Do Not Confuse Medical Discount Plans with Health Insurance Coverage
Deceptive sales practices by certain medical discount plans have mislead the public into thinking they are buying health insurance. Medical discount plans simply assist health care consumers by negotiating a discount with various medical providers for medical care.
For example, if you or a family member has a $100,000 medical bill. A medical discount plan may promise to get you a 30% discount off of this $100,000 health care procedure. In this example, the individual or family member would still owe the health care provider $70,000.
Heath insurance plans, on the other hand, are set up to assist individuals and families by covering a claim based on the individuals eligibility for coverage and the master contract.
A List of Standard Medical Tests And Immunizations For Women Ages 40-64
By Amy Kiley Ertel, MD
1. Pap Smear test------Yearly, unless your doctor specifies otherwise
A pap test is a sample of cells from the cervix (or vagina) which looks for changes that may lead to cancer
2. Mammogram--------At age 35, then every year after age 40
A mammogram is an x-ray of both breasts which looks for breast cancer.
3. Cholesterol level-------Every 5 years
Cholesterol levels are blood tests which check the level of cholesterol in your blood. Cholesterol helps to carry fat through the blood vessels. Levels that are too high can be an early sign of hardening of the arteries.
4. Fecal occult blood test-----Every year after 50
A test in which a stool sample is checked for blood, which could indicate colon or rectal cancer.
5. Sigmoidoscopy/ Colonoscopy------Every 3-5 years
A test in which a slender device is placed into the rectum and lower colon to look for cancer.
6. Tetanus-diptheria booster-------Every 10 years
A shot to immunize against tetanus and diptheria.
7. Influenza vaccine---------------Yearly beginning at age 55
A shot to immunize against the flu.
Montana House Passes Bill Providing Health Insurance Assistance
The Montana House of Representatives recently passed a bill to assist small business owners with providing health insurance to their employees. The bill includes spending for 11.5 million a year to help businesses with 2-9 employees.
The funding for this bill comes from the 2004 increase in tobacco taxes. Go to
billingsgazette.com for a more detailed article on this subject.
Critics suggest that this bill does nothing to address the cost of health care in the Montana.
Discount Drug Program For Indiana Residents
Because of a program launched by a pharmeceutical association, Indiana residents have a new web-based way to search for free or discounted prescriptions.
Rx for Indiana allows Hoosiers to search more than 275 pharmaceutical assistance programs that provide more than 1,800 drugs. Patients can begin searches at
RxforIndiana.org.
The program's database allows people to find the discount programs they qualify for and then fill out application forms to take to their doctors. It saves patients from searching through a mountain of brochures to find a match for their needs.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America maintains the Web site and customizes searches for each state, spokeswoman Katherine Coble said. Searches in Indiana, for instance, incorporate the state's Hoosier Rx program.
The U.S. Department Of Treasury Health Savings Account Website
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have been receiving a tremendous amount of press lately.
At
medicalinsurancnow.com, we think they are going to have a tremendous positive impact on both health insurance and health care in the United States.
A key component of HSAs is that consumers have built in incentives to make more informed health care choices and decisions. Better decisions will result in a combination of improved outcomes and reduced overall costs.
A great way for you to learn about the important aspects of HSAs is to visit the U.S. Treasury's website at
http://www.treasury.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/. This site has some excellent information about Health Saving Accounts.
How Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference Impact Your Health
By Amy K. Ertel, MD
Did you know that 64.5 % of adults in the US are overweight or obese? Obesity is a growing problem in America today and is the primary cause of many major illnesses like Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes.
It is possible to assess your risk of obesity related illnesses by using two measurements widely used in the health care field. The first measurement is body mass index (BMI).
BMI measures your weight in relation to your height, and is fairly accurate in determining if you are a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. To measure BMI, you need your weight in pounds and your height in inches.
The equation used is:
.................. weight (pounds) x 703
BMI= ------------------------------------
.................. height (inches )
squaredFor example, a person who weighs 200 pounds and is 5 ft. 5 inches tall would be:
.......... 200 X 703
...............140600
BMI=------------------ = ------------------- = 33.3
.......... 65 x 65
........................4225
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy weight. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI over 30 is considered obese.
The second measurement is the waist circumference. Where you carry your body fat is also important in determining your risk of medical problems.
If your body fat is carried around your upper body and waist, your risk of health problems is higher than if you carry your body fat around your hips and thighs.
Women need to have a waist circumference less than 35 and men need to have a waist circumference of less than 40. The correct way to measure your waist circumference is to use a tape measure and place snugly around your waist right above your pelvis bones.
Be sure to keep your tape measure parallel to the floor and take the measurement after you exhale completely.
Using both of these measurements will help you evaluate if you are at a healthy weight.
Keys To Controlling The Future of Health Care
Several key changes are necessary to get control of the costs associated with the run away health care system in the United States.
Here are just a few suggestions:
1) Cost information about medical procedures and cost comparisons to alternative treatments need to be more easily available so that consumers can make better educated health care choices.
2) Outcomes and outcome comparisons of alternative medical procedures need to be more available so that health care consumers can make more informed decisions.
3) Consumers need to take more responsibility for their health, health care treatment, and research the cost and outcomes of certain procedures prior to electing medical care.
4) Federal and state governments need to quit passing unfunded mandates that mostly add to the cost of care while reducing overall access to care.
5) Frivolous lawsuits and the threat of frivolous lawsuits cause doctors to practice defensive medicine in order to reduce the chance of being sued. The resulting tests are many times "overkill" and simply do nothing but increase the cost of care.
6) Consumers need to let their physicians guide them on the most appropriate treatment regimen. Drug companies have been successful in creating a demand for their products by convincing consumers to "ask your doctor about..." We need to get back to discussing our problems with our physicians rather than requesting a particular drug or treatment.
