Medicine.org - Health Insurance

Our Health Care System Puts Our Children in Jeopardy

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:18:27 -0400

Congress and the President are at Logger Heads over the issue of financing health care to children. However, a recent study looks at the type of care we are currently giving to children, and the results are shocking.

46% of the children received indicated care
67.6% of the indicated care was given in acute medical situations
53.4% of the indicated care was given for chronic conditions

Our Broken Health Care System

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:48:25 -0400

Do you remember, Mychelle ? I do. She was the little girl, who was taken to the emergency room, diagnosed, and the correct treatment ordered. She died. What happened? She had insurance, she arrived at the emergency room in a timely fashion, the physician was competent. The shocking reason Mychelle died was that her insurance carrier, or more pointedly, the insurance clerk, would not approve the treatment, as the emergency room was not covered in her insurance plan.

Cancer Can Be Prevented

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:17:17 -0400

Approximately 5 billion dollars a year are spent on Cancer Research via the National Cancer Institute. Slowly but surely, dents are being made in the monster clad armor called “Cancer”.

Despite this progress, cancer is anticipated to more than double by the year 2050, and close to 3 million people a year will hear the dreaded words: “you have cancer”. A blue ribbon panel, composed of Lance Armstrong and a distinguished physician from MD Anderson in Texas among others, blasted the Federal Government for not doing more.

Fat Children Are Emotionally and Physically Affected

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:43:21 -0400

Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic. It is estimated that 80% of obese children will be obese when they become 25.

Along with an increase risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension; children can have strokes (yes, Virginia, children can have strokes too, and are at increased risk if overweight). These children are also more likely to complain of bone and joint pain due to the increased weight placed on their skeletal structure. Osteoarthritis is likely.

Pre-Teens Need Vaccinations

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:51:54 -0400

CDC recommends 3 additional vaccines for Pre-Teens. For some, it's because immunity has worn off, and for others, its because their risk of getting the disease is higher. Because they are recommended and not mandated a lot of insurance plans will not pay for them.

Whooping cough: The CDC recommends that a booster be given before the child enters high school. The initial whooping cough shot was given prior to grade school, but immunity has gradually worn off. There have been several cases of whooping cough reported in the Chicago area, and other big cities. Whooping cough can last for weeks or months, and may lead to pneumonia. Deaths may occur. The cost is approximately $40.

Alert! This Week Congress May Vote on Medical Assistance for American's Children

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:59:39 -0400

This week, the House of Representatives may vote on the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection, or CHAMP, Act.

The CHAMP Act will address the “asset test” by raising the test limits and thus giving more low–income Medicare beneficiaries extra help with prescription drug costs.

Currently, if anyone has prepared for retirement and has a meager $12,000 in savings accounts or IRA's; they fail the means test.

Medicare Drug Insurance: 5 Ways to Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:49:55 -0400

Consider Switching to Generics, Over-The-Counter (OTC), or Other Lower-Cost Drugs

You may wish to talk to your doctor about the drugs you are currently taking to find out if there are generic, over-the-counter (OTC), or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you're taking now.

Cost savings information through the use of mail-order pharmacies, generic or less-expensive brand-name drugs is also available in the Prescription Drug Plan Finder section of www.medicare.gov

Help for Medications Available for Those On Limited Income

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:44:06 -0400

There is extra help for people with limited income and resources. Almost 1 in 3 people with Medicare will qualify for extra help. If you qualify for extra help, Medicare will pay for almost all of your prescription drug costs. You can apply or get more information about the extra help by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting www.socialsecurity.gov.

How Does Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Work?

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:38:38 -0400

Your decision about Medicare prescription drug coverage depends on the kind of health care coverage you have now. There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage. You can join a Medicare prescription drug plan or you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare Health Plan that offers drug coverage.

Whatever plan you choose, Medicare drug coverage will help you by covering brand-name and generic drugs at pharmacies that are convenient for you.

When Can One Receive Medicare Drug Coverage?

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:35:36 -0400

You may sign up when you first become eligible for Medicare (three months before the month you turn age 65 until three months after you turn age 65). If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join from three months before to three months after your 25th month of cash disability payments. If you don't sign up when you are first eligible, you may pay a penalty. If you didn't join when you were first eligible, your next opportunity to enroll will be from November 15, 2007 to December 31, 2007.

What is Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage?

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:31:40 -0400

Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance that covers both brand-name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies in your area. Medicare prescription drug coverage provides protection for people who have very high drug costs or from unexpected prescription drug bills in the future.

Medicare Expenses Significantly Higher for Uninsured Pre-Medicare

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:59:06 -0400

Census data show that 46.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2005, an increase of 1.3 million from the number of uninsured in 2004 (45.3 million) and there is no indication that this trend will slow in the near future

Additionally, the number of Americans 65 and older is expected to increase to more than 70 million-up from about 35 million-by 2030.

Medicare patients will increase similarly. Abhorently, the patients who are uninsured previous to reaching Medicare age, will use the health care system significantly more than those who had insurance.

Small Turtles Infect Children

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:17:03 -0400

Prohibiting the sale of small turtles remains the most effective public health action to prevent turtle-associated salmonellosis.

This report describes recent cases of salmonellosis associated with small turtles in the United States during 2006–2007, including a fatal case in an infant. Salmonella infections in children may be severe and can result in hospitalization and occasionally in death.

Uninsured Americans: Numbers Tell a Sad Story

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:32:04 -0400

The Centers for Disease Control released a preliminary report on uninsured Americans.

The study examines data collected from interviews in over 100,000 households nationwide. Some of the highlights include:

• In 2006, there were 43.6 million Americans of all ages who did not have health insurance (at the time of the interview), or 14.8 percent of the population.

• Among working-age Americans (those ages 18-64), there were 19.8 percent who did not have health insurance in 2006, a slight increase from 18.9 percent in 2005.

Millions of Americans Can Save Big Meds Dollars by Safely Splitting Pills

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:29:06 -0400

The Veteran's Administration Health Care System has led the modern hospital and outpatient clinic setting for almost a decade in many areas of concern. Quality of care, access to care, patient satisfaction and cost are just a few of the indicators of progress.

Now, managed care is looking at the Veteran's Health Care System's policy about splitting pills to save costs. All pills can not be split, such as long acting or time released medications. However, many can; such as the expensive cholesterol medications.