Consumer Directed Health Plans

Consumer Directed Health Plans
By: Michael Ertel

[Word Count: 397 words] [Viewed: 159 time(s)] [Don't forget to rate this article]


Most of you have heard about “consumer directed health plans”. The Bush administration has been a strong supporter of this concept as a way to get a handle on soaring healthcare costs. The recent inaugeration of Mr. Bush signals that consumer directed health plans will increasingly make up a larger percentage of group medical plans over the next several years. In the past, consumer directed plan designs have taken on many forms: Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Many experts consider HRAs and HSAs to be the first generation of viable consumer directed health care products. HRAs are typically paired with a high-deductible health plan and are employer-funded Section 105 defined contribution plans. HSAs are the latest version of consumer directed health care plans. The core components of HSAs include a high deductible insurance product and a cash spending account. HSAs combine the pre-tax treatment of a FSA, the portability and roll-over characteristics of a 401(k), and the tax-free distributions of a Roth IRA.

One of the main goals of any consumer directed health plan should be to get the consumer more involved in both the cost and statistical outcomes of certain healthcare procedures. Informed healthcare consumers will make wise healthcare decisions and typically these decisions will result in both lower costs and improved quality.

Although the advantages of HRAs and HSAs can be substantial, employers will want to do their homework prior to setting them up. Effective implementation will require a clear understanding of the consumer directed healthcare plan that best fits your organization as well as the administrative requirements. Employee education will be essential. Companies will also need to look into how the creation of a HSA or HRA may affect their HIPAA medical privacy compliance requirements.

Just like most endeavors, the successful implementation of a HSA or HRA will greatly depend on how much research your organization does on the pro’s and con’s of each alternative. The type of consumer directed health plan that best fits your company will depend on a combination of your corporate structure as well as the overall objectives of your group health insurance plan.

Although consumer directed healthcare plans are becoming very familiar to human resource managers and other benefit professionals, remember that your employees and their dependents will need a substantial amount of education and communication.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel is the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com

which is a website that assists individuals and small business owners

by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives.
Read more articles by: Michael Ertel
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Why Does Health Insurance Cost So Much?

Why Does Health Insurance Cost So Much?
By: Michael Ertel

[Word Count: 245 words] [Viewed: 429 time(s)]


Why does health insurance cost so much? Year after year, many of the articles that appear in print detail the specific factors driving the cost of healthcare.

These factors include: general inflation, advances in drugs and other medical devices, rising hospital and doctor expenses, government mandates, increased consumer demand, litigation, fraud, and cost shifting.

The basic answer is that a magic bullet to solve the cost of insurance does not exist because the real difficulty is controlling the cost of healthcare. A simple way to dramatically decrease the dollars spent on healthcare is to reduce the demand for healthcare.

I have seen estimates that up to 40% of all healthcare related expenses result from preventable conditions. These preventable conditions are caused by lifestyle choices such as tobacco, obesity, stress, lack of exercise and poor diet.

Most of us, myself included, make lifestyle choices everyday that eventually increase our demand for healthcare. We are never going to be able to totally eliminate all lifestyle related healthcare costs. However, improved lifestyle choices would cause a dramatic reduction in demand. This would then result in a similar reduction in the dollars spent on healthcare.

Lower demand for healthcare would result in lower health insurance costs, increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism. If your organization has not done so already, your organizational leaders need to seriously consider the benefits of health promotion and disease prevention programs. Your return on investment will most likely be as high as 2:1 in the first year.

About the Author:
Michael Ertel the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com

which is a website that assists individuals and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives.
Read more articles by: Michael Ertel
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Happy Healthy Living

Happy Healthy Living

By Lentok Otai lentok [ 04/07/2007 ]
[ viewed 8 times ]

Because thin is now what is in, many people are looking for quick and easy ways to loose weight. There are hundreds of diet plans or exercise routines that are supposed to trim the fat in no time, but many of these methods can be unhealthy and can damage the body.

Over half of the United States is considered either overweight or obese, but there is no quick fix to this problem. Instead, those that are overweight need to focus on healthy eating and exercising habits. Good eating and exercise habits are also important for those who are not overweight, because it can help them to maintain a healthy weight and live a happy healthy life.

Eating healthy is key when either trying to lose weight or to stay healthy. Some diets limit certain foods such as dairy and whole grains, but they are actually necessary for good health. A healthy diet should consist of a variety of foods from the different food groups, with the exception of the fats and oils. All fats and oils should be consumed in small amounts, because they have little nutritional value and actually can have a negative effect on the human body.

Also consider what types of foods you are eating, because there are normally healthier alternatives. Although some fruit juices do contain a serving of fruit in them, they also contain added sugar, which adds calories and fat. Instead of drinking juice for a serving of fruit, eat an apple or orange. Also consider lean meats rather than those that are high in fat, such as substituting your morning bacon with some turkey sausage. It is important to eat a wide variety of foods, to ensure that they body is getting all of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Poor eating habits can cause cardiovascular problems, digestive problems, and even problems with the respiratory system.

Getting exercise on a daily basis is also very important for happy healthy living. Because most Americans can never find time to exercise, they become over weight and unhappy with themselves. It only takes about 20 minutes a day to get in a good exercise session, and it does great for the heart and the rest of the body. In order to maintain your weight, one must burn off as many calories as they are taking in each day. Simple tasks such as walking from room to room or putting away laundry does burn calories, but not enough to burn off an entire day’s calories. Exercise is important to burn off additional calories, and to also keep the muscles in shape. Exercising not only works out the muscles right under the skin, but also many organs, including the heart. Exercise can help to improve certain medical conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems, as well as leave you feeling both healthy and energized. Although it can sometimes seem hard to find time to cook healthy meals and exercise each day, but only a little time can assure you that you will enjoy happy healthy living.

About the author:
Author : Otai
Article Source:http://www.happyhealthyliving.info/
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Health Insurance - Emergency

Health Insurance - Emergency

By Bob Taylor Taylor [ 05/07/2007 ]
[ viewed 4 times ]

If you really don’t want to find yourself in a tight financial situation as a result of an illness in the family, make sure that you have family health insurance coverage. Family health insurance coverage will take care of your financial obligations related to an illness in the family that you don’t really have to go broke trying to pay up your hospital bills.

Things happen when you least expect them to happen that if you don’t have any family health insurance, you could easily find yourself in a tight financial situation when the hospital bills started piling up. Medical costs are very expensive that a single illness in the family could technically wipe out a large portion of your savings in just matter of days.

You should be prepared for Emergency.
You will never know when you will need to bring members of your family to the hospital for treatments that it is always a good idea to be prepared.
To get the best deals available in the market, you have to do your homework and get as much information as you can from different health insurance companies. It is always a good idea to shop around first and try to find the best offers before you actually commit yourself to buy family health insurance policies.

Getting a family health insurance is not really difficult or very expensive. Of course there are family health insurance plans that are quite expensive but there are also those which are affordable.
Informations are easy to get of different insurance companies. Most of these companies have websites where you can find the information you need especially the services covered and the prices. If you have some questions about their services, you can always email them or give them a call request for a meeting with an insurance agent who could explain to you in the details the services of the company. Do shop around before you make any decision and compare prices.

http://www.preferedforms.com

About the author:
Believing in good balanced diet, taking vitamins and minerals. Daily exercise, yoga, stretching, breathing exercises, drinking enough water, meditation, relaxation, positive thinking, and trying to be happy.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

"Sicko" - The Future of American Healthcare
by Dr. Tim Langley

Let me start by saying I've never been a Michael Moore fan. Being a libertarian Conservative all my voting life, I've always been opposed to "Socialized" medicine. However, firsthand experience in the healthcare business for the last 17 years has shown me that our system of health care (much like our tax system and education system) is broken beyond repair.

Michael Moore's latest movie "Sicko" should be a wake-up call for insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and the AMA. The movie starts out showing what can happen to working class Americans without health insurance, citing the story of a man who cut off the tip of two fingers in a work accident. Because he had no insurance and would be paying cash, he was given the choice of having one fingertip replaced for $12,000 or the other for $60,000. What kind of choice could that possibly be? Of course, he chose to save the less expensive of the two.

The movie went on to show the fate of a couple who had worked all their life, bought insurance through their employers. Three heart attacks and a bout of cancer left the couple bankrupt and virtually homeless despite their insurance coverage.

The movie goes on to compare American health care systems and those in Canada, England and France. And while I was somewhat put off by Moore's veiled support of socialism, the viewer can only come to the conclusion that our and their health care systems don't compare very well.

Almost any American health care consumer will relate to the hassles of dealing with insurance companies, exclusions and long waits in the Emergency Room and wonder if there isn't a better way. Even respected medical journals report that Americans' have shorter lifespan, higher infant mortality rates and more cancer, heart disease and diabetes than the rest of the industrialized world. The final comparison of the care rendered to Guantanamo detainees and that give to three American volunteers at the 9/11 WTC site.

While one knows that "Sicko" was made with a bias in favor of a universal health care system, Moore makes the valid impression that the system is broken and, like Humpty Dumpty, can't be put back together again. As a healthcare provider, I've dealt firsthand with the Managed Care nonsense. The movie is not far off, at all.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not a fan of big government solutions to market problems. However, the free market does NOT govern the American health care system. Between the AMA, the pharmaceutical cartel and the insurance industry, access to health care is limited. Not only does that put upward pressure on prices, but lends itself to market manipulation. The higher prices go the more consumers are forced to buy health insurance EVEN with ever-increasing premiums and routine reductions in coverage. It's a spiral that feeds on itself and will eventually lead to collapse.

For those who would say, "We can't afford universal health care", it should be noted that between Medicare and Medicaid we ALREADY have (almost) universal health care. The only group left out of America's government funded health care is a large percentage of the working class and the self-employed. Conservatives should take another look at a single-payer health care system for a variety of reasons. Rising health care costs is a major reason American business is less competitive in the global marketplace. Further, the aging baby boomer generation will soon be eligible for Medicare. When that happens, subsequent generations of Americans will demand either relief from the burden of paying for that extra care OR be included in the system themselves. My guess is that it will be both. The party that resolves THAT problem will probably rule the political roost for decades to come.

Michael Moore has hit the nail on the head. The American health care system is broken. The harder entrenched institutions try to limit the public's access to basic health care, the sooner and more certain will Americans' will demand a dramatic change in the way health care is delivered. The AMA should drop its resistance to alternative and complementary therapies.

Pharmaceutical companies should embrace the concept that American citizens should not pay more for their drugs than do citizens of other countries. Finally, the insurance industry should build long-term profitability by finding a way to cover as many Americans as possible, giving them access to any willing provider and open to alternative and complementary health care options. IF the market doesn't resolve this problem, it's an almost certainty the government will.

About the Author
Dr. Tim Langley is a chiropractor, economist and business consultant. He lives and practices in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Dr. Langley writes on issues that relate to health, business, personal development, economic development and politics. He is also the developer of "The Membership Practice". You can find out more about Dr. Langley at his web site

http://www.langleychiropractic.com

or through his blog at http://drt

Mental Health

Mental Health

By David McEvoy
Article Word Count: 895 [View Summary] Comments (0)

What is it to have good mental health? At a basic level, mental health could be described as the absence of mental illness; however, the whole issue surrounding mental health and mental illness is highly complex and therefore what constitutes mental health is not easy to define. On saying that, we can describe mental health by referring to what might happen when we are not in good mental health, when we are suffering from some form of mental illness.

Here in the UK it is estimated that a quarter of the population will experience some kind of mental illness at some point in their lives. Mental illness can affect any one of us; it is indiscriminate of age, gender, and status. It can strike at any time, sometimes with warning and sometimes without. So how can you recognise if you are suffering from a mental illness?

How to recognise mental illness
Mental illness can manifest itself in many different ways and no two people will be affected in the same way to the same degree. Someone suffering from a mental illness may be mildly inconvenienced by their symptoms in their daily lives and yet others can be severely debilitated to the extent that they are unable to care for themselves or integrate into society at any level.

Recognising when someone is suffering from mental illness is important in order to get the right help but it can be difficult when the symptoms are mild or vague or when the individual themselves deny that anything is wrong. Basically, someone can be said to be suffering from a mental illness when they are experiencing alterations in their moods, in their behaviour and in how they think and feel about themselves and the world around them, or a combination of all of these, to such an extent that they become distressed or have an impaired ability to function normally on a day to day basis.

Some of the more commonly known ways that mental illness can affect our lives is in the form of depression, anxiety, compulsive disorders, phobias, panic disorders, bipolar or manic depression, schizophrenia and dementia. Even within these terms there are variations and subgroups and different degrees of severity. Mental illness on the whole is anything but straightforward; it is often misunderstood by family and friends and can be misdiagnosed if a full medical assessment is not made. It can be isolating for the individual, particularly as they may not understand what is happening to them and why they are behaving in a particular way.

What causes mental illness?
There is no single known cause of mental illness but instead combinations of factors appear to have an influence including psychological, biological and environmental conditions.

Mental illness appears to be more common in certain groups of people indicating that some circumstances can act as a trigger, for example, those living in poverty and poorer living conditions, those who are suffering from long term physical illnesses or disabilities, those from ethnic minorities and those in prison or other institutions. People who are addicted to substances or are dependent on alcohol are more likely to suffer from mental illness than those who are not and different types of mental illness seem to be more common to men or women.

Life changing events can also trigger a period of mental illness such as redundancy, bereavement and divorce and there is also a genetic aspect to it as those with a history of mental illness in their families have an increased risk of developing a mental illness themselves.

Recent research has also highlighted that a lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet can increase the risk of developing certain types of mental illness.

Clearly, there are many influences involved so it isn't possible to identify who is going to develop a mental illness and who is not and each and every one of us could find ourselves suffering from some form of mental illness at any point throughout the course of our lives.

Getting help
The good news is that regardless of the type of mental illness, there is help available but the biggest step to recovery is first of all recognising that there is a problem in the first place. Many people feel that to admit to not coping or that they might be suffering from some form of mental illness is a sign of weakness or failure, and fear of stigmatisation, lack of understanding and knowledge, and of course denial, can effectively prevent many people from seeking help.

However, it is essential that help is sought because mental illness doesn't just go away and without help, the symptoms can persist for months or years causing a great deal of unnecessary suffering and distress for the individual.

The first point of contact is your doctor who will be able to make an initial assessment and advise you on the options available for treatment and guide you towards any other support groups or therapies that might be available. With the right help from the medical profession and with support from family and friends, most forms of mental illness can be beaten completely and normal life can resume once again. Even in the most severe cases, with a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it is possible to dramatically reduce the severity of symptoms and make a real improvement to quality of life.

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and self help come and visit our site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McEvoy

A Healthy Lifestyle Requires a Healthy Home

A Healthy Lifestyle Requires a Healthy Home
By James Wilmer
Article Word Count: 965 [View Summary] Comments (0)

In order to support a healthy lifestyle, one must think about more than eating right, regular exercise and taking vitamin supplements. A healthy body needs a healthy home to give it the all-around support that complements a healthy lifestyle - and choosing green cleaning products can help.

Using harsh chemicals to clean contributes to unhealthy air in the home, not to mention a mixture of dangerous chemicals ending up in the septic system or the city sewage system. Increasing importance is being made of using green cleaning products because of the concerns over the health of our Earth. But, people need to realize starting their environmental efforts at home is the best way to make a significant difference toward establishing a healthy lifestyle.

Different types of natural products often work better than harsh chemical cleansers and by doing so naturally, the environment will stay green longer. Thus the reason green cleaning is becoming so popular for those committed to a healthy lifestyle.

Many of the more effective green cleaning products that contribute to a healthy lifestyle are those made with enzymes and bacteria that safely and effectively remove organic stains and odors. Grass, berry juices, blood and wine are perfect examples of organic stains that are difficult to remove. Besides working on stains, using all-natural enzymatic cleaners can actually break down organic odor-producing molecules. These types of green cleaning products work on stains and odors by attaching to the contaminant and breaking it into two separate molecules, and therefore changing its chemical structure. The stain or odor molecule is degraded and no longer has the characteristics that made it a stain or an odor.

Enzymatic cleaners have unlimited uses for supporting a healthy lifestyle, from removing odors caused by smoke, restrooms, trashcans, litter boxes, nursery pails, kennels, etc. to removing stains, and all without dangerous chemicals. The benefits of these green cleaning products are obvious and include not having toxic odors in the house from cleaning chemicals that are dangerous to inhale as well as to have on your skin or in your eyes. Also, you are keeping your septic system in better shape as well as your pipes that lead to it. More importantly, you don't have to worry about residue from harsh cleansers affecting your healthy lifestyle, or that of your family or pets.

Other enzyme green cleaning products can be used specifically to break down the waste in septic systems. For those people who have a septic tank in their yard, if they have ever had to have it pumped, they know how expensive and frustrating it can be. Using a waste degrader that not only uses enzymes, but living bacteria, is a safe and extremely effective way to consume liquefied waste, converting it into inert compounds like water, carbon dioxide, and minimal solids, and protecting one's healthy lifestyle. Organic wastes are things like cooking oils and grease, body oils that come off in the shower or bath, and sewage from bathrooms. Biodegrading this waste is a simple, safe and cost effective way to prevent septic tank and drain field problems from arising.

Also, what can you do about antifreeze, transmission oil, power steering fluid, and motor oil leaks on your driveway and garage floor? The typical cleaning solvents that are used are harsh, highly alkaline soaps and hydrocarbon-based cleaners that are not compatible with a healthy lifestyle. These solvents are toxic to humans, and once the leak is cleaned up, the toxin-soaked rags are pitched into a waste can or bagged for disposal in a landfill. In effect then, the problem is being transferred initially to a different location in your home (hold your breath!), only later to be deposited in a landfill at great long-term expense to the public. Enzyme and bacterial green cleaning products offer a solution to degrade the automotive fluids safely and effectively. The problem is solved (or "dissolved and degraded") at home and can be washed away with a little normal dish detergent and water.

Green cleaning products using enzymes can also be used in pools and spas. They emulsify and digest skin oils, suntan lotions and other organic contaminants, keeping the water clear and eliminating the host environment or substrate that would allow the algae to grow. Using enzymes in this way enhances a healthy lifestyle by reducing the amount of chemicals, such as chlorine, needed to keep the water clean and in turn helps to diminish the side effects of using those chemicals such as stinging, watery eyes and itchy dry skin. Plus, the use of an enzyme-based green cleaning routine assists in keeping the filter lines clear and by following this green approach can save the consumer money and time.

Another use for a green cleaning system involving enzymes and bacteria that isn't commonly known is as soil conditioners for lawns and gardens. Using fertilizers yearly is, simply put, a waste of time and money - and can impact a healthy lifestyle in a negative way. This is not to mention the run-off that goes into the streams, rivers and lakes that supply drinking water. By using a soil conditioner (enzymes and surfactants derived from bacteria), you can aerate and oxygenate the soil in turn, breaking down the complex nutrients, feeding the plants and grass by making the nutrients easily assimilated by the roots.

Enzymes are created naturally in the human body, animals, plants, and bacteria. Nature has been using them for billions of years, and now we know how effective and safe they can be for our day-to-day lives. So the next time you are shopping, take the time to read some labels and educate yourself about safe, natural cleaning products. With so many 'green cleaning' products becoming available, you are sure to find what you need to complement your healthy lifestyle.

About the Author

James L. Wilmer, Ph. D., is the director of scientific affairs for Market America; he previously served as the head of the Product Information department for the internet shopping company. Wilmer has published 43 peer-reviewed research articles in international publications including Cancer Research, Mutation Research, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Cell Genetics and Cytogenetics, Environmental Mutagenesis, Toxicology Letters, In Vitro Toxicology, and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. For more information about Market America, please visit www.marketamerica.com.
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