Friday, February 27, 2009

New health insurance law-mental health

By Jeff Cline

October 2008 a milestome piece of legislation was signed that will change health insurance in a big way. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 is one for the record books. It requires that all group plans with 50 or more memebers must treat a mental illness like any other disease or illness. It applies to substance abuse treatment as well.

The new law will mean that if a person is receiving treatment with a diagnosis of mental illness or substance abuse they will expect the very same benefits as if they had a cold or high blood pressure. This means the same limits will apply as well as the same maximums and minimums.

It will not be unitl January of 2010 before we see the new law take effect. There was one man that took a personal interest and made this law a reality. His name is Pete Domenici a retired Republican from New Mexico. Pete has a brother and a daughter who suffer froma mental illness and has seen first hand the expense.

Mr. Domenici along with the late Paul Wellstone did everything under their power to make this law happen. Mr. Domenici says he took a personal interest in this law after watching his brother stuggle with the expenses incurred with his mental illness. He also has a daughter that suffers from mental illness.

This new law will not benefit all health insurance policy holders. It is set to impact 113 million, but these will only be those ina large group of 50 or more participants. People who carry small group or individual health insurance will not see the change.

If consumers push for change you could possibly see carriers increase mental illness and substance abuse coverages for all. If just one carrier increase a benefit you will see others follow that path as well. However, I would be surprised to see this happen anytime soon.

Since health insurance is consumer driven I would expect to see some sort of changes in the future. As stated before then you will see a domino effect happen in the insurance industry. Having added benefits for a mental illness or substance abuse makes a good bargaining tool for carriers.

Many believe alot of changes are needed in the healthcare industry. This new law is one very positive step in the right direction. There are many activist out there celebrating this law. Many consumers have new hope. I am very excited to see what new changes are in store for us in the future in the healthcare industry. - 18300

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Never let your health insurance lapse

By Jeff Cline

So many people seem to think health insurance is disposable. They think if they are looking at a lapse of coverage that it is not important. They think that they are too healthy to worry about going without for a short time. or they think what would it hurt to go without for a month or two.

Don't fool yourself with these notions. You can not plan the unexpected. A sudden illness or accident can not be avoided. And when it occurs it usually uses unplanned money from your budget. I have heard all the sad stories of financial horrors due to someone not having insurance.

I remember the story of one young man named John. John was a new graduate and no longer qualified for mom and dads plan. Instead of getting something temporary until he secured employer group insurance he thought it would be fine to wait it out. Twenty three days later John was in the hospital with a severe case of the flu.

This was not something John had ever imagined in his mind. It was indeed an unexpected occurance. Once all was said and done he received multiple bills for all the expenses from the hospital stay. All the bills came to almost $10000. It took John about 6 years to repay that debt.

Another story is that of Carmen. Carmen suddenly losther job and her health insurance. She knew you should find another job soon and would have health isnurance in a matter of months so she was not real worried about it. One month later Carmen slipped on some ice hit her head and was rushed to the ER by ambulance.

Carmen had been knocked out cold for 30 minutes so they didn't know what kind of damage the fall had made. They ran 2-3 test to rule out any bleeding on the brain or damage to the skull or neck. After a day of testing and probbing they released her saying she had a minor concussion. The bills where enormous. She could not pay them.

Carmen could have avoided all this stress and financial problems if she had only stretched a few dollars and purchased a short term health insurance plan. Both, Carmen and John could have avoided this. They learned the hard way that unexpected illness and accidents do occur.

Short term health insurance plans are available by most health insurance companies. They are very affordable. They allow you to purchase health insurance that covers most major medical from 30 days to a year. - 18300

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

How To Free Yourself From Allergic Asthma Symptoms

By Carrie Woodhouse

Allergic asthma usually starts as a simple allergy. Then it evolves, the symptoms worsen, especially the respiratory ones, until one day you find yourself in difficulty to breathe. This is not a joke, but a serious disease, so you should consider it as such and go for a medical check as soon as possible.

When you are diagnosed with allergic asthma, it is very important that you keep yourself away from getting in touch with the substances which trigger your respiratory allergic reaction. These substances, called allergens, can be anything from dust to feathers, latex gloves or even foods.

At the first signs that you might be suffering from an allergy, go to the physician and ask for an allergy test. Prick tests are easy and fast, and they don't hurt so much. Even children can be successfully tested with this method.

Spring and fall are two seasons which are dangerous for allergic persons, especially if they have airborne allergies. Pollens are everywhere in these times of year, so sufferers should try to stay indoors as much as they can. If this is not possible, at least avoid getting out in the second part of the day.

Foods can give severe allergy manifestations, from asthma attacks to massive swelling and even anaphylaxis. A tiny fragment of peanut, for example, can kill an adult person within a few minutes. Paramedics are very important, as they can save your life if they act very fast after the incident.

Many people claim they are allergic to pet's fur. Actually they are allergic to pet dander, not to the fur itself. A very well groomed animal can be kept in the same house with an allergic person, with no harm for the latter. However, the household must be kept extremely clean, if you don't want to get asthma attacks or other kind of allergy manifestations. - 18300

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The early symptoms of ovarian cancer

By Mark Ardine

Ovarian cancer affects 1 of 57 women as the fourth leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Although ovarian cancer is treatable if it is diagnosed early, only 24% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed early enough. This causes decreasing survival rates as time passes by. Consequently, it is important for women to look out for early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

During the summer of 2007, the American Cancer Society and other similar organizations published findings that symptoms such as unexpected bloating, gas, or a feeling of fullness; fatigue, menstrual abnormalities, abdominal or pelvic pain, sudden urge and/or frequent urination and sudden changes in food habits such as difficulty in consuming food or feeling full too quickly may be early symptoms of ovarian cancer.

Women who are at risk for ovarian cancer should monitor and report suspected early symptoms of ovarian cancer to their doctor in order to have it diagnosed early. Right now, early ovarian cancer cannot be definitively detected by any one screening examination. Certain symptoms like menstrual irregularities or pelvic pain is not always indicative of ovarian cancer, but awareness of any early symptoms of ovarian cancer is helpful in saving lives.

In order to rule out ovarian cancer, it is essential to visit your doctor if you experience any sudden or out of the ordinary symptoms, and then follow it up with a bimanual pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Ca125 blood test. Women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, have never used birth control pills or have had no pregnancies and whom were diagnosed with breast cancer before they were 50 years old are more likely than most to develop ovarian cancer.

Some women are at more risk of developing ovarian cancer than others. Women who are Ashkenazi Jews, are over the age of 50, have 2 or more relatives diagnosed with ovarian cancer, have been exposed to many fertility drugs are at higher risk. Regular monitoring for early symptoms of ovarian cancer are doubly important for these women.

Women who experience what seem like early symptoms of ovarian cancer may not necessarily have ovarian cancer. Many of these symptoms can instead be related to other conditions, such as ovarian cysts, or irritable bowel syndrome. For this reason, women should seek medical attention, especially if these symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks.

It is extremely critical to be aware of what the early symptoms of ovarian cancer are so this disease can be stopped before getting any worse. More than 6 percent of cases of cancer are fatal and women along with their physicians need to be aware of these symptoms and keep a close watch for them. - 18300

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Monday, February 23, 2009

The questions you should ask when purchasing custom earplugs

By Dionne Payn

Not all custom earplugs are made in the same way or to the same standards of quality and value for money. Deciding where to buy your custom earplugs can be confusing, so here is a list of things which you should consider before making your purchase which will help make sure that you are getting the very best earplugs you can afford.

Which material(s) are used to manufacture the custom earplugs?

In terms of comfort and flexibility, the best material to look out for is medical grade silicon. Some custom earplugs are made from acrylic, which can be cold in the ear and inflexible with body movement.

Flexibility is important as it ensures that your earplugs always create a perfect seal within your ear canal. Earplugs made of hard acrylic don't form a perfect seal, and are therefore less effective at blocking out noise.

How long do your custom earplugs last?

Custom earplugs can offer much better value for money when compared to traditional foam-based disposable earplugs, even though the initial purchase price of custom earplugs is higher. To ensure you get maximum value, you should only consider earplugs which have a minimum lifespan of at least 4 years.

However, the human body is always changing shape and size as we grow older, so it is recommended that you replace your custom earplugs every 4 years or so. By doing this you will always have earplugs which form a completely solid seal with your ear, giving you 100% effective hearing protection.

What guarantees do you offer on the hearing protectors?

Custom earplugs may not be suitable for everyone, so always enquire about whether there is a guarantee offered, and what the terms of the guarantee are.

You should really be looking for companies who offer a money-back guarantee if you change your mind about your purchase. This means that you have a fixed time period where you can send your hearing protection back to the company and receive your money back in full. It is also best to deal with companies who offer a manufacturer's warranty - this means that they will replace or repair any product free of charge if it becomes defective within the first year of use.

Is it possible to choose the level of attenuation (noise reduction) available?

People work in different noise environments, so need different levels of protection. Discuss with your provider whether your custom earplugs are available in a range of filters so you can tailor you hearing protection to suit where you work.

For instance, a musician is likely to need a different level of protection from someone who works with heavy industrial machinery, and therefore the custom earplugs used by each of these professions will be different.

What is your after-sales service if I find they dont fit properly?

Custom earplugs are much more effective when the customer is shown how to use them. A good company should offer some form of fitting service and training to ensure customers know how to get the most from their hearing protection.

Enquire if the company will adjust your earplugs for free if you find that they don't fit first time, or if they are uncomfortable to wear. - 18300

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Living with a Chronic Condition.

By Jeff Cline

If you are told you have a chronic condition it does not mean that you will always be ill. It means that you have a condition that will need to be managed to keep under control. You will need to take measures to manage the condition for the rest of your life.

Managing your chronic illness is important to quality of life. An unmanaged chronic illness could progress to be a major life altering illness. You may be forced to quit working. You may have a lot of pain and discomfort. You may not be able to enjoy activities you once enjoyed.

Getting the news that you have a chronic illness can be devastating and scary news. Many times there is no cure and this can be overwhelming. But, many people live happy lives by managing the illness a day at a time.

Once you have spun like a texas twister with emotions you must get a grip. There is Hope. Managing the illness will provide hope. Life is going to change, but is not near over.

Your doctor visits are important. However, doctors only focus on diagnosis and treatment. You will want to seek out resources on your own as well. Maybe a support group, surf the net for information or seek out a friend in a similar situation.

Take advantage of the benefits your health insurance offers. The probably pay for a annual preventative exam. You will need to get familiar with the benefits your plan offers, because you will be using them more often. Most chronic illnesses require frequent follow up to the doctor.

You will want to be proactive with your health. You may want to change some habits and lifestyle. Never, never forget that your chronic condition is a serious matter that will always need your special attention.

Preventative care is very imporatant to moniter and find chronic illnesses. Take advanatge of this health insurance basic. Early detection is key to being as healthy as you can be. - 18300

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Best Mortgage Protection Insurance

By Dana Evron

The most important thing to you is of course your family and their safety. That is why you want to make sure that they will have a place to live in case that something happens to you. Mortgage protection insurance will do all that so your family can be stress free.

Mortgage protection insurance also has some benefits that might be more helpful than having just a life insurance policy. For example this type of insurance can help ease the financial burden on your family and ensure that they will make the next mortgage payment.

The mortgage protection insurance companies have different requirements as you will see and you are the one that will have to agree or disagree with them.

If you are looking for something like this that will help ease your mind in case that something happens then you need to see if this insurance is right for you.

We all worry about losing our source of income one day and to many of us it happens. When you get a mortgage on your house it doesnt mean that it is completely necessary to have this mortgage protection insurance however, a lot of times it is recommended.

Owning your own home is the biggest investment you will probably ever make and that is why you have to protect that investment. It doesnt mean that you have to lose your house too. There are things you can do.

We all react in different ways to things that happen in life. Taking the time to understand what is mortgage protection insurance will only benefit you later on.

The mortgage protection insurance is a perfect way to be sure that the people you care about the most wont have to worry about paying the mortgage if something bad happens to you. - 18300

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