Your Healthcare FAQs

Preventative Care (Medicare):

Starting January 1, 2011, deductibles and co-pays can no longer be charged for preventive care medical services.

This reform law will enable more  senior citizens to get regular check-ups which can possibly detect potential health conditions. When people with cancer, heart disease,  and diabetes are diagnosed sooner,  treatment can be offered sooner to aid in the prevention of long-term complications of treatable diseases.  This will save not only consumer dollars, but a lot more lives!

Medicare Part D “Donut Hole”

In 2010, only get a $250 rebate for prescription drugs was offered to Medicare recipients.   Beginning in 2011, seniors on Medicare will also get a 50% discount on brand-name drugs while in the “Donut Hole”.  The “Donut Hole” is a gap in the Medicare Part D prescription drug  plan. Medicare Part D currently covers up to $2,700 and then picks back up if drugs exceed $6,100. Everything in the middle has to be covered by a separate insurance or by the recipient.  The gap will be eliminated completely by 2020.

Just these small changes will help the senior population who are on such a tight/fixed budget as it is.  A lot of seniors neglect their own care simply because they have no options.  It’s such a shame we have let this happen all these years.

Cheers to 2011!

By: Kelvin Ho

Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery in medical terminology, refers to a group of gastrointestinal surgical procedures carried out on patients suffering from chronic morbid obesity (i.e., at least 100 lbs overweight, or a body mass index, BMI, of 40 or greater, for more than 5 years). It is used to facilitate weight loss and avoid the risk to life-threatening diseases associated with morbid obesity, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis, etc.

Weight loss surgery is normally resorted to as a last measure when an all other conventional weight loss methods, such as diet control, exercise and weight loss medications, have failed in treating the person for morbid obesity. It may be pointed out that weight loss surgery is distinct from liposuction in that the latter is more of a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical procedure.

What does weight loss surgery involve?
According to The American Society for Bariatric Surgery, there are basically two approaches to weight loss surgery:

1. Restrictive procedures, which help reduce the capacity for food intake in a single meal but do not interfere with the normal absorption (digestion) of food.

2. Malabsorptive procedures, which help reduce absorption of calories from food by altering the process of digestion.

Restrictive procedures are mainly of two types:
1. Lap band surgery, which involves placing laproscopically a silicone gastric band around the top of the stomach in order to create a very small stomach pouch. As a result, the person starts feeling full with just a small portion of food. Food will then slowly empty from the smaller pouch into the lower part of the stomach and into the rest of the digestive tract.

2. Gastric bypass surgery, which involves stapling of the smaller, upper part of the stomach to separate it from the rest of the stomach and rerouting the small intestine to connect it to the smaller stomach pouch.

Lap band surgery is a relatively simple and less risky procedure compared to gastric bypass surgery. It requires just 1 to 3 days of hospital stay as opposed to 5 to 8 days in the latter case. Moreover, there is no malabsorption of vitamins and minerals after lap band surgery, which is not always the case with gastric bypass surgery. However, the expected weight loss over a period of 18 months is lesser (50 to 60% of the excess weight) compared to gastric bypass surgery (70 to75%). Both the procedures are reversible, but lap band surgery is much more easily reversible.

There is a third type of restrictive procedure too, called sleeve gastrectomy, that is less commonly used. In this the surgeon removes approximately 60% of the stomach laparoscopically so that the stomach takes the shape of a tube or “sleeve”.

Malabsorptive procedures are rarely used these days due to the problems of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies caused by them.

Any risks?
In addition to general risks associated with any kind of major surgery, weight loss surgery can pose its own complications. Discomforting symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, hernia, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies can crop up after weight loss surgery.

Is it for you?
Though the ultimate answer to the question whether you qualify as a candidate for weight loss surgery or not rests entirely with your bariatric surgeon, here are some pointers that can help you in your decision-making process. If you have been more than 100 lbs overweight for more than 5 years, if your body has failed to respond to the conventional weight loss methods, and if you are not suffering from any major disorder that makes surgery difficult, you can seriously consider weight loss surgery as a feasible option. Consult your doctor for detailed information in order to weigh the risks against benefits of weight loss surgery.

Finally, remember that even if you keep realistic goals in mind, the real success of weight loss surgery is strongly dependent on your making long-term changes in your diet and lifestyle.

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Ok….I’m here to tout again!  Please…for your own good, watch Food Matters.  I have wanted to see it after watching ‘clips’ online and finally today…I got to see it.

I am planning on actually watching it a couple more times at least to take notes, but I am throwing in a few key statements from the movie that I got from watching it today.  After doing more research, I plan on sharing more with you.  Alarming stuff….

Key points:

***In order for a pharm. company to license a pharmaceutical drug, they have to prove it to be successful in at least 2 trials over placebos.  Only 2 TRIALS!!!!!  They do NOT have to disclose the numerous other trials where it may not have been successful.  UNREAL!

***Over 100K people die each year from taking prescription drugs…AS PRESCRIBED. (most forms of heart disease, diabetes, and more are reversible with a healthy diet)

***Only 10 alleged-reported deaths in 23 years from people taking vitamin supplements.  HMMM….

***To treat depression, it has been PROVEN that doses of the vitamin Niacin have improved moods, behavior, etc.  INTERESTING…..(people would rather suffer through side affects of Xanax, Cymbalta, etc)

***There are doctors who are treating forms of cancer by intravenous (IV) injection of Vitamin C in dose amounts of 30,60, and 100K mg. in a 24 hr period WITH 50% SUCCESS RATE….FANTASTIC!!! (no loss of hair or nausea, no killing of healthy cells)

So, why are people so anxious to get ahold of a prescription before trying natural methods such as a healthy diet, vitamins, fruit, Omega 3′s, Superfoods, etc.  WHY?

Mainly because there is a money chain from your pocketbook all the way to DOCTORS, RESEARCH, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT, WALL STREET AND BEYOND.

Watch this video for a sneak preview and then rent it at Red Box or something…get it somehow.  Do it if you want to ‘live’ long and prosper, as they say.

Around 50,000 new cases of this condition each year.  Very scary because you have very little notice when it occurs.  This video goes over three solutions so if it happens to you, you will know your options! ~Michele

Click HERE to watch this video from my local news web site.

Well, we have some more great FAQs in response to folks having some questions regarding health and life insurance.   Thank you to everyone who submitted a question!

It will surely benefit others!  ~Michele

FAQ 1.  I’m under 30.  Do I need term insurance? (Kelly Sullivan, Ft. Worth)

A. The basic theory is to buy term and invest the difference.  What that means is that generally a whole life policy will cost you a higher premium rate than a level term policy.  So, it would be more beneficial to invest that extra $20.00 (random amount) per month into your own type of savings or investments rather than allow the insurance company to invest it for you.  The money gained in a whole life policy is based on how well the market fares over that time, but at least with this advice you have more control.

The other major factor is that at age 30, you will be paying much better rates than if you wait and you can get into a longer term, therefore paying a level premium for a longer time.  For instance, let’s say you wait until you are 40 and you go with a 20 year level term.  Your premium will remain ‘level’ for that 20 year period, but if you decide to renew then you would pay a higher rate due to your ‘then current age’.  The policies we sell are guaranteed until age 95 so even though your premium would go up at the end of that term, you couldn’t be denied due to health and will not be required to take a medical exam.

The MOST important type of rider to go along with your term policy is a Return of Premium (ROP) rider.  At a lower age, this will truly benefit you because you will pay less for this ‘prize’.  With an ROP rider, if you outlive your policy term, then you will receive all of your premium back in a tax free lump sum at the end of the term.  You can also use it on a paid-up policy or maybe a final expense policy for burial insurance and of course you could always use it as part of your retirement or go on vacation or use it any way you like.

FAQ 2.  Does smoking or tobacco use affect my rates? (Mike G.)

A.  Absolutely!  Smoking nearly doubles your premium rates in most cases.  Most companies require that in order to consider you as a ‘non-smoker’, you need to be completely free of smoking for 1 year, some companies require more time.  There are many factors that affect rates including age, health conditions, etc…but smoking is a major factor!!!

By: David Cowley

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD) and Atherosclerotic heart disease, and Arteriosclerosis, is a disease affecting the walls blood vessel. This disease may be one of the most easily preventable diseases of the modern civilization in the 40 to 70 age group. It is characterized by the thickening and hardening of the arties. This loss of elastically and narrowing of the arties can lead to high blood pressure and if left untreated, increases the chance of a stroke and a heart attack.

Coronary heart disease typically begins in early adolescence but is rarely diagnosed until late in life usually after to a stroke or heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the progression of Coronary heart disease and prevent a medical emergency.

Causes of Coronary Heart Disease include obesity, smoking, high blood, diabetes, and lack of physical activities, menopause in women, advance age (65 or older), and some types of infections of the artery walls. Males are more prone to this disease than women.

Symptoms leading to coronary heart disease may not always be easily readable and if you show any of the symptoms, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms are chest, pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis (blue color under the finger nails and around the lips)

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is always better then treatment, one should try and have regular check ups and follow the doctor’s advice. Knowing that you are at risk for a heart problem may save you from being faced with an emergency situation and possibly death.

Some of the things you can do to preventing coronary heart disease include decrease your cholesterol level, maintain your ideal body weight, maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Health is our most valuable possession, which often cannot be bought back once lost.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with coronary heart disease such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, Oat Bran, Sytrinol, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Policosanol and Antioxidants.

Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.

Vitamin E improves circulation and promotes normal blood clotting. Vitamin E is also known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.

Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides.

Sytrinol are known to be useful in helping maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body by reducing triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.

Pantothenic Acid is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it.

Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning.

Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.

Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.

Patients at risk for arteriosclerosis-related diseases are increasingly being treated prophylactically with low-dose aspirin.

Lifestyle changes can also lower the risk of medical emergencies do to arteriosclerosis. Quit smoking, eat healthy foods, weight loss and get regular exercise. This treatment is often problematic for many to achieve and continue for the long term.

If you are at risk from Congestive Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Well, we got some great questions in response to folks having some questions regarding health and life insurance.  I will be splitting them up and answering them in a couple different posts.  Thank you to everyone who submitted a question!  It will surely benefit others!  ~Michele

FAQ 1.  What is the difference between a PPO and an HMO? (S. Green, OK)

A. PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization- When providers (doctors, hospitals, clinics, specialists, etc) are members of a certain PPO and an insurance company is also, then members get DISCOUNTED RATES for using those providers.

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization- When providers and insurance companies are members of this, a member is RESTRICTED to use of these providers in order to receive benefits. In order to see a specialist or receive certain treatment, a member must have pre-authorization from a PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN in order to receive coverage (except for emergencies).

FAQ 2.  Do I have to disclose my medical history to a health insurance company? (P. Luce, MS)

A.  When applying for health insurance, an application is completed.  You will need to sign that all facts are true in regards to questions asked on that particular application.

An insurance company will verify that information with the MIB (Medical Information Bureau) and any items omitted would be considered ‘withheld’ and the application not honored.  The MIB is like the credit bureau, but for medical history.  Any time someone visits a health provider, the information is submitted digitally to the MIB records.

FAQ 3. Do healthy people save money on health insurance premiums? (A. Pierce, TX)

A. Yes, premiums are based on many factors including age, tobacco use, and health conditions.  Depending on the health condition, your premiums could be higher.

Sharing…

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRJ71HLcKmI

I would like to ask my readers to send in some Healthcare FAQs so that I can share that info. with other readers and get some answers for you!  My comment section isn’t working currently so email your questions to michele.facini@gmail.com or use my contact form by clicking HERE.  I will do a post with all of the questions next week.

I love a challenge so bring it on!