Health care costs are up at least 5% from last year. Health insurance is up from 6% to 40% or more! This means that health insurance company profits are up. Check the earnings. Their profit is up even with decreased net income and higher medical costs. Almost 100 million people are paying off medical debt while insurers rake in piles of profit.
Hopefully President Obama will allow exemptions from medical debt, and allow capped prices on insurance premiums without regard to pre-existing conditions. Health insurance companies should discontinue lifetime limits on health coverage. At an $100,000 lifetime coverage limit, one or two major surgeries or a chronic disease with complications your coverage could evaporate in a year or two or less.
More consumer protection is needed. Protection with lifelong health membership would be optimal. The national health plan, National Health Insurance Exchange, will likely make this a reality giving all the privilege of being insured as securely as our President and Congress.
With a premium of $1000 month, your payment for one year is $12,000. This should be enough to guarantee lifetime coverage.
After all, your insurance premiums are giving insurance companies lifetime profits.
miércoles, 28 de enero de 2009
jueves, 22 de enero de 2009
Medicare Physical
Medicare Part B coverage includes an initial preventive physical exam (IPPE) to all new enrollees. This "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is good for the entire year. In 2009 you have 12 months to get your physical. You are paying for it. You deserve it.
Call your doctor for an appointment before the schedule gets more filled up. Many doctors already have their schedules filled up to March especially specialists. There are less primary care physicians, and fewer are taking Medicare. It is an extremely prudent thing to do.
For more details go to www.medicare.gov
and/or call 1-800-633-4227.
(1-800-MEDICARE).
Call your doctor for an appointment before the schedule gets more filled up. Many doctors already have their schedules filled up to March especially specialists. There are less primary care physicians, and fewer are taking Medicare. It is an extremely prudent thing to do.
For more details go to www.medicare.gov
and/or call 1-800-633-4227.
(1-800-MEDICARE).
Self Check You - Be the Healthiest You Can Be
Congratulations, President Obama. You are healthy for this nation.
We the people of this mighty fine country vow to take the absolute best care of our most important asset - US. A nation is as great as its assets. We have so many. As long as us Americans stay healthy, we will stay wealthy.
True wealth is great health. It is time for you to take responsibility for your health. It is time for you to know what your health numbers are. It is time for you to know your medical conditions, risk factors, and family medical history.
Give yourself a medical checkup. Start by writing or typing or recording your medical history - medical conditions, surgery, treatments, family history. Add your medication. Save it. Update it. Add to it. Correct it. Keep it current. Keep a copy in a secure place.
Examine as much of yourself as you can. Look at your skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, and every part of your body that is visible to you. Make note of any abnormalities. Make note of any symptoms you have - new, old and ongoing. Go through each body system. Add this information to your medical history.
Add to this your doctors' and health care providers' names, phone number, land address, and email address.
Call your doctor for an appointment for a comprehensive CPE (complete physical exam). Take your information and notes with you on your appointment. Review everything with your doctor. Take notes.
Sign a medical record release to obtain a copy of your medical record from each doctor you see at the time of the visit.
Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment within a month or less to go over everything with your doctor. Get copies of your information including blood tests, and any other tests as well as medical notes.
Take charge. Be the healthiest you can be - as a person, as a nation.
Great health is true wealth!
J. L. Richardson, M.D., family physician patient advocate, is author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
The website offers a FREE excerpt from the book about the information for your medical history. Check it out.
We the people of this mighty fine country vow to take the absolute best care of our most important asset - US. A nation is as great as its assets. We have so many. As long as us Americans stay healthy, we will stay wealthy.
True wealth is great health. It is time for you to take responsibility for your health. It is time for you to know what your health numbers are. It is time for you to know your medical conditions, risk factors, and family medical history.
Give yourself a medical checkup. Start by writing or typing or recording your medical history - medical conditions, surgery, treatments, family history. Add your medication. Save it. Update it. Add to it. Correct it. Keep it current. Keep a copy in a secure place.
Examine as much of yourself as you can. Look at your skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, and every part of your body that is visible to you. Make note of any abnormalities. Make note of any symptoms you have - new, old and ongoing. Go through each body system. Add this information to your medical history.
Add to this your doctors' and health care providers' names, phone number, land address, and email address.
Call your doctor for an appointment for a comprehensive CPE (complete physical exam). Take your information and notes with you on your appointment. Review everything with your doctor. Take notes.
Sign a medical record release to obtain a copy of your medical record from each doctor you see at the time of the visit.
Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment within a month or less to go over everything with your doctor. Get copies of your information including blood tests, and any other tests as well as medical notes.
Take charge. Be the healthiest you can be - as a person, as a nation.
Great health is true wealth!
J. L. Richardson, M.D., family physician patient advocate, is author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
www.mypatienthandbook.com
The website offers a FREE excerpt from the book about the information for your medical history. Check it out.
lunes, 29 de diciembre de 2008
Today's Health Headline
The headline on front page news today features the logos of the twelve teams that will be playing for the superbowl.
A more important, newsworthy headline was buried in the evening news and went something like this - "Many Americans Unable to Afford Medicine"...and medical care.
To be continued....
A more important, newsworthy headline was buried in the evening news and went something like this - "Many Americans Unable to Afford Medicine"...and medical care.
To be continued....
jueves, 20 de noviembre de 2008
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
Prevention and wellness.
Transform America to a wellness society.
Wellness and prevention are missing...make them a centerpiece of healthcare reform.
Promote wellness and prevent disease.
Transition from sick care to a true health care system.
Preventing illness and staying well are as important as curing illness.
These are key words and phrases from Senator Tom Harkin's speech in Congress today. We are on the right path to the Healthy People 2010, the nation's health promotion and disease prevention program.
Wellness, health maintenance, prevention and early detection will make you healthier, wealthier, and wiser!
Transform America to a wellness society.
Wellness and prevention are missing...make them a centerpiece of healthcare reform.
Promote wellness and prevent disease.
Transition from sick care to a true health care system.
Preventing illness and staying well are as important as curing illness.
These are key words and phrases from Senator Tom Harkin's speech in Congress today. We are on the right path to the Healthy People 2010, the nation's health promotion and disease prevention program.
Wellness, health maintenance, prevention and early detection will make you healthier, wealthier, and wiser!
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