Save Money On Your Health

Saving money is healthy and good way to promote good health and wellness. Health prices are escalating more rapidly than prices of other services right now.  There are some things you can do to help avert financial stress. This can include:

·       Shop around for best care and prices.  Your insurance company may cover a diagnostic test with partial payment. This may be higher than the actual charge if you pay yourself.  Call places in your area that offer the same test to check for prices that are cheaper and fit your budget.  If your health insurance deductible is a hefty $6,000 or more, this may fail to be attained.  Paying out of pocket may come out less expensive than $6,000.

·       Cook at home.  Home cooked meals are healthier and cheaper.  You can get more meals from unprepared and uncooked grocery items.  The average cost of one restaurant meal without drinks is about $30.  The grocery equivalent would be two or more good, healthy meals cooked to your taste and perfection.

·       Use cheaper non-prescription medication.  There are many over the counter medication that can do the same as more expensive, newer drugs.  Many of these were prescription medication at one time.  They may be safer as well since they have been in use for a longer time, and been proven effective.

·       Exercise at home.  Create your own exercise plan.  Use exercises you learned in school physical education classes.  Simple stretching, arm rolls, jumping jacks, deep knee bends, sit-ups, and more.  Walking and running on land or in the pool are good aerobic activities.  Exercise can also be done in bed and in a chair.

·       Read more.  The cost to read is better health, more knowledge, and more information of your choice.  The actual cost of reading material can be as free as you make it using the library and Internet.

·       Develop a home entertainment program.  Your choices of your interests have proven to be healthier.  There is less stress over programs and their content.  If it must include television, make your own library with your preferred DVDs and TV sticks that attach to the television.  This works on your schedule. It is free of thoughtless commercial time, unpleasant images, and loud opinions that take away from a program’s content.  Cutting the cable cord can be healthy and good for wellness as well as a big money saver.

·       Take more staycation.  Vacations at home and nearer to home can be much healthier, cheaper, and less stressful.

·       Try to buy mainly that which is necessary leaving the desired for another time when extra money is available.  Reward yourself every now and then, but stay within your means.

·       Save consistently.

For more ways to save money check out “10 Money Saving Medical Tips” http://bit.ly/1Gt4f8I .  Best health!

Medicare Healthcare Scare

As health costs rise so do Medicare prices at a faster rate than cost of living increases can contain. During your retirement years good healthcare is as important as ever.  Medicare is primary health insurance during this time yet the cost may be too high.  Medicare is a health plan for the elderly and disabled. Much of this specifc population is on a limited income which is usually only Social Security.  The average Social Security monthly payment for 2019 is $1461.  The average amount for Medicare can be up to one third of this average leaving less for food, rent, and other necessary living needs.

The standard part A premium for inpatient care may range from $240 to $437 and depends on the amount of Medicare taxes you have paid. If you have paid less than 7.5 years in Medicare taxes, the higher price is the premium price.  The deductible for Part A hospital coverage is $1,364 for each benefit period.  Coinsurance is $0 for first 60 days, $341 for next 30 days, and $682 for each "lifetime reserve day" (up to 60 days over your lifetime).  The patient is responsible for all costs after lifetime reserve depleted. 

The standard part B premium for outpatient care starts at $135.50 and is higher depending on income.  The deductible for this part is $185 per year.  After this has been met, payment for services is 20% of Medicare approved prices.  This can be covered with extra insurance coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan offered by commercial health insurance companies.  If you fail to buy during the eligible enrollment periods, the premium may go up 10%. 

Regardless of who is paid for what, the result is the same.  Prices continue to increase and cover less.  For example, many home health care costs are excluded.  Home health care is important for those that are homebound or disabled.  This cost should hardly be extra on a limited income.  

Then there is Medicare part C (Medicare Advantage) and Medicare part D prescription coverage offered by regular insurance plans for an extra fee of course.  The deductibles, copayments and coinsurance are part of this as well.  Each insurere has their own plans and rates that add to your health maintenance if you can afford it.  Payment for part A and B is too much for many; therefore, medication may be omitted especially if the choice is food or medicine.

The Medicare healthcare scare is real.  What began as a "free" low cost comprehensive health program for the elderly has become a high cost less inclusive health plan for limited income retirees and peopele with disabilities.  Medicare solvency concerns have led to predictions it will be in debt within the next fifty years or so.  In the meantime, price increases with less coverage seems to be the answer for over 60 million people in their retirement years.  Best health!

Medicare:  Will It Be There When You Need It? 

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Free Book Read: Audible and Visual Health Literacy

Health literacy is very important.  It is essential in keeping yourself healthy.  Reading is the best way to be health literate.  Reading in itself is an intangible vitamin that should be ingested daily.  

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide is available to help you with basic health literacy in seeking medical care.  This book is a medical reference book.  It is meant to be read and referred to as needed.  This book may be accessed for free on Kindle Unlimited as a visual read. An audible read is available through BlogTalkRadio as Patient Handbook to Medical Care.

Learn good health.  Be health literate.  Best health!

Doctor's Office Should Enhance Good Health

When you visit your doctor's office you should feel healthy.  The waiting room in the doctor's office is the entry point for most initial patient encounters.  Amidst the unhealthy anxiety often encountered on doctor visits the waiting room should exude good health for each patient that enters.  

Pay attention to the surroundings to see how they make you feel.  You  may have noticed that your blood pressure was twenty or more points higher than before you left home.  Your doctor visit can be more healthy and focused if the waiting room is healthy.  The following are signs of a healthy doctor's office waiting room:

• No television screen. If there is a television screen, it should be on healthy topics that educate instead of unhealthy loud programs that can increase anxiety, blood pressure, and more
• Comfortable seating
• Kind, courteous staff
• Current reading materials
• Limited if any cell phone use

If your doctor's office has aromatherapy and offers free ten minute chair massages, this can create a healthier healing haven.  Make suggestions to your doctor on other things that can enhance patient wait times without discomfort and stress.  Best health!

How to Make Your Doctor Visit Easier

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Positive Ways for Less Stressful Days

If your thoughts or what you are listening to or watching is unkind and disrespectful delivering little to no joy or happiness, turn it off, avoid it, and delete it from your healthy life.  This is of utmost importance in staying well or healing because it decreases unhealthy stress towards zero.  As you move towards this goal you will feel the benefits as well keep your blood pressure, arthritis, and other medical conditions stable or away.

Good health includes more than physical wellness.  Mental, emotional, and spiritual health helps maintain the physical well being. When you have positive thoughts, you can look forward to a more positive, joyous, happy, healthy body and daily existence.  Healthy food and exercise keep your body functioning at optimal levels thereby enhancing nature's healing forces within you. 

Make time for quiet time to yourself at least twice a day for fifteen minutes.  Include meditation, prayer, and yoga on a regular basis several times a week keeping it simple and easy for you.  Start with ten minute routines.  Get in this habit and strive to do it routinely for at least a week.  Increase your time to five minutes per session for at least twenty minutes or longer three or more times per week.  Daily is optimal.  It is worth taking the time to make this a goal.

As you develop healthier habits and routines, you will feel better and your positive ways will lead to less stressful days.  Best health!