Health coverage should mimic car industry.(FOCUS: Health Care): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal

Health coverage should mimic car industry.(FOCUS: Health Care): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal Review

Health coverage should mimic car industry.(FOCUS: Health Care): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal Overview

This digital document is an article from Fairfield County Business Journal, published by Westfair Communications, Inc. on June 13, 2005. The length of the article is 539 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Health coverage should mimic car industry.(FOCUS: Health Care)
Publication:Fairfield County Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 13, 2005
Publisher: Westfair Communications, Inc.
Volume: 44 Issue: 24 Page: 15(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Only Guardsmark offers health insurance to 100% of its security officers.: An article from: Security Management

Only Guardsmark offers health insurance to 100% of its security officers.: An article from: Security Management Review

Only Guardsmark offers health insurance to 100% of its security officers.: An article from: Security Management Overview

This digital document is an article from Security Management, published by American Society for Industrial Security on February 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1191 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Only Guardsmark offers health insurance to 100% of its security officers.
Publication:Security Management (Refereed)
Date: February 1, 2003
Publisher: American Society for Industrial Security
Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Page: 38(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Cheap Insurance for Your Home, Automobile, Health, & Life: How to Save Thousands While Getting Good Coverage

Cheap Insurance for Your Home, Automobile, Health, & Life: How to Save Thousands While Getting Good Coverage Review

Cheap Insurance for Your Home, Automobile, Health, & Life: How to Save Thousands While Getting Good Coverage Overview

By several measures, insurance for you, your family, your home, and your car continues to rise at the fastest rate in our history. In 2005 (the latest year data are available), total national health expenditures rose 7.9 percent - more than three times the rate of inflation. Nearly 50 million Americans are uninsured for healthcare. According to Insurance Information Institute projections, the average annual expenditure for auto insurance in 2006 was 1. Millions of drivers have no auto insurance. The average expenditure for homeowners insurance was 9, according to a February 2007 report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Insurance takes a huge bite out of the average American's monthly budget, and as stated above, many Americans simply forgo insurance because they consider it out of reach. Shopping for insurance requires more effort than many people want to devote to it. They simply grab the first price they come across or accept routine rate increases when it is important to compare not only the price but also coverage and exclusions among carriers. In this easy to read and comprehensive new book you will learn hundreds of ways to secure and or reduce your health, automobile, life, and home insurance costs. If you do not have or cannot afford insurance, we will show you how to get it at a price you can afford. The Internet and technology have opened up a great new way to search for low cost insurance services; we will give you the Web sites, tell you what to look for and to look out for. There is a great deal you can do right now to cut insurance costs. For example, did you know that installing a theft tracking device in your car can save you up to 35% on your auto insurance and that your credit history can dramatically affect your auto insurance premium. Recent studies have shown that more than 90% of insurers use credit information to create an "insurance risk score," which they then use as a factor to determine your insurance rate. Add a simple home security system to monitor your home, and your insurance rates may be discounted up to 30%, depending upon where you live. Your insurance could end up costing you more if you choose to make monthly payments rather than pay the entire premium annually. Notify your agent if you retire, your children go to school, or you start working from home (when you're not traveling as much your rates will go down). Have you stopped smoking? Lost weight? Started exercising? All of these efforts can have a dramatic effect on your insurance rates. Insurance topics covered in this book are How Insurance Works, Insurance Company Rating, National and Local Firms, Auto, Health, and Disability Insurance, along with work sheets and forms to assist you in your search for the best coverage at the lowest price.

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Compensation health pet insurance - something that pet owners should know

Besides the obvious limits that are stated in an insurance policy such as annual maximum, per-incident maximum, deductible, and co-pay amounts, there is another variable that isn't so obvious that is an important factor in determining how much a pet owner is reimbursed by the insurance company when they file a claim. Insurance companies figure their reimbursements in one of three ways:

1. A simple computation based on whatever the veterinarian charges. For example, if the total invoice is $2000 and everything on the invoice is a covered item and the deductible is $100 and the co-pay is 20%, the reimbursement would be:

$2000 - $100 = $1900 x 80% = $1520.

This is the easiest method for pet owners to understand and generally gives pet owners the largest reimbursements. Since it is based on the actual charges of the veterinarian, it keeps up with inflation. Most of the newer companies use this method. One criticism of this method is that premiums may rise faster because the only limit on reimbursements of covered expenses is whatever the veterinarian charges.

2. The reimbursement is computed from a "benefit" schedule based on the veterinarian's diagnosis. Sometimes these reimbursements can be as much as method #1. However, sometimes they can be significantly less than method #1. For example, if your pet gets sick with pancreatitis and the maximum reimbursement allowed for this diagnosis is $865, but your submitted claim is for $2000, you'll get reimbursed $865. Using method #1, you would get reimbursed $1520. Most cases of mild pancreatitis will be less than $865, but a severe or complicated case can cost thousands of dollars. Because the benefit schedule does place limits on what the insurance company will pay, the premiums may be lower for this type of policy.

3. The reimbursement is based on a fee schedule of "reasonable and customary" fees for your geographic area of the country. Each charge on the invoice for a procedure or product is compared to the fee schedule and the insurance company will reimburse according to the schedule. If your veterinarian charged more, then you are responsible for the difference.

Fees can vary for a certain procedure from practice to practice even within the same city. Each practice has it's own unique philosophy of practice and overhead which will affect all it's fees. For example, if your pet is referred to a specialist, does the fee schedule take this into account? A specialist's fees are higher because they have more expertise and may use higher technology e.g. CT scan or MRI or perform more sophisticated surgery than your regular veterinarian. Perhaps even your regular veterinarian uses ultrasound, endoscopes, laser surgery or more advanced dental equipment, etc. Perhaps they have a newer hospital and a larger staff. Judging whether a veterinarian's fees are reasonable should not be measured by what is considered customary according to an insurance company's fee or benefit schedule, but on the perceived value you receive in return for the fee.

If you look closely at the fine print in the policies of companies that figure reimbursements using method #1, they also state that they pay benefits based on what is "reasonable and customary." For the time being though, they use that as a fall back - only when a fee for a procedure seems way out of line. Will there be a time in the future when they are forced to use the reasonable and customary fee schedule routinely as a limit on reimbursements in order to keep their premiums competitive?

Unless they are updated frequently, benefit schedules and fee schedules can become obsolete due to inflation.

Be sure and take into account how a company figures your reimbursement when making the decision to purchase pet health insurance.

Computers and Your Health

Can spending too much time in front of a computer lead to certain health problems? What are the risks involved?

Experts say anything in excess is bad. The same is true with computers. Using them for long periods daily can lead to eyestrain, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and a host of other health problems.

This was revealed by Dr. Arthur Frank pf the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine who studied problems associated with the computer screen and keyboard machines.

Frank's two-and-a-half-year study of computer users covered more than a thousand employees of the United Press Inter¬national, the Associated Press and newspapers in St. Louis, Memphis, Toronto, Vancouver, Honolulu and New York City.

Compared to non-users, Frank said computer users suffered more from blurred vision, eyestrain, neck, shoulder and low back pain. Those who worked more often with computers were also more irritable, had trouble sleeping and felt overworked than other employees.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) are also becoming common with computer workers. This is characterized by swollen fingers, aching wrists, and disabling hand, arm and neck pain.

"Disturbing as these reports may be, many of the hazards associated with computer use can be prevented," according to Martin Wong, a technical consultant for Distributed Processing Systems Inc.

"By learning the most common causes of computer distress and making some basic changes to their work place and work habits, most people can avoid joining the growing ranks of casualties of the computer revolution," Wong added.

To prevent computer-related problems, Wong suggests the following:

Work in a comfortable position where everything you need is easy to reach.

When working continuously at the computer, take a 15-minute break every hour.

Don't exceed 10,000 to 12,000 keystrokes (roughly 1,700 words) per hour.

When looking at documents, use a copy stand. Make sure the document you're looking at is as high as your computer screen.

Glare reflected from the screen can quickly lead to eyestrain. To cut the glare, Consumer Reports said you should:

Arrange your work space so that neither your eyes nor the screen face directly into a window or a bright lamp.

Arrange the lighting so it's directly over the computer.

Keep the light level moderate, not bright.

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How to pay for health care of your pet.

I get about 10 veterinary journals to read every month. Sometimes when I read case studies about pets who have had a serious problem or disease, I say to myself, "I can only imagine what that must have cost the pet owner!" Dr. Barry Kipperman, an internist who practices at a 24 hour facility in California, says that he frequently hears pet owners say, "I had no idea it would ever cost this much to save my dog's life."

Pets Best Insurance reviewed its reimbursements over $500 and found that:

54% are for regular veterinary care

35% are for specialist care

11% are for emergency clinic care

This means that almost half of significant veterinary bills will occur outside your regular veterinarian's office. Many clients don't even think about having to visit anyone but their regular veterinarian, but odds are at some point you will have to take your pet to an after-hours emergency hospital. Most major cities have one or more emergency hospitals where pet owners can take their pets when their regular veterinarian is closed during evenings, weekends, and holidays. The emergency hospital's fees are likely to be higher than your regular veterinarian's fees because, by definition, most emergencies are potentially life-threatening and require intensive care.

Since the best methods for handling some problems and diseases require greater expertise or more advanced technology than your regular veterinarian may have - at some point you will also likely be referred to a specialist. For example, some invasive tumors are best managed by having a CT scan or MRI done in order to plan the surgical procedure and insure that all of the tumor is removed. Some complex medical problems are best handled by an internist who sees and manages these problems much more frequently than your regular veterinarian, and many times the pet should have 24 hour (around the clock) monitoring and treatment to have the best chance for a successful outcome. Because specialists have more advanced expertise and have access to more advanced technology, their fees are higher.

As a practicing veterinarian, I offer the following advice to pet owners about how they can be prepared to pay for their pet's healthcare:

1) Prevention - the best way to save money on your pet's healthcare is to prevent serious and/or life-threatening problems or diseases from occurring in the first place. Not all problems or diseases are preventable, but I'm saddened to say that many of the problems or diseases that I see week in and week out could have been easily and inexpensively prevented. My number one bit of advice to pet owners that has the potential to save them thousands of dollars and even save their pet's life is - anytime your pet is outside your house or fenced yard, have it on a leash. Also, develop a relationship with a veterinarian and follow his or her wellness protocols.

2) Pet Insurance - if you are self-insured (have thousands of dollars in your bank account or in discretionary income), you don't need insurance. However, many pet owners will benefit from purchasing pet insurance if they choose a company and policy wisely. I recommend getting a policy that will help you with the unexpected and big bills (those you can't afford), not necessarily the smaller bills you can afford to pay out-of-pocket. You can usually get a lower premium by doing so. I don't recommend getting a policy with wellness care benefits because usually this coverage isn't cost effective. You usually know what your annual/semi-annual wellness exam, vaccinations, dental prophy, heartworm and flea preventatives cost and can plan for them.

3) credit card and/or Emergency Fund (Savings Account) - even if you have pet insurance, you will still have to pay a deductible and co-pay and for any procedures that aren't covered by the policy. You will need either adequate savings or a credit line sufficient to allow you to pay your vet bill, file a claim and then receive a reimbursement check from the insurance company. A credit card allows you to do this and usually enough time to receive reimbursement from the insurance company before the credit card bill is due. You will also need funds to pay for your wellness (preventative) care out-of-pocket.

One credit card that works well for most pet owners is CareCredit. They offer several no-interest payment plans. Some of our clients use this card exclusively for their pet's healthcare needs. It is also accepted by both local emergency hospitals and a specialty hospital.

One question that comes up a lot is, "Which is better, a savings account or pet insurance?" In most situations the answer is both and not either/or. Those people who recommend a savings account over pet insurance don't live in the real world that I see every day as a veterinarian. Why? What happens if 2 months into your savings plan, your pet needs care that costs $5,000? Believe me, this happens and is why you purchase pet insurance and/or have a line of credit.

Using these 3 methods to save on your pet's healthcare expenses will keep you from being in a situation where your pet needs potentially life-saving and expensive treatment that you aren't prepared to pay for.

Ted Kennedy on health in 1978

Ted Kennedy speaking about health care in 1978. Health care is a right, not a privilege. come to party NO time on board and show solidarity with the American people, not corporate health workers and their big pharmaceutical companies.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhYtMmw9OVk&hl=en

Pet Health Savings Account

Perhaps you are one of those Americans who has a health savings account along with a high deductible health insurance plan. I've had one of these policies for several years and I like it. In theory, this costs less in the long run because the premium for a high deductible insurance policy is lower.

The insurance is bought to protect you from financial ruin in case of a very large hospital/doctor bill (a catastrophic illness). You use the savings account (which is tax deductible and the interest builds tax free) to pay your deductible associated with the insurance policy and any smaller healthcare expenses. You can even use it for expenses that aren't necessarily covered by your health insurance e.g. the services of your dentist, chiropractor, eye glasses, etc. If you are healthy and don't spend much on healthcare, the money builds up for when you do need it. It somewhat like an IRA.

The savings account and insurance policy complement each other. It's nice to have the money already set aside when a healthcare expense occurs. You can even have the money for the insurance premium and the deposit into the savings account automatically deducted every month from your checking account. That way the money is budgeted month by month.

There are some companies and individuals who counsel people to put all their money into a savings account and forget the pet insurance. In my opinion, this would be unwise. What if you are $200 into your savings plan and your pet gets ill or is injured and the diagnostic/treatment plan is $5000 with a prognosis of a complete recovery? Do you really want to be faced with the decision of whether you can afford that or not? That's why you have other financing options e.g credit and/or insurance.

While starting your own pet health savings account isn't tax deductible at this time, it's still a good complement to pet insurance and/or credit to help pay for those unexpected/unplanned pet health expenses.

Dr. Rants favor health reform

Ed Uthman, MD, has been a practicing physician for 32 years and has worked in the health care field for 41 years, starting at age 16 as a nursing assistant in a 30-bed hospital. He is currently in private practice in Houston but previously worked in academic medicine. He is past-president of the Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists and has served as Deputy State Commissioner for Inspection and Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Rhodes College and an MD degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He is the author of the book, _Understanding Anemia_ (University Press of Mississippi, 1998). ADDENDUM By way of follow-up, the case of the 30-something woman I mentioned in the video turns out to be even worse than I suspected at the time. Further workup shows this tumor to be a sarcomatoid carcinoma of the gallbladder, which has invaded into her liver. Even if she got chemo and radiation now, any relief would be temporary; eventually the tumor would get her. HOWEVER, I spoke with her primary care physician yesterday, and he told me he saw her two years ago and made a diagnosis of gallstones. She was a candidate to have her gallbladder removed at the time, but the public hospital who is contracted to care for our county's poor had no beds, so she was not accepted. She continued to suffer with her pains until last week, when she came to my hospital with the cancer. Had her gallbladder been removed in 2007 ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFJEn4KwmRI&hl=en

Affordable Health Insurance in Tennessee

Affordable health insurance in Tennessee can be obtained through Cover Tennessee, a volunteer health insurance in Tennessee which is not only affordable to the state, but is also affordable to participants of Cover Tennessee. Cover Tennessee is designed to provide affordable and obtainable health care coverage for Tennessee residents who are without health insurance because they can not afford to purchase a health plan, or because they can afford to purchase a health plan but are continually turned down for health coverage due to a pre-existing health condition or severe ill health.

States across America are struggling to help their residents find affordable health insurance. Some Americans can not afford health insurance at all, while some can afford health insurance but can not obtain it because it seems that all health insurance companies they consult deem them "uninsurable." Tennessee recognizes that children and adults alike are in need of affordable health insurance as well as coverage for prescription medication; therefore Tennessee has developed Cover Tennessee, a program similar to other health insurance and health care programs developed by other states throughout America.

Cover Tennessee is actually comparable to a gigantic umbrella, housing the five different "parts" of the Cover Tennessee health insurance coverage: CoverTN, CoverKids, CoverRx, AccessTN, and ProjectDiabetes. Thanks to each of these Cover Tennessee components, uninsured individuals, including children, can obtain adequate and affordable health insurance in Tennessee as well as coverage for prescription medication. Also, school-aged children learn about healthy eating habits to prevent diabetes and obesity through ProjectDiabetes.

To find out more information about Cover Tennessee and its various health insurance coverage programs, visit Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance Web site or give them a call. You can also visit the official Cover Tennessee Web site at CoverTN.org or call them at 866-CoverTN.

Everyone deserves affordable health insurance, and the Cover Tennessee program is working toward making it possible for Tennessee residents to obtain it.

Affordable Health Insurance in Tennessee

Affordable health insurance in Tennessee can be obtained through Cover Tennessee, a volunteer health insurance in Tennessee which is not only affordable to the state, but is also affordable to participants of Cover Tennessee. Cover Tennessee is designed to provide affordable and obtainable health care coverage for Tennessee residents who are without health insurance because they can not afford to purchase a health plan, or because they can afford to purchase a health plan but are continually turned down for health coverage due to a pre-existing health condition or severe ill health.

States across America are struggling to help their residents find affordable health insurance. Some Americans can not afford health insurance at all, while some can afford health insurance but can not obtain it because it seems that all health insurance companies they consult deem them "uninsurable." Tennessee recognizes that children and adults alike are in need of affordable health insurance as well as coverage for prescription medication; therefore Tennessee has developed Cover Tennessee, a program similar to other health insurance and health care programs developed by other states throughout America.

Cover Tennessee is actually comparable to a gigantic umbrella, housing the five different "parts" of the Cover Tennessee health insurance coverage: CoverTN, CoverKids, CoverRx, AccessTN, and ProjectDiabetes. Thanks to each of these Cover Tennessee components, uninsured individuals, including children, can obtain adequate and affordable health insurance in Tennessee as well as coverage for prescription medication. Also, school-aged children learn about healthy eating habits to prevent diabetes and obesity through ProjectDiabetes.

To find out more information about Cover Tennessee and its various health insurance coverage programs, visit Tennessee's Department of Commerce and Insurance Web site or give them a call. You can also visit the official Cover Tennessee Web site at CoverTN.org or call them at 866-CoverTN.

Everyone deserves affordable health insurance, and the Cover Tennessee program is working toward making it possible for Tennessee residents to obtain it.

Tennessee Health Insurance - Guaranteed Issue

Guarantee issue plans available as well as CoverTn enrollment assistance. Been turned down previously? A guarantee issue plan may be the answer. CALL 1-866-633-3472 quotes4us.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7BHzsInj1U&hl=en

"Health Insurance 4 All" Memphis Jones

Memphis needs his Health Insurance,and so do you!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgbcTE3DWK8&hl=en