Health Resort Spas of Asia

Today’s life is fast paced, hectic and very competitive making people to crave for leisure time. The leisure time away from the busy schedule is treated as an eternal time and health resort spas offer such heavenly leisure pursuit. Resort in general is a place for relaxation and recreation. The main activities of such resorts include indulging oneself with great drink, food, sports activities, lodging, shopping and entertainment. Resorts can be one of the either, one like the town which itself is a place for tourism and holidaying where most of the local activities take place, generally not run by one company, or it can be a vacation centre which is run by one company providing all the needs and wants of the vacationers during their stay. Spas are places which are believed to provide health to the people through soaking in water. The water used is a mineral water or water drawn from hot springs. Some may even include cold water for treatments. Among different spa types available like the holiday spas, destination or resort spas and trim spas – specific for weight loss regime, the health resort spas use thermal bath or balneotherapy or hydrotherapy for giving health benefits to the users.

Health resort spas are closely associated with tourism and travel. They are very popular, as business tours often involve making the much required deals while doing it completely at leisure. This is the main reason for the transition of hotels, resorts and spas into health resort spas.

Health resort spas of Asia are very famous. They are attracting people from all over the world who come for beauty and health solutions. Asian health resort spas adopt the healing wisdom of spiritual gurus and spa experts, a haven or organic and natural way of living. Some of the health resort spas are located in a tranquil, serene environment pampering the clients with a variety of massages, body treatments, health related therapies and making the experience an unforgettable one for most of them.

Treatments offered by health resort spas of Asia:

Health resort spas of Asia use some of the ancient holistic and spiritual healing treatments like the yoga, Reiki and Ayurveda which are meant for restoring inner calm, improving memory, balancing emotions, refreshing the body, enhancing skin complexion by exfoliation, cleaning and toning, reducing weight while strengthening the muscles and bones etc. The very famous cranial therapy is used to balance the circulation of the liquid around the brain releasing any accumulated stress by applying gentle movements on the vertebrae and skull. They also use ingredients which are available in the kitchen for natural facemasks like the papaya mask, honey mask, healing herbs, sea salt face scrub etc. Aroma therapy massage offered in these health resort spas blends essential oils to rejuvenate and relax the body. Some of the latest treatments include traditional Chinese medication, gem therapy, crystal therapy and light, color and sound filtered through the body in a steam room, using flower essences etc. They aim in revitalizing the mind, soul and the body through the above processes.

Health Related Articles Online

Over the last few years a number of article directory type websites have been created which have a mass of information about a variety of subjects. These subjects vary from web promotion and web design, travel, business as well as many more topics. The area that is of most interest to myself is health and I enjoy reading about other peoples experiences to similar problems that I also suffer from.

As well as reading about different writers experiences about things like speech impediments, many of these articles offer advice on how we can possibly solve these health problems. Where as in the past I would possibly go to the doctors or to the library, I now always find myself looking firstly on these article websites hoping to find some solutions.

I have even wrote a number of articles about health related matters which I hope other readers will find beneficial. So far I have had quite a few e-mails from people from many different countries who have stated that they have enjoyed reading my articles. The internet seems to have a way of making the world seem a smaller place in this way.

If you have an issue with your health, I would certainly recommend that you take a read of some of these articles as some of the authors write in a very easy to read and interesting manner. I have to say however that there is also quite a lot of poor articles on some of these article directories but you are always going to get that I suppose, especially with the directories who do not check each article before accepting them.

There are a number of good quality article directories which I would recommend you start with such as ezinearticles, goarticles, articlealley, searchwarp and articledashboard. These are what are widely regarded by many people as the best of the article websites and are more likely to have weeded out the poorer type of articles.

I now feel that after reading so many articles about constipation that I am some sort of expert in this field. Going back to being serious again, there are so many health related subjects that have had articles written about them that I am confident that you will be able to find some useful information this way.

I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I have done and also hope that they are of benefit to you in finding solutions to your own health problems.

Health Products that Make a Difference

In a world where we’re stressed, overscheduled, and often overwhelmed, it’s easy to neglect our health. Stress negatively impacts our autoimmune system, making us more susceptible to garden variety viruses and bacteria. Over time, the cumulative effect of stress can lead to more serious chronic illnesses, as well as to life-threatening conditions.

Even though we’re well into the New Year, it’s not to late to resolve to take steps to improve our health and well-being. Thankfully, there are a number of health products on the market that can help us in our efforts.

Joint Health: Whether you are a fitness buff or you lead a sedentary lifestyle, it’s all too easy for the condition of your joints and their connective tissues to deteriorate over time. Vitamin C is essential to joint health, but other nutritional supplements that are especially formulated to keep joints flexible can help, as can a cream that is used topically. Glucosamine, for example, helps the body produce collagen, which helps cushion and protect the joints.

Digestion: If your diet is high in processed foods, or if you’re under a considerable amount of stress, the chances are good that your digestive tract is under duress. Thankfully, there a number of health products that can help you get back on track. Look for nutritional supplements that promote a healthy, pro-biotic digestive tract, and those that provide you with both soluble and insoluble fiber to get ride of accumulated toxins.

Immune System: If your diet is out of whack or if you lead a stressful life, your immune system is likely to be disproportionately affected. It’s import to choose health products that boost your immune system by promoting good intestinal bacteria, supporting the lymph glands, and providing protection against the damage caused by free radicals.

Heart: A healthy diet and plenty of exercise are two elements of heart health, but it’s not always easy to get it right. That’s why health products that provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, formulations that support healthy heart rhythms, and nutritional supplements that optimize blood vessel strength and elasticity are important to have in your arsenal.

Women’s Health: Women’s bodies are different from men’s bodies, and need health products that specifically promote women’s health. Maintaining bone density, for example, is especially important for women, as is eliminating toxins that threaten breast health. When women are peri-menopausal or going through menopause, the right nutritional supplements can help alleviate symptoms and can ensure that a woman smoothly makes the transition through her middle years.

Men’s Health: Like women, men have their special needs. Nutritional supplements that enhance prostate health, for example, can be especially relevant to men’s health, as can health products that are formulated to strengthen the immune system and increase cellular health.

When you’re shopping for health products, it’s important to select a reputable company that uses natural ingredients. Choosing a global leader in health and wellness will ensure that you get the high quality products you need, that in turn will give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Health Products that Can Help You Reclaim Your Life

We all know that New Year’s resolutions come and go, and that our best intentions for improving and maintaining our health, fitness, and well-being most often fall by the wayside. After all, we usually have our hands full with the demands of our careers, our obligations to our families, and the requirements of daily life. Nevertheless, there seems to be a growing movement in this country, comprised of people who are putting their proverbial feet down and taking a stand for better health. These aren’t the fitness gurus and diet mavens, but rather ordinary people who recognize that time passes much too quickly, and who know that, ultimately, it is up to each one of us to make positive changes to improve our health and well-being. In the process, we can reclaim our lives.

Whether you’re a fledgling member of this movement or a time-tested veteran, you know that health products can be a boon in helping you to achieve your goals. Here are some categories of health products that people across the nation are using to give them an edge in feeling greater, faster.

Sleep Aids: An unprecedented number of people report having problems getting to sleep, sleeping through the night, or sleeping soundly enough. When we don’t get enough sleep, we don’t perform as well in our daily tasks, we increase our likelihood of getting into accidents, and we lose our motivation to effect positive change in our lives. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that helps the body find its natural sleep rhythm, and that spurs the body into getting the rest it needs to function optimally during the day.

Women’s Health Products: Women’s health needs change as the seasons of their lives change. Women need products that reflect and support the changes that their bodies undergo over time. For example, women going through menopause need different nutritional supplements than women who are at the peak of their reproductive years. Similarly, there are times when women need health products that optimize either progesterone, testosterone, or estrogen responses, and other times when they need nutritional supplements that promote healthy bone density and eliminate toxins that could contribute to cancer risk.

Men’s Health Products: Men have their own unique health needs, particularly when it comes to diseases that disproportionately affect men. For example, men can benefit from nutritional supplements that help promote heart health, such as those that contain Omega 3 essential fatty acids, or those that promote the elasticity, efficiency, and strength of blood vessels. For men who engage in intense workouts, health products that quickly replace electrolytes, that provide a pre-workout energy boost, or that support lean muscle mass can help them achieve their goals.

When you make the decision to become proactively involved in your health and well-being, it can be a life-changing experience. Changes in your diet, in your physical activity levels, and in your other lifestyle choices are important, but health products can often give you the support you need to more quickly achieve your goals and reclaim a long and healthy life.

Health Products for Better Health and Weight Management

If you struggle with your weight, you might feel that losing weight and being healthy takes only a few months of strict diet and exercise. Though dieting can bring short-term results, the only true way to maintain your weight for the long term and be healthier is to improve your daily diet. These tips provide simple ways to do this along with some types of health products that can enhance your weight loss efforts.

First: Know Where You Stand

Before you get started, realize there’s a need and where you stand with your weight and health. Do you need to lose X amount of pounds? Do you want to tone your body? Get a weight scale and/or measuring tape. Weigh yourself and write down your starting weight. Use the tape measure to measure in inches around your waist, upper arm, thigh, and neck. Taking measurements will help you know if you’re losing inches even if you haven’t lost any pounds yet. Weigh or take measurements only once a week so you won’t become too anxious about daily fluctuations.

Second: Begin Incorporating Healthier Foods

Your daily diet should consist of a healthy portion of fruits and vegetables along with moderate portions from the other food groups including bread, meat, and dairy products. Many dieticians recommend at least five fruits and vegetables per day. These can easily be added to your diet by substituting a fruit or two for desert or a mid-afternoon snack, and by always cooking a couple of vegetables along with your meat and bread at lunch and dinner. Breakfast is a great time to fit in cereal and milk or eggs, grits, and cheese along with toast.

The great thing is these are foods that are easily accessible at any grocery without spending a fortune on high-priced diet foods and pre-packaged foods. During summer months, frequent a local produce stand for fresh fruits and vegetables.

If you eat out often, choose restaurants that serve vegetables with your meat, and opt for at least one green leafy vegetable each time you dine out. Only, be sure to watch portion sizes at restaurants. Some restaurants will give you double the amount you actually need!

The benefits of fruits and vegetables are remarkable. Studies show that these foods contain the vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy life and successful weight management. They enhance both women’s health and men’s health without the harmful side effects of many diet pills or strict, unhealthy dieting. They are also filled with antioxidants and fibers to help your body’s immune and digestive systems.

Third: Enhance Your Diet with Nutritional Supplements

Even when eating healthier, this doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplements can help boost your weight loss naturally while promoting better help. They can boost your immune system and help you get all the needed vitamins, minerals, and herbs for your daily diet. Be mindful that nutritional supplements are not meant to replace healthy eating or certain meals of the day. They are meant to add to the benefits of a healthy diet.

The types of nutritional supplements and health products to look for are those that are natural and/or those that meet your specific supplement needs. There are a number of health products on the market for multi-vitamin needs or to enhance weight loss, sleep, digestion, and the immune system. Some companies (such as Unicity’s Bios Life) offer a variety of health products to meet individual needs. The health products are often available in the form of a pill or capsule, nutritional shakes, or health drinks.

These methods may seem simple, but adding them to your daily diet can be difficult if you’re always on the go. Try adding one healthy food at a time or substituting one meal or snack at a time with healthier choices. Gradually increase your fruit and vegetable intake, and find ways to carry healthy foods with you when you’re on the go. Hint: Sandwich bags can be lifesavers! Also, start out with a nutritional supplement. This can help you get on the right track as you add new foods to your diet.

Once you start noticing a difference in your health and weight, you’ll be encouraged to continue eating healthy and to take your nutritional supplements. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel just by making these simple diet changes!

Health Problems That Haunt Small Dogs

While none of the following problems are by any means exclusive to small dogs, they do present extra challenges for small dogs and their owners.

Teeth and Gum Problems

Many small dogs have a tendency to develop teeth and gum problems which lead to tooth loss, because they are often fed canned food as an alternative to larger kibble. Although tooth loss in itself is vexing, oral disease can lead to even more serious heart disease, compromised immune systems and other complications.

Bi-weekly tooth brushing will help prevent this typical small dog health problem. An attractive supply of crunchy treats and chews (high-quality natural ingredients and not too large, please) will also help your pup keep his sparkling smile.

“Small Dog Syndrome”

Even the smallest toy dogs are infamous for their willingness to take on dogs the size of a full-grown man. Your dog may be that brave, but he’s almost sure not to be that lucky. Protect your small dog from his oversized ambitions by picking him up when a larger dog approaches.

Injuries

Injuries make up more than their share of small dog health problems. Their tiny bones are more easily broken – sometimes, even when a small dog jumps off of the furniture onto a hard surface. As much as possible, try to cushion the normal launch spots by placing carpet and rugs underneath.

Small dogs tend to get underfoot more, and unlike the case with a larger animal, those tiny bones can easily be injured if the dog is accidentally stepped on. Many owners find the best solution is learning to “shuffle” around their dog and not lift their feet too high.

Illness

Although small dogs are typically long-lived, illness has even greater ramifications when it comes to small dog health problems. Many opportunistic illnesses like viruses and bacterial infections can take over a small dog’s system much more quickly, causing them to go downhill rapidly.

Small dogs are also more prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) because of their faster metabolism. Paying attention to the first signs of any illness and taking immediate action can greatly help to keep small dog health problems in check.

While on the surface, small dog health problems might appear to be much the same as any other dog’s, health issues can have a bigger effect on their tiny systems. Extra diligence on your part will help more effectively treat and prevent many small dog health problems!

Health Problems in the German Shepherd Dog

As with most pedigree breeds, there are certain hereditary conditions that can be a problem in the German Shepherd as well as other health issues that are more prevalent in this breed which need to be considered if you are thinking acquiring a GSD.

If you are buying a German Shepherd puppy it is important to ensure that you only purchase a healthy dog from a reputable breeder and a good idea would be to contact the breed council who should be able to provide you with a list of such breeders. Most reputable breeders don’t need to advertise but if they do they tend not to use free papers or other general advertising media but will usually place their advert in a specialist dog magazine or paper. The Kennel Club will provide a list of breeders but this does not signify that they are reputable only that they register their puppies with the KC.

There are a number of common conditions seen in this breed, some of which have a better prognosis than others but all of which are expensive to treat – so insure your German Shepherd Dog as soon as you get it.

Inherited conditions such as hip dysplasia are becoming more common largely because of irresponsible breeding so you should look for a puppy whose parents are both hip scored and the lower the score the better – ideally less than ten. This is a distressing and painful condition for a GSD as well as the costs for treating being prohibitive if the animal is not insured. Elbow dysplasia is also a common hereditary condition.

Bloat or gastric torsion is a real emergency and a life threatening condition, which has become more common in deep chested dogs over the years. Experts are divided but good tips for reducing the risk are that it is best to feed 2 small meals rather than one large meal a day and to avoid feeding your GSD before strenuous exercise.

Anal furunculosis is a distressing auto immune condition which can be controlled with expensive drugs for a while but will inevitably progress as is the condition CDRM which is a degenerative disease which will ultimately lead to the loss of use of the dogs back legs and then bowel/urinary incontinence.

For whatever reason there seems to be an increasing number of GSD’s suffering from PI – pancreatic insufficiency, which presents as chronic watery diarrhoea and failure to thrive. This condition is treatable with expensive pancreatic enzymes and a low fat diet but the regime must be strictly adhered to.

Epilepsy is also more common these days and although it can be controlled by drugs, usually tolerance eventually occurs which will often result in the loss of control of the fits and the likelihood of brain damage as a result of prolonged uncontrolled fitting.

To protect your new puppy and in order to try to minimise long term or future health problems, it is vital that a high quality feeding regime is adopted from the start. German shepherds often have digestive problems so it is important to find a quality food that your dog likes and one that doesn’t upset the digestion. If in doubt ask your vet for advice or contact German Shepherd Rescue UK.

Health Problems In Cats

It may come as a surprise, if you’re a new cat owner, that many health problems may befall your feline friend. Some problems are easily preventable, while others are hereditary.

Hairballs

Hairballs are among the most common of cat health problems. Cats groom themselves almost constantly, and swallow the loose hair that comes off their tongues. Occasionally, the hair gathers into a ball and lodges in the cat’s digestive tract instead of passing on through the body. If your cat starts coughing and hacking, he probably has a hairball. While the end product is unpleasant for the owner, most cats don’t have a problem dislodging hairballs.

However, hairballs can occasionally pass into a cat’s intestines and cause a blockage. This can be a life-threatening problem. There are a few signs to look for to see if your cat’s hairball is dangerous. If your cat is constipated, off his feed, or is lethargic with a dull coat, then he could have a serious blockage. A vet exam is definitely in order.

To prevent hairballs, groom your cat frequently to remove loose hair. In addition, feed your cat food that helps control hairballs.

Worms

For many cats, worms are a recurring problem. Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms most commonly infect cats. Cats can occasionally develop heartworms, as well. If your cat seems unable to gain wait, is infested with fleas, or has white specks that look like grains of rice in his stools, take him to the veterinarian for worm testing.

Worms are easily cured with a few doses of medication, but if left untreated, they can be fatal.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are another common health problem in cats. This infection is particularly common in unneutered male cats, although female cats can also develop this problem. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, a urinary tract infection is suspect. If your cat’s urine smells strong, again a urinary tract infection may be the cause. These infections need to be treated by a veterinarian. Ask about cat foods that reduce the likelihood of another infection.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP is caused by a mutation of the corona virus. According to some experts, cats living in multi-cat environments tend to test positive for enteric corona virus. Cats can live with that virus remaining quietly in the intestines with no sign of disease for their entire lifetime. In other cases, probably a genetic pre-disposition, the virus mutates into FIP.

Once a cat has contracted FIP, it will display symptoms of a mild upper respiratory infection: sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. It may also have diarrhea, weight loss and lethargy. Most cats fully recover from this primary infection, although some may become virus carriers. A small percentage of exposed cats develop lethal FIP weeks or even years after the primary infection.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FIV, or cat AIDS, is not always fatal. FIV decreases the ability of the cat’s immune system to fight infections. Cats with FIV may remain free of symptoms for years. It is when the cat contracts other illnesses in the chronic stage of FIV infection that FIV is first suspected. This long list of illnesses includes oral-cavity infections, upper-respiratory infections, weight loss, ear infections, kidney disease, and many others. Although there is, as yet, no vaccine, all cats should be tested for the virus. The virus is transmitted through saliva, usually when a cat is bitten in a cat fight.

Feline Leukemia Virus

FLV was, until recently, the most common fatal disease of cats. But with a vaccine now available, the number of cases is dwindling. Although the name leukemia means cancer of the white blood cells, this is only 1 of the many diseases associated with this virus, such as other types of cancer, anemia, arthritis and respiratory infections. FLV is preventable if the cat is immunized before being exposed to the virus. Although the disease is not always immediately fatal, cats with FLV rarely have a long life expectancy. NEVER bring other cats into your household when you have a cat with FLV.

Lyme Disease

If your cat spends time outdoors, you should check him regularly for ticks. If you find a tick on your cat’s body and he has been lethargic and acts as if he is in pain, ask your vet to test for Lyme Disease. This disease is transmitted to people and animals by deer ticks.

Some cats may show subtle symptoms while others may show none — symptoms are hard to recognize and often may be confused with other illnesses or old age. Be observant of your pet’s behavior. It is the only way to know if your pet has contracted Lyme disease if no tick was found. Some symptoms of Feline Lyme Disease include:

(a) lethargy,
(b) reluctance to jump or climb stairs,
(c) limping, or reluctance to put weight on a paw,
(d) loss of appetite.

The key to dealing with Feline Lyme Disease is prevention and early diagnosis and treatment. You should reduce the tick population around your home with simple landscape changes and spraying.

Good Health Care

Taking your cat for a regular check-up with the vet, and keeping all vaccinations on schedule will help assure your cat a long and healthy life. Prevention is the first line of defense for most feline illnesses.

Many owners keep their cats indoors to protect them from cars, from cat fights which may expose them to deadly viruses, from ticks, and other hazards.

Outdoor cats will enjoy greater freedom, but require a watchful eye, loving attention to their health status, and regular visits to the veterinarian.

Health Pointers for the Fitness Babes

Exercise is an essential in life. Most people will certainly nod their heads to this. Exercise is not only perfect for losing weight, it is also good for keeping a reasonable body weight, for giving a boost on the metabolic rate and also for burning those unwanted excess calories. Exercise also revs up the heart and the lungs’ machinery making them more efficient in doing their natural functions.

Aside from these, exercise also works for strengthening the bones and keeps people looking good and feeling good about themselves. Exercise also gives people the stamina to enable them to keep up with the pace of their lifestyles. Unfortunately, not many people chose to do what is good for them. Most people could not decide exactly what to do when waking up in the morning; whether to exercise or to press the snooze button one more time.

The following tips are very helpful in reaching and maintaining the ideal body weight. This is especially great for women since they get through a lot of things going on in their bodies and are more susceptible to osteoporosis. Not to mention that many women are under the pressure of keeping themselves beautiful. It is recommended that one or two of these tips at a time are incorporated to the work out routine.

Worry not that the exercise routine is not enough. It is important to keep the commitments one makes. Ideally, it is advised to exercise three to five times a week for 20-60 minutes. However, this is not exactly the case in the real world. One should not frustrate herself by aiming for the ideal when she knows for herself that it is utterly impossible. If she an manage it two times a week for twenty minutes per session, that will do just great.

It is best to focus on doing what one knows she can do than to reproach herself for having not done enough. She can start from this point and then progress on afterwards. This should make her feel successful for having kept her commitment to herself.

Weight lifting should always come first. Many women always do cardio exercises first before weight lifting. A disadvantage of this is that it is possible to miss a critical component of the routine and spend all of it on cardio training. A women may notice this by not being able to see results even after devoting long hours at the gym. This can be avoided by reversing the order. This will guarantee visible positive outcome.

Remember to monitor heart rate. It is recommended to exercise at 75-85% of the maximum heart rate. Many people stick with just pumping up only 50% of their maximum heart rate. To ensure that one is working out at the prescribed target heart rate, she should use a heart rate monitor or any exercise equipment with this feature.

Work out for only an hour or less. Doing this will keep one from dreading the gym. Focusing on the exercise and the aim to be accomplished will make each work out session more and more efficient.

Have some sort of fitness social support. Being in a fitness community maybe the important element lacking in your training program. A social support can do amazing wonders and therefore should not be underestimated. It would be helpful to work out in a gym once in while if one customarily does her work outs at home. One can also try classes in activities that have always been interesting such as yoga, pilates or sailing perhaps. One can also join clubs such as a walking club or a running club for instance.

Pep talk yourself. One should not pressure herself too much; rather, it is best to congratulate one’s self and give out words of encouragement in between exercises. One should never forget to say some positive feedback for herself.

Medicine and Glyconutrition

This is what they call “Hope”?

We’ve all gotten used to the idea that certain maladies will be around for a while…like until the Second Coming. Maladies such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis…and many more are expected to be around, in epidemic proportions, longer than we think we will be alive…and anyone who tries to tell us otherwise is looked upon with real skepticism. In fact, when anyone tries to tell us “there’s hope” for such maladies as, say, diabetes, we are more likely to believe that the person is trying to sell us something…and usually we are right.

But, what’s even worse is the fact that the “hope” we do receive is usually something like the following:

Studies show people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. You can do it by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. In other words: you don’t have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.

Of course, this is good advice. No denying it. As a medical doctor, I had to dispense advice like this for years, for diabetes and other conditions. Funny, as good as it is, I NEVER saw anyone become ecstatic, do cartwheels or celebrate because they had just received such counsel. Why? BECAUSE WHAT WE REALLY WANT FROM THE MEDICAL WORLD IS A CURE!

And why not? It just doesn’t seem fair that the only real answer to conditions like diabetes or obesity is the “hope” that we stop eating almost everything we enjoy, sweat till we drop, “pop” prescription pills ’till we’re bloated, and think positive…forever.

A new future?

So, of course, I was skeptical too when I began to hear the claims associated with glyconutrition. As a long time medical professional and scientist, I know that “claims” are easily made… And who ever heard of “glyconutrition” anyway?

In 1999, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Dr. Gunter Blobel for his work in the science of Glycobiology (the biology of glyconutrition). Out of the last eight Nobel Prizes awarded in medicine, four Nobel Prizes have been awarded for discoveries made in this ONE field. Believe it or not, this field (glyconutrition) affects maladies such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease directly. Why? Because, eight sugars have been isolated for their support of the immune system and cell communication. Additionally, human life cannot be supported without them.
This information got my attention. When a single Nobel Prize is won in medicine, everyone is paying attention. When four of them are won in the SAME field, as in this case involving glyconutrition, the medical world is “on fire” with the news.

As that information made its way through the medical world, other issues made the news too. For decades the American Medical Association, the powerhouse of medical professionals, taught that nutritional supplements were not necessary for good health. But, in June 2002, the AMA admitted that nutritional supplementation was vital to good health and helpful in treating diseases.

Also, the prestigious MIT published its findings. It wrote that these “sugars” were one of ten technologies it believed would change the world in the next decade. Nutritional supplementation was again vital to the conventional medical world…and at the center of the storm was glyconutrition.

But, what really jolted me professionally was this: Until these discoveries, scientists had NO idea how the cells of your body could tell the antibodies of your body you had an infection and that they had to “get on over here” to deal with it. Until these discoveries, scientists had NO idea how the cells of your body told the rest of your body that they needed nutrition, oxygen, waste elimination, infections healed…and a thousand and one other necessary functions of every cell. Goodness! We in the scientific world hadn’t known just exactly HOW even aspirin made its way to that nasty headache of yours. We just knew it worked. So, we prescribed it.

Sugar? Say it ain’t so, doc!

But, my attention was riveted to the news that scientists like Dr. Gunter Blobel had discovered what it was that let the cells COMMUNICATE with the other systems of the body. And would you believe it? What he found was amazing. Sugar…SUGAR! (Glyco = Greek for “sugar”) No…not table sugar (else diabetics wouldn’t be so excited over this new-found help for their diabetes). There are over 200 sugars in nature but, eight of them are VITAL to our good health. In fact, eight of them are the glyconutrition “backbone” for helping the body prevent or heal:

” auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis
” overactive immune disorders such as allergies and asthma
” under active immune disorders such as cancer, TB, strep
” inflammatory disorders such as colitis, ulcers, Fibromyalgia
” other conditions such as Alzheimer’s, infertility, heart disease

Suddenly, the medical world was on fire over glyconutrition. The “anecdotal evidence” concerning glyconutrition is mounting rapidly as people are finding conditions which have long grieved them…to be a thing of the past. For so many, the expectation for the future is not a “long, long, road” fraught with impossible dieting, grueling workouts, thousands of dollars of prescriptions, and the need to dream positively. People are getting relief – from diabetes, heart disease, cancer, allergies, and many others – with glyconutrition…and without prescriptions! (Glyconutrition products are NOT prescription items…they’re food.)

Oh yes. I almost forgot. If you go to your doctor and he isn’t aware of glyconutrition, don’t panic. Your poor doctor CANNOT possibly keep up with all of the signs, symptoms, conditions, and their myriads of treatments, chemical make up and complications associated with thousands of maladies and the millions of prescription antidotes for those maladies. I couldn’t as a doctor, and I had several DECADES of experience in the field. “Been there … done that” as they say.

Incidentally, doctors don’t usually find out first what works. They’re just too busy being overwhelmed with the medical conditions they face, day to day. They usually find out like everyone else…They read about it or attend some seminar. Often, the marketplace produces antidotes – or research finds the right treatment, as in this case – long before they do. But, I can tell you this. Glyconutrition is helping conditions as diverse as diabetes and Alzheimer’s … and a lot of people have hope that these conditions CAN be and are being…overcome…

Suddenly, the future isn’t what it used to be…

Health Matters

I guess nobody likes thinking about what can go wrong with the recruitment process. We all like to think we are reasonable employers, offering a fair package in return for a professional job. Yet, we do operate in a market that is prone to certain complications. Think about it. We recruit mainly young teachers who travel a long way from their home and friends, perhaps to a country they don’t know anything about. There you are: already you can see how emotionally vulnerable they are. And if all this causes them stress, they could more easily fall prey to physical illness, infection, be more accident prone.

Look, I’m not trying to be the pessimist here but I think we have to face the fact that the health of teachers is an important issue. At least, I believe a responsible employer should have health-protection measures in place as part of the recruitment package. Ideally, we should offer full health insurance together with provision to repatriate a teacher who needs to be back home for treatment and support.

Now I know that for some small schools this could prove expensive but that’s no reason to duck the issue. If you genuinely can’t offer this kind of protection as part of the deal, think of the alternatives. First make sure you explain to the teacher the kind of healthcare they will be entitled to from any national scheme that protects those working in your country. Secondly, advise them to look at insurances that are available in their own country. Maybe they can find inexpensive insurance to cover them while they are working abroad. But please don’t ignore the issue. It is deeply unpleasant to find oneself sick or injured in a foreign country and if, on top of that, inadequate provisions exist for treatment and care. The whole situation can become a nightmare. We owe it to our teachers to ensure that they are fully aware of the risks they run and the protection that they can expect or should obtain.

Health Issues Whilst On Safari

Hiking in hot or sunny weather often causes heat exhaustion. The signs/symptoms are weakness/fatigue, headache, vertigo, thirst nausea/vomiting, faintness, and high body temperature. The treatment is to lay flat in shade, remove clothing to cool the patient, soak the body with cold water, re-hydrate patient and monitor body temperature.

Heat stroke is more serious with the signs/symptoms being delirium, coma, rapid pulse, rapid breathing; skin hot and dry, body temperature above 40c [104 f]. Treat as for heat exhaustion but this condition can be fatal, so seek medical assistance quickly – evacuate if possible.

Wildlife: Try to avoid interaction; normally the wildlife will try to avoid you. Buffalo or elephant may attack if surprised or provoked. When hiking in forest or dense bush, clap often or call out if met by an aggressive animal and at all times follow the instructions of your armed guide. Never feed wild animals. Baboons and monkeys are highly dangerous and they can steel by force as they have learnt to get food from the tourists.

Weather in Tanzania has a rainy season, November through to May, with sometimes a dryer season January to March, dividing the season into short and long rains. It never rains all the time. The dry season is June to October, the coldest month being July with high altitudes reaching temperatures below freezing.

If you become lost, remain where you are. Your guide will look for you and find you quicker if are on the trail – this sometimes happens in fog or dense forest. A day pack should include instant body shelter, warm clothing and a water proof jacket, matches or lighter, a mirror or whistle for signaling, food and drink [especially water], basic first aid, torch and a compass.

Some areas have stinging nettles, so no shorts in these areas as stings cause temporary but painful irritations

Safari ants are small, shiny brown ants moving rapidly in columns across trails. They are common and carnivorous; they crawl up your trouser legs and start to chew. Tuck trousers into socks and watch where you step and especially where you stand still.

Acacia thorns, “cat claws” of the wait-a-bit thorn tree, rip skin and clothing. The thorn is long and straight and can pierce soft soled shoes and even car tyres, so take care and try not to wear sandals.

Ticks may be found long grass. To remove a tick, grasp the head and jerk out of skin.

Snakes will usually avoid humans the puff add being one exception. This snake is sluggish and slow to move. When moving around in the dark, use a torch to avoid a most unwelcome encounter with the puff adder.

Scorpions lurk in the dry country under rocks, behind bark and sometimes climb into boots, clothing or equipment left out at night. The sting from a scorpion can cause severe pain for several hours.

When on a walking safari, mountain climbing, or walking round the safari camp, it is advisable to be aware of the following guidelines on health and safety in the African Bush.

Altitude related illness: These illnesses can kill you and every year tourists die from altitude related illnesses. Higher altitudes are colder, even in Africa. There is less oxygen and to walk slowly is essential, especially for hikes or climbs above 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level. You should be breathing easily with no panting and no extreme physical exertion. Drink water regularly and eat a light diet with lots of carbohydrates. It is essential to keep warm.

Hypothermia or exposure: This is a life threatening condition with a lowering of body temperature and can occur with a temperature as high as 10 c [50 f] usually caused by cold wet clothing or simply being poorly clothed for the conditions. The signs/symptoms include clumsiness, stumbling, apathy, lethargy, confusion, disorientation, and eventually unconsciousness. Treatment for this is to immediately place the patient in a warm, dry environment – a sleeping bag is ideal, with one or even two people inside the sleeping bag with the patient. Warm, energy rich drinks help, as does rest, with a return to camp as quickly as possible.

Acute Mountain sickness: This affects many people above 2,050 meters [or 10,000 ft]. The signs/symptoms include headache, nausea fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite, restless or no sleep. The treatment is to slow down, remain in camp, drink water, and rest your body. It is important to adjust to altitude slowly. In case of severe headaches, loss of coordination, breathing difficulties, evacuate immediately for a quick decent to a lower altitude and seek medical attention. This condition kills tourists every year in Tanzania!

In conclusion: To protect yourself – dress correctly and drink plenty. Climbing in mountains or highland, prepare for extremes. Watch yourself, for day time temperatures can reach 35 c with little shade yet it may well be freezing at night at higher altitudes. Fine weather can turn into fog or rain quickly. Always carry a waterproof and dry clothing in a plastic bag to keep warm. Wool and synthetics are better than cotton or down – to keep cool, cotton is the better option. Protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, skin protection and do drink plenty of water whilst eating a diet high in carbohydrates for energy. Avoid alcohol at high altitudes.

Health Issues Concerning Asian Women

Did you know that Asian American women are at high risk for developing osteoporosis? Statistics actually show that Asian women in the United States have many of the same risk factors as Caucasian women. If you are Asian American woman, it is important that you understand what osteoporosis is and the steps you should take to prevent or treat it.

Following are some of the issues that are causing a rise in the number of Asian women being diagnosed with osteoporosis:
Asian women have been found to consume less calcium. This is mostly due to the fact that up to 90% of Asian American women are lactose intolerant and avoid using dairy products that contain calcium. As you may know, calcium is essential for maintaining a healthy skeleton.

Asian women generally have lower hip fracture rates than Caucasian women. Even so, Asian women seem to have as high a rate of incident of vertebrae fractures as Caucasian women.

Additionally, slender women have less bone mass and are a greater risk for bone fractures related to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease brought on by low bone mass. It causes bones to be vulnerable to fractures. If you don’t take steps to prevent osteoporosis, or you have it and don’t get treatment, it can progress painlessly until a bone breaks which will most likely be in your hip, spine, or wrist. Spinal fractures are the reason why you see some older women with that ‘hunched’ appearance. Those fractures can also result in a loss of height, in addition to chronic pain.

Some of the issues that could increase your chance of developing osteoporosis are:

* Caucasian and Asian ancestry
* Having a thin, small-boned body frame
* Previous fractures or a family history of fractures resulting from osteoporosis
* An estrogen deficiency resulting from:
* early menopause due to natural circumstances
* early menopause resulting from surgical removal of the ovaries
* as a result of prolonged amenorrhea
* Aging
* A diet low in calcium
* Smoking
* Excessive alcohol consumption
* Extensive use of certain medications

Even if one or some of these conditions apply to you, you can still take steps to prevent it from happening to you. The best defense is to take care to keep you bones strong, especially before the age of 20. Eat a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and exercise regularly – walking, jogging, dancing and lifting weights are a few of the better routines. Don’t smoke and limit your intake of alcohol. Talk to your doctor, especially if you have a family history of osteoporosis because there are painless testing methods and medications to treat it.

Health Insurance Graduation Gift

Instead of a computer or a car, parents looking for a useful gift for a new college grad may want to consider health insurance.

New college graduates and their parents are often surprised to learn that many health insurance plans stop providing coverage to adult children through a parent’s plan even when they are living at home.

Typically, most adult children who are students will lose their coverage when they attain a certain age, graduate or are no longer attending school on a full-time basis. Since most of these new college graduates won’t have coverage until after they have found a job, many find themselves falling through a gap in coverage.

The number of young adults who fall into this category can be significant. According to a 2002 Census Bureau report, 18-to-24-year-olds are the least likely age group to have health insurance coverage.

Some find an effective way to address this need is with a type of product called temporary or short-term medical insurance. Such policies are designed to fill short gaps in health insurance coverage and usually cover periods ranging from one to six months. Exact length of coverage may vary by state and company.

For example, Assurant Health -a company that helped to pioneer the concept of short-term coverage-offers policies that typically cover periods of 30 to 185 days. Generally, this type of plan is more affordable than permanent insurance plans because the insurer is taking less risk.

Because temporary policies are usually designed to cover the unexpected, most do not include coverage for preventive care, physicals, immunizations, dental or eye care. Also, temporary policies generally do not cover pre-existing conditions.

While typical customers for short-term medical insurance are graduating students no longer covered by a family plan, but not yet covered by an employer’s group plan, the policy may also be of interest to others. People changing jobs or making a transition to a new career, or new employees facing a short waiting period before becoming eligible for an employer’s group insurance plan, may find that it fills a need.

Health Insurance

Health insurance went up 7.7 percent this year, thats twice the rate of inflation. Premiums have increased by 78 percent since the year 2000 compare that to salary increases of just 20 percent and the real picture starts to have an impact.

Individuals are now averaging a little over $4000 a year in premiums with American families paying out almost $11,500 this year. Companies offering health care benefits now stands at 61 percent this is down from 69 percent in 2000. It’s estimated that over 155 million Americans will get their health care benefits from their employers. To lower the over-all cost of the insurance plans many companies are now offering benefit packages with higher deductibles. It should be noted that this report comes out after a recent Census reported that 1.3 million Americans where added to the ranks of the uninsured during 2005. What becomes clear here is the long term trend towards the decline of coverage supplied by small businesses from their employees.

“To working people and business owners, a reduction in an already very high rate of increase just means you’re still paying more” said Dr Drew Altman, president and chief executive of the Kaiser Foundation.

Insurance companies have been under attack recently for dumping families that build up large medical bills. In an ongoing case in California the state is investigating a claim against Blue Cross who stopped coverage for a family when it’s medical bills reached $20,000. The family have been left with outstanding medical bills of over $60,000. The company have accused the family of failing to disclose in their coverage application an undiagnosed lump on one of the children’s chins. The family say they (or their physician) knew nothing of any tumor when they made the application.

These types of cancellations of coverage have now created a massive backlash towards the insurance companies and resulted in a number of ongoing lawsuits. The policyholders are saying their polices were illegally terminated which resulted in substantial financial hardship. State regulators are investigating and have said they are now preparing to take action against Blue Cross.

Something needs to be done to protect (us) the public against these (insurance) companies. The hardship caused when a family is faced with these medical bills at a time when they really need the most support is nothing short of criminal. Having taken our money every month for years on end they should not have the right to terminate our coverage. They should by law be forced to honor the agreement they wrote and we agreed too.

Health insurance Tips

Usually, this type of health insurance is advisable to those who have to take frequent trips, especially abroad trips and whose job involves frequent journeys. Traveler’s health insurance provides you protection from recurring medical conditions and health conditions. You may be having a health insurance policy that did not admit insurance claims involving out-of-network costs, especially those incurred overseas. Under such circumstances traveler’s health insurance is best option to secure health care protection for you.

Generally, a short-term health insurance plan is considered suitable for frequent travelers. Some companies offer you health insurance plans with a rider for the period you would be traveling. There are different traveler’s health insurance plans. There are certain restrictions on the plan depending upon place of visit and price. To ensure more protection you may choose to obtain a supplement plan if your current policy is restricted to traveling options.

Acquiring a traveler’s health insurance plan is a simple procedure. Only formality is that you have to present pre-existing conditions. Traveler’s health insurance policy becomes void if the medical problem is attributable to existing illness or accident.

It is suggested that you collect the information of medical facilities available at the place you intend to visit. This will help you in deciding whether a normal traveler’s health insurance will suffice or you should secure a health insure plan that provides evacuation facilities or offers better hospitalization benefits.

You must give due consideration to following aspects whenever you have to purchase a traveler’s health insurance.

• Does your plan cover prescribed medicines
• Does it cover your and your spouse’ evacuation
• If your entertainment activities involve adventurous activities like skiing, mountaineering, scuba-diving etc you must ask your insurance provider whether your plan provide coverage for these extreme sports or not.
• Whether your policy has provision for return of your remains, in the direct condition.
• Read the rules, benefits, coverage printed on the insurance certificate carefully.
• Know the exact method of payments. Ensure whether your insurance company will directly pay the expenses to the provider or you have to first pay from your pocket and then reimburse from insurance company. If you have to reimburse confirm about the time-schedule.

Health Insurance Rules

Many dual income couples, include their children on each group health insurance plan to maximize benfits. However, without some sort of system in place to help the health insurance companies coordinate benefits, it’s possible that either you or your doctor would be reimbursed for more than 100 percent of the actual cost of your claim.

To prevent this, health insurance companies typically designate one parent’s health insurance plan as the primary plan and the other as the secondary plan. (That’s why the patient questionnaire at your doctor’s office asks for information on primary and secondary coverage.) The primary plan is responsible for paying covered expenses up to the limits of the policy. If any unpaid costs are left over, the secondary coverage kicks in.

THE DATE OF BIRTH DETERMINES WHICH HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDES COVERAGE

The birthday rule is often used to determine which plan is primary and which is secondary. Under this rule, the plan of the parent whose birthday occurs first in the calendar year is designated as primary. The date of birth is the determining factor not the year so it doesn’t matter which spouse is older.

Like most rules, the birthday rule has exceptions:

– If both parents share the same birthday, the parent who has been covered by his or her plan longest provides the primary coverage for the children.

– If one spouse is currently employed and has health insurance through a current employer, and the other spouse has coverage through a former employer, the plan belonging to the curently employed spouse would be primary.

– In the event of divorce or seperation, the plan of the parent with custody generally provides primary coverage. If the custodial parent remarries, the new new spouse’s coverage becomes secondary. And finally, the non custodial parent’s health insurance plan would provide a third layer of insurance protection. This order of payment can be altered by a court issued divorce decree or by agreement, but the health insurance companies must be notified.

THESE ARE JUST HEALTH INSURANCE RULES NOT THE LAW

Keep in mind that these practices are common among health insurance companies, but they are not governed by law. Practices may vary from one insurer to another. Read your policy carefully to make sure you understand how your insurance company handles dual coverage. If the policy coverage is unclear, ask for help from your employers benefit specialist or your insurer’s customer service department.

Health Insurance Quotes

Getting Health Insurance Quotes By Phone
Though calling around for insurance quotes can be a very time-consuming task, it is a good way to get your questions answered about the policy by a professional. In many cases, calling an insurance company for a quote will lead to an automated session and then being placed on hold. This is the kind of frustration that you will face, over and over, when trying to receive any kind of insurance quote by phone.

It does take up a lot of time and you do have to keep notes about each quote you receive, but there are some good reasons for obtaining health insurance quotes by phone:

• You can talk to a professional in real time
Eventually, you will get through to an actual human being on the other end of the phone. This person can explain the policy to you in detail, answering any questions you may have as they come up.

• You can learn about different premiums and options on the same policy
When a certain health insurance policy interests you, you may be able to talk to someone about adjusting the premium and/or deductible on the policy, tailoring it to better suit your needs.

• You can purchase a policy right away
By using a check by phone or your credit card, you can purchase a policy based on the health insurance quotes you receive over the phone. This process is generally quick, including a brief question-and-answer session.

Getting Health Insurance Quotes Online
For those who prefer a quick and easy method of insurance shopping, the Internet is definitely your best option. Using the Internet, you can go to a specific company’s site and learn more about their policies by receiving free online health insurance quotes, or compare and contrast the policies offered by several companies at once.

The Internet allows you to receive many more health insurance quotes, in a much shorter period of time than you would be receiving quotes over the phone. There are many benefits to shopping for health insurance quotes online:

• You can get many health insurance quotes, quick
When time is a factor, the Internet is your best friend. You can look at several different health insurance quotes at the same time online, much more quickly than it takes to get through most phone automated systems.

• You can compare lots of health insurance quotes at once
Side-by-side or page-by-page, with the Internet you can compare health insurance quotes from several different health insurance companies at once. This makes comparison shopping a breeze.

• Ease of purchase
You can often purchase a health insurance policy online, using a secured method and your credit card. This allows you to get your health insurance policy quickly, so that coverage can start right away.

An Independent Agent
When doing your own research, finding different quotes, calling around or even using the Internet to shop just isn’t your thing, you’ll want to use an independent insurance agent. These agents do not work for any specific company but for you. They use their time to shop around for you, finding you the best possible policy based upon the health insurance quotes they receive.

Often, independent agents can get much better rates than the average customer. This is because insurance company offer agents deals and discounts simply for brining in new business. An independent agent will work for you to find the best health insurance quotes, so that you pay less while still receiving the best coverage possible for you and your family.

Health Insurance Plans For Students

Health care insurance is a necessity today. Most educational institutions in the United States require students to be covered for healthcare. Surveys reveal that nearly thirty percent of students in the US do not have healthcare insurance, and ask their parents for financial help when in need. These students are most likely to drop their studies for financial reasons, as they have to work to pay off their dues of healthcare expenses.

Many students find it difficult to meet the costs of healthcare insurance, because it does not come cheap. However, it is advantageous for a student to have this medical insurance.

Although there are many plans offering student health insurance, they can be categorized into three basic types: parent’s health care plan, college health insurance plan, and the commercial health insurance plan. Each of the mentioned plans has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Under the parent’s health care plan, a college student may not be covered, after a certain age. If that is the case, extra coverage called COBRA needs to be obtained, which is not necessarily cheaper than purchasing a different plan altogether. Moreover, it may be a pre-requisite that the student should have at least ‘x’ number of college credit hours to qualify for the coverage.

The college plan can offer coverage through HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). These are group plans and generally cheaper than commercial health plans. However, the coverage offered may be limited. Other options would have to be explored for coverage that is more comprehensive. The college plan is preferable when there is an ‘on campus’ hospital. Most of the college plans cover all accident or health care expenses, subject to the condition that the student continues to be registered with the college for a particular duration.

Many companies sell commercial health insurance. The terms may differ widely, hence, it would be essential to purchase a plan that offer facilities that one finds suitable. The best way would be to make a list of the features that are important, and then get the details for different plans from various companies, and compare them to decide which plan is the best one.

Under the commercial health plan, there is the temporary student health insurance, which is meant for students staying away from home. It can be availed for periods of thirty days, to six or twelve months. According to the temporary plan, the student can find a doctor or hospital of his choice by taking an Indemnity Plan. Alternatively, he or she may take the Managed Care Plan, which allows a choice of doctors and hospitals that are in the plan’s network. The Managed Care Plan has lower premiums than the Indemnity Plan.

Most states in the US have legal stipulations, which require compulsory health care insurance for foreign students, and set a minimum amount that should be available for emergency evacuation, medical treatment and repatriation of remains, if required. International student medical insurance costs approximately six to seven hundred dollars per annum.

In view of emergencies requiring medical attention, it is essential for students to be covered under health care insurance. It is a precondition for registration in most educational institutions in the US. Many states have laws that make it compulsory for foreign students to be covered by the health care insurance.

Health insurance plans

Health Insurance:

Health insurance, which is coverage for individuals to protect them against medical costs and give them a surity to a secured life in this unsecured world with day to day accidents, enormous infections and diseases which may be highly fatal such as Tuberculosis and other viral infections, Genetic disorders that requires relatively high costs for treatment and diagnosis. It is a wise act to make yourself prepared for such instances by buying a profitable health insurance from us. Unlike other insurance plans , health insurance also should be regarded as an important plan to be taken up for leading a healthy life in this medically advanced world whereby the cost of medication is increasing day by day with the discovery of new therapies and various rapid diagnostic tools.

About Health Insurance:

Health insurance companies offer Health insurance plans as a vital part of your full planning picture. Without it your safety and the safety of your family is jeopardized; most qualified heath care providers will not treat you without health insurance.

As we all know, health care is very costly; a prolonged illness or serious injury can easily bankrupt a family without insurance. Not having it is an endangerment to everything you have. After you have read the basics on this page, you can go to choosing a Health Insurance Plan to understand more about all the choices available for your situation.

Choosing a Health Plan:

Health insurance offers better health plans for you and your family’s health needs. With any health plan, however, there is a basic premium, which is how much you or your employer pays, usually monthly, to buy health insurance coverage. In addition, there are often other payments you must make, which will vary by plan. In considering any plan, you should try to figure out its total cost to you and your family, especially if someone in the family has a chronic or serious health condition. Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach.

Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid. Usually, indemnity plans offer more choice of doctors (including specialists, such as cardiologists and surgeons), hospitals, and other health care providers than managed care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill.

Managed care plans have agreements with certain doctors, hospitals, and health care providers to give a range of services to plan members at reduced cost. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care type plan and a broader choice of health care providers if you select an indemnity-type plan.

Services offered by us:

We offer a good match between what plans will satisfy your need and the best coverage, which can benefit you from the health insurance plan. For example, if you are suffering from a chronic disease we offer special plans which encompass all the medication and diagnostic costs. You can’t know in advance what your health care needs for the coming year will be. But you can guess what services you and your family might need. Figure out what the total costs to your family would be for these services under each plan and take up the plan in the most profitable way.

Today there is more health plans to choose according to your convenience and choice. You can make your best choice and satisfy with the best health insurance plans offered by us in the most profitable way.

Health Insurance Options

Health insurance is one of the most important types of insurance available for American consumers. There are a variety of options available when choosing health insurance, however, the main purpose of health insurance is to provide the “insured” with financial coverage that will help pay for the cost of care during thee sickness. Health insurance may also cover things such as hospital beds, lab tests, medicine, surgeries, x-rays, and more. Health Insurance will pay the cost of medical expenses due to sickness, illnesses, accidents, and childbirth. Each health insurance policy is different and it is recommended to determine what types of services will be covered when choosing and comparing health insurance plans. The most common type of Health Insurance is Private Sector Health Insurance. Health Insurance varies from life insurance in a few ways. First, health insurance is purchased annually, and there is no guarantee that premium costs will not rise with each renewal policy.

Before you can qualify for medical insurance, you will more than likely need to undergo a series of routine tests. These tests will screen out any underlying conditions that may require you to need more medical services. Based upon the results of the tests, you may or may not qualify for medical insurance. Unfortunately, many today are facing life without any insurance at all. There are many plans available and many different service providers and brokers that offer a wide variety of health care coverage to qualified individuals. For those who cannot afford to pay the premium cost of health insurance, they may qualify to receive government insurance through their state. The two programs run by the United States government are Medicare and Medicaid. Some local counties may also offer free healthcare to uninsured people through programs that are either federally funded or working on grant monies.

Many people are discovering that they cannot afford the premium price of the healthcare plans that are offered by their place of employment. This does not mean that they have no options available. The first step in determining whether you can afford your company’s health care insurance is to speak with your Human Resource department and see if there is a plan that they offer that meets your needs. You also have the option of researching a number of insurance brokers and agents online. This is a great way to find a free quote and get in touch with different brokers easily. By simply filling out a small questionnaire over the Internet, you will then receive a return phone call by brokers or agents who are interested in signing you to a policy.

Finally, it is important that you choose your health insurance plan carefully. Your plan is a legal binding contract and you have many rights to medical services and covered costs once you enter into this agreement. You should know your rights and understand the terms of your policy plan. Since most people agree that quality health insurance is the most important benefit that companies offer their employees it is necessary that you take the time to read the literature that pertains to your policy plan.

Health Insurance New Options Make Health Insurance Affordable For Small Businesses

Health Insurance New options are designed to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses. Articles, tips, and information about all types of insurance coverage including auto, health, life, home, business, pet, and more… In some states, businesses are required to provide health insurance if they employ more than five workers. No, but it’s not easy to find good small business health insurance. Whether for leisure or business travel, travel insurance is critical in today’s uncertain world to protect your travel investment, health, belongings and vacation memories. As someone whose livelihood depends on your health and ability to run your business, disability insurance is essential.

Senate that would let small businesses buy health insurance policies exempt from state coverage requirements. Senate Bill 1955 would allow businesses belonging to a trade or professional association to band together across state lines to buy health insurance. Our trusted vendors provide excellent small business group health insurance both in price and in service and management. Small business health insurance can often times be expensive and as an employee benefit, difficult to manage. Individual California health insurance plans, family health plans, small business group health insurance brokers, term life rates, long… Health Coverage Providing health insurance coverage can be a challenge for small businesses in today’s competitive environment.

Commonly needed insurance areas for home-based businesses include business property, professional liability, personal and advertising injury, loss of business data, crime and theft, and disability. Property Insurance: Property insurance protects the building, office machines, office furniture, inventory (maybe) and other property owned by a business. general liability, property, mortgage insurance, business continuation, etc.) I can make a couple of recommendations. This policy covers building and personal property on a no-coinsurance, replacement cost basis and automatically includes business income and extra expense coverage.

Use a broad form of business property insurance. Our packaged policies or tailored plans provide a full range of property and liability insurance tailored to protect your business. When purchasing business insurance, include liability coverage to financially protect the business and yourself from damage or injury to customers, workers, or property. You may well need additional forms of business insurance, such as business and general liability, property, workers’ compensation and so on. It is a business insurance policy that protects the employer in case of any loss of money or property due to employee dishonesty. When a hurricane or earthquake puts your business out of commission for days

your property insurance has got it covered. Every year hundreds of businesses that carry adequate insurance against direct property losses fail because they are not insured for indirect losses. Loss of business income: Traditional business insurance usually requires direct physical damage or loss to tangible property. Commercial Insurance Take the pain out of property & casualty and workers’ compensation with commercial insurance designed for small businesses.

General Liability Many business owners buy general liability or umbrella liability insurance to cover legal hassles due to claims of negligence. Internet Business Insurance Web-based businesses may wish to look into specialized insurance that covers liability for damage done by hackers and viruses. General liability insurance is as close to a must have as you may get when operating a business. Even if product liability insurance is expensive, businesses should have it. Product liability insurance is another especially important type of insurance if a business is going to sell manufatured or assembled products. Besides general liability insurance, business insurance comes in more narrowly-defined versions so businesses can get coverage for specific risks.

Small Business page provides guides and interactive tools for small group medical, worker’s compensation and liability insurance, including instant quotes. Product Liability Insurance This insurance covers the business in the event that causes damage in some way as a result of a faulty product. Unitrin Business Insurance is a Dallas-based unit primarily selling commercial automobile, general liability, commercial fire, commercial multi-peril and workers compensation insurance. The BIT is the host of an informative Web site highlighting information on both business and professional liability insurance. You can protect these valuable assets with various types of business liability insurance.

Health Insurance Needs Worry Older Americans

Nearly 70 percent of older Americans endorse the concept of individual health savings accounts to help cover medical expenses in their later years, a new survey finds.

The accounts would involve setting aside 1 percent of income to handle expenses not covered by Medicare, the federal insurance program for people aged 65 or older.

The survey also found that a majority of those interviewed expressed support for being able to buy into Medicare before they turn 65.

It Won’t Be Easy Without Health Insurance

Many older Americans are facing a bleak picture as they enter retirement. Not only do they often struggle with chronic health problems, but their wages are stagnant, health costs are rising and retiree health benefits are declining.

Fifty-three percent of respondents who worked or had a working spouse said they would not have job-based health benefits when they retired. According to researchers, 12 million older adults are currently uninsured or have had histories of unstable coverage.

It Takes Money To Have Health Insurance

Twenty-four percent of adults aged 50 to 65 said they have not filled a prescription, seen a doctor or specialist, or gotten a medical test or follow-up treatment due to the costs involved. more than one-third said they had a problem paying medical bills in the past year, or were still paying off medical debt from the last three years.

All of this is taking a toll on confidence. Only 15 percent of respondents aged 50 to 64 and 22 percent of those aged 65 to 70 felt they would have enough income and savings for retirement. Almost two-thirds worried they would not be able to afford medical care and health insurance in their later years.

Health Insurance in Germany

About 87 percent of the residents of Germany have statutory health insurance, i.e. GKV. As of May 2005, the GKV relied on 321 non-profit sickness funds to collect premiums from their members and pay health care providers according to negotiated agreements. Those who are not insured this way, mainly civil servants and the self-employed, receive health care through private for-profit insurance.

An estimate of 0,3 percent of the German population (around 250,000 people) has no health insurance at all. Some of them are so rich that they do not need it  but most of them are poor and receive health care through social assistance.

Statutory health insurance

There are three different categories of sickness funds: primary funds, substitute funds and “special” funds. Some workers are required to be members of the primary funds, e.g. if they earn less than the than the income ceiling (2006: EUR 3,937.50 per month / EUR 47,250.00 per year). Those earning more than that ceiling may be members on a voluntary basis, or they may have a choice of funds. Some of them automatically become members of a particular fund for example because of their occupation (company-based funds) or place of residence (local sickness funds). Some occupations have their own “special” funds, e.g. farmers or sailors.

Substitute funds are divided into two kinds: they provide health insurance to both white collar workers and blue collar workers earning more than the income ceiling. Membership is voluntary.

Both, employers and employees pay half of a member’s premiums, which in 2006 averaged between 13 and 14 percent of a worker’s gross earnings up to the contribution assessment ceiling (2006: EUR 3,562.50 monthly / EUR 42,750.00 p.a.). Premiums are fixed according to earnings rather than risk and are unaffected by the respective member’s marital status, family size, or health. Premiums are the same for all members within a particular fund with the same earnings.

Private health insurance

About eleven percent of Germany’s residents pay for private health insurance provided by some 40 for-profit insurance carriers. Many of those choosing private insurance are civil servants who want to secure percentage of their medical bills not covered by the government. Some sickness-fund members buy additional private insurance to cover such extras as a private room or a choice of physicians while in a hospital. Otherwise, the medical care provided to the publicly and privately insured is identical. In both cases the same medical facilities are used. Self-employed persons earning above the income ceiling must have private insurance. Members of a sickness fund who leave it for a private insurance carrier are not allowed to return to public insurance.

As opposed to the statutory heath insurance, contributions to the private insurance depend on the member’s age, gender, occupation and health status, that is, the individual risk. Although private insurance companies pay health care providers about twice the amount paid by the primary sickness funds, private insurance is often cheaper than statutory health insurance, especially for younger policyholders without dependents. As is the case for members of sickness funds, employees who have private insurance have half their premiums paid by their employers.

Health Insurance For The Recent College Graduate

As you graduate college and head into the great, big, scary world, there are probably a lot of things on your mind. First and foremost is finding a good job, then finding a place to live, and then maybe figuring out how to pay back those student loans. One thing that might not cross your mind is health insurance. All of your life, you’ve most likely been a dependent on your parents’ coverage, but that ship is about to sail—if it hasn’t already.

We know what you’re thinking, “Why do I need health insurance? I’m young, I’m healthy, and doctor visits are few and far between. So why pay for something I’ll never use?” Hey, we understand where you’re coming from. But accidents and illnesses happen without warning, even to the strapping young adults such as you. Sure, health insurance is expensive, but not having it will cost you dearly.

First things to know

Let’s get one thing straight, health care in the United States is a nightmare, few will argue that. There are thousands of options when it comes to receiving care and paying for it, some of them good, some of them not so much. When it comes to choosing an insurance policy that’s right for you, confusion abounds. So let’s learn a little more about your options.

There are two essential categories of health insurance: managed care and indemnity plans. Though you’ll pay more for indemnity coverage, it offers much more flexibility than does a managed care plan. Through indemnity coverage, you’ll have your choice of doctor, lab, hospital or specialty clinic. When you seek medical care, you’ll have to pay an out of pocket expense—called a deductible—before your coverage will kick in. Deductibles range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000 or more, depending on your policy. Also, indemnity plans require a co-payment on medical care; meaning you’ll be responsible for a percentage of the treatment costs along with your deductible. Generally, indemnity plans pay only for accidents or illness; they usually don’t cover preventative care.

Managed care is the complete opposite of indemnity coverage. Deductibles are usually smaller, co-payments are lower, and preventative care is usually covered. Your options, however, are limited. Through a managed care plan, you can only choose between health care providers who are contracted by your health maintenance organization. If you go elsewhere, you pay—the full amount. Since that’s a pretty rough deal, many managed care plans are offering hybrid options that include many of the desirable characteristics of an indemnity plan.

Which way to go

If you find a job that offers health insurance and you’re single, take it. It may not be perfect, but it beats anything you can find on your own. When you sign up through your employer, you’ll probably be confronted with many options. Take a good, long look at them and ask for help from a human resources representative if need be, but make sure you choose the plan that’s right for you. Chances are—if you’re young and healthy— you’ll want a plan with a low premium and higher deductible. Look for a plan that minimizes your out-of-pocket expenses. When it comes to choosing between and indemnity plan or a managed care plan, you may or may not have a choice depending on your employer. Both offer advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to crunch the numbers before committing to one or the other.

Make yourself a deal

Though health insurance is a costly part of our lives, there are ways to save. If you’re self-employed, shop around before you commit to a plan. If you’re under 50 and in good health, insurance companies will want your business, and cut rates are to be had. Also, take advantage of breaks from Uncle Sam. The self-employed can write off up to 45 percent of their insurance premiums. Some employers offer flexible spending accounts, where you can pay for premiums and costs not covered by insurance with cash that isn’t subject to taxes.

If you’re married and your spouse also can get coverage from their employer, weigh your options carefully. It might benefit you financially and coverage-wise if you measure the pros and cons of separate coverage, double coverage, or one of you opting out of your work’s plan and enrolling in the other’s.

Finally, if you’ve been healthy and believe you can get by with minimum health coverage, look into purchasing “catastrophic coverage”. This indemnity policy offers extremely low premiums, but deductibles can be very high—up to $2,500. Coverage is extremely limited to “catastrophic” events, which you’ll need to learn all about.

Health Insurance For Small Business Owners

If you are a small business owner and you need to purchase health insurance, you may be surprised by how much a policy covering just you can cost. If you need to find a plan that also covers your family, the cost may be even higher. Because of rising health insurance premiums, restrictions about how much coverage you can receive due to pre-existing conditions, and other rules, many small business owners are unable to afford basic health insurance. If you have a small business that employs a few people, you may not be able to offer health insurance coverage because the premiums are too high.

You have a few options, however, when it comes to health insurance coverage. There are smaller companies that offer plans with higher deductibles or those that cover hospital stay and other emergency care, but do not cover routine check-ups and other appointments. Some plans cover these doctor visits, but require you to pay a higher copay. Even though these plans are not the best, they may be enough to provide you with adequate coverage until you begin earning more money or if your business grows.

If you have employees and want to offer them health insurance, you can sign up for a plan that offers flex options. You pay a smaller premium and each employee receives a certain amount of money each year to cover basic medical needs. Flex plans are also offered to employees who work for larger companies as a way to supplement existing health plans. Employees will still have to pay a copay and pay for major medical emergencies, but other costs will be lower.

Paying for health insurance can be a burden if you are just starting your business. If you have a spouse with an insurance plan you can be added to it. This is a good idea that will save you a lot of money in the long run. Other options when looking for health insurance include joining local community organizations, academic organizations, or alumni organizations. Many times these organizations may be able to offer limited coverage for at least six months. This can help you establish your business and find adequate healthcare coverage in the meantime.

Once your business is generating a profit, you should find out more about health insurance, especially if you aren’t currently covered. Because health issues can occur at any time, you need to be prepared. Having surgery after an accident or illness can cause you to lose your business. Medical costs can take their toll as well. Finding affordable health insurance is possible if you look at smaller agencies and local groups who can provide you with more information or less coverage for the time being.

Health Insurance Explained

In the competitive world today people spend more than half of their lives working day and night for some or the other reason. Though it gives them good financial rewards and gratification of their desires yet what suffers a big setback is their health. This is because individuals fail to pay significant heed to health, the most crucial aspect of their lives. But being occupied is not the only factor in deteriorating health. Reasons like environment, epidemics, natural calamities etc. also contribute largely to fading human health.

Keeping in mind the precariousness of human fitness and the immensely expensive medical treatments available nowadays, health insurance has become the need of the hour. Health insurance is an ideal way to care for your health. A health insurance policy enables you to have the best medical therapy for your illness at any point of time.

The American health care system provides four basic health plans. These are HMOs, PPOs, POSs, and Free-for-Service (Indemnity) Plans.

1. HMOs Plans- these plans are least expensive of all and are offered by Health Maintenance Organizations. In case you avail this plan, you are required to pay for every health related service in advance in the form of monthly premiums. HMOs cover a spectrum of health problems such as dental, vision etc. HMOs provide a list of service providers to all its subscribers. The latter is required to choose from these a so called “primary care giver” who will be supervising or coordinating his health care.

2. POS plans- these are HMO plans that give you the freedom to have a health care of your own choice. These plans are a little pricier than the HMO ones. Here it is not mandatory to go with the referrals from your primary care physician. But if you desire to abide by the HMO plan system per se, you can even do that. In case you opt for services outside the HMO or PPO networks, you will be served accordingly.

3. PPO Plans- Preferred Provider Organizations provides health care at discount rates. The PPO plans cost more than the two aforementioned. The PPOs cover a range of hospitals, doctors, clinics etc. The cost-sharing rate will be less within the network and more outside it. However unlike the HMO plans, PPO plans allow you to avail services from outside the network.

4. Fee for service plans or Indemnity plans are simple an easiest plans that compensate for each service you avail on case by case basis. For instance in case an emergency situation arises and you go for an ultrasound, the hospital needs to submit a claim to your insurance agency and you will be facilitated with the hospital expenses. But with a myriad of options and convenience the Fee-for Service plans come out to be most high-priced of all.

For further details you can surf the net and even get health insurance quotes online. This will save your time money and energy you would spend in consulting an agent.

Health Insurance Coverage

Health insurance is something that everyone needs today. The rising cost of visiting a health care provider or a hospital stay makes it imperative that everyone have some type of health care coverage. Government statistics estimate that over 40 million people in America are not covered by any type of health insurance on any given day. That’s an enormous number of people who really are taking a financial risk.

While most Americans are able to obtain some type of health insurance through their place of employment, many others, the underemployed, the self-employed and the unemployed simply don’t know where to find good, quality coverage at a fair price. The Census Bureau estimates that nearly 15% of the population has no coverage. The long term effects of this are hard to quantify because it means that young children do not see a health care provider unless they are seriously ill. Unfortunately this approach while appearing to save money can be devastating to the long term health of the child.

Health care providers and other experts all recommend that every one have some type of health insurance for the necessary time when they’ll need to visit their Doctor or hospital.

We’ve searched all over the web and have located a few quality companies that we feel are not only financially sound and secure, but which also offer competitive rates. You don’t need to even sit down and visit with an agent, all the information gathering and work can be done over the internet.

You’ll find the best life insurance for your needs that will comfortably fit into your budget. Solid life insurance will give you peace of mind and confidence.

Health Insurance Companies

Health insurance is at the center of one of the most enduring and prominent social controversies in recent history. With costs rising year after year at an unprecedented rate, and the roster of uninsured continuing to grow as well, the health insurance quandary is at the forefront of the social and political dialog.

For those who are attempting to understand the nature of this controversy it is hard to know where to even begin to look. The health insurance debate spans so many aspects of society; from providers to customers, from hospitals to malpractice attorneys, and from the function of private markets to the role of government in healthcare. However, if one seeks to educate themselves on the many facets of the issue, then understanding health insurance companies is a logical starting point.

It has been over three-hundred years since the concept of health insurance had its genesis. The original health insurance business model was one where the focus was solely on disability. Only injuries that could leave the patient disabled were covered; everything else was paid for by the patient. Amazingly that basic arrangement remained in effect for the next two-hundred years. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the disability model of insurance was replaced with the more familiar, contemporary health insurance; hence, the modern health insurance companies were born.

The essential philosophy on which health insurance companies operate is that they enter into a contractual relationship with their customers. The customers pay insurance premiums, and in return the health insurance companies cover the costs of predetermined medical conditions such as most routine, preventive, and emergency medical conditions. In many cases some or all of the cost of prescription drugs is covered as well.

The obvious reason for people to purchase insurance is that despite the high costs of insurance, the high cost of medical care can be much greater if they are unfortunate enough to become sick or injured. And that scenario does hold true in reality, and health insurance companies frequently pay more in coverage than they collect in premiums for some individuals. To understand how they can do that and still remain profitable then you must understand the basic assumptions under which health insurance companies operate.

The first thing health insurance companies do when reviewing an application for coverage is review the individual’s medical history. The company knows that high risk individuals are likely to incur large medical expenses, and those individuals are generally rejected or offered coverage at an increased premium rate.

Of those who have medical histories that fall within normal parameters, they are offered coverage and become customers. The health insurance companies know that, with the help of some statistical calculation, they can determine the percentage of their insured clients who will become ill during the year, and they charge a sufficient premium that will not only cover those costs but allow for profitable operations as well.

Another way that health insurance companies control expenses and maintain profits is to make the customers pay for a portion of their service at the time it is rendered. That payment is in the form of a co–payment, which is the out-of-pocket expense for which the customer is responsible.

The purpose of the co-payment is multifunctional. Not only does it directly offset some of the expenses, it prevents people from abusing their coverage by seeking unnecessary treatment. If out-of-pocket expenses were very low, or non existent, people would be likely to go to the doctor or pharmacy for the slightest issue or problem; issues that in many cases do not require medical attention.

At the same time, health insurance companies know that if co-payment expenses are too high, people will put off seeking attention, and that could ultimately lead to even more serious problems for the customer and more expenses for the health insurance companies.

Ultimately, health insurance companies seek a balance in all things they do. They seek to find the right balance of price in co-payments and premiums, and they seek the ideal balance of patients who will require predictable needs and consistent premium payments.

They use enticements like exercise or smoking cessation incentives that may cost them a little now, but could save them much in the long run. It is a business model that has evolved over the centuries and continues to evolve to this day, but the basic principles on which health insurance companies operate remain relatively constant.

Health Insurance Companies

It’s a simple fact that even some very good health insurance companies lack a few of the following 5 things. Be a discriminating health insurance buyer and make sure that the health insurance company that you choose receives a passing grade in all 5 of these areas:

1. Large, Stable Networks [If you have never heard of them before then it could be that your doctor never has either].

2. Excellent Customer Service [This should go without saying].

3. Comprehensive Policies [No Annual Caps or Limits – no indemnity policies or health discount plans unless all other alternatives are exhausted; TIP: Simply look up Discount Health Plan Warning in any major search engine and take a look].

4. Competitive Pricing [There is very strong competition amongst the “Big 3” that many other companies could have trouble competing with unless they give up ground on 1 or more of these other 4 things].

5. Claims-Paying Ability [Financial Strength] When it comes to being fully prepared why does it make sense to depend on one of the “Big 3” health insurance companies: United Healthcare, Aetna, or Humana? Aren’t there some other good companies out there?
The answer is, “Yes, there are many good health insurance companies out there with great people working for them.” However, in all practicality almost all people will find the best policy from one of the “Big 3” health insurance companies: United Healthcare, Aetna, or Humana. The “Big 3” are all very strong in each of these 5 areas.

Again, there are many other good companies out there but a health insurance company must be strong in each of these 5 areas to truly be a health insurance company that your family can depend on for years to come.Compare Health Insurance Quotes

Health Insurance And Insurance Brokers

If you are in the market to purchase your own health insurance coverage you can save yourself precious time and money by shopping and comparing policies right online. Sites dedicated to giving you quotes on various types of insurance make it very easy for you to get an idea of what your coverage and costs will be. However, please be forewarned that there are some pitfalls in using an insurance broker as I discovered within the past year.

As a self employed person, I carry my own health and life insurance for my family. When making the move from New Jersey to North Carolina in 2004 I knew two things about our health insurance:

1. I would have to shop for a health insurance provider covering North Carolina.

2. Rates would be cheaper than in New Jersey, with costs being about half of what I had been paying and with slight better coverage.

Several weeks before we moved I contacted a well known internet insurance broker and received quotes. We selected one company and received the paperwork from the broker about ten days before our move. Quite frankly, I wish I had started the process a little earlier as all of our free time was dedicated toward preparing and making the move. So, I ended up packing the paperwork with my personal stuff and was only able to fill it out and submit it one week after our arrival in North Carolina.

Dealing with the online insurance broker was a simple task, but I soon discovered that they were an extra step in the application process, one that only slowed down our approval.

Once the paperwork was received by the broker, they acknowledged the same via email and mentioned that they would review our package before forwarding it to the health insurance company.

Over the next couple of weeks we received messages from the insurance broker stating the following:

1. We are in the process of reviewing your application.

2. We have sent your application off to the insurance company.

3. The insurance company has your application and will be reviewing it in about one week.

4. The insurance company expects a delay in reviewing your application due to the high volume of applications received.

5. Please do not contact the insurance company directly; we will keep you posted as to the status of your application. Yeah, right.

Originally, we were assured by the insurance broker that the health insurance company would review and approve our application within two weeks. Follow up phone calls by us to the broker along with several exchanges of emails revealed that this was not going to happen. In addition, when we contacted the health insurance company directly – at the encouragement of the broker – the health insurance company had difficulty finding our application. Within a few days the application was found sitting in another department; our contact at the health insurance company blamed the broker for sending the information to the wrong address.

As it turned out, the original insurance quote we received online was off by just over 20%. Once the health insurance company determined that certain pre existing conditions needed to be factored in our rates rose accordingly. Of course, when working with the internet broker we knew that the rate quoted wasn’t ‘absolute’ but the big jump was still a bitter pill to swallow.

Among our thoughts at that point in the process were:

1. Had we known ahead of time that our “final rate” would be so high, we would have shopped around some more.

2. Because of the delays and the passage of time, we needed to complete the application process as our coverage with the NJ health provider would need to be canceled, preferably by the end of the year.

By the middle of December, a full ten weeks after we submitted our paperwork, we received official notification that our application was approved and that we were covered. During the last couple of weeks of the lengthy application process we contacted the health insurance company directly several times to learn what the status of our application was. At no time during the process were we assured that we would receive approval; essentially we were told that coverage would begin pending approval.

In conclusion, I offer the following recommendations for shopping for health insurance:

1. Comparison shop online. Get quotes through the online brokers to get a general idea of what your costs will be. If you have pre-existing conditions, the prices quoted will not be reflected in your quote.

2. Narrow down the list of companies quoted to three and then contact them directly. Bypass the broker as they are an unnecessary additional step in what certainly is not a quick approval process.

3. If you need insurance by a particular date, apply well in advance to allow for delays, for misplaced paperwork, changes in your application, etc. Our insurance coverage was approved effective a specific date, but we were able to move it to another date to coincide with the dropping of our NJ health care provider.

In all, the experience was wearisome at times and a real eye opener. I know you see ads all the time for online insurance quotes. I am not saying to avoid the sites, but please consider what we went through before using an online broker exclusively.

Health Insurance And High Deductibles

When most people learn that their family’s health insurance coverage is going to cost more, they shop for a more affordable policy. Often the solution is a combination of an insurance plan and a tax-sheltered Health Savings Account.

More than 1 million Americans have made a similar choice, signing up for high-deductible health insurance policies and associated HSAs since the program was introduced in late 2003 according to the Washington-based industry group, America’s Health Insurance Plans.

The new plans are a bit complex, but a growing number of insurers offer them.

Under federal law, the policy must have a minimum deductible of $1000 a year for an individual and $2000 for a family; maximum out of pocket expenses; for example, copayments required for surgical procedures, cannot exceed $5100 for individuals and $10,200 for families.

People Help With Their Own Health Insurance

Policyholders, meanwhile, can set up HSAs that they fund with their own money. Employers also can contribute to their workers’ HSAs. HSA contributions, generally set an amount equal to the policy’s deductible, can best be used to cover health care costs, and unused money can be carried over at year’s end. This differs from company sponsored Flexible Spending Accounts, health care savings plans in which unused money is forfeited after Dec 31 of each year.

Some companies are replacing existing catastrophic health coverage plans with the new plans because they see HSAs as a good way for workers to handle the higher deductibles. Others see them as a way of making workers more mindful of health care spending.

Health Insurance For The Young And Uninsured

The new policies are especially attractive to young singles, people in relatively good health and higher income people who can afford to cover higher out of pocket costs.

The new policies also are attractive to small businesses and the uninsured. Of the new policies purchased through eHealthInsurance, more than 40% were purchased by people with annual incomes below $50,000, almost half were families and more than one-third had been uninsured.

Affordable Health Insurance

It’s the affordability. Participants get a lower cost premium and the money they probably would have been spending can be run through a savings account to buy day to day medical services.

More companies will adopt the plans because the trend is that more of the burden for health benefits is going to be moved to the employee.

On the other hand, people who can afford to fund the HSAs and don’t need to draw them down entirely to cover annual medical expenses will be able to let them grow tax-free. In retirement, the excess savings can be used to purchase long-term care insurance and to pay for other qualified medical expenses.

That means that they’re more popular for those approaching retirement age, especially if they don’t have company plans available to them.

There are many health insurance alternatives, so it’s important that people asses their individual needs.

Health Insurance And College Students

As a parent you should not overlook a solid health plan for your college student. Among all the other support you give to your son or daughter, selecting a health plan should be high on your list of things to do. Often enough your own health plan will cover your children when they are 20 to 24 years old. Your college student usually has to qualify to be put on your health plan, such as financial dependency on you and long term enrollment which would consider them a full time student.

If you do not have a health plan that can be utilized for your child, the college he or she is attending will likely have some available for your selection. Some colleges include health care coverage as a mandatory part of enrollment. An added cost on enrollment is often needed to subscribe as part of the health care coverage, which will be an another burden on top of the tuition cost. If you are worried and cannot find any other option, you may need to justify the extra cost and obtain health coverage through the college in question.

You should always do your research by comparing the costs and benefits of each health plan, even if you already have a health plan and you’re thinking about including your son or daughter in it as they attend as a full time college student. Deductibles and copays will be something your child may need to pay if they desire to be independent from you, even if they are financially dependent on you. You should take into consideration what type of medical treatments are included in the plan, such as xrays, lab work, doctor visits, surgery and dental procedures.

Another thing to consider is if they’re covered on spring break and other holidays, since college kids tend to get in trouble at these times. No Matter what plan you select, you should make sure the plan is inside your budget and properly covers your college student, as they are obviously important. There may be certain plans available to part time college students, however these will vary greatly with costs and benefits. A good resource on college student health insurance plans is the American College Student Association located at http://acsa.com/. Members earn discounts and receive loads of information aimed specifically at all types of college students, from a reputable and well established association.

There are several ACSA endorsed student loan programs that can help you pay for health insurance for your college student. Financial aid for student tuition based on your son or daughter’s GPA and needs can help pad the burdening effects of paying for long term health insurance as well. There is lots of help available for obtaining health insurance and financial aid for students who aren’t covered by their parents, students who need temporary health plan coverage, grad students or students who are even married, and even international students who need coverage that complies with their visa requirements.

Health Insurance A Necessity Of Life

Not everything in life goes smoothly or as we expect it to. That is why it is important that we should always be careful. Insurance of any kind is important to cover up for the uncertainties that may occur in future.

However the insurance that is most important to have is the health insurance as we can afford not to have the other insurances but the absence of health insurance can prove to be fatal not only for us but also for people around us as well.

There are different types of health insurance policies person who wants to get insured can choose the policy suits them the best. The two main types of policies are

1. Free – for – service insurance also known as indemnity insurance this is a traditional type of health insurance that pays the portion of each medical service you get like doctor’s visit and hospital stays while you pay the remaining costs. Premiums are higher than the other policies.

2. Managed care plans also known as HMO’s (health management organizations) or PPO’s (preferred provider organization). In this case the health insurance company has a contract with doctors and hospitals to provide you service. In this type of health insurance you pay monthly premiums and a small amount per visit called co pay. You can use the advice of other doctors as well by paying a higher amount of co pay.

The best way to go in for the health insurance is through a broker. You can choose your broker depending upon your requirements. A broker can get you a good health insurance policy as well as give you information on several key features of the policy in general. Like:

• What is the monthly premium?
• Is the policy guaranteed renewable/non cancelable or just guaranteed renewable?
• Are premium rates based on age of attaining the policy or using the features of policy?
• Does the plan pay for catastrophic medical costs?

You can answers to all the questions and more if you take the help of the brokers in your health insurance policies.

The health insurance organizations offer you different deductibles with larger the deductible the lower the monthly installments. You can choose a deductible of 50% to 80%. It all depends on your conditions.

Individuals with pre existing conditions for example, they have a health problem before going in for health insurance find it difficult to get health insurance coverage. However depending on your state you can choose any of the following policies. They are: open enrollment, health insurance provability and accountability act (HIPAA), high risk pools or temporary coverage.

The borrowers can choose from the myriad of resources that deal in health insurance.

Life is uncertain that’s why it is essential that we have insurances with us and every member of our family to live life with a reasonable amount of certainty. Also health insurance has plenty of features which help us in times that we feel a little vulnerable. So it is important that we go for a policy of health insurance.

Health Insurance Explained

We all understand the importance of health insurance; however, as the types of health insurance continue to increase it is becoming more and more difficult to select the type of coverage that is best for you and your family. To help you find out which type of policy might benefit you the most, let’s take a look at the most common types of policies.

There is usually a lot of hype regarding HMOs so let’s look at that one first. A HMO is a health maintenance organization plan that works with a specified group of doctors and hospitals within the network. A primary healthcare physician is selected and you must obtain referrals for care that cannot be provided by that physician. The benefits of this type of plan are lower office visit costs and prescription drug co-pays. In addition, there will typically be either no or limited deductible costs for hospital stays. Depending on your coverage, there may also be no pre-existing condition cause limitations. It is also important to understand that your choice of doctors and hospitals will be limited with a HMO and you won’t be able to have out of network services covered.

A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization works similar to a HMO; however, the major difference is that you are not required to select a primary care physician. In addition to the benefit of being free to choose your own physician without worrying about a referral you also gain the benefit of limited or no deductible costs for hospital stays as well as a possible larger selection of physicians that might be available with a HMO. Out of network services may also be covered; however, for a higher charge than in network services.

A POS, or Point of Service, is also similar to a HMO in that you select a primary care physician. The difference is that you are free to choose out of network treatment if you’re willing to pay a higher out of pocket cost.
Another option is what is known as a traditional coverage policy. This type of policy will have a higher monthly premium as well as deductibles. In addition, you will generally be required to pay for services out of your own pocket up front and then submit claim reimbursement forms.

You may also wish to consider various types of disability plans, which cover a percentage of your income in the event that you experience an illness or accident that prevents you from working for a period of time. A short term disability plan will provide benefits from the first day of an accident or the eighth day of an illness up to 26 weeks. Generally, this type of plan will cover 66% of your weekly income.

Long term disability will begin after short term coverage has expired and will provide coverage for a variable term, depending on the policy you select. Some policies are limited to providing coverage up to two years while others will cover you up to the age of 65.

Health Insurance

We all understand the importance of health insurance; however, as the types of health insurance continue to increase it is becoming more and more difficult to select the type of coverage that is best for you and your family. To help you find out which type of policy might benefit you the most, let’s take a look at the most common types of policies.

There is usually a lot of hype regarding HMOs so let’s look at that one first. A HMO is a health maintenance organization plan that works with a specified group of doctors and hospitals within the network. A primary healthcare physician is selected and you must obtain referrals for care that cannot be provided by that physician. The benefits of this type of plan are lower office visit costs and prescription drug co-pays. In addition, there will typically be either no or limited deductible costs for hospital stays. Depending on your coverage, there may also be no pre-existing condition cause limitations. It is also important to understand that your choice of doctors and hospitals will be limited with a HMO and you won’t be able to have out of network services covered.

A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization works similar to a HMO; however, the major difference is that you are not required to select a primary care physician. In addition to the benefit of being free to choose your own physician without worrying about a referral you also gain the benefit of limited or no deductible costs for hospital stays as well as a possible larger selection of physicians that might be available with a HMO. Out of network services may also be covered; however, for a higher charge than in network services.

A POS, or Point of Service, is also similar to a HMO in that you select a primary care physician. The difference is that you are free to choose out of network treatment if you’re willing to pay a higher out of pocket cost.
Another option is what is known as a traditional coverage policy. This type of policy will have a higher monthly premium as well as deductibles. In addition, you will generally be required to pay for services out of your own pocket up front and then submit claim reimbursement forms.

You may also wish to consider various types of disability plans, which cover a percentage of your income in the event that you experience an illness or accident that prevents you from working for a period of time. A short term disability plan will provide benefits from the first day of an accident or the eighth day of an illness up to 26 weeks. Generally, this type of plan will cover 66% of your weekly income.

Long term disability will begin after short term coverage has expired and will provide coverage for a variable term, depending on the policy you select. Some policies are limited to providing coverage up to two years while others will cover you up to the age of 65.

Health Insurance Your Rights Under State Law

Health insurance is regulated at the state level and as such there are certain very important state regulations that you should be aware of. These health insurance regulations vary from state to state. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the health insurance policy that you purchased in Pennsylvania will be governed under the same rules as the health insurance policy that you would like to purchase in Florida.

It would be close to impossible to go into a great deal of depth on the various regulations across all 50 states in this short article. However, there is a health insurance information site run by Georgetown University that allows the ability to view and print A Consumer Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance.

Each of these health insurance Consumer Guides are state specific which can save you quite a bit of time in sorting through what does and does not apply to your state of residency. It is important to compare health insurance quotes side by side from top carriers and be able to contrast the pros and cons of each company’s policy. Be a knowledgeable consumer when shopping for health insurance and know your rights under state law.

Health Insurance Basics

Health Insurance: Understanding the Basics

Americans today receive a barrage of health insurance information from every direction. Pundits speak of the national health care crisis; Medicare now offers additional options; and employee benefits officers often speak in a jumble of letters from HMO to PPO. For the consumer, choosing a health insurance plan can be quite confusing.

Health insurance is not “one size fits all.” Depending on your current state of health, budget, and individual needs, the best insurance for you may be far different than the best insurance for your friend or family member. A basic understanding of the various types of insurance that are available, and what each does and does not cover, can be helpful in determining which plan will work best for each person.

Traditional health insurance, also called “fee for service” or 80/20, is the type of insurance that most of us grew up with. You are entitled to visit any doctor, and the insurance company pays 80% of the bill. This type of insurance offers the greatest flexibility, but carries the highest out of pocket expenses. A deductible must be met before the insurance company will pay. The lower your monthly premium, the higher the deductible will be. The insurance company usually reserves the right to cap payments if, in their opinion, the doctor’s fees are higher than what is “reasonable and customary” in your area. This is an excellent type of coverage to have if you become extremely ill and require a network of specialists, or if your medical bills are astronomical. Once your expenses for the year reach a certain level, the insurance company will take over and pay 100%.

Many healthy people do not need fee for service medical insurance. They find that their out of pocket expenses are much lower with a “managed care” plan. There are two basic types of managed care – HMO and PPO.

In an HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, you pay a monthly premium in exchange for comprehensive medical care. There is usually a small co-payment for doctor’s visits (usually ranging from $5 to $25), and a somewhat higher co-pay or deductible for hospitalization. Your out of pocket expenses are significantly easier to predict and manage with an HMO rather than a fee for service plan. However, an HMO introduces the concept of a “gatekeeper.” In an HMO, you must choose a primary care physician. That doctor, working in tandem with a risk management insurance officer, will determine your access to specialists. Finally, an HMO requires you to use doctors that are part of the HMO’s network. If you travel a lot, be sure to find out what the provisions are should you require an out of network doctor.

A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, can be considered a blend of HMO and fee for service plans. You will choose a primary care physician, and generally use doctors that are part of the organization. However, a PPO lets you see doctors who are not part of the network for a somewhat higher fee. This increased flexibility is excellent for those who travel frequently, or for those whose current doctor is not a member of the organization.

Many other options exist for covering your medical expenses. A Health Savings Account allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars each month. Catastrophic insurance carries a low premium with a high deductible, and is designed to cover you if you develop a serious illness or injury. However, for the average consumer, the choice is generally between fee for service and managed care. All types of plans carry their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to understand what these are in order to make the right decisions for your family.

Health Insurance

About 50 years ago, health insurance started to be an attractive incentive offered by employers to attract and keep good employees. Overall, group plans tended to be inexpensive for employers, with employees contributing a small amount of money or none at all to secure health insurance for themselves and their families.

It was more expensive for individuals to pay for non-group policies, but coverage was fairly affordable. Then medical costs started to rise, people started to live longer and the medical profession became adept at curing various diseases and saving and prolonging the lives of people with serious injuries and life-threatening illnesses. Health care and insurance prices started rising much more quickly than annual incomes and premiums began taxing both employers, who were paying the lion’s share of premiums, and for employees, to whom businesses often passed on costs through larger deductibles, greater out of pocket expenses and higher premiums.

According to a recent report by the MSNBC News Service, 41 percent of Americans whose income ranges from moderate to middle had no health insurance for at least part of 2005. In 2001, that number was much lower—28 percent. Additionally, more than 50 percent of uninsured Americans in 2005 found it difficult to pay their medical bills. Another alarming statistic—28 percent of Americans in 2005 had no health insurance, while 24 percent had none in 2001.

So, what should a person do if they don’t have any health insurance or if they have a choice between a cheap discount plan that does not cover core expenses and an affordable plan that may cost a bit more but also provides much better coverage? According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of people who are not covered for important screening tests, such as a mammogram, colon cancer screening or a PSA test, will not undergo those exams. Also, close to 60 percent of people without health insurance missed treatment or did not buy medicine needed for a chronic condition.

All of these figures point to one thing—people who lack health coverage for essential services are often unable to pay for those services, putting them at greater risk for developing new or exacerbating existent health conditions.

What should you look for in a health insurance plan, especially when cost is an issue? It’s important that you get the best coverage you can afford. Skimping on premiums can save you money upfront, but the result can prove to be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Sometimes people can’t afford coverage and sometimes they believe because they are healthy that they simply don’t need it. However, healthy people get ill or are involved in serious accidents all the time. You never know when you’ll need coverage.

Some people opt for “catastrophic” insurance, which usually covers only major medical and hospital expenses above a specific deductible. Under such a plan, the insured pays for routine doctor visits and prescription drugs. With this type of plan, you’ll pay a low monthly premium but will also have a high deductible and limited coverage. Deductibles start at $500 per year but can be considerably more. If you purchase an inexpensive policy with a $10,000 deductible and you undergo surgery that costs $8,000, you must pay that $8,000. If your surgery costs $12,000, you would owe $10,000.

One insurance company offers a plan that costs $29 per month for a 21 year-old, non-smoking female. There’s a yearly $250 deductible and $2,500 in out of pocket expenses that the insured must pay before the policy kicks in. Hospital, surgical and x-ray expenses are covered but other costs, such as doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity care and mental healthcare are not included. There’s a lifetime maximum of $1 million.

It’s certainly a bargain, if you don’t plan on going to the doctor very often. To enroll in a plan that will cover doctor visits, prescriptions, maternity expenses and more could easily cost $400 per month—a jump of $371 every 30 days for a total cost of $4,800 per year!

Group health insurance plans, which you can usually enroll in through your employer, union or guild, are the best buy. Individual plans, especially those that offer comprehensive coverage, can be crippling to many people’s pocketbooks. When buying health insurance, it’s important to shop around. Your choice of what type of plan you purchase will be determined by what you can afford and what you need as far as insurance is concerned. There’s no right or wrong choice when it comes to health insurance but at the very least you should have catastrophic insurance.

There are basically three types of plans—Fee-For-Service, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO). Fee-For-Service plans offer the most choice regarding doctors and hospitals but they often involve quite a bit of paperwork and are the most expensive. If you’re willing to give up some or a lot of choice, do less paperwork and save some money on premiums then either a HMO or a PPO is for you.

A HMO offers the least amount of choice, involves co-pays, has the least amount of paperwork and is the cheapest of the three types of insurance. A PPO combines some elements of Fee-For-Service and a HMO. You’ll have more choice than you would with a HMO but less than you would with a Fee-For-Service plan. It tends to be more expensive than a HMO but less expensive than Fee-For-Service. All three types of insurance have some aspect of Managed Care—which determines how much health care you can use—attached to them, with Fee-For-Service having the fewest restrictions and a HMO being restricted the most.

When shopping for health insurance ask the following questions—

* How much is the premium?
* What services are covered?
* What are the total deductible and out of pocket expenses per year?
* How much are the co-pays?
* What is the maximum lifetime benefit?
* How much freedom will you have when choosing doctors and hospitals?
* What are the pre-approval procedures for seeing specialists, undergoing a procedure or being given a test?
* What prescription drugs are covered and to what degree?
* Is mental health covered and to what degree?
* Is dental covered and to what degree?

As you begin to narrow down your choices, you can look more closely at specific plans that seem to fit your needs and determine which offer you the best value for your dollar?

America has one of the finest healthcare systems in the world and one of the most complex health insurance systems across the globe. Often, they seem to be at odds with one another, unable to communicate and work together. That can be one of the most frustrating parts of anyone’s foray into the world of healthcare professionals, hospitals and health insurance companies. For this reason alone, it’s important that you carefully and thoughtfully choose your healthcare benefits provider.

Health Insurance How We Can Make It Better

You almost have to take out a loan to pay for health insurance these days. Even if your company pays for half or more of your premium, a premium for a family still runs at least two to three hundred dollars a month. This is ridiculous, especially for people that do not visit the doctor very often. However, everyone is worried that if they do not have health insurance, then they will need it and they will not be able to get the help that they need, or they will get substandard healthcare because they do not have insurance. Many factors have surfaced over the years that cause health insurance to continue to stay on the rise.

One of the major problems that cause health insurance to continue to rise is the amount of frivolous malpractice lawsuits that are filed against doctors every year. Even if a doctor does not do anything wrong, they still have to pay the court costs, which usually are paid for out of their malpractice insurance. And if a doctor does make a mistake they can pay ten’s of millions of dollars in damages. All of this causes doctor’s to pay more for malpractice insurance, which translates into higher costs to their patient’s so they can continue to survive. One of the best ideas I have heard to help combat this problem, is legislature that puts a cap on monetary awards that are awarded for punitive damages in these lawsuits. Anything over the cap will be given to the state to help pay for schools, roads, and other things for the community. This will slow people down who want to sue just to get rich quick, but will still allow people to sue if a wrong has truly been committed.

Another major problem that causes health insurance problems is the ability of health insurance companies to get out of paying the full amount requested by a doctor. Health insurance companies rarely pay half of what a doctor’s office requests, so the doctor’s office usually has to eat the lost costs. This causes doctor’s offices to raise their prices to help shoulder the burden of these lost profits. An easy solution would be to implement some kind of regulations that would allow doctor’s offices to collect the full amount for a visit. These regulations would force health insurance companies to pay the amount that doctor’s charge, thus lowering the prices of doctor’s visits for all of their patients.