“Health plans agree that providing access to health care coverage to all Americans should be our nation’s number one domestic priority…

“In addition, health plans are doing their part to lower costs and improve the quality of care. They offer innovative care coordination and disease management programs, encourage prevention, incentivize (sic) individuals to engage in healthy living and are leading the way toward electronic medical records and evidence-based medicine.”

From what I understand, Ms. Ignagni writes, but never actually speaks, the words for fear of breaking into laughter and wetting her pantyhose. If you will, let’s peek late the curtain for a moment to find out what the fuck Ms. Ignagni is talking about.

“Health plans agree that providing access to health care coverage to all Americans should be our nation’s number one domestic priority…”

“Americans finally are fed-up with the bullshit we’ve been feeding you for 50 years about the evils of socialized medicine, so we decided to jump aboard the universal healthcare gravy train to be sure we will still get to screw our 200 million policyholders well into the foreseeable future.”

“We have lowered our costs by weeding nearly everyone out of the system who could possibly put a strain on our bottom line by actually getting sick. Additionally, as we now can identify and register fetal weaknesses during neonatal examinations we will narrate insurance to genetically damaged future applicants who may impact negatively on quality care.”

“They offer innovative care coordination…”

“Any medical procedure or drug you require that is considered innovative is immediately rejected by one of our Care Coordinators. Additionally, after your initial 24 hours in the hospital, your prognosis will be reviewed with your doctor and a hospital representative to remind them that their insurance reimbursements are contingent on your expedient discharge and may be jeopardized if we determine additional confinement was unnecessary.”

“…and disease management programs, encourage prevention, incentivize (sic) individuals to engage in healthy living…”

“You can lose your healthcare coverage for anything from engaging in unprotected sex to drag racing to habitually having to breath polluted air to slipping on the sidewalk after a rainstorm (Act of God). Essentially kiss off doing anything ever again in your life that we decide is not healthy living including eating too many Twinkies.

“Further, since it is nearly impossible to get new coverage without providing your arm and leg — the surgical removal of which is not covered however — changing jobs, going self-employed or simply taking a mental health break are out of the quiz. Net that you are a prisoner of the corporate employment mill and had best keep your yap shut and eyes respectfully averted toward the ground.”

“…and are leading the way toward electronic medical records and evidence-based medicine.”

“We scour employment information, credit reports, public and police records, anything to catch you fudging the truth or even forgetting harmless details. If you have ever so worthy as gone to an emergency room for chest pains which turned out to be indigestion, we’ll find out about it, and if we don’t deny your application outright for preexisting conditions, we’ll collect premiums for years and then reject your claim because of insurance fraud when you’re sick.”

And finally, although a public option is already a substantial compromise for progressives who have sought a “single payer” plan, Ignagni, the industry and its toadies in Congress insist that any public option will endanger Americans’ free choice — read end our obscene 20 percent profit margins — because private enterprise could never compete with government subsidies. Hmm, guess no one told that to UPS and FedEx or the thousands of private, Christian and Catholic prep schools and colleges that all seem to thrive despite the US Postal Service, public schools and state universities.

“Oh my god, this Moore guy is on to us!”.”

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Uninsured in the United States

Blogging is a relatively new technology that has helped shape how people communicate. With the help of the internet, minority groups have been able to gain public support and attention from their blog posts. The internet has gained mass popularity in the previous 15 years growing at an exponential rate; it allows us to reach anyone anywhere at the speed of light. Blogging is essential because the average person can now project their message to millions of people online almost instantly. Blogs have become a key tool for minority groups to get their opinion across without spending a lot of money. They have empowered and given a swear to, people without adequate health insurance, and will be able to help more people in the future if the trend of blogging continues.

More than 44.8 Million people in the United States do not have health insurance (Wattenberg). This causes a great deal of concern for the average person living in the United States. The question is whether or not health insurance is worth the amount of money they will have to spend or if they even have the money to spend on it. They then will discover at the opportunity cost; this is what they will have to give up if they don’t hold health insurance. When struggling to do this decision they often look at themselves as healthy and won’t need or can’t afford health insurance. Health insurance costs on average of $10,880 dollars per family, however most companies cover a large portion of,this cost, thus making it cost on average $2,713 per year (Appleby). These numbers are staggering for the average family in America who make only $48,201 per year.

The uninsured in the USA are a seemingly invisible group to political elite and law makers. The problem with Universal healthcare is that it would, in theory, give everyone an equal opportunity at who gets what doctor. In other words there would be no “better” hospital to visit if you were wealthy or had some sort of influence. The documentary Sicko Michael Moore outlines what happens to people without health insurance in the USA, and it also largely covers what happens to people who have health insurance but their plan limits how much care they can receive. The documentary also includes what happens to people who live in countries who have universal healthcare. The documentary was an extreme bias towards Universal Healthcare, but it outlined many facts. The following quote comes from the Institute of Medicine, was featured in the movie Sicko, and indicates the severity of the US healthcare pickle.

According to the Institute of Medicine, “lack of health insurance causes roughly 18,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States. Although America leads the world in spending on health care, it is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage.” (“Insuring America’s Health: Principles and Recommendations”)

This is a scary number of people that die each year from the lack of financial means in the United States. With the institution of Universal Healthcare that number would be down to zero.

The scary facts about United States current healthcare system are that the United States Government is doing little in the way of making this number go down. Hillary Clinton, one of the biggest supporters of Universal Healthcare, was bought out by the drug companies and doctors in the form of campaign money. She is the second highest recipient of money from the current healthcare system; thus causing a conundrum (Christensen). How can the government fix the modern problem when the candidates themselves are in the pockets of the healthcare system and large drug manufacturers? Most plan it as a pickle, but do not know the extent of the problem; the healthcare companies are spending more and more money hiring people to fight congress over healthcare plans. In fact, there are 2,084 lobbyist and only 535 members of congress (Mayor).

The uninsured are a large marginalized group in the United States that are not being represented by the government with adequate representation. The drug companies have the most to lose if the United States government adopts universal healthcare. They will lose the most because fair now they are making their fortune off the current health insurance plan in the United States. They make their money off not treating everyone and from their high premiums. The current Bush administration has been urged by the drug companies to not agree to a universal healthcare system. They offer payouts to high political figures such as George W. Bush himself. This money is just a fraction of the amount of money that these drug companies receive every year from American families.

The uninsured American has no way to argue with the insurance or drug companies over how mighty their care will cost them. To put it simply, they can’t. The following is a quote from Kuro5hin.org which posted this argument about bargaining rights of the uninsured:

“An individual who needs medical care has no bargaining power whatsoever with a hospital. He can either agree to pay whatever he is charged, or he can die. There are no other choices. In some cases, the government will force him to accept medical care – if he is a minor child in a family that does not wish to get him any for religious or financial reasons, or if he is considered not to be in possession of reason – but he will still be billed. Refusing medical care for a dangerous or fatal condition is something most people won’t do – and may, in fact, be considered evidence of insanity which takes away the patient’s right to refuse treatment at all. He can’t walk out because the price seems unreasonable. In some cases negotiation is fruitful, but often it isn’t.”

This following scenario is a exact situation that far too many Americans face who are uninsured. They have no way to pay off their bill so they can only choose to refuse care instead, often doing this to benefit their families financially. Their bills often accumulate so high that if they chose to die, it would be better financially. So are we putting a price on human life?

Stunned by the chilly shoulder that the U.S. Senate shows the uninsured, I looked into real life accounts of uninsured persons in the United States and their chilling stories. The following record touched me because it is of a hard working miner named Lenny who worked all his life in unforgiving conditions. He survived a mine fire which killed 91 of his co-workers. This didn’t stop Lenny from returning to work, because after all he had three kids and with his job tremendous health care. Unfortunately for Lenny he had health care up until the mine he worked for laid everyone off. This left Lenny with serious health problems from working underground for twenty years. He would eventually need medical care; so he applied for a job that offered medical assistance, and the only catch was that it took 60 days to go into effect. The following comes from (Sered and Fernandopulle):

“The luck that had made Lenny one of the survivor’s of the 1972 mine fire had run out. Only 30 days after he began the job, he fell down onto the pavement in fleshy cardiac arrest. Paramedics flew him to Spokane, Wash., to a cardiac unit. His recovery was far better than anyone expected, but he was saddled with enormous medical bills. A year later, he was sent to the hospital for angioplasty and eventually open-heart surgery. The doctors saved his life, but Lenny is still suffering acute headaches as a result of falling to the pavement when he experienced the initial cardiac arrest. The cardiologist sent him to an otolaryngologist, who then sent him to other specialists for treatments; none has eliminated his headaches.

The bill for his various surgeries, consultations, medications, and treatments is more than $140,000—it might as well be $1 billion in terms of Lenny ever being able to pay it. His sole income at this time is the $400/month pension he receives from the mining company.

The second ending to Lenny’s story is a bit different. Speaking with feeling about the first time he had to ask for public assistance, tears near into his eyes, which seems incongruous for a man who went back down into the mine as soon as the smoke from the deadly fire had cleared out. “We have worked all of our lives, even went to work sick,” Lenny says. And now, instead of the dignity of automatic access to care, he depends on the golden heart of the county indigent assistance program.”

Lenny’s case is not an isolated one by any means; many people are uninsured and share similar stories about how the flaws of the unique healthcare system.

Recently the blogging phenomenon has allowed many people with internet access to be able to share their healthcare stories with the world. Many people who can’t afford insurance can’t afford the cost of high speed internet which is required in order to blog. However, many public libraries offer this service and this allows many to have a voice when they wouldn’t previously. Healthinsuranceblog.com offers many different facts about the benefits of healthcare and what could happen if you don’t have it. The blog does not give real life accounts of people who are uninsured, but they support raise awareness of what it means to not have insurance. The blog brings up a trustworthy point about why Universal Healthcare in the United States is unlikely, we don’t have the money to provide healthcare for everyone. The government currently does not have the allocated funds to cloak insurance for everyone. With a tax it might be able to afford healthcare, but currently there is not enough money. Over 55% of the uninsured don’t pay taxes (healthinsuranceblog) and there would have to be higher taxes for everyone while only some people benefit. Health Insurance Blog is a political blog that outlines what the upcoming presidential candidates support for health care.

Healthcare is often a matter of life and death for many. Without health insurance, the uninsured cannot afford routine doctors visits so if there is something wrong with them it is not detected until it’s too late. Most of the illness that people gather can be easily treated with proper care, but since most people fear the cost of a doctors or hospital visit they are left untreated.

Uninsured persons use political candidates to help get their message to the public about how critical their situations are. On the website healthinsuranceblog.com the democratic author talked about how politicians are getting the public aware of what it is like to be uninsured:

“In the Democratic Party primaries of 1988, for example, candidate Michael Dukakis talked about a young single mother who had two jobs and still could not afford medical insurance for herself and her children. In 1992, Bill Clinton did the same, changing the story only slightly. This time it was the case of a woman with diabetes who could not get health insurance because of her chronic condition. And now, in the 2008 primaries, Hillary Rodham Clinton (whom I worked with on the White House Health Care Reform Task Force in 1993) describes a similar case. This time it is a single woman, with two daughters, who cannot pay her medical bills because her congenital heart defect makes it impossible for her to get medical insurance coverage. And Barack Obama describes similar cases, with the eloquence that characterizes all of his speeches. He frequently refers to his own mother, who had cancer and had to worry not only about her illness but about paying her medical bills.”

Healthcare cannot wait much longer. Americans are dying every day because they can’t afford to go to get a routine doctors visit or they can’t afford their medication. I looked at the earning of the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline which is one of the larger providers of health insurance, Jean-Pierre Garnier the CEO made $9.4 million dollars last year. How is it fair that many people in the United States are uninsured and can’t afford to get the help they need, and the CEO’s of the companies that are denying them affordable healthcare are making a large salary. When people have to work two jobs just to be able to afford to pay for their medications, why should insurance and drug companies continue to be making such a vast profit?

Internet savvy users who happen to be uninsured illustrate their hardships over the internet. Oftentimes, people without healthcare who have problems have a hard time expressing their feelings about their situations because they either can’t afford to use the internet or are too frustrated. The internet, along with blogs, has become a tool for people to voice their opinion without the censor of mainstream media. Blogs are written by people who have a voice and without an agenda (for the most part anyway; there are also corporate blogs).

Health care blogs are written by numerous people including, doctors, people without health insurance, and supporters of healthcare for everyone also known as universal healthcare. The commonwealthfund.org is an internet site that describes stories of people without healthcare and their hardships. The site is made for people to gain awareness of how bad it is to not have healthcare, and even mosey down the stereotypes of people without health insurance. One stereotype I used to have is that people without health insurance are lazy, and or did not work hard enough to be able to afford it so it was be their fault for not having it. After looking at this site that gives minorities a lisp, I learned that even college-educated men and woman have a hard time getting health care.

One profile on commonwealthfund.org was of a college graduate named Ryan who had to decide whether or not to accept a job based on income or healthcare. He was a healthy young individual who did not think he would need healthcare so he decided to take a job teaching which did not offer good benefits. Ryan fell down on his apartment stairs and hurt his knee, he now has very high hospital bills to pay off. He later had to rob a job that paid less but offers health benefits. Ryan ended up getting care for his knee in Chili because they did not charge as much and offered equal or better service. The question I have to ask after reading Ryan’s story that he told was why should anyone have to choose between a career or a job that offers health benefits? What happened to what we were told as kids: “we can be anything we want to be? ” The truth is with our current plan many Americans are finding themselves working for adequate health service.

Blogs have become an excellent form of education for people who did not know about what is happening to the uninsured. With the recent popularity of blogs, many are using their voice to disprove common misconceptions about what is it like to not be fully covered by their insurance company when they need care. After reading all the Profiles of the uninsured on commonwealthfund.org I wanted to know more about how we could get their stories across to more people. The upcoming election for president has given the most power to the uninsured. The biggest problem that is being addressed besides the Iraq war is the topic of affordable healthcare for all. The fact is that healthcare is only affordable for the average American making under $50,000 for a family is one that is mostly covered by their employer. But with the economy falling without or little growth since 2001 has not made it accessible for itsy-bitsy companies to provide healthcare for their employees.

Small business owners are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the cost of healthcare for employees. Small businesses have to deal with high taxes by the government on their income (this number is usually around 35% but can very state by state), this is a high number so the amount of funds left after paying for overhead is very little. The goal of small business it to expand and grow, but how can they afford to do that with all the costs they have? If healthcare cost less for business owners the economy would follow suit. It would grow, and I dare say we would be out of the recession that we are currently in. There is little in form of growth in the United States compared to other developing nations.

Universal Healthcare to many Americans is not important to them because they are already covered; however I am concerned about it because the United States is doing so poorly economically. Blogs have been important in addressing the pronounce of how much money in being spent by individuals every year. In 2003 1.3 trillion dollars was spent on healthcare by the American people. This is an alarming amount of money that is going to something that is under regulated as far as price goes. The drug companies and insurance companies are taking a large portion of all Americans income each year. Healthcare blogs have played a big role in getting the public’s attention at this bid. They often make issues aware to us that we may not have known about; blogs unlike mainstream media are not censored and do not have a corporate sponsor. Americans who do not have health insurance come by their stories about their hardships on blogs or others write about them on their behalf.

I found a family member in my family who did not have health insurance. I learned last year she had a major operation on her aid, and I often wondered how she was going to pay for it. I conducted an interview with her and what I found out was disturbing. I have to say I am slightly bias towards this because she is a family member; however it does not make the facts any less chilling.

My Aunt Lisa Herbert is a working class woman who did not finish high school or relieve any formal schooling after she dropped out. She got pregnant at the young age of 15 and had her first child at the age of 16. Lisa had a tough life from her teenage years. She had a hard time raising a kid at her age; she went through multiple husbands and boyfriends who would promise to take care of her children but left her financially ruined. Lisa’s yarn regarding medical insurance starts two years ago in 2006. From all aspects she had a hard life but she wanted to still make something of herself, she got a job at a Dunkin Donuts as was promoted quickly to manager. She was enjoying for the first time in her life financial freedom even if it was small; she had the sense of independence. She went to work just as she has always done one day in the winter; she fell on the ice leading up to the Dunkin Donuts she worked at. She fractured one her vertebras, however not life threatening, neither were her injuries threatening enough to make her become a paraplegic. However she was still injured. Lisa could not walk or be mobile for over 6 months; now imagine this as she described to me, she was finally becoming financially independent and was proud to become a manager, then after one accident she landed in the hospital. She did not have good insurance; she had what Dunkin Donuts provided for her. She was “lucky” in the sense that because she did not have the financial means to sue them. Dunkin Donuts gave her the pay for the 6 months that she was not working. She took this as a gift, but from my point of view she could have got more out of them if she had money. Lisa then had to pay overwhelming medical bills (the actual amount was not disclosed) that mounted on her already oppressed situation.

Lisa’s story is not an isolated one or even a rarity in the United States. Many workers who are working either retail or chain restaurants are not making it financially. The rising cost of healthcare that is not provided from the companies that they are working for is overwhelming and often times unaffordable. The blogging community is just starting to pick up issues of social injustice that is being done to marginalized groups such as the medically uninsured in the United States and giving them a voice. These groups should not be silenced because they do not have enough money to pay for friendly care or routine visits.

I want to address one important issue that the readers of this paper may be having; I have talked a lot about universal healthcare and how the uninsured need care as well. Many Americans that I have spoken to said that they don’t want inferior quality care if we decided to do universal healthcare. I have a personal story I want to share to clear up any confusion with the quality of nonprofit hospitals or hospitals that offer free care. When I was the age of 15 I had a severe flat foot dilemma, with health insurance that covered nearly 99% of all medical bills my parents had to pay over $3,000 out of pocket for treatment in order to get custom made orthotics for my feet and other care. They did not work. I ended up going to a hospital in Springfield Massachusetts that offered free orthopedic care to anyone under the age of 18; we did this only because all the “specialists” we visited did not wait on my condition. My doctor I had was the top orthopedic surgeon at the hospital and could rival any at a paying hospital. He suggested a new treatment for my feet without surgery and gave me free orthotics that actually helped. My family had the money to earn nearly any doctor that would help me however this was the only doctor that knew what he was doing that we visited so far. He was still paid but by donations (he drove a 7 series BMW so he was getting paid a lot). I think that Americans that are opposing universal healthcare have a twisted view on what it means to not have insurance pay for their care. I want to address one more thing, I found out about this hospital from a healthcare blog (can’t remember which one) which had other patients writing about their care and how they were helped by this hospital.

Universal healthcare to many is something that we want and strive for in America; but the question we have to ask is can we afford it? A stare was done on the National Center for Political Analysis website outlining what would happen if we adopted universal healthcare today. According to the site if we were to look at another universal healthcare plan such as Sweden’s, America would suffer far beyond what it is suffering today. Due to lower funding to hospitals through taxes instead of the healthcare providers, we would experience the following, a lag in new staff for hospitals, reduction in staff at hospitals and clinics, reduction in beds at hospitals to house patients, undertrained people taking on higher responsibilities such as surgery (Larson,1). This makes it hard for us to consider universal healthcare in America when there are so many negatives. However should the voices of the uninsured that are dying simply because they can’t afford their premiums be silenced?

Many of the uninsured living in America now are between the ages of 20-30, these by all means are young healthy individuals who feel like they will never need insurance until past the age of 30. They consider, what are the odds of getting sick? They are classified by the insurance agencies as “young invincibles” these are the people who do not have the average $3,000 a year to spend on health insurance let alone if their employer even offers it. Jake Hollner is by all rights a young healthy individual who at the age of 24 is working for Home Depot and is an artist part time. He missed the insurance that Home Depot offers as it is only offered once a year in a two week time frame. He thought to himself that he did not have the money to afford insurance (he was only making $6 an hour) so why bother? The money he would save from the insurance could be put to his medical bill if he had a onetime accident. He suffered from stomach ulcers since his undergraduate years in college, these ulcers unprejudiced starting coming back so he decided to bite the bullet and go to the doctors for help. He paid $200 for the visit and $73 for the prescription. This was his entire paycheck for the week but he was aesthetic right? The ulcers did not go away after he took his medication; he had to do the unthinkable for an uninsured person, he went to the emergency room. He lost his gamble with not having insurance he ended up paying a fortune for his ulcer coverage because he was without health insurance. The actual costs were not disclosed. Jake before the doctor visit could barely afford rent and other living expenses including health insurance (Amsden, 1).

There are other stories such as Jake’s out there, where young people who are rarely sick do not have the coverage they need in case of an emergency. The healthcare providers commented on this blog which Jake’s story was on. They gave him a link to get affordable healthcare through them, the provider is Blue Cross Blue Shield. Even if there was “affordable” healthcare to many, how could someone like Jake who was only making $6 an hour be able to fix his other expenses? There is no cutting corners in his case, he has no money and is living on necessities.

With the institution of universal healthcare people such as Jake would not have to pay a lot to obtain coverage since he does not execute a lot. Why is it that in America the better off richer class doesn’t want to help everyone else? Universal healthcare redistributes the wealth that we are not getting a fragment of. When the majority of our wealth is going to the 1/10 of the top 1% in our country how can the rest of us afford to live? In theory, their money would help fund everyone else with healthcare from their taxes. Wouldn’t it be better to live in a community where everyone helps each other, and there is no one who has to choose between eating or taking their child to the doctor’s office?

Universal healthcare is a topic that cannot be ignored any longer. We have too many people living amongst us who simply cannot afford the absurd premiums that the insurance companies are charging. The people that are dying because they cannot afford regular doctors visits are real people who have families and people that rely on them. This is a change that will need to be addressed as our new president comes into office in the year.

Amsden, David. A Generation Uninsured. 26 March 2007. 10 4 2008 .

Appleby, Julie. USA Today. 12 February 2004. 2008 .

Blarney. Kuro5hin. 30 October 2003. 2006 .

“Blogging it.” Modern Healthcare 34.37 (13 Sep. 2004): 42-42. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene State Library, Keene, NH 26 February 2008. .

Dalmia, Shikha. “Saying No to CoerciveCare.” Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition 31 Jan. 2008: A16. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene Station Library, Keene, NH. 26 February 2008. st-live&scope=site>.

Devore, Chuck. “Schwarzenegger’s Universal Healthcare Suffers Setback.” Human Events 64.5 (04 Feb. 2008): 7-14. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene State Library, Keene, NH. 26 February 2008. .

healthinsurance. Health Insurance Blog. 25 March 2008. 2008 .

McCabe, Patrick. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 27 April 2005. 2008 .

Moore, Michael. Sicko check up the facts. 2008 .

NCPA. Lessons from Sweden’s Universal Healthcare. 24 4 2008. 24 4 2008 .

(NCPA)”Outliers.” Modern Healthcare 37.34 (27 Aug. 2007): 68-68. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene State Library, Keene, NH. 26 February 2008. .

Susan Sered and Rushika Fernandopulle, M.D. The Common Wealth Fund. 2 February 2005. 2008 .

Thielst, Christina Beach. “Weblogs: A Communication Tool.” Journal of Healthcare Management 52.5 (Sep. 2007): 287-289. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene State Library, Keene, NH. 26 February 2008. .

“Wanna play politics, kid? D.C. welcomes you to the big leagues.” Modern Healthcare 37.41 (15 Oct. 2007): 36-36. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Keene State Library, Keene, NH. 21 February 2008. .

Wattenberg, Ben. PBS. 2003. 12 4 2008 .

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In a press release by the World Health Organization (WHO), there was a quote by the WHO director – General Margaret Chan. The quote read, “The evidence is clear, there is no honorable level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. Many countries have already taken action. I urge all countries that have not yet done so to select this immediate and vital step to protect the health of all by passing laws requiring all indoor workplaces and public places to be 100% smoke free.”

According to the press release (who.int), there are approximately 4000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke. More that 50 of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are known to cause cancer. Second hand smoke exposure causes heart disease, serious respiratory diseases and serious cardiovascular diseases. The diseases caused by second hand smoke can cause premature death.

Second hand smoke causes diseases, and worsens existing conditions in children. WHO estimates that about 700 million children, almost half the the worlds children, breath air polluted by tobacco smoke. Children who breath polluted tobacco smoke air at home get their health compromised in the very position they live.

Exposure to second hand smoke happens anywhere smoking is permitted. Estimates by the WHO are that about 200,000 die annually from exposure to smoke at work

The fresh policy recommendations by WHO are based on evidence from three major reports. The three reports all reached the same conclusion:

“Monograph 83 Tobacco Smoke and Involuntary Smoking” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

“Identification of Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Toxic Air Contaminate” by the California Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Toxic Air Contaminant.

Disease is costly to individuals, but it is not the only cost of smoking. Smoke exposure imposes economic costs on individuals, business and he whole of society. These costs include direct and indirect medical costs. In workplaces where smoking is permitted there are productivity losses. Workplaces that permit smoking also incur higher renovation costs, higher cleaning costs, increased fire risk and higher insurance premiums.

Acting Director of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, Douglas Bettcher, stated “This topic should matter to everyone, because everyone benefits from smoke-free places. With this year’s theme, we hope that everyone, especially policy makers and employers, will be inspired to claim, create and enjoy spaces that are 100% free from tobacco smoke. By doing so, we keep the bodies inside those spaces smoke-free too, and greatly increase our effectiveness in preventing serious diseases and saving lives in future generations.”

According to WHO, tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in the world. Tobacco use causes more than five million deaths every year.

Research suggests that people who starts smoking in their teens and continue to smoke for two decades will die 20 to 25 years earlier that people who never smoke. Diseases and conditions that are caused by smoking include: psoriasis, cataracts, wrinkling, hearing loss, cancer, tooth decay, emphysema, osteoporosis, heart disease, stomach ulcers, discolored fingers, cervical cancer and miscarriage, deformed sperm and Buerger’s disease.

Banning cigarette smoking in public places and the workplace is a step in protecting non-smokers from the health consequences of second-hand smoke.

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When shopping for individual dental insurance, you will find two popular types of plans – Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) and Indemnity plans. The DHMO plan is much more affordable, but there is a disadvantage: The DHMO belief requires you to use participating dentists. The DHMO does have an advantage as well: Usually there’s no waiting periods. If you really need an affordable plan, and you can handle going to a participating dentist, then the DHMO plan may be right for you. However, if you’d rather pay a little extra for freedom to choose your own dentist, and you don’t mind the waiting period for major services, then I would recommend going with the Indemnity plan.

Before making your decision, let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of both common types of individual dental insurance plans.

Advantages of the Indemnity plan:

• Freedom to choose your own dentist.
• Your carrier and you will each pay a percentage of the fees you incur.
• A wide variety of plans are available to choose from.

Disadvantages of the Indemnity plan:

• Waiting periods before major and basic services. The waiting period for major services can be as long as 24 months, and for basic services the waiting period can be as long as six months.
• Many Indemnity plans require a yearly deductible (anywhere from $50 and up).
• Indemnity plans usually have minimum and maximum limitations.
• Some Indemnity plans do not include orthodontics.

Advantages of the DHMO plan:

• Many DHMO plans do not have waiting periods, and if they do the waiting period is usually short.
• Most DHMO plans do not require a deductible.
• No annual limitations are set.
• No claims to file.
• Little or no copayments.
• You pay a reduced fee for services.
• Usually DHMO plans will include orthodontics. 

Disadvantage of the DHMO plan:

• You must choose participating dentists in specified states.

Don’t choose your individual dental insurance concept honest yet. Advantages and disadvantages of each type of plan is a good thing to know, but there are also things you should consider: Is the Indemnity plan right for you, or is the DHMO plan the better choice? Do you have an immediate need for major dental work such as root canals, dentures, oral surgery or etc.? If so then you may not want to resolve an Indemnity plan, because this type of conception usually requires a long waiting period before these types of services are covered. Does the DHMO plan offer a participating dentist in your site? If you have to travel too far for a participating dentist then you probably should choose the Indemnity plan. Finally, the most important factor to consider when deciding on a plan is what services each thought covers. Does the plan cover emergency, diagnostic and preventive services?

Okay, let’s summarize… you now know the advantages and disadvantages of the Indemnity and the DHMO plans, you have a basic opinion of what each type of plan is, and finally, you have a list of things to consider. That’s a lot to take in, but if you follow this guide it shouldn’t be too hard when you start shopping for individual dental insurance. 

Once you begin shopping for individual dental insurance, you will need some shopping tips, factual? I thought so. Following are a few tips to help you while you shop for individual dental insurance:

• Search the Internet using the term individual dental insurance for Web sites where you can request quotes and information from several different individual dental insurance carriers. (Place quotes around the term.)
• Do you already have a dentist you’re comfortable with? Talk to your dentist to see which carriers he accepts.
• Don’t choose the first carrier you come across. Take your time, inquire information packets from each carrier, read all the material sent to you, and then choose the individual dental insurance plan that’s right for you.
• Using the information you receive from each carrier, compare prices and benefits of each carrier.
• Read all fine print, benefits, restrictions, limitations and deductibles closely.
• Prepare a list of questions you may have for each carrier, and don’t forget to phone the carrier and ask your questions before investing in one of their plans.
• Prior to shopping for individual dental insurance, set down and figure all your monthly expenses so you can select an individual dental insurance plan within your budget.

Now you should know a petite more about buying individual dental insurance, so net ready and begin the ball rolling. Pull up your browser and shop wisely!

First off, lets begin by debunking two of the major myths in regards to Marijuana exercise in general. For if these were myths were true, then Medical Marijuana would be little more than a sick joke. The spacious one being that it can waste you. Marijuana can not kill you. ProCon.org recently requested reports from the FDA in regards to Marijuana related deaths. The relate that they produced from the data they received lists zero known deaths in which Marijuana was the primary suspect of death. Stephen Sidney, MD, Associate Director for Clinical Research at Kaiser Permanente, wrote the following in his Sep. 20, 2003 article titled “Comparing Cannabis with Tobacco — Again,” published in the British Medical Journal:

“No acute lethal overdoses of cannabis are known, in contrast to several of its illegal (for example, cocaine) and apt (for example, alcohol, aspirin, acetaminophen) counterparts…The current knowledge base does not support the assertion that it has any notable adverse public health impact in relation to mortality.”

Joycelyn Elders, MD, former US Surgeon General, wrote the following in her Mar. 26, 2004 editorial published in the Providence Journal:
“Unlike many of the drugs we prescribe every day, marijuana has never been
proven to cause a fatal overdose.”

Another famous memoir of Marijuana use is that Marijuana is addictive. Well, this one’s a tough one, because it depends on who you ask. Ask any drug addiction treatment center, and they will tell you that even mild use causes helpless addiction that requires thousands of dollars in therapy to shake. According to the United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services DASIS Characterize Series, “Differences in Marijuana Admissions Based on Source of Referral”,
“Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.”
The definition of addiction is hazy. By FDA standards when withdrawal symptoms interfere with the functioning of daily life or exceed a period of more than 2 weeks they mediate the substance in question addictive. According to the “National View Results on Drug Utilize from the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-1994, Volume II:” released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996, withdrawal symptoms were only reported in 2% of heavy Marijuana users, and peaked at about 2-3 days. The most typical symptoms reported included restlessness, loss of appetite, inability to sleep and anxiety. None of the people who reported symptoms required treatment to alleviate the withdrawal effects.

Marijuana can not extinguish you all by itself, you can not overdose, and there is no evidence of chemical or any other accomplish of long term dependency. Why is this important in regards to the medical marijuana debate? Because these are the very reasons that Doctors say Marijuana is a better prescription choice over other drugs currently used to treat a variety of conditions.

Among the Data procured from the FDA by procon.org, was the mortality statics of 17 other FDA current prescription Drugs. In a span of eight years more than 11,000 deaths were directly attributed to the use of those 17 prescription drugs. What’s so special about these 17? These 17 are prescription drugs that could be replaced with cannabis.The main attraction to using Marijuana as a Medical Option is that it does not have the risk of side effects associated with harsher, legal prescription drugs.Philip Denney, MD, stated to the Arkansas legislature in support of the Medical Use
of Marijuana:
“I have found in my study of these patients that cannabis is really a safe, effective and non-toxic alternative to many standard medications. There is no such thing as an overdose. We have seen very minimal problems with abuse or dependence, which at worst are equivalent to dependence on caffeine.”

When ruling on Docket #86-22, Francis Young (The DEA’s Administrative Law Mediate)
stated that:
“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis marijuana can be safely used within the supervised routine of medical care.”

In those states that allow it, doctors can prescribe Medical Marijuana to patients suffering from AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, asthma, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, including spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, including seizures associated with epilepsy, severe nausea, as well as other chronic or persistent medical symptoms.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine, in the most comprehensive study of medical marijuana’s efficacy to date, concluded, “Nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety . . . all can be mitigated by marijuana.”

The Aids Action Council has discussed and supported the legalization of medical Marijuana to AIDS patients. Donald Abrams, MD said in Aug of 03 in his report “Short-Term Effects of Cannabinoids in Patients with HIV-1 Infection,”
“Patients receiving cannabinoids [smoked marijuana and marijuana pills] had improved immune function compared with those receiving placebo. They also gained about 4 pounds more on average than those patients receiving placebo.”

One doctor found that 78% of 56 cancer patients with nausea who were resistant to standard drugs became symptom free through inhaling cannabis. Common Drugs used to ease the symptoms associated with chemotherapy treatments such as Marinol have little effect and often have troubling side effects. Cannabis can be used as an antiemetic, a drug which relieves nausea and allows patients to eat and live normally. It is safer, cheaper and often more effective. Marijuana also stimulates the appetite, helping patients maintain a healthy weight and the strength to recover.

It may seem unique to think that smoking anything can stop and Asthma attack, but in a study by the New England Journal Of Medicine, Donald P. Tashkin, MD found that :

“Marijuana smoke, unlike cigarette smoke, causes bronchodilatation [expansion of the air passages] rather than bronchoconstriction [narrowing of the air passages] and, unlike opiates, does not cause central respiratory depression.”

When subjects were induced into exercise related attacks, the subjects that received the placebo Marijuana took 20 min. to an hour to fully recover. The subjects that smoked a single dose of Marijuana saw instant relief.

In an age of puny gadgets. younger and younger people are being faced with the pains of arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome, characterized by an inflammation of the joints or the lining that protects them called synovium. Cannabis modulates the productions of proteins which reduce the inflammation and ease damage.

Organizations that have endorsed medical access to marijuana include: the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians; American Bar Association; American Nurses Association; American Public Health Association;American Society of Addiction Medicine; AIDS Action Council; British Medical Association; California Academy of Family Physicians; California Legislative Council for Older Americans; California Medical Association; California Nurses Association; California Pharmacists Association; California Society of Addiction Medicine; California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; Colorado Nurses Association; Consumer Reports Magazine; Kaiser Permanente; Lymphoma Foundation of America; Multiple Sclerosis California Action Network; National Association of Attorneys General; National Association of People with AIDS; National Nurses Society on Addictions; Fresh Mexico Nurses Association; New York State Nurses Association; New England Journal of Medicine; and Virginia Nurses Association.

With all this compelling evidence in more than 15 government studies alone, it’s hard to understand why there are still 36 that do not allow the use of Medical Marijuana. The chief (and practicably sole) argument of the opposition is the dangers related to the smoking of Marijuana. Smoking anything damages your lungs, though the level of carcinogens in a suggested dose of Marijuana is about the equivalent of a day out in the city. Ethan Russo, MD, in a letter to ProCon.org wrote:
“Smoking is a rapid and easily titrated form of cannabis delivery, but recent techniques such as vaporization, sublingual and nebulized cannabis-based medicine extracts offer other choices to the clinical cannabis patient without the risks
of smoking.”

Yet In spite of the established medical value of marijuana, doctors are presently permitted to prescribe cocaine and morphine – but not marijuana.

The American Government is no stranger to the medical Marijuana debate. In 1978 a court ruled that the Federal Government had to allow some patients to posses medical marijuana based on a “Medical Necessity”. To this day the Federal Government still provides 7 surviving members of the Investigational New Drug compassionate access program with access to marijuana for medical purposes.

The continued site 1 status of Cannabis Sativa is a downright human injustice committed by the American Government against its people. The sick, disabled and dying are being forced into a moral dilemma. Weighing quality of life and effective medical treatment against their personal freedom. Marijuana is a safe and effective drug that can deliver low-risk benefits to even the most terminal of patients. Even with the support of the scientific community, Doctors and a slew of Health care associations the Federal Government still balks. The FDA still refuses to classify Marijuana has having medical benefits. There are many political roadblocks and social barriers standing against the Legalization of Medical Marijuana. However, the truth can not be denied forever, and one day at a time those that support Marijuana as a Medical option make headway in the fight for relief.

A deductible.  Commonly referred to as a clause, within an insurance policy, which relieves an insurance company from the responsibility of paying on a claim until a specific dollar loss is reached.   In other words, your stated insurance deductible will be the amount you are expected to pay towards your personal healthcare services before the insurance company will start to pay any piece of your loss.   Listed in the Summary of Benefits fragment of your policy, the deductible is clearly stated and may range from $50, as seen in dental plans, to amounts in excess of $10,000, as seen in individual indemnity or catastrophic plans.   As a general rule, there is a reverse relationship between premium rates and deductibles.  That is to say, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums.

Insurance coverages such as auto, homeowners and Medicare all carry deductible provisions.   Medi-gap is generally carried by seniors to aide in covering the deductible expenses imposed by Medicare.   However, the auto and homeowner’s policy has no such option for waiving the deductible.   It is also distinguished to mark that most life insurance, disability and workers’ compensation plans will not impose a deductible upon the insured.

In an danger to control the health claim costs, insurance companies have devised appealing methods for passing the cost of some health expenses abet to the consumer.   For the lay consumer, deductible language can be confusing.    To explain, let’s demand the definition of each deductible we typically peer in a health care coverage belief.

Per Person vs. Family Deductible
Most insurance policies, with deductible provisions, will plot the deductible level as a flat calendar year figure or as a percentage of your policy limit.  In healthcare plans, the calendar year deductible will apply.   Calendar year, of course, refers to the period from January 1st through January 31st of each year.  The calendar year deductible is applied on a “per person” basis meaning each individual must satisfy his or her deductible before the insurer will open paying benefits toward future losses.  

To further complicate the policy language, and to the back of the insured, insurance carriers added an additional deductible element called the “family deductible”.    The family deductible was designed to address the needs of an entire family unit rather than focus on each individual person.   Under this provision, the family deductible is referenced as an aggregate figure.   The family deductible is considered exhausted when the family’s individual member deductibles, in total, reach this aggregate level.   The family deductible can generally be exhausted in any combination of claims but, in some cases, the policy may require that at least one individual spend his or her personal deductible.   

Carry Over Deductible
In new years, insurance carriers have begun to offer a policy provision called the “Carry Over Deductible” provision. This policy provision does not develop a recent deductible.  Instead, it is intended to offset costs incurred by the insured.  Under this provision, any covered expenses, incurred and applied toward the calendar year deductible in the last quarter (October thru December) of the calendar year, will be carried over and also applied toward the deductible of the next calendar year.  In other words, if you incur $500, in covered medical expenses, in the month of November and those charges are applied toward your reveal calendar year deductible, the insurance carrier will buy that same $500 and carry it over to the next year’s calendar deductible.    This is a mountainous provision for the insured but many insurance carriers do not readily portion the details of a carry over deductible provision.  It is up to the insurance saavy consumer to locate the provisions.  

With health care costs continue to increase it is vital that we, as consumers, become educated in the provisions of our insurance plans.   Cost cutting and cost saving measures are the key and, with the moral information, the educated consumer can find adequate coverage in the event of a loss.    To ensure cost savings, familiarize yourself with the relationship between deductible levels and premiums, the provisions and existance of a family deductible and the availablity of a carry over deductible provision.    In an ideal setting, a outrageous premium/high deductible policy could be purchased, with all family members deferring treatment until the raze of the calendar year and then carry over the deductible into the next calendar year.   By doing this, you will lower your health premiums, meet your family deductible in one year and then potentially near that same family deductible for the next calendar year by “carrying over” the same expenses.  

It’s about educating yourself as the consumer.   For more information on your health belief, review your Summary of Benefits provisions or contact your health insurance company.

With the United States ranked 37th in healthcare, by the World Health Organization, many public officials are beginning to inquire of key components of the healthcare plans.   Whether insured under a PPO, HMO, Indemnity Plans, you may become the victim of financial pains simply through a deductible maze.  So, how do we elaborately work through the maze?   Let’s first inquire of what a deductible is.

A deductible.  Commonly referred to as a clause, within an insurance policy, which relieves an insurance company from the responsibility of paying on a claim until a specific dollar loss is reached.   In other words, your stated insurance deductible will be the amount you are expected to pay towards your personal healthcare services before the insurance company will originate to pay any part of your loss.   Listed in the Summary of Benefits fragment of your policy, the deductible is clearly stated and may range from $50, as seen in dental plans, to amounts in excess of $10,000, as seen in individual indemnity or catastrophic plans.   As a general rule, there is a reverse relationship between premium rates and deductibles.  That is to say, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums.

Insurance coverages such as auto, homeowners and Medicare all carry deductible provisions.   Medi-gap is generally carried by seniors to aide in covering the deductible expenses imposed by Medicare.   However, the auto and homeowner’s policy has no such option for waiving the deductible.   It is also necessary to ticket that most life insurance, disability and workers’ compensation plans will not impose a deductible upon the insured.

In an pain to control the health claim costs, insurance companies have devised intelligent methods for passing the cost of some health expenses attend to the consumer.   For the lay consumer, deductible language can be confusing.    To explain, let’s expect the definition of each deductible we typically peek in a health care coverage conception.

Per Person vs. Family Deductible
Most insurance policies, with deductible provisions, will site the deductible level as a flat calendar year figure or as a percentage of your policy limit.  In healthcare plans, the calendar year deductible will apply.   Calendar year, of course, refers to the period from January 1st through January 31st of each year.  The calendar year deductible is applied on a “per person” basis meaning each individual must satisfy his or her deductible before the insurer will commence paying benefits toward future losses.  

To further complicate the policy language, and to the serve of the insured, insurance carriers added an additional deductible element called the “family deductible”.    The family deductible was designed to address the needs of an entire family unit rather than focus on each individual person.   Under this provision, the family deductible is referenced as an aggregate figure.   The family deductible is considered exhausted when the family’s individual member deductibles, in total, reach this aggregate level.   The family deductible can generally be exhausted in any combination of claims but, in some cases, the policy may require that at least one individual use his or her personal deductible.   

Carry Over Deductible
In modern years, insurance carriers have begun to offer a policy provision called the “Carry Over Deductible” provision. This policy provision does not do a unique deductible.  Instead, it is intended to offset costs incurred by the insured.  Under this provision, any covered expenses, incurred and applied toward the calendar year deductible in the last quarter (October thru December) of the calendar year, will be carried over and also applied toward the deductible of the next calendar year.  In other words, if you incur $500, in covered medical expenses, in the month of November and those charges are applied toward your expose calendar year deductible, the insurance carrier will win that same $500 and carry it over to the next year’s calendar deductible.    This is a substantial provision for the insured but many insurance carriers do not readily fragment the details of a carry over deductible provision.  It is up to the insurance saavy consumer to locate the provisions.  

With health care costs continue to increase it is notable that we, as consumers, become educated in the provisions of our insurance plans.   Cost cutting and cost saving measures are the key and, with the moral information, the educated consumer can net adequate coverage in the event of a loss.    To ensure cost savings, familiarize yourself with the relationship between deductible levels and premiums, the provisions and existance of a family deductible and the availablity of a carry over deductible provision.    In an ideal setting, a gross premium/high deductible policy could be purchased, with all family members deferring treatment until the raze of the calendar year and then carry over the deductible into the next calendar year.   By doing this, you will lower your health premiums, meet your family deductible in one year and then potentially near that same family deductible for the next calendar year by “carrying over” the same expenses.  

It’s about educating yourself as the consumer.   For more information on your health belief, review your Summary of Benefits provisions or contact your health insurance company.

Free health insurance quotes beget it easy to decide from plans and policies as per your needs. It’s honest that you are making enough money to live a normal life and also to set some dimes but what if you accumulate ill? What if you acquire admitted to a hospital and go through numerous medical examinations – which are really very costly. The spending will not ruin when you’ll leave the hospital; there are costly medicines to prefer on a regular basis. Is it possible for you to afford all that while unexcited giving your family a nice and comfy living? You should give some view to free insurance quotes, starting from today.

To gather free health insurance quotes, you have to follow some guidelines; observe into some stuff before making a choice. The basic aspects that should be taken care of include the trusty needs of you and your family. This should be followed by the payment plans, any clauses to extend the payment duration and mode of payment, among other things.

Another thing to spy out for is if you are given an option to choose your contain doctors and medical center or if there are restrictions on only using the company appointed facilities.

Group health insurance is also now offered for free by some companies. The disagreement between a group insurance and individual ones is that under the old-fashioned, a whole group – usually company employees – are entitled to free insurance. Group insurance is cheaper than individual one and relatively hassles free. While you might go through a tough medical screening if going for individual one, group quotes only require you to complete basic medical examination.

Whatever type of insurance you would like to resolve, impartial form saner decision and your future will be in ample hands.

As the wise men have said, protect what you have and set aside for the future. While this not only applies on money and belongings, but is also applicable on your health. No one knows what is coming next or what future has in store for him. There is a possibility that a car ran over you paralyzing you for your whole life. You might also acquire debilitating diseases like Diabetes or Cancer. We don’t dream of getting these ‘prizes’ but life is so unexpected. The better design is to rep you prepared before a concern strike. Of course, you can always earn the insurance cover; companies are hunting for people like you to offer free health insurance quotes.

Free health insurance quotes earn it easy to settle from plans and policies as per your needs. It’s moral that you are making enough money to live a normal life and also to set aside some dimes but what if you collect ill? What if you fetch admitted to a hospital and go through numerous medical examinations – which are really very costly. The spending will not extinguish when you’ll leave the hospital; there are costly medicines to grasp on a regular basis. Is it possible for you to afford all that while smooth giving your family a nice and comfy living? You should give some opinion to free insurance quotes, starting from today.

To come by free health insurance quotes, you have to follow some guidelines; eye into some stuff before making a choice. The basic aspects that should be taken care of include the exact needs of you and your family. This should be followed by the payment plans, any clauses to extend the payment duration and mode of payment, among other things.

Another thing to ogle out for is if you are given an option to select your possess doctors and medical center or if there are restrictions on only using the company appointed facilities.

Group health insurance is also now offered for free by some companies. The dissimilarity between a group insurance and individual ones is that under the aged, a whole group – usually company employees – are entitled to free insurance. Group insurance is cheaper than individual one and relatively hassles free. While you might go through a tough medical screening if going for individual one, group quotes only require you to complete basic medical examination.

Whatever type of insurance you would like to decide, unbiased fabricate saner decision and your future will be in helpful hands.

The United States comes in the second lowest in a group of 23 developed countries, lagging leisurely countries like Greece, Italy, Recent Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland in the proportion of the working population that is self-employed. This figure is a mere 7 percent of the total workforce. In itsy-bitsy manufacturing businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees), the US comes in at the 18th site (with 11 percent of the workforce), lagging slack countries such as Japan, Spain, Norway, and the UK, among others. And in those runt businesses with computer-based services (and fewer than 100 employees), the US fared no better (on a par with Portugal, and far leisurely countries such as the UK and Germany). This was a particular surprise to researchers, given the strong high-tech sector in the United States overall.

Says John Schmitt, senior economist at CEPR and coauthor of the characterize, “We believe of ourselves as offering the most business-friendly environment in the world, but almost every other rich country in the world does a mighty better job creating and sustaining petite businesses [than the United States],”

While the United States is perceived as providing a tall environment for runt business development (including its start capitalistic spirit, vulgar tax rate, buoyant labor force, and constrained regulatory environment) particularly when compared with most of Europe, there is one pickle that stands out as a lawful impediment to miniature business in the United States. That problem: health care.

The CEPR research found that the high stamp of health care was a severe deterrent to the expansion of the petite business sector in the United States. In other countries start-up companies have few problems in this regard because they access government health care resources. In the United States, says Schmitt, “talented people thinking about starting a recent business often have to determine between following their dream or going without health insurance.” No matter how grand the spirit of entrepreneurship, it’s a difficult choice for many of those thinking of starting their bear companies or developing their fill products.

There’s a approved memoir spouted on a regular basis by US politicians and business leaders alike: “The US miniature business sector leads the plot in original jobs and growth.” In fact, in a recently released gaze this year by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), this may be far from the truth, particularly when one compares the United States with other developed nations in Europe and Asia.

The United States comes in the second lowest in a group of 23 developed countries, lagging slow countries like Greece, Italy, Original Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland in the proportion of the working population that is self-employed. This figure is a mere 7 percent of the total workforce. In exiguous manufacturing businesses (those with fewer than 20 employees), the US comes in at the 18th set (with 11 percent of the workforce), lagging leisurely countries such as Japan, Spain, Norway, and the UK, among others. And in those puny businesses with computer-based services (and fewer than 100 employees), the US fared no better (on a par with Portugal, and far slack countries such as the UK and Germany). This was a particular surprise to researchers, given the strong high-tech sector in the United States overall.

Says John Schmitt, senior economist at CEPR and coauthor of the recount, “We judge of ourselves as offering the most business-friendly environment in the world, but almost every other rich country in the world does a noteworthy better job creating and sustaining minute businesses [than the United States],”

While the United States is perceived as providing a gigantic environment for slight business development (including its commence capitalistic spirit, vulgar tax rate, buoyant labor force, and constrained regulatory environment) particularly when compared with most of Europe, there is one dilemma that stands out as a just impediment to miniature business in the United States. That problem: health care.

The CEPR research found that the high heed of health care was a severe deterrent to the expansion of the exiguous business sector in the United States. In other countries start-up companies have few problems in this regard because they access government health care resources. In the United States, says Schmitt, “talented people thinking about starting a modern business often have to determine between following their dream or going without health insurance.” No matter how big the spirit of entrepreneurship, it’s a difficult choice for many of those thinking of starting their acquire companies or developing their hold products.

These 5 major tips will go along design toward helping you set aside money on your health insurance costs.

Cutback on coverages
This is one of the fastest ways to slit down the cost. You can also offer supplemental insurance to camouflage any gaps in coverage on the main health policy. Accidental and sickness policies for instance, are relatively affordable and can be combined with a higher deductible health idea.

Offer health savings epic and high deductible plans
By combining Health savings accounts (HSAs) and a high-deductible health insurance plans, you will potentially prick your limited business health insurance costs while giving your employees tax breaks. HSAs are tax-sheltered accounts that can be old toward paying medical expenses, including the insurance deductible. High-deductible health insurance plans have mauch lower premiums than managed care health plans. By combining these two plans, you will put money while retaining primary coverage for your employees.

Join a group health insurance plan
When you engage in bulk, the product’s costs comes down. Petite group health insurance opinion shroud 2-50 employees and the larger the group, the lower the premiums will be. If you are running a miniature firm with less than ten employees, you can partner with other businesses to enlarge your group health insurance thought and lower your rates.

Create a health-conscious work ethic and environment
*Limit smoking at work and then work to gradually eliminate it through incentives and health programs.
*Offer healthy drinks at the vending machine.
*Offer incentives to employees to enroll in weight-loss programs.
*Provide workshops relating to safety both at work and at home.
*Institute a policy of zero-tolerance for any drug or alcohol abuse.
*Offer low-calorie food and drinks at company events – do away with the pizza and beer.

Make the most of all the available tax incentives
There are a number of tax benefits provided to puny business owners who offer health insurance to their employees. For example, you may be able to deduct the stout amount of your group health insurance premiums, which may in turn crop your payroll tax.

By implementing these tips, you will go along intention toward providing your employees with a quality group health insurance opinion at a reasonable, cost effective rate to you and your business.

As health insurance costs continue to rise by double digits, the increase in premiums is the highest for petite businesses that offer group health insurance plans. According to the Commonwealth Fund, a Original York-based health advocacy group, the health insurance costs for puny businesses are roughly 18% higher than those of vast business. This is leaving more and more businesses with a choice between two evils: pass on the rate hikes to their employees or do away with the befriend altogether.

These 5 major tips will go along diagram toward helping you do money on your health insurance costs.

Cutback on coverages
This is one of the fastest ways to reduce down the cost. You can also offer supplemental insurance to hide any gaps in coverage on the main health policy. Accidental and sickness policies for instance, are relatively affordable and can be combined with a higher deductible health understanding.

Offer health savings anecdote and high deductible plans
By combining Health savings accounts (HSAs) and a high-deductible health insurance plans, you will potentially prick your exiguous business health insurance costs while giving your employees tax breaks. HSAs are tax-sheltered accounts that can be primitive toward paying medical expenses, including the insurance deductible. High-deductible health insurance plans have mauch lower premiums than managed care health plans. By combining these two plans, you will attach money while retaining essential coverage for your employees.

Join a group health insurance plan
When you seize in bulk, the product’s costs comes down. Exiguous group health insurance thought mask 2-50 employees and the larger the group, the lower the premiums will be. If you are running a cramped firm with less than ten employees, you can partner with other businesses to enlarge your group health insurance opinion and lower your rates.

Create a health-conscious work ethic and environment
*Limit smoking at work and then work to gradually eliminate it through incentives and health programs.
*Offer healthy drinks at the vending machine.
*Offer incentives to employees to enroll in weight-loss programs.
*Provide workshops relating to safety both at work and at home.
*Institute a policy of zero-tolerance for any drug or alcohol abuse.
*Offer low-calorie food and drinks at company events – do away with the pizza and beer.

Make the most of all the available tax incentives
There are a number of tax benefits provided to tiny business owners who offer health insurance to their employees. For example, you may be able to deduct the paunchy amount of your group health insurance premiums, which may in turn chop your payroll tax.

By implementing these tips, you will go along draw toward providing your employees with a quality group health insurance understanding at a reasonable, cost effective rate to you and your business.

These days, there is no avoiding the health care crunch, and colleges and universities face the same health care struggles that all of us face. As a result, university health care isn’t all that it is cracked up to be; parents may remember their have days on campus and the care provided by a university health system. While certainly health-care providers on campus try hard, the ask is mountainous and often exceeds available resources.

The biggest mistake a parent can invent in sending a child off to school is to ask the university to completely conceal all of a student’s needs. This begs the question: what extras are needed to ensure tubby coverage for a college student?

A few things to preserve in mind, for every parent:
• Don’t wait till a child is sick to catch out that they aren’t covered. As your student leaves for school, investigate the coverage they will gather with their university enrollment.
• Student health insurance coverage may be mandatory, but that doesn’t mean it is comprehensive. What does this mean? While parents are likely assessed an often minimal fee for a semester’s health care (typically $200-500) that coverage may not be all a student needs. For example, some plans max out at $5000 of coverage.
• School health centers can provide substantial “basic” health coverage, but for hospitalization, serious disease, or even an discouraged accident—they are not able to camouflage your student’s bills even though the payments you’ve made may have convinced you otherwise.

A solution to obtain up the shortfall, for the unhappy status of an accident or serious illness, is to carry a high-deductible health insurance (thus, more affordable) plans, in addition to the university’s policy. Parents may be able to rep an individual, high-deductible understanding for their child (covering hospitalization or shameful illness, but not day-to-day health care—which can be adequately provided by an on-campus health center). Many parents are also able to carry a child) on a family policy until he/she is 25. Parents should investigate their acquire plans.

While asking questions, it’s a generous notion to be informed about the coverage of that university idea. Parents should ask if the opinion covers health care when a child is home on wreck from school and what the penalties are for being out of station (if they are attending an out of space school). Parents should decide in-network vs. out-of-network fees, prescription fees, and the like. And one simple step: parents should relieve students to visit the doctor and refill any prescriptions prior to leaving school on summer shatter!

As August progresses, the summer draws to a halt and schools begin. And for parents sending someone off to college, there’s the accelerate of buying comforters and dorm-room snacks, laptops and window fans. The car is loaded, the textbooks are bought, and kids are scheduled into school for the year. But before unloading that final car-load (indeed, before even setting off for school) parents should do some research about the university health care system that will be protecting their child in case of sickness or accident.

These days, there is no avoiding the health care crunch, and colleges and universities face the same health care struggles that all of us face. As a result, university health care isn’t all that it is cracked up to be; parents may remember their possess days on campus and the care provided by a university health system. While certainly health-care providers on campus try hard, the ask is mammoth and often exceeds available resources.

The biggest mistake a parent can do in sending a child off to school is to seek information from the university to completely camouflage all of a student’s needs. This begs the question: what extras are needed to ensure chubby coverage for a college student?

A few things to sustain in mind, for every parent:
• Don’t wait till a child is sick to gain out that they aren’t covered. As your student leaves for school, investigate the coverage they will gain with their university enrollment.
• Student health insurance coverage may be mandatory, but that doesn’t mean it is comprehensive. What does this mean? While parents are likely assessed an often minimal fee for a semester’s health care (typically $200-500) that coverage may not be all a student needs. For example, some plans max out at $5000 of coverage.
• School health centers can provide broad “basic” health coverage, but for hospitalization, serious disease, or even an downhearted accident—they are not able to mask your student’s bills even though the payments you’ve made may have convinced you otherwise.

A solution to get up the shortfall, for the unhappy place of an accident or serious illness, is to carry a high-deductible health insurance (thus, more affordable) plans, in addition to the university’s policy. Parents may be able to catch an individual, high-deductible notion for their child (covering hospitalization or grievous illness, but not day-to-day health care—which can be adequately provided by an on-campus health center). Many parents are also able to carry a child) on a family policy until he/she is 25. Parents should investigate their occupy plans.

While asking questions, it’s a marvelous belief to be informed about the coverage of that university understanding. Parents should ask if the belief covers health care when a child is home on wreck from school and what the penalties are for being out of place (if they are attending an out of residence school). Parents should choose in-network vs. out-of-network fees, prescription fees, and the like. And one simple step: parents should befriend students to visit the doctor and refill any prescriptions prior to leaving school on summer shatter!