Archive for July, 2010

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Health Care Is A Serious Concern For Grads

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

Health Care Is A Serious Concern For Grads

As the members of the class of 2010 prepare to flip their tassels to the left in May, there’s more than just studying to cross off of their to-do lists. While stressing over where to live and finding a job, many young adults do not address the issue of health insurance.

Reality will set in for some graduates when their parents’ plan or student insurance coverage expires, if it hasn’t already. Whether these current students are busy studying sociology or calculus, they need to make time to read up on their health insurance options before they suddenly find themselves uninsured.

“Thirty percent of people ages 19 through 29 are uninsured,” said Steve Trattner, president of Cinergy Health, in his article “Congratulations on Your College Graduation – Now Get Health Insurance.”

“Instead of being smart about the frailty of life, this age group tends to believe they’re invincible or simply do not recognize the necessity of health insurance, especially as we confront seemingly ever-rising health care costs,” Trattner continues in the article.

CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen agrees with Trattner’s viewpoint in her article, “What’s a Recent College Graduate to do about Health Insurance?” Cohen acknowledges that some students are trying to find health insurance, but “others, dubbed the ‘young invincibles’ think they don’t need it since they’re young and healthy.” Cohen makes the point that all it takes is “a car accident, a cancer diagnosis” to put a 20-something college grad in “real trouble.”

To save themselves the pain and hassle of acquiring medical debt on top of already-looming college loan debt, students should check out their options now.
Insurance laws vary by state. As of Jan. 1, 2009, Connecticut law states that “Every individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in [certain] subdivisions… shall provide that coverage of a child shall terminate no earlier than the policy anniversary date on or after whichever of the following occurs first, the date on which the child: Marries; ceases to be a resident of the state; becomes covered under a group health plan through the dependent’s own employment; or attains the age of twenty-six.” This law does not apply to all insurance plans.

In “What’s a Recent College Graduate to do about Health Insurance?” Cohen suggests looking into the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). According to the U.S. Department of Labor Web site, COBRA “gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances.”

COBRA is not a free option. The Web site explains that “Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost of the plan.”

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Keeping Your Health Insurance Premiums Low

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Keeping Your Health Insurance Premiums Low

Health Savings Accounts offer tax deductions for medical expenses, and the opportunity to set up an additional retirement account. But regardless of any other positive benefit of HSAs, lower premiums are the primary reason that thousands of Americans have chosen Health Savings Accounts as the best way to protect their family’s health and assets. Here are some key suggestions on how to keep your health insurance premiums low.
1. Choose an HSA-qualified plan for lower rate increases.
Average group health insurance premiums rose by 9.6% last year and rose over 10% for each of the previous six years. Individual plans went up even more. Yet it is expected most HSA plans will experience much lower rate increases. A very large study was recently published showing that rate increases over the past year for consumer-driven plans such as HSA plans was only 3.4%. Blue Cross of Minnesota has reported that its HSA customers spent 8% less than their traditional insurance clients. Humana has reported claims’ costs of 4.9% for consumer-driven plans, versus a 19.2% increase in claims for other plans. In fact, average HSA premiums for individuals have actually dropped 19.5% over the last two years.

The reason these plans have lower rate increases is that people who have HSA-qualifying high-deductible health plans are likely to pay closer attention to costs, and take better care of their health. For instance, an HSA owner offered a statin drug to lower her cholesterol may be more likely to request a generic version, or ask her doctor if inexpensive nutritional supplements such as niacin or fish oil may be a solution. These actions save the insurance company money and should result in lower rate increases.
2. Raise your deductible as your HSA account grows.
When you fund your account you build up a financial “cushion” which allows you to raise your deductible as your account grows. Every time you raise your deductible, your premium should go down.
By the way, don’t forget that every time you fund your account you get an instant tax-deduction. When you offset the tax savings against your premiums, you’ll find your net cost for an HSA plan can be very low.
The maximum allowable contribution goes up every year with the rise of the Consumer Price Index. Currently, the individual contribution limit is ,700, and the family limit is ,450. So each year you can deposit greater amounts into your HSA and continue to raise your deductible, if you choose.

3. Stay healthy, so you can switch plans.
All health insurance plans have rate increases, and weve even seen premiums jump on some HSA plans. If a rate increase happens to you, you can switch to a different insurance company but only if you pass their underwriting requirements. If chronic disease develops, you may be stuck with your current plan, and its accompanying rate increases, for eternity. Or at least it may seem that long
If you pay attention to the pharmaceutical commercials, you learn lifestyle really has nothing to do with disease, and it is natural and healthy to be on many medications for the rest of your life, which will then solve your health problems.
If you pay attention to the science, you know the truth is quite different. It appears lifestyle is probably 95% of the picture, and we know the occurrence of degenerative disease can be dramatically reduced and even prevented.
Fortunately, most HSA owners are interested in health, wellness, and disease prevention. After all, theyre paying for their own doctor visits if they do get sick. HSA owners are also “forward thinking” people, and like to plan for their future both financial and physical. You can improve your odds of excellent health with just a few key habits:
Eat very high quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits. Shoot for 35% of your calories. This will lower your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and much more.

Limit your intake of sugar and starchy carbohydrates like bread and pasta. The majority of health problems in the U.S. are related to metabolic diseases that involve insulin resistance.
Exercise and lift weights. Exercise guru Jack La Lanne turns 93 on September 26, and he says if you have muscles you never feel old.
4. Compare your plan to other available plans at least once a year, or whenever you get a rate increase.
Often-times people keep their plan much longer than they should, and end up paying too much. If your rates go up, you should compare a wide variety of plans to determine if you are in the right plan for your needs and budget.
By using these four strategies, the typical family can save thousands of dollars in health insurance premiums and still protect themselves against unexpected major medical expenses.

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What is home health care and why do I need it?

Monday, July 26th, 2010

What is home health care and why do I need it?

      What is Home Health?

Home Health Care is skilled nursing care and certain other health care services that you receive in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury. This could also include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Medicare Part A will cover home health expenses at 100%. Private duty home care is not covered by Medicare and is paid for by the individual receiving the service. This type of service usually includes housekeeping and other routine personal care services (cooking, laundry, and shopping, and live in care givers.).
This could also include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Medicare Part A will cover home health expenses at 100%. Private duty home care is not covered by Medicare and is paid for by the individual receiving the service. This type of service usually includes housekeeping and other routine personal care services (cooking, laundry, and shopping, and live in care givers.).  

***FREE OF CHARGE***if Medicare approved

Call or email now to see if you are Medicare/Medicaid Qualified
If you or someone you know needs help with
1. Diabetes
2. High Blood Pressure
3. Wound Care
4. Arthritis/Joint Pain
5. Any Chronic Illness or Disease
We Also Provide:
1. Light House Keeping/Laundry Services
2. Senior Transportation
3. Meal Preparation
4. And Much More At No Charge to YOU!!

CLICK LINK BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO ABOUT HOME CARE  http://www.tahc.org/associations/1626/files/TAHC new VO.wmv

II. How to get Medicare Home Health Care: 

• Your doctor must determine you need medical care in your home.

 • You will need at least one of the following services: skilled nursing care, physical or speech therapy. 

• You must be homebound. Homebound means that leaving your home is a considerable and taxing effort

III. What qualifies as Skilled Home Care Services?

• Wound Care for pressure ulcers or surgical wounds 

• Physical Therapy (fall prevention, recent fractures, recent stroke, TIA’s, endurance issues, or transfer training) 

• Occupational Therapy (recent strokes, ADL training-such as dressing, grooming, and bathing)

• Speech Therapy (swallowing issues, aspiration, recent stroke, pneumonia)

 • Patient and Caregiver education

• IV Therapy

• Injections (diabetes, B-12)

• Medication Management

IV. Home Health vs. Hospitalization:

• In many cases home health care services may be appropriate to prevent an individual from being hospitalized.

• Most patients and their families prefer to stay at home rather than be placed in the hospital or skilled nursing facility when their condition allows them to remain at home.

• Home health care is usually less expensive and in some cases just as effective as care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. 

Home health care assists a person in their recovery from an illness, accident, surgery, or change in their medical condition. Professional health care and rehabilitation services are delivered in a person’s home environment under the direction of their personal physician.        

Services offered include:     

Skilled Nursing 

24/7 Availability     

Physical Therapy 

Wound/Ostomy Care   

Occupational Therapy  

Infusion Therapy   

Speech Therapy 

PT/TNR results in home  

Home Care Aides 

Pain Management    

Medical Social Workers 

Rehabilitation 

Who pays for home health care?

If you are Medicare eligible and qualified for care, there is no out of pocket cost to you. Home care can also be paid for by many private insurances or a variety of public programs.

To qualify for Medicare home health services, there are five basic requirements:

1. Your physician must determine that you need home health care services

2. Your own physician must write the orders for home health services, and oversee your care

3. You must need skilled services that are provided by a nurse or therapist

4. Your physician must determine that you are homebound, requiring considerable effort and help to leave home

Because benefits and requirements can vary, we can help you check with payors about your specific benefits, even before beginning services, so you can have this information at the start of care. 

-Medicare pays 100% of the cost for home health care for individuals 65 years of age or over or permanently disabled.

-Private insurance will pay for home health care. Benefits vary per policy and verification of benefits is required.

-Medicaid pays 100%. Pre-authorization is required.

-Workers Compensation Insurance.-Private Pay.

We can HELP you in a number of ways.      

   ·     Patient specific health data with observations by a professional nurse are reported to the physician. 

 Helping patients and their families to understand and follow physician’s orders regarding nutrition, special diets, medications, and general nursing care:

 ·       Assisting with home management of catheters and feeding tubes.

 ·     Giving injections ordered by the physician and teaching patients and family the proper techniques for doing so. 

  ·       Helping patients restore strength and independence through physical therapy exercises, 

Educating diabetic patients on how to manage diet, insulin, and other health related measures.  Enabling the patient with ostomy how to resume a full, active life.

 ·        Assisting patients with bathing and personal grooming (ADLS).  

 

Paloma Home Health Agency Inc.
Phone: 972-346-2013
Email: palomahomehealth@hotmail.com

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