Nov 11
18
Happy Thanksgiving
| During this season of Thanksgiving, let me thank you for your interest in filling your health care needs at our website. We appreciate serving you and look forward to doing so for many years. We want to help you stay as healthy as you can be.May you and your family have a truly blessed Thanksgiving holiday! |
| May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump, May your potatoes ‘n gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, And may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!  |
Posted in Holiday by .
Nov 11
16
How to shop for Health Insurance
If you have always had health insurance provided through either a family member or your employer, shopping for health insurance yourself might be something new to you. It isn’t quite as daunting as it sounds; if you have shopped for auto or homeowner’s insurance, it is fairly similar. There are a few key things to keep in mind that will help make the task a little easier.
Talk To A Barricks Insurance Services Agent
If you already have an insurance agent, it’s a great place to start. Even if the agent who handles your other insurance policies doesn’t do health insurance, they should be able to point you in the direction of someone who does. An agent who works with health insurance regularly will be able to help you make a decision on coverage and what type of plan is right for you. They will also help you fill out the necessary forms and make the entire process a little easier.
Choose An HMO Or PPO Plan
Once you know which type of plan you prefer, it becomes easier to narrow down the list of possibilities. Which type you prefer depends on a number of factors including your budget and your personal preference. In some cases, going directly through the HMO company for coverage is the best way to get the right plan for you and your family. PPO plans often come with a wider range of coverage, premium, and co-insurance options, so if you choose this path there will be a little more research to do in order to figure out exactly the way to go.
Understand The Cost And Coverage
When you are shopping for a health insurance plan, be sure you get all the pertinent information and not just the amount of the premium. Ask for the co-insurance and co-pay amounts, deductibles, and out of pocket limits. And ask for a copy of the policy benefits and exclusions; you should be able to review it and ensure that coverage is provided for your particular needs. Look for key coverages such as maternity benefits, regular well visits, and emergency care costs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the coverage and find out exactly what you will be responsible for and what the policy will cover.
Asking questions is the key to making sure you get the coverage you need from your policy and don’t wind up with any nasty surprises after you are locked into the policy. Health insurance is a major purchase, so do your research and ensure that your hard-earned money is buying you the coverage you need.
Posted in Health Care Costs by .
The Supreme Court’s announcement that it would take up the challenges to healthcare reform drew heavy print and broadcast coverage, including nearly 7 and a half minutes of coverage on network newscasts (it was the lead story on NBC Nightly News) and several stories that appeared on the front pages of major newspapers. Most reports place the arguments, scheduled for March, against the backdrop of a politically charged presidential year.
ABC World News (11/14, story 3, 2:15, Sawyer) reported, “Word today that the Supreme Court will weigh in on a lightning rod issue, whether the President’s healthcare law is constitutional. A question that spawned heated debates on both sides. A Supreme Court ruling being heralded as the most important since Bush vs. Gore in 2000. Not to mention, the decision will come during the heat of the presidential race.”
The CBS Evening News (11/14, story 7, 2:05, Pelley) reported, “The case is so complex the court has scheduled arguments for more than five hours.” Twenty-six “states joined forces and sued the federal government to block the law. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed and struck it down.”
Posted in Health Care Reform by .
Nov 11
10
Happy Veterans Day
Posted in Holiday by .
The AP (10/30) concurred, pointing out, “The dilemma of paying for long-term care is likely to worsen now that the Obama administration pulled the plug on a program seen as a first step.” Currently, “nursing home charges can run more than $200 a day and a home health aide averages $450 a week, usually part-time. Yet Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care, and only about three percent of adults have a private policy.” The AP added, “For those who do need extended nursing home care, Medicaid has become the default provider, since Medicare only covers short-term stays for rehab. But Medicaid is for low-income people, so the disabled literally have to impoverish themselves to qualify, a wrenching experience for families.”
Posted in Long Term Care by .
Oct 11
28
Happy Halloween
The announcement regarding Medicare premiums received extensive and mostly positive coverage, as officials and experts expressed satisfaction that the increase is smaller than expected. The CBS Evening News (10/27, story 6, 0:25, Pelley) reported, “Last week, we told you Social Security recipients are getting a raise tied to the inflation rate. Well, today we hear that seniors will be paying more for Medicare premiums next year. The government raised the basic monthly payment for Part B to $99.90 and for most folks that’s an increase of about $3.50 a month.”
Posted in Medicare by .
The AP (10/14, Alonso-Zaldivar) reported that HHS has “pulled the plug on a major program in the president’s signature health overhaul law — a long-term care insurance plan dogged from the beginning by doubts over its financial solvency.” This program, “targeted by congressional Republicans for repeal,” became “the first casualty in the political and policy wars over the healthcare law. It had been expected to launch in 2013.” Sen. John Thune, who led opposition to CLASS in the Senate, said, “This is a victory for the American taxpayer and future generations.”
Bloomberg News (10/15, Wayne, Armstrong) reported HHS said CLASS is “financially unsustainable.” In a letter to congressional leaders, HHS Secretary Sebelius said, “I do not see a viable path forward for Class implementation at this time.” CLASS “had been championed” by Sen. Edward Kennedy “before his death,” but Republicans “called it an accounting gimmick whose premiums would be used to pay for other parts of the law and said Democrats vastly underestimated its future costs.”
Posted in Long Term Care by .
Oct 11
12
November is American Diabetes Month
Almost 24 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, an illness in which blood sugar levels are above normal. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin, a hormone needed to turn sugar, starches and other foods into energy. In Type 2, the most common form, either the body does not make the right amount of insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. If not controlled, both types can lead to serious health problems. Most people with Type 2 are adults, but children who are too heavy may also be affected. Type 1 usually strikes children and young adults.
Take these small steps to help lower your chances of getting Type 2:
- Find out from your doctor if you have pre-diabetes, a health problem that raises your chances of getting Type 2.
- If you are too heavy, lose at least 5 to 10 percent of your weight.
- Make healthy food choices and follow a low-fat, reduced calorie plan.
- Stay active and get a 30-minute workout five days a week.
Diabetes is a big deal. But you have the power to manage it by taking small steps.
Sources: National Institutes of Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Posted in Human Interest by .
“The Healthwatch” blog of The Hill (10/2, Baker) reported the Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday on “whether patients and healthcare providers can sue to block states from cutting their Medicaid rates.” Federal Medicaid law “requires states to keep their payment rates high enough for providers to participate in the program.” The Administration argues that “only the federal government has the power to enforce that mandate,” Democratic leaders in Congress “filed a brief arguing that Congress intended for the courts to serve as a check on state cuts.”
Posted in Medicaid by .