care. It also becomes a lingering credit issue, hurting young peoples’ financial futures for years after they leave the playing field.

Starting in 2005, the N.C.A.A. required all member schools to guarantee adequate health coverage for student athletes. But the association never defined “adequate.” Coverage can vary among schools even within the same state university system. At the University of Wisconsin’s main Madison campus, all varsity players are covered. But at smaller satellite campuses, students are entitled only to care that can be given inside athletic training rooms. Students insured under their parents’ plans may discover that sports injuries aren’t covered, or that insurance won’t pay out-of-state hospital fees.

How to Protect Yourself

Read up. If you’re a student athlete, the best way to protect your health and your financial future is to read all your health insurance documents carefully. Here are some things to keep in mind:

* Know your policy. Does your insurance cover only “medically necessary” procedures, which usually excludes treatment for injuries from overuse, like knee problems?
* Keep tabs on your school. Sometimes universities are late in paying medical bills, which hurts the student’s credit score, not the school’s. You can help by submitting all necessary paperwork as soon as possible.
* Look for loopholes. Do you get fewer benefits because you attend a satellite campus, or because your school is out of state? If so, you may need to buy additional insurance.


Students who need help paying medical bills can apply for assistance from the NCAA and other athletic conferences.

Cinergy health insurance lawsuit : MICHAEL GORMLEY

A health insurer whose TV commercials promised "peace of mind" for just $5 a day must stop running the national ads and pay a fine of $700,000 after New York officials accused it of leaving patients only with huge hospital bills.

The American Medical and Life Insurance Co., advertising through an intermediary called Cinergy, marketed health insurance as a lower cost option for the uninsured and underinsured. It was pitched as costing just $5 a day, or the cost of a hamburger or pack of cigarettes.

In one ad, the narrator said the insurance is available "regardless of any pre-existing conditions," while the print on the screen stated "most pre-existing conditions accepted" and the fine print stated there is a six-month waiting period.

Acting Insurance Superintendent Kermitt J. Brooks said Wednesday that the cases uncovered in New York's two-year investigation included a Rochester woman who had $419 a month charged to her credit card for the insurance, only to have the company cover just $1,164 of her $28,000 hospitalization. A 36-year-old New Yorker who had a stroke found his policy covered just $250, leaving him with a bill for $29,917.

In both cases, the company paid off the balances after the state intervened.

"Many New Yorkers are desperate for affordable health insurance," said Gov. David Paterson. "Unfortunately, some businesses are taking advantage of that need to sell limited health insurance in ways that mislead consumers into believing they are getting full coverage. "

As part of a settlement announced Wednesday, the state Insurance Department forced the company to agree to halt the nationwide ads.

In a written statement, John Ollis, American Medical's president, said the company has been cooperating with the state Insurance Department since it brought the matter to the agency's attention last year, "when we became aware of the unapproved actions of a marketing entity with whom we no longer do business."

"We have taken substantial measures to protect the interests of those persons who purchased insurance and rely on the value of the product they purchased, and to prevent the recurrence of such unapproved activity in the future," Ollis said.

The New York City-based company sells policies in 38 other states and the District of Columbia. It sold about 12,000 policies in New York, about 5,000 of which have lapsed, and about 38,000 nationwide.

The state is also prohibiting the company from selling its partial coverage policies in New York, in part because state officials said the company failed to fully disclose the extent of coverage or use licensed agents as required.

A second unidentified company has agreed to suspend sales of its nationally marketed policies while the state investigates its practices.

The American Medical and Life ad concludes: "Five dollars a day helps you buy peace of mind ... so don't wait another day."

According to New York officials, the company was licensed to sell policies in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and in the District of Columbia. Officials said the company also sold policies in Louisiana, but had no license.

What are you looking for in your Georgia health insurance plan?

Georgia health insurance can be categorized into three different categories. It all depends on what you're looking for in your plan and the coverages you expect when receiving health care services. Some plans may have all co-pays or all deductibles or a mixture of both. The best thing you could possibly do is talk to a knowledgeable broker regarding your plan. They will be able to help you decide and show you the different options available to you and your family regarding healthcare services. At EasyToInsureME we have broken this down into three different categories. The first category being all co-pay plans, every healthcare service in this plan is covered by co-pays. The second category would be plans with the deductibles and co-pays usually referred to as a PPO plan. The third category we call straight deductible plan. This plan has only deductible's that you must pay before you receive any benefits from the insurance company.

Georgia health insurance co-pay plans

Co-pay plans are great and are usually referred to as HMO plans. For every healthcare service you will know exactly how much you have to pay regarding that service. It is outlined in the plan showing you exactly how much you will pay for something like a doctor's visit or an outpatient surgery. For instance, the Vista HMO in Miami, Florida allows for Dr. co-pays between 10 and $20 and outpatient surgery at $100. This plan is simple to understand that the consumer can receive great benefits at a known cost to the consumer. These plans can be rather expensive when compared to other plans but not always it really depends on your age bracket.

Georgia health insurance co-pay and deductible plans

These plans are a combination and are usually referred to as PPO plans. You will pay a deductible for services such as x-rays, lab tests, and hospitalization. However, for all other services you would still be paying a co-pay. The flexibility of the deductible actually allows the consumer to make their insurance very affordable. With a lower deductible, may be somewhere around $500-$1000 you will see that the premium is a little bit higher compared to a PPO plan with a deductible of around $2500. You may ask what exactly is a deductible? Will for instance if you have to go to the hospital and you have a bill of $10,000 for one day and your deductible is $1000 you will have to pay the first $1000 before you receive any benefits from the insurance company towards the hospital bill. But, if you go into the hospital for an emergency room visit you will only be paying $100 co-pay under most plans. Now you may ask yourself how am I going to pay this thousand dollar deductible god forbid I may have to go and be admitted to the hospital? Well the hospital is more than happy to set up any type of payment plan with you and your family in regards to your deductible. So don't be worried about taking a higher deductible if you like to save some money, just remember that you are responsible for this deductible that occurs once per year.

Georgia health insurance deductible plans

Georgia health insurance deductible plans are the most affordable option available in today's market. The reason is because most of the risk is put on to the consumer in the form of a deductible. When an insurance company has to pay less for your healthcare services you will be surprised how much less your premium will be per month. And the reason for that is because if you need to receive any kind of healthcare services you will have to pay full price until you meet your annual deductible. Now if you do take a higher deductible you might be able to receive tax benefits. This straight deductible plan is known as a health savings account and is also still a PPO plan. If you are comfortable with paying full price for your benefits from your healthcare service provider until you meet at an annual deductible than this plan is for you. At EasyToInsureMe we recommend this plan to our most stable clients that are able to afford let say a $2500 deductible because they know that they have $2500 in a bank account in case an emergency does happen.

Georgia health insurance quotes from EasyToInsureME

If you would like to further research these options you can visit EasyToInsureME. You can quote every health insurance plan and company in your area in under 20 seconds. All these options are available on our quoting system and it is very easy and fast to use. Whenever your looking for new coverage or a new plan you should always use EasyToInsureME first because we represent every health insurance plan available on the market today.

Congressional Democrats want CEO pay data, other information from health insurers : Mike Sunnucks

Democrats in Congress are investigating the private health insurance industry, requesting data on CEO salaries and bonuses, profit margins, corporate retreats and spending and premium charges from the largest insurance companies.

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., sent letters to 52 insurance companies Monday, asking for the CEO pay, profit and other data by next month.

The list includes Aetna, Cigna Corp., Blue Cross Blue Shield arms in several states (but not Arizona), American International Group Inc., Aflac Inc., UnitedHealth Group and Health Net Inc.

The move comes amidst the contentious debate over creation of government-run health system to operate alongside private providers and insurers. It also comes in the wake of criticism of banks and Wall Street investment firms over executive pay and bonuses and corporate spending in the wake of federal bailouts and subsidies including the much maligned Troubled Assets Relief Program. Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, AIG and JP Morgan Chase & Co have also received various political and media heat on those front.

Congress sent letters to the following health insurance companies requesting data on executive pay, revenue and profits:

Aetna, Aflac Inc., Allina Health Group, American International Group Inc., Amerigroup Group, Assurant Incorporated Group, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Shield of California, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama Group, BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana, BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota Group, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina Group, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Group, CareFirst.

Centene Corporation Group, CIGNA Corp., Coventry Health Care Inc., Dentegra Group, Genworth Financial Group, GHI Services Group, Group Health Cooperative, Guardian Life Group, Hartford Fire & Casualty Group, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Group, Health Care Service Corporation, Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP), Health Net of California Inc., Health Net Inc., Health Now New York Inc., Highmark Inc., Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Humana Inc., Independence Blue Cross, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Lifetime Healthcare Group, Medical Mutual of Ohio Group.

MetLife Inc., Molina Healthcare Group, Premera Blue Cross Group, Principal Financial Group, The Regence Group, Tufts Associated HMO Inc., UnitedHealth Group, Universal American Financial Corp Group, Unumprovident Group, UPMC Health System Group, WellCare Health Plans Inc., Wellmark BlueCross Blue Shield, WellPoint Inc.

This is a mighty long list. The government will have its hands full with this project! Let's see what the outcome is.

Health-insurance group alleges bullying by congressional panel : David Espo

A spokesman for the health-insurance industry yesterday accused congressional Democrats of mounting a "fishing expedition" as individual insurers considered whether to honor a House committee's request for financial records.

Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the American Health Insurance Plans, said Democrats on the panel hoped to "silence the health-insurance industry and distract attention away from the fact that the American people are rejecting a government-run plan" as part of President Obama's planned overhaul.

Zirkelbach said it would be up to individual companies to decide whether to turn over the records.

Dozens of insurers, including Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna Inc., Louisville, Ky.-based Humana Inc., and Philadelphia-based Cigna Corp., received the request, part of an investigation by the panel of executive compensation and other business practices inside the industry.

A spokesman for Rep. Bart Stupak (D., Mich.) said Tuesday night that 52 letters had been sent to health insurers that have $2 billion or more in annual premiums.

He said such letters were not dispatched to other industry groups, some of which have been airing television advertising in support of Obama's call for legislation.

Among the records requested are those related to compensation of highly paid employees; documents relating to companies' premium income and claims payments, and information on expenses stemming from any event held outside company facilities in the last 2 1/2 years.

The requests were made in letters signed by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D., Calif.) - who guided a portion of health-care legislation through the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month as chairman - and Stupak, who heads a subcommittee.

They wrote that the committee was "examining executive compensation and other business practices in the health insurance industry."

The letter from Waxman and Stupak requested that the information be provided by early September.

While the companies are not under legal obligation to comply, the committee could respond to a refusal by voting to subpoena the information.

"We are reviewing the letter from Chairman Waxman and will respond as appropriate," Chris Curran, a spokesman for Cigna, said in e-mail. Humana spokesman Tom Noland said the company planned to cooperate fully with the panel. An Aetna representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among the documents requested are records relating to compensation paid to any company executive earning more than $500,000 in any year from 2003 to 2008.

Waxman and Stupak also sought documents relating to premiums paid by policyholders; claims payments; sales expenses; administrative expenses, and profits, broken down by categories such as employer-provided coverage; individual coverage, Medicare, and Medicaid.

The requests were issued at a time when Obama's health-care proposal is under intense attack from Republicans and other critics, including the health-insurance industry. Much of the opposition focuses on proposals for the government to sell insurance in competition with private carriers.

Obama and other supporters of a so-called government option argue it would help control costs and keep insurance companies honest by forcing them to grapple with competition.

Opponents say it gradually would undermine the present insurance structure, which is built around private insurers, and lead to a system controlled by the government.

The issue drew intense focus over the weekend, after Obama speculated aloud about the possibility that a final bill might not require a government role in selling insurance.

The White House said there had been no change in position. But liberals expressed dismay, giving rise to increased speculation that Senate Democrats could abandon efforts at bipartisanship and draft legislation tailored to their own rank and file.

Any such measure would inevitably jettison many of the compromises crafted in weeks of bipartisan Senate talks. It was unclear whether the talk was a ploy to persuade Senate Republicans to agree to a compromise.

Immigrants to soon lose state health insurance : Kay Laza

Like the freon in the air conditioners Stan Johnson’s company installs, his support for health care reform that’s been proposed has evaporated.

Johnson made that clear when he testified before Congress’ Small Business Committee about the stimulus package as a representative of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America; the last question posed to him was about health care.

“In February, we supported what [President] Obama was floating out as possible reform of health care. Today, what’s on the table our industry no longer supports,” said Johnson, owner of Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. in Austin. “The support has evaporated because it is over-reaching and it is no longer reform, it is a take over.”

Johnson’s thoughts echo sentiments held by many small business owners and the associations that represent them, many of which have long sought health care reform, but are concerned about many of the components in the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, H.R. 3200, which was introduced July 15 by Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.

The main criticisms include:

* The bill’s employer mandates and penalties would be too costly for cash-strapped small business.
* It would limit employers’ health care options.
* The legislation does not appropriately address health insurance reform.

Keeping track of bills

Perhaps compounding fears within the small business community is that there are multiple versions of the bill on the table.

As of July, there were three versions of H.R. 3200 circulating in the House, one in the Senate and another is expected from the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare. Lawmakers expect to have a bill to present to the entire Fiance Committee on or about Sept. 15.

While no one is certain how that bill will end up, small business proponents have widely criticized H.R. 3200 in its current form.

At the end of July, the National Federation of Independent Businesses said it opposed the bill “because it threatens the viability of our nation’s job creators … and fails to address the core challenge facing small business — cost.”

NFIB is also concerned that a public health insurance option, which Obama has said is an essential part of reform, could hurt the private insurance industry. Instead, some business and physician organizations are pushing for greater reform of the private insurance market so that insurers can provide more health care options.

But others, including U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, say a public option will help small businesses in the long run.

“For many small businesses, the new Health Insurance Exchange will offer lower-cost, higher-quality coverage,” Doggett said. “Under the current failed system, too many small businesses cannot secure coverage for their employees or must pay substantially more than a large business, while getting less coverage.”

A spokeswoman for NFIB’s Austin chapter, which opposes much of the proposed bill, said small businesses pay an average of 18 percent more for health care coverage than their big-business counterparts.

Today, 62 percent of small businesses with three to 99 employees offer health benefits, according to the Texas Association of Business.

Pay for coverage or pay a tax?

NFIB’s Austin chapter and the Texas Association of Business staunchly oppose the bill’s use of employer mandates to provide health insurance. Under H.R. 3200, a company with more than $250,000 in payroll will have to provide insurance or face a payroll tax, starting at 2 percent for those with payrolls of $250,000 and rising to 8 percent for companies with payrolls exceeding $400,000. But a different version of the bill raises the exemption threshold, requiring employers with $500,000 in payroll or more to provide health insurance. The House will vote next month on which exemption to include in the bill.

Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business, said a payroll tax will be crushing to small businesses already struggling in the down economy.

“It will definitely limit new hires. Businesses large or small can’t afford these taxes,” Hammond said.

Public health insurance option dead : CNN

"The bottom line ... is: Do individuals looking for health insurance in the private market have choice and competition?" Gibbs said on the CBS program "Face the Nation." "If we have that, the president will be satisfied."

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius echoed Gibbs, telling CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that a final health care bill will include competitive choices for consumers in one form or another.

"There will be a competitor to private insurers," she said. "You don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing. We need some choices and we need some competition."

Opponents of overhauling the health care system argue the Democratic proposals under consideration by Congress go too far and will lead to a government takeover of the health care system.

"We have the best health care system in the world," Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told "Fox News Sunday." "We need to expand it. We do not need to destroy it."

At issue is how to provide coverage for an estimated 46 million uninsured people while reversing a climb in health care costs.

Democratic proposals passed so far by House and Senate committees include a public insurance option, mandates for people to be insured and employers to provide coverage, and an end to insurance companies refusing to cover pre-existing conditions.

Most Republicans oppose the public option and requirements for employers to provide coverage. They also call for limits on medical malpractice lawsuits -- something Democrats generally don't favor. However, the two parties generally agree on a number of provisions contained in the Democratic bills, including increased efficiency in Medicare and Medicaid and focusing on preventive health programs.

Conrad is one of six Senate Finance Committee members -- three Democrats and three Republicans -- who are negotiating a compromise health care bill that would be the only bipartisan proposal so far.

Instead of a public option, the negotiators are considering a plan proposed by Conrad to create nonprofit health insurance cooperatives that could negotiate coverage as a collective for their members.

Conrad said such cooperatives would provide the competition sought by Obama and Democratic leaders to force private insurers to hold down costs and improve practices. The government would put up initial funding to provide required reserves but would have no other role, he said.

"It's not a public plan at all in terms of government running it," Conrad said.

Shelby called the cooperative idea a "step in the right direction" and "a far cry" from other proposals, adding that Obama and Democratic leaders have "read the tea leaves" from town hall meetings around the country.

However, Democratic Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas told CNN it would be "very, very difficult" to support a bill that lacked a public health insurance option.

"Without the public option, we'll have the same number of people uninsured," Johnson said in a "State of the Union" interview. "If the insurance companies wanted to insure these people now, they'd be insured."

She added that "an option that would give the private insurance companies a little competition" is "the only way" to be sure that insurance is available to low-income people and people without employer-provided coverage.

Meanwhile, leaders of organizations representing America's doctors and senior citizens defended the proposed health care overhaul that their groups had opposed in past years.

Dr. J. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, and John Rother of AARP -- formerly the American Association of Retired Persons -- told "Fox News Sunday" a comprehensive overhaul sought by Democrats was necessary.

"There are some moving parts that if you just do one and don't do the other, you're going to have unintended consequences," said Rohack, head of the nation's largest doctors' advocacy group.

Rother, executive vice president of policy and strategy for the largest senior citizens' advocacy group, said properly addressing excessive health care costs and waste requires addressing both health insurance coverage and how health care treatment is delivered.

Both men rejected accusations that a health care overhaul would bring rationing of health treatment based on bureaucratic measures such as cost and economic productivity of patients.

"There's a myth that rationing doesn't occur right now," Rohack said, noting that some companies currently deny coverage for pregnancy as a pre-existing condition.

"That's why this bill is so important," Rohack said. "It gets rid of rationing happening right now" and leaves decisions to patients and doctors.

Rohack also condemned claims by some Republicans that a provision in one House bill would lead to so-called "death panels" encouraging euthanasia of senior citizens.

"That's absolutely wrong, it's a falsehood," he said, adding that the provision was intended to provide government support for consultations between patients and their doctors.

Spreading of the "death panel" rumor by some conservative commentators and some Republican politicians prompted emotional opposition at town hall meetings across the country. Senate negotiators on a compromise bill say they have dropped the provision from their proposal due to potential misinterpretation of the intent.

Health Insurance Quote Reform : EasyToInsureME : 7/21/09

This Week in Health Care Reform


After weeks of logjam on Capitol Hill, lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have reported progress in their respective negotiations this week, clearing way for a possible vote on sweeping health care reform legislation after the August recess. To help you make sense of the numerous reform plans and plan details, review the attached chart.

Public Plan

House Democrats Reach Compromise: After weeks of infighting, House Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee came to an agreement on Wednesday that would shave $100 billion off the House bill's original price tag of more than $1 trillion. The Energy and Commerce Committee resumed marking up the legislation Thursday, but the full House will not vote until after the August recess.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on House Plan: The CBO helped the House Democrats' case for a public option when it reported that under the proposed legislation , most people would still choose employer-based coverage rather than a government-run option. The CBO stated that, given the individual mandate, more employees would sign up for coverage through their employers. However, the latest analysis also stated that the proposal would still increase budget deficits.

Senate May Choose Co-Op Over Public Option: Senate Finance Committee negotiators indicated that they were close to reaching a bipartisan deal that would include a co-op modeled public plan. The proposal being discussed would include a tax on insurers and would use non-profit cooperatives to compete with private insurers. The proposal would also not include an employer mandate.

Alternative Plans

House Republicans Unveil $700B Plan: On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled a $700 billion health care plan that would offer tax deductions and credits to assist individuals in purchasing insurance, as well as take on medical malpractice. According to House Republicans, the proposed plan would be fully paid for, but CBO has yet to officially assess the cost of the legislation.

Financing the Plan

New CBO Score on Senate Bill: The Senate Finance Committee got a boost when the CBO estimated the latest version of the Committee's health reform bill would cost less than $900 billion. The bill would cover 95 percent of Americans by 2015 and would be fully paid for in the first 10 years, according to Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT).

Tax on "Cadillac Plans" Gains Momentum:The Senate Finance Committee's option to tax insurers on high-value "Cadillac plans" has attracted support in the Senate, and it seems senior House Democrats are warming to the financing proposal. A spokesperson for America's Health Insurance Plans voiced opposition to the plan, and many assert that a tax on insurers will ultimately be passed down to consumers.

CBO Rates Independent Panel: CBO reported this week that the proposed independent panel to oversee payments by Medicare would result in just $2 billion in savings over 10 years.

Additional Activities

AARP Voices Concern: President Obama held a town hall-style meeting at the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) Washington headquarters this past week to address growing concerns among seniors about health reform and subsequent cuts in benefits. Polls show that senior citizens are more skeptical about health care reform than any other age group. Consequentially, AARP has had to walk a careful line in endorsing the House bill. Earlier this week, AARP expressed disappointment in the lack of progress in the Senate, saying that Senators have "failed to act."

Looking Ahead

House lawmakers plan to conclude work this week and break for a month-long recess, returning to their districts to further discuss health reform efforts. The Senate will recess on August 7th.

Many College Athletes Have Insufficient Health Insurance : Greg Webb

n 2005, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) began requiring universities guarantee their athletes have adequate health insurance due to many years of concerns that college athletes had insufficient health coverage. The association did not, however, establish clear standards for this coverage, which allowed colleges to decide for themselves what was adequate. Although some colleges assume almost all medical expenses, many others accept almost none. In order to turn this problem around, the National College Player’s Association is lobbying for legislation to protect college athletes; the Association believes the NCAA is too focused on doing “right” by the schools themselves, not the players.

Many people claim medical insurance should be required as a cost of having an athletic program. Middlebury College, for instance, ensures all of their varsity athletes and students in club sports have accident insurance paid for by the college. Spalding College pays for secondary coverage for their athletes, pointing out the fact that student athletes represent the school and insurance is ethically the right thing to do. Large universities such as Michigan State and the University of Iowa also give their athletes comprehensive medical insurance.

Many athletes are unfortunately not this lucky. While the colleges that do not insure their athletes claim they go out of their way to inform athletes about their limits of insurance, many students and their parents still find themselves in horrible situations, having to shoulder large and expensive medical bills. An athlete from Colgate University, for example, piled up about $80,000 in medical expenses after injuring her back and legs while in training with the crew team; insurance only covered about a third of the expenses because of the way her condition was diagnosed, a sickness as opposed to an injury. Also, because many students are insured by their parents, the plan they are under excludes varsity sport injuries, limits out-of-state treatment or does not cover the entire bill. Some colleges buy secondary plans to fill in these gaps, however, these plans have holes as well. Additionally, only players that are hurt enough to require extensive care can turn to the NCAA for coverage; its catastrophic insurance deductible is currently $75,000, but will change to $90,000 next year.

Another problem with health insurance for athletes is how difficult it is to attribute every symptom to a sports injury that the plan will cover and a virus that the plan will not cover; there is an ambiguity in paying for care and treating an athlete who has more than one health concern. Sustaining an injury while sick would be a bad situation, and in the case of an athlete having a disease intermingled with an injury, it is unclear where one stops and the other begins. Within a single state university system, such as the University of Wisconsin, health coverage can vary widely. While at the university’s main campus at Madison, all varsity athletes fall under secondary sports coverage, at the university’s Division III campuses, only treatment for minor sports injuries that can be fixed in the training room is covered. Because it would be too expensive for universities to insure all athletes in the current economic times, it is unlikely the NCAA will require they provide more insurance anytime soon. Many believe health-care reform is the only answer.

Should People with Arthritis Exercise?

Many studies have shown that exercise can be a great help to people with arthritis. Exercise can reduce stiffness and joint pain plus it increases muscle strength, flexibility and cardiac fitness. It can also help with weight lose which can contribute to arthritis joint pain.

If you have arthritis you should talk with your doctor or other health care providers to find out what type of exercise they recommend for you. Everyone has a different situation and should talk to their doctor about their arthritis and what will work best. People with osteoarthritis in their hands will get different recommendations than someone with rheumatoid arthritis throughout their whole body. Your doctor can also decide how severe your arthritis is and how much exercise is enough and tell you the signs of when you should take it easy. Your doctor may even suggest starting with a physical therapist.

Many people start exercising with range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics. A doctor or physical therapist can give you suggestions on a variety of exercises or sports that you should or should not participate in. A physical therapist who has experience working with people with arthritis can even show you how to do the proper exercises. They can design a home exercise program whether you have knee arthritis, arthritis in your hands, elbows, shoulders or hips. They can teach you about a pain-relief methods and even how to properly handle tasks like lifting heavy boxes or opening certain containers that may cause pain for people with arthritis.

To read more stories like this visit the Flexcin Blog http://flexcin.com/blog for health advice, exercise tips, healthy recipes, stories from customers and even Flexcin special offers.

15 Recommended Tips to Prevent and Overcome Back Pain

Lower back pain is a problem of bones and muscle, affects the back muscles in the low back. Back pain causes depression, disturbed sleep, impaired balance, and a withdrawal from the pleasurable activities of life.

Back pain is a common problem which affects many of us at certain times in our lives. About 60 to 90percent of all U.S. citizens will experience at least one back injury in their lives. Half of these people will experience multiple episodes of back problems.

Lower back pain can be triggered by a number of factors and different part of the back that can be affected. The most common causes of lower back pain are:

1. Poor seating and poor posture - Office workers are now spending more time at there desks which counter-balances improvements in chair and desk design
2. Too much caffeine
3. Kidney problems are frequently associated with low back pain
4. Pregnancy- commonly leads to low back pain
5. Emotional stress-commonly leads to muscle weakness and back pain
6. Sleeping uncomfortably on the wrong kind of mattress
7. Lack of exercise and general mobility - The public today is less mobile and with gadget like remote controls and mobile phones are moving less when in the home
8. Overweight - The body needs certain ingredients to function properly and at poor diet can take its affect on a person’s muscles and bones.
9. Over-activity and Excessive sports
10. Poor muscular balance
11. Pre-existing back problems - If the true cause of a bad back is never rectified then the condition can continue for a patient for there whole life.
12. Age - Muscles and bones age which can result in less support for the back muscle’s

However we can remove some leading causes of back pain by making some simple healthy lifestyle choices. You have a choice! Below are some tips to help to prevent and overcome lower back pain

1. Regular exercise .

There are lots of good reasons to use exercises to manage your backpain. First of all, it’s an all natural way to deal with the problem. You’re not constantly popping pills or wrapping ice packs around your back. Because it’s all natural, you won’t experience any harmful side effects. However, you do need to make sure you perform the exercises correctly so you don’t injure yourself further.

Another great reason to take up exercise to manage your back pain is that it helps you avoid more damage down the road. Your core muscles are strengthened through regular exercise. And so you’re making sure that your body is able to deal with everything. It’s required to do each day.

2. Practice good posture

If you must stand for long periods, rest 1 foot on a low stool to relieve pressure on your lower back. Every 5 to 15 minutes, switch the foot you’re resting on the stool. Maintain good posture: Keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line, with your head up and your stomach pulled in.

3. Good sitting posture

Sit in chairs with straight backs or low-back support. Keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Adjust the seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on. Turn by moving your whole body rather than by twisting at your waist.

4. Good position for sleeping

The best way to sleep to reduce the pressure on your back is on your side with your knees bent. You may put a pillow under your head to support your neck. You may also put a pillow between your knees.

5. Reduce occasions of emotional stress

Try to chill out and stay relaxed, because getting wound up causes a lot of stress in all the muscles in the body, not just those in the neck. Stressed-out people are far more likely to suffer from back pain than those who are relaxed. A simple technique to reduce stress is to practise deep breathing. If you breathe deeply using your diaphragm, rather than your chest and neck, you’ll help strengthen the deep abdominal muscles, which help to support the spine by tightening the natural ‘corset’ effect of the body.

6. Don’t sleep on a hard bed

Despite what your mum told you about how sleeping on a rock-hard bed would make you grow up straight, hard beds have no give. This means they won’t absorb and support your natural contours and the pressure of your bodyweight will be redirected back into your body. A good bed should adjust to the shape of your spine and be comfortable but firm – a bed that’s too soft can also cause back problems.

7. Weight control

Putting on a lot of weight over a short period of time can place stress on the body by tilting the pelvis forwards and overloading the spine. Ever wondered why pregnant women suffer back pain?

8. Have massage therapy

Massage therapy is a great, non-invasive method of treating chronic back pain. It increases circulation to the muscles which helps speed recovery from injuries.

9. Stay flexible

Desk-bound workers should get up every 20 minutes, even if it’s just to get a glass of water. Lack of mobility is the most common cause of back pain in men and it doesn’t take a Nobel Prize in medicine to work out that slouching over a keyboard for hours will make you stiff.

10. Acupunture

Acupuncture may bring moderate to complete back pain relief for many sufferers. It can be used alone or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes medications and other bodywork. Clinical achievements, along with positive research results, prompted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to declare acupuncture a reasonable treatment option for those suffering low back pain.

11. Stay hydrated

Many types of pain are due to chronic dehydration in the body. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day can help reduce pain all over the body. It helps flush out toxins, lubricates and cushions your joints, helps relieve congestion and keeps your body in balance.

12. Balance in lifestyle

- If you smoke, quit. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine and causes the spinal discs to degenerate.
- A diet with sufficient daily intake of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D helps to promote new bone growth

13. Breathing Techniques

Breathing techniques that make use of the mind-body connection have been found to reduce pain. Breath therapy was found to be safe. Other benefits of breath therapy were improved coping skills and new insight into the effect of stress on the body.

14. Yoga

Yoga creates balance in the body through various poses that develop flexibility and strength. A study of people with chronic mild low back pain compared Iyengar yoga to back education. After 16 weeks, there was a significant reduction in pain intensity, disability, and reliance on pain medication in the yoga group.

15. Lifting

Don’t try to lift objects too heavy for you. Lift with your knees, pull in your stomach muscles, and keep your head down and in line with your straight back. Keep the object close to your body. Do not twist when lifting

If you are having constant issues with back pain then it is recommended to speak to your GP or see a back pain specialist.

What To Do If Your Job Doesn't Offer Health Insurance : Anna Vander Broek

Thursday, August 20, 2009

How to find the insurance policy that's right for you.

Whether they like it or not, a growing number of Americans will be taking into their own hands the task of insuring their health. That's the gist of a survey showing that nearly one in five employers plan to stop offering health benefits over the next three to five years, according Hewitt Associates ( HEW - news - people ), a global human resources consulting firm. Among employers who continue to offer benefits, doing so will mean grappling with a 9% increase in medical costs next year alone, as forecast by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Whether it's now or some time in the future, there's a good chance that at some point you will face the need to insure yourself. Yet one-fourth of adults between the ages of 25 and 34 go without health insurance, because of costs or the sense that they don't need it.

No matter how young and healthy you are, consider health insurance a must. A single visit to a hospital can cost thousands of dollars and have dire consequences for your financial health. "You could potentially run up a huge debt that could take years to pay off," says Devon Herrick, a health care economist and senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas.

In Pictures: Eight Ways To Cut Your Health Care Costs

The lack of insurance will affect the quality of care you receive if you do have to go to the doctor. Emergency rooms are legally required to provide you with "stabilizing care," but if you're not in a life-threatening situation, the hospital doesn't have to take you in as a patient. Even if it does, those without health insurance are often charged far more than insurance company patients pay for the same treatments.

"These are often double or triple what insurers would pay," says Herrick.

What's more, if you are uninsured and your ailment is not life-threatening, you may be told to take your chances at a free health clinic or be stuck waiting for treatment until you can pay for it yourself.

If your employer doesn't offer health benefits, consider the insurance options available to individuals.

Premium vs. Deductible
Premium and deductible are two important words to understand when reviewing health insurance plans. Your premium is how much you pay the insurance company each month. Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay on your own before your insurance company begins covering your costs.

Say you pay $60 a month for a policy with a $5,000 deductible. You break your leg skiing, resulting in $10,000 worth of bills. You will be on the hook for the first $5,000 and then your insurance will kick in and pay the balance.

There is a direct relationship between premium and how well you're covered: you pay less money if the insurer accepts less monetary responsibility for your medical costs, and vice versa. When you're young and healthy (and broke), consider paying less each month for a higher deductible.

When making a decision about what kind of insurance plan to buy, think about your lifestyle and medical history. If you have no serious health issues that you're aware of, and do not partake in a lot of risky pursuits, consider paying something along the lines of $60 a month for a policy that only kicks in after you've paid several thousand dollars yourself out-of-pocket. If you are an avid rock climber, have a family history of medical problems or couldn't shoulder the financial burden of big medical bills all at once, consider paying a higher premium for a lower deductible.

You're Only Young Once
Health insurers consider several risk factors in determining how risky it is to cover you. That includes the state you live in, your gender, medical history, current health (for example, if you're a smoker), and your age.

"The good thing about being a new graduate is you tend to be very healthy, so your costs tend to be pretty low," says Herrick.

The time to buy insurance is before you get sick. If you're uninsured and have a medical problem, insurance companies will most likely declare it a "preexisting condition" and refuse to pay for any treatment related to it. Once you have insurance, however, there are legal limits that prevent insurers from suddenly canceling your coverage.

Shopping Around
A great place to begin is online. Check out insurance-comparison sites like EasyToInsureME.com which offer quotes for competing plans.

how can i stop hair loss

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Female hair loss is often thought to be a rare medical condition when compared with hair loss in men. Hair Loss Treatment guide describes these reasons and myths in detail. This general perception is due to its diffuse balding pattern, which makes it less noticeable. However, hair loss in women is much more common than is thought, and is estimated to affect nearly one quarter of the adult female population. It can be caused by temporary hormonal misbalances (during menopause or pregnancy) but in the vast majority of instances women suffer from female pattern baldness, which is a genetically determined condition. The female baldness pattern - diffuse hair loss - makes it difficult to self-diagnose and, hence, a consultation with a doctor is always necessary in order to determine whether your condition is temporary or permanent and to decide upon the most suitable therapy. According to Hair Loss Treatment Guide women can start as early as in the late teens but for most women it starts after menopause. Hair loss during menopause is not necessarily permanent, whereas post-menopausal hair loss usually is.


There are literally hundreds of hair loss treatments available in stores and online today. Never before in history has there been more "??cures"?? available for all types of hair loss. It"??s no longer a question of searching for a remedy or treatment for your hair problem. No. The problem is choosing the right one for you and making sure that it"??s suitable for the type of hair loss you"??re experiencing.
Scientists around the world are relentlessly searching for new approaches to treating hair loss. Although there are several promising treatments now being clinically examined, the progress seems to be slower than expected. There may be multiple reasons for that, with unrealistic expectations being the foremost. Unfortunately, it appears that most new drug developments finish in the phase II. Nevertheless, there are some promising treatments described in Hair loss treatment Guide being currently developed that either alone or in combination with other existing treatments could significantly improve options for treating hair loss. Most of them should hit the market at the beginning of the next decade.