Monday, February 28, 2011

Health Insurance in Florida

Healthcare reform helps the consumers in Florida to buy health insurance. Below is some important information about health insurance in Florida and how consumers can be benefited through these changes:

1. Healthcare reforms make sure that small businesses in Florida will be offered tax credits for offering health insurance to their employees. With this, it is expected that around 290,000 small businesses in Florida will be benefited

2. Consumers in Florida will not be imposed with lifetime limits on the coverage they are offered by health insurance companies. This is huge benefit for the consumers.

3. Insurance companies in Florida will not be allowed to drop consumers from coverage because they got sick. This is one of most useful change that the healthcare reforms bring to the consumers in Florida.

4. The children in Florida will not be excluded from coverage based on pre-existing medical conditions.

5. Children in Florida will be able to stay in their family health insurance as dependents until the age of 26. There is no need to buy a separate health insurance plan.

6. Florida's community health centers will be strengthened by increased funding, thereby providing better healthcare services to the patients. Consumers will have access to low cost health insurance options.

Before purchasing a health insurance policy, consider the following tips:

Use a plan with a higher deductible - The chance that you will meet your deductible is slim. If you can save $800 a year on health insurance by increasing your deductible by $1,000, you have made a wise decision. After 15 months on the plan, you have already made back the $1,000. Always ask how much the next highest deductible is and do the math.

Physician co-pays sound great. But they cost you a lot of money each month to have them and don't save you as much as you think. If you stay within the PPO network, you are entitled to the discounted rate for office visits. A physician visit might be $50 to $60. Eliminating the office co-pay feature could save you $500 to $800 a year. You would need to have 20 to 30 office visits a year to make the co-pay feature worthwhile. It sounds better than it is. You will soon realize that paying for the privilege of seeing the doctor for $35 is no big deal.

Use a plan with a prescription deductible - Florida health insurance carriers are going to really soak you for brand name prescription coverage. Most generics are fairly inexpensive and by having a deductible for brand name or non-generic prescriptions, you will save a lot of money on premiums. Most plans have a co-pay for generics and impose a calendar year deductible for brand name drugs. Additionally, several pharmacies and box stores with pharmacies offer a discount card. If you rarely use prescription medication, perhaps this is the better choice for you.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

Friday, February 18, 2011

Earthing

What on Earth is earthing? I recently read a publication written by a metabolic cardiologist,  Dr. Stephen Sinatra, MD on earthing. Here is a brief synopsis.

Try to remember back when you were a kid how energizing it felt playing outside on the grass barefoot. Well, know we know there is a scientific reason for that feeling. When you are barefoot, your body actually becomes infused with negatively charged free electrons that are normally present on the earth's surface. Simply put, these free electrons help provide the body with energy. Think of Earth as being a battery that is constantly being charged by lighting, solar radiation and heat from its molten core. It is from this battery that our bodies derive it's energy, if were grounded.

If you cannot ground yourself by sleeping on the grass or walk around barefoot, get yourself an earthing mat.
The positive effects seen by earthing were it's ability to reverse the inflammatory process. As we know, inflammation is the major underlying cause of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, cancer and neurological diseases.

The improvements seen in heart patients were:  increase in ATP production:  the powerhouse of our cells, decrease in cardiac arrhythmias and a decrease in blood pressure. Other benefits were improvement in sleep patterns, better socialization skills and stabilization of moods.

As alternative medicine has become an accepted practice, more and more people are finding new ways to help alleviate and cure illness. Those people who have applied the concept of earthing in their lives, feel better, get a restful night sleep and have less pain. Give it a try. Get connected with Mother Earth!

For more information on Earthing, visit earthinginstitute.net.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Money well spent: Invest in your health part I

The Florida Hospital offers a well designed health screening package that is affordable and easily accessible. All you have to do is pick up the phone, inquire where the mobile site will be next and make an appointment. There is a blood test involved so you will have to fast.

They have  mobile health fair screening sites throughout Central Florida which affords accessibility for you. Remember, all these tests are screenings only. Should anything come back questionable, you make an appointment with your doctor so he/she may review the results and possibly order additional testing for diagnostic purposes. Either way, send the results to your doctor so they may be added to your file.

The cardiovascular screenings include;  echocardiogram, electro cardiogram, arteriosclerosis screening, carotid artery, peripheral artery and abdominal aortic screening. The blood test is a complete metabolic and lipid panel screening.

These screenings are an ideal way to learn about the overall health of your heart, vasculature system, kidneys and liver. Please take the time and make an appointment. You never know. You my discover an issue that requires immediate medical attention. Afterall, heart disease is called the "Silent Killer".

For more information visit:  http://www.healthy100screening.com/

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/
drugstore.com, inc.