Guaranty Association Benefits Company

Although medications that are prescribed seems like a simple thing, more 50 percent of people will not comply with medication instructions. In fact, non-compliance with regulations resulting in $ 20 billion annually in medical costs.

According to Kaiser Health News There are many reasons why people do not follow the guidelines, including missed doses, taking the wrong dose, and take pills at the wrong time. He became such a problem that experts are now trying to simplify drug labels to become less confusing. The Food and Drug Administration wants to make simple labels, clear and standardized.

Simplify labels will help resolve the confusion, but some health experts believe that just a daily reminder will help people remember to take their medication. With the technology, doctors and pharmacists can remind individuals to take medication with text messages, emails, and "GlowCaps" which is a pill bottle that lights up when a pill is missed.

Some companies have started to pick up the tabs prescription for chronic diseases of the employees hope to save money in the long run. Studies have shown that when copayment is eliminated or reduced, the level of adhesion increases in a patient.

These measures can be used to improve treatment adherence and reduce the cost of health insurance and health care.

How can you cope with the management of your requirements best?

There are many applications you can use to manage your prescriptions. Check Pillboxie, iPills, pill or Phone myCommunity Pillbox few options for tracking your medications and daily reminders.

On 1 January 2011, new provisions of the reform health care took effect, including a rule that medical savings account funds could not be used on over-the-counter medications. The rule was supposed to halt five billion within ten years, but instead it causes headaches for health care providers and pharmacies.

The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly 33 million Americans use health savings accounts. (HSA) that are used with high-deductible insurance plans. HSA allows consumers to purchase health care services with tax-free money and save money.

The Law Reform provides funds for medical savings accounts to use on over-the-counter medications if a prescription from a doctor. So many consumers demand and visiting the doctor to get the prescription, which is not only wasting time for doctors, but also behind paperwork and lawsuit concerns.

Some doctors have decided to charge patients to fill over-the-counter prescriptions or refusing to prescribe them at all because of the number of requests they receive. Malpractice insurers recommend that the doctors do not prescribe over-the-counter medications by phone in fear of potential side effects or malpractice.

Pharmacies also see complications new rules and must establish 15,000 new labels on products. If consumers want to buy an over-the-counter product with their medical savings accounts and funds have a prescription, pharmacies must put your own label on the medicine.

Many lawmakers have begun eyeing the provision for repeal, but may need to budget savings elsewhere.

Earth Day began April 22, 1970, and since then, it is widespread throughout the world.

There are a number of things that can be done to help the environment and improve health care.

First, it can be difficult to understand how the "green" can be associated with health care, but there are many ways.

Here are some tips to celebrate Earth Day:

• Skip to electronic billing and insurance claims paperless with your health insurance company.
• Dispose of unused medicines by using a recovery program. Call a pharmacy or health department to find local places to take unused prescriptions.
• Drink filtered water instead of bottled water or to limit the number of bottles of water stored in the household.
• Avoid foods and plastic wrapped bottles containing bisphenol A, also known as BPA.
• Use sunscreen and apply it often! The best health insurance for the skin is sunscreen or avoid sun exposure.

For more information on Earth Day and how to support this cause go to Earth Day Network.

To fight against a deficit of 1.5 billion $ in Arizona, the state has envisaged some controversy moves health insurance program for low-income, Medicaid. Arizona currently offers Medicaid coverage to more people than most states, but is very serious about reducing their deficits.

The idea most recent cost reduction of Arizona is a Medicaid tax on childless adults who are obese or who have diabetes and do not follow the recommendations of doctors. There would also be a burden on people who smoke that would be $ 50 per year according to The Associated Press.

Monica Coury, a representative of the system of cost control in health care in Arizona said: "He [the tax] engages the consumer to start having a greater awareness of their place in the greatest puzzle of health care ... We want to be able to provide health care to people. And we want to stretch our dollars as far as we can. Part of that is engaging people to take better care of themselves. "

Many companies and governments began to see people who are not fit or smoke higher premiums for their coverage. However, this new plan would be the first time a health care program and the federal state has charged people for unhealthy lifestyles.

critics believe if this plan is passed then the states will be able to put more taxes on people with chronic diseases. But Arizona legislature has to pass the plan and the federal government should also approve.

Today Medicare Trustees announced that Medicare will short hospital insurance fund by 2024, which is five years before the projections made a year ago. Lack of funds is partly due to the rough economy and the number of tax cuts.

The politicians have been insisting on the need to reform Medicare, but Republicans and Democrats have a very different idea of ​​how to achieve it. The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would change Medicare into a voucher system. But this plan was extremely unpopular and has no chance of passing reports Yahoo! News Senate.

John Rother of the AARP said, "[The reports] present important news for programs that serve as critical lifelines for millions of older Americans and demonstrate the need for our elected leaders to strengthen - not not undermine - these pillars financial and health security. "

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also announced that the reform of health care will save $ 0 billion for Medicare over the first few years. The savings from the reduction of payments to health insurance companies and reduce payments to hospitals and medical device makers. But the reform has not done enough to increase the current life of Medicare.

Republicans and Democrats are likely to have difficulty in finding a solution to this problem soon with the growing political rhetoric before the 2012 elections

Ever wonder who pays for surgical accidents or preventable infections that occur then that a Medicaid recipient is in the hospital? Well, in most cases makes Medicaid; however, this is about to change.

Federal officials recently announced that Medicaid to stop paying for several "never events" that occur in hospitals. These events include forums such as operations on the wrong body part, falls and injuries that occur while the patient is in the hospital.

Already 21 states have a policy of non-payment, but all states have until July 2012 to implement the rules of reports Kaiser Health News .

under the new rule, Medicaid funds can not be used to pay doctors and hospitals for services that are the result of certain diseases or preventable nosocomial injuries.

Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that these measures will "encourage health professionals and hospitals to reduce preventable infections, and eliminate serious medical errors." He also sees this as a way to reduce the frequency of these type conditions and costs while improving patient care.

This policy should save Medicaid about $ 35 million over the next five years. A non-payment rule has been in place since 08 regarding Medicare payments, which helped to save about $ 20 million per year under its policy.

Large employers have a few years until the majority of the provisions of reform of health care will change the way they offer health insurance.

Starting in 2014, employers with more than 50 full-time workers must provide affordable health insurance or face a penalty.

Yet some of the largest employers already seeking answers, extensions and grace periods to reform rules.

Here are some questions and dilemmas that employers meet:

• What determines a full-time worker?

reform of health care has established a full-time worker as an employee who works on average 30 hours per week in a month of reports The Wall Street Journal . Many employers hire seasonal and temporary workers with schedules that vary every month. It would be difficult to calculate who should get health insurance on a month to month basis.

• How long is someone full time workers before they are eligible for Medicare benefits?

One month may not be enough time to decide whether a worker is an employee full-time. So, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) proposed the idea of ​​a "look-back" period of three to twelve months to determine whether an employee is full-time. Many employers want to be long period of at least twelve months.

• What defines affordable health insurance coverage?

The cost of health insurance varies considerably across the country. At this point, there is no clarification for companies as to the amount that is unaffordable for health plans, which depend on the location of employees.

• How employers supposed to determine whether care is affordable for every employee or health insurance is less than 9.5 percent of an employee's household income?

The companies will be penalized if their employees are paying more than 9.5 percent of their household income on health insurance, but there are privacy issues with employers knowing how much a household can do. Also these guidelines will create a nightmare of human resources paperwork and time spent sorting benefits.

The government has several years to clarify the rules and regulations arising from the reform of health care. But decisions will determine how people receive health insurance and how much health care reform will impact those currently without it.

Is it time for open enrollment and do not know what is the best choice or where to start ? This Open Enrollment starter kit provides guidance for recognizing your best option health insurance and other considerations you should do before setting a plan.

Tips to Remember During Open Enrollment Research

• If you have a spouse with access to coverage of health insurance through their employer , compare options between the two employers. Stay on the most affordable plan with the best benefits or compare the cost of adding a spouse and children. Some companies may pass the cost of employee dependents while others will pick up more of the tab. And it can be more affordable to keep each spouse on separate plans.
• shop in the private market for health insurance. Clans can be more affordable on the individual market and the benefits are customized. The cost of an employer's plan depends on many factors, including health and the average age of the company.
• Open a Health Savings Account (HSA) with a high deductible plan. HSAs allow people to take advantage of tax-free incentives with regard to the preparation of future costs of health care. Consumers can open HSAs with banks so that they can be easily transferred and compatible with many health insurance options.
• Learn more about the benefits included in a health insurance plan. Some plans provide coverage levels or discounts for gym memberships, massages, free preventive care or access to a coach has.
• Do not forget to learn about the health insurance company before choosing a plan. This is often overlooked, but it is important to remember. Some companies may offer benefits that are important to you such as access to free mobile applications, personal health records or prescription monitoring tools. All these benefits could greatly improve your health and help you lead a healthy life.

Ten questions to answer about health insurance options

Answer each question for your plan options to have a better understanding of what that out-of-pocket costs you will face and that you'd be able to pay.

1. What are the monthly premiums?

2. What is the deductible?

3. Can I meet the deductible in case of illness or injury?

4. The plan is compatible with a Health Savings Account?

5. What are the associated coinsurance for hospital stays, surgery and prescription drugs?

6. What coinsurance rates for hospital stays, surgery and prescription drugs?

7. Are out-of-network doctor visits covered?

8. Are the necessary referrals to see a specialist?

9. Does your doctor covered in the plan's network?

10. Does this plan cover maternity benefits?

Nearly 1 million young adults benefit from the reform of health care and stay on the health plan of their parents. This is great news for supporters of the reform of health care and the administration of President Obama.

expand coverage of health insurance for young adults has been a goal of the reform; Unfortunately, young adults are more likely to go without health insurance than any other age group. To resolve this issue, the reform of health care allows young adults to remain on the plane of their parents until they are 26, regardless of whether they are in school or married.

Since the adoption of the reform, 00,000 young adults have gained health insurance from 2010 to the first quarter of 2011. Many attributes that increase strictly to the reform of health care and allowing young adults to stay on the report of the coverage of the parents the New York Times .

costs Although the provision is to help many young adults, he has raised.

"It is a basic principle of economics that when more benefits are added to a policy or more people are covered under this policy, there are additional costs," said Robert Zirkelbach health insurance plans of America.

But the benefits for young adults outweigh the costs for employers and employees?

Department of health and social Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and think it says. "in a world where great inventors, entrepreneurs and CEO may be old or young ... we can not take the risk that the next Facebook will never happen because its creator took a desk job just to get health insurance. "

One of the main benefits of an individual health insurance policy a group plan is that it can be customized to provide the benefits that consumers find most important. That consumers want to save money on monthly premiums, changes to benefits, or change their plan at any time during the year.

Here are four ways to customize your policy:

1. Add or remove specific advantages. Maternity, vision and dental care are not included in every health insurance policy, but they can be added as a pilot or purchased separately. Talk to a licensed agent benefits you need to determine what you should look for in a plan or go without.

2. Check prescription coverage. Do you have monthly medications that require a lot of expenses out-of-pocket? Find a new plan that provides more coverage for prescriptions.

3. Choose a policy with your favorite health insurance providers. If you start seeing a new doctor or specialist, make sure the doctor is included in your network. This will limit the cost of visits and ensure coverage.

4. Choose a plan to fit your budget. Do you prefer higher monthly premiums for lower deductibles and lower monthly premiums with a higher deductible? If you are good at saving, a high deductible plan with a health savings account is a great way to save money on health care tax-free services, while providing the flexibility .

There are only 29 days before the end of the open enrollment Medicare. For those eligible for Medicare, they should consider the following advice on revising their plans for 2012.

1. Do take the time to research your insurance options -disease. Avoid costly errors and determine if Medicare Advantage, Part D or the original insurance is right for you.

2.. Do not assume that your current policy or the cheapest plan is the best option Your coverage may have increased cost and lower benefits - to open registration a good time to change your policy.

3. Do talk to a health insurance agent about the medications you take and your budget. authorized agents can help you determine which plan may be the best fit and how much you'll pay for monthly medication.

4. Do not think that you should get the same health insurance scheme as your spouse or a friend. Everyone has different needs for health care and to take different medicines. Get the same plane as your friend may not work for you.

5. Do compare benefits between health insurance companies. health insurers offer different services such as prescriptions by mail, online access to your health records and gym memberships.

6. Do not check to see if a plan covers your medications and preferred doctors. Some plans may seem more affordable at first, but if your prescriptions are not covered and you have to pay more to see your favorite doctor then you accumulate up out-of-pocket costs quickly.

7. Do not automatically take information from your health insurance company sends you -. There may be significant changes to read your plan Not everyone likes the scanning of health insurers, but sometimes there are important updates you need to know. For example, an insurer will send you a notice every September about changes to your current plan for the following year. These updates are generally regarding price increases or changes in the level of benefits.

8. Do you subscribe, modify or drop your Medicare Advantage and Part D plan during the open enrollment period. Medicare open enrollment ends at the beginning of this year, December 7, 2011.

Avoid the last minute scramble to use all the funds in your flexible savings account (FSA ) after Christmas and start preparing to use the funds by the end of the year.

Here are seven simple ways to use FSA funds that you still have this month:

1. Obtain a prescription for over-the-counter medicines.

2. Submit receipts for health care services and prescription drugs.

3. Get a backup pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses.

4. Visit a health care provider for a medical appointment routine.

5. Get vaccinated against influenza or vaccination.

6. Schedule a visit acupuncture or chiropractic.

7. Buy medical equipment (can include pregnancy tests, dressings, blood pressure testing, etc.).

If you never seem to use all the funds in your FSA, consider switching to a health savings account (HSA) soon. HSA funds roll over year still unlike ASF funds, hence the rush.

Health insurance is confusing, but since that it has become a political target with the reform of health care there are now more misconceptions about obtaining a policy.

Here are some misconceptions debunked health insurance:

1. The best health insurance policy is the best. The best policy does not mean it is the best option for your health care needs. It, AOS better find a policy that is good for your budget needs and health care.

2. The plane of the lower monthly premiums and higher deductibles is a great option. Find a plan with a deductible that you may face if an emergency or hospitalization. Some franchises are so high that people can go into medical debt even if they have health insurance.

3. I can get health insurance coverage I, AOM once pregnant. Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition and once someone is pregnant, they may be denied health insurance. It, significant OSA to have coverage before deciding to have children.

4. Obamacare has free health insurance. reform health care will expand Medicaid in each state to include adults without children. But this does not mean that the reform makes the free health insurance.

5. I drop my health insurance because I haven, AOT been sick a long time. Many people may think They, Äôll save money by dropping their health insurance because they haven, AOT used in a long time. Unfortunately, this could end up costing more money if they get sick and they could then be denied health insurance if they suffer an injury or health condition.

6. reforming health care will make it more affordable health insurance. There are many advantages to reforming health care, but it will not make the Medicare health insurance premiums more affordable or less. In fact, health insurance premiums will continue to rise.

7. Once I sign health insurance, I can start to use medical services. After signing a health plan, the health insurance company will start an underwriting process. During this period, they will see if you, AOVE never suffered from a medical condition, also known as a preexisting condition. If they learn that you or a family member has a pre-existing condition, they will either attach a rider to a policy and does not cover the condition, charge you more for the plan or completely deny you coverage.

Florida Legislature is considering a bill that would require doctors and health care centers to display the prices of their services.

This bill is applauded by consumer advocates that many patients are confused by the cost of health care services and how much Medicare will pay for a service.

Why show the cost of health care services as a good idea?

• No surprises. With the costs of services displayed, you will know what you pay for out-of-pocket. There are no surprises later when you get the bill and allow you to budget appropriately.
• Ability to shop around. When shopping for clothes, groceries or anything else, you usually shop around for where to get the best deal. If health care costs have been published, then you would have the opportunity to find a place that offers health care you can afford.
• More competition. If every doctor is required to post the costs, it could create competition to keep prices low.

Of course, doctors are not pleased with the legislation because it would create a lot more work for them. Furthermore, it could be confusing to the price of a service for people who are uninsured and insured. Currently health insurance companies negotiate the price of health care services for their clients a good deal with this doctor.

Florida is the only state of Massachusetts in addition to consider this innovative idea. Massachusetts created an individual mandate for health insurance in 06, but he has yet to cut Medicare costs. In fact, health insurance costs are extremely expensive in the state. To help combat rising costs, politicians Massachusetts were planning to spend a similar bill to this bill in Florida.

Many consumers probably think that the reform of health care is supposed to control the escalating costs of health care, but it does fall short of this. Reform does more to control the costs of health insurance as health care - which encourages states to take action.

To prepare for tax season, GoHealthInsurance.com surveyed consumers to test their knowledge on tax deductions for health care. Survey results found that 81 percent of respondents were spending on health care out of pocket in 2011, but only 34 percent plan to deduct these costs from their taxes.

The following graphics will help consumers understand they can deduct on -of-pocket health costs and provide steps to drop health care spending.

Many experts believe that more companies will stop offering health insurance group and move employees in the individual market by 2014 because of the reform of health care.

There are many changes that will occur by 2014 include:

• Creating state health insurance exchanges and the country where consumers can shop for health insurance (similar to GoHealthInsurance.com).
• Individuals are guaranteed coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.
• Companies will be required to offer health insurance or pay a fine.

While experts continue to debate the group change for individual coverage, there is a lot of research monitoring change in the last two years. In 1999, 66 percent of companies offered group health plans, compared with only 60 percent in 2011.

What caused the change?

One of the reasons behind the change could be contributing to the rising cost of health insurance coverage for small businesses. The biggest change in the benefit of the group passed the small business side. But that still does not explain the plunge that occurred between 2010 and 2011.

reform health care adopted in 2010 and provides health care tax credits for small businesses . Tax credits to help small businesses, but the appropriations were based on a sliding scale of employment numbers and salary. Instead of smaller companies that offer Medicare because of tax credits, most decided to withdraw from providing any coverage.

Is this a new trend as it becomes easier for consumers to find individual health insurance without relying on benefits?

During the health insurance companies health care debate were attacked for their current practices, denying coverage to individuals and increased insurance rates. While the debate is over and the reform of health care is the law, the majority of these things are now happening yet. But the reform of health care has changed, or begun to change the face of health insurance.

Currently, health insurance companies are in a transitional period before the main provisions of the reform kick-in. In re-branding logos, websites, and social media campaigns, health insurers focus on preventive medicine, leading a healthy and help consumers take control of their health life.

In addition, insurers incorporate tools for consumers to use. Between mobile applications, more user-friendly websites for consumers and wellness campaigns, companies are offering consumers more tools to manage their prescriptions and lifestyles.

Not only are health insurers are changing their brands, they are changing the way they do business.

Insurers in partnership with hospitals and physicians to integrate their technology and practices to provide streamlined care. Health insurers are becoming more practical regarding the use of health care services through the purchase and opening of centers and emergency care practices.

With the rate of medical waste (MLR), health insurers are required to spend 80 to 85 percent of consumer premiums on medical services. This is the source of health insurance companies to reduce administration costs, so they can reach the MLR rate without being fined.

Changes in the health insurance industry are for the better and will create a better experience for all consumers who need to use their system services or health care.

Currently, over one million students in the US are covered by the college or university health plans. It is important to know that every student health insurance plans are not created equal. Some are complete while some offer coverage of naked bones.

The reform of health care on the horizon, many have expressed legitimate concerns about how the Affordable Care will impact young adults with student policies. In response, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a student in final health coverage rule to ensure that students not only have coverage options under the new plan, but also benefit.

The major changes students need to know

No Limits annual More (Finally)

In the past, insurance companies student could impose an annual limit - a dollar limit on their annual expenses for covered benefits. According to the final section of the HHS, students health plans can not have annual limits of less than $ 100,000 on essential health benefits for years of policy as of July 1, 2012 but on or after before September 23, 2012, and $ 500,000 for policy years beginning on 23 September or after 2012 but before January 1, 2014.

for years, the policy from 1 January 2014, annual limits on essential benefits are prohibited.

Increased medical loss ratios

The Affordable Care Act requires that insurance companies comply with a new set of rules for their medical loss rate (MLR). They must spend at least 80 to 85 percent of premiums on health care services to help keep premiums low and ensure that the premium dollars are spent on medical services and not the costs of administration. Under the recent final rule, students of health care providers will be required to comply with the same regulations MLR.

No More Secrets

Until 2014 when annual limits become prohibited, student health insurance providers must clearly inform you if a policy issued does not meet the minimum requirements of annual limits. In addition, students must be informed by the insurance company of their possible right to cover as a dependent under the health insurance policy of their parents until the age of 26.

April is Autism Awareness month. GoHealth aims to show support by keeping you informed of the most recent advances in understanding the disease.

The latest research shows the largest estimated number of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to date. With these statistics, it is likely that we all know that a child with ASD or a family who has been affected by this disorder. For years autism was very much a mystery in the medical community. However, the increasing rates of diagnosed cases and increased media coverage have brought the issue to the forefront and facilitated major advances in the understanding and treatment of ASD.

Parents of children with ASD will want to make sure they have the right insurance plan to cover illness at best the unique medical needs of their small or learn more about the options available in their state . Although the extent of knowledge on disorders of Autism Spectrum continues to grow, much information is already available. The following will give you the tools to better understand the many faces of ASD.

About 1 in 88 children in the United States ASD

This information was published last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figure is up 25 percent since 06 and almost double the rate reported in 02.

ASD more common in boys

In fact, the boys ( 1 to 54) are almost five times more likely to be diagnosed as girls (1 to 152).

ASD and race

The number of children identified with ASD spiked a bit in the Hispanic (110 percent) and (91 percent) of the population black.

Why such a huge increase in the diagnosis of ASD? There is no simple answer to this question. As concern grows about the disease, the fact of speculation about its causes. ASD has been attributed to the vaccination infancy, neurotoxins in the air and in food, the weight of the mother and the increasing age of new mothers and fathers.

Some argue that it is the detection rate has actually increased and not the appearance of the disease itself. The parents growing awareness of ASD has caused, relatives and health care providers to pay attention more and pick up on key warning signs.

Knowing the signs and act early

The children as young as 1 year old can show early signs of autism and ASD. There are several stages of development that parents should pay attention to different stages in the growth of their child. For detailed accounts of what to look for and how to proceed with treatment, AutismSpeaks.org.

GoHealth will take a close look at Medicare rates across the country help consumers understand the cost of health insurance in their area from states across the country. Texas is the first stop.

The cost of living in one region can have a direct impact on the cost of health insurance. How does this work? If health care providers in a city have the expensive real estate and daily operational expenses, then these costs are passed on to consumers. In the suburbs, the rent can be more affordable and reduce operating costs for a hospital or a doctor's office that can help keep healthcare costs down. Overall, there are many factors that directly influence the cost of health care and insurance in a state or city.

Texas has a low cost of living compared to the national average, which is also seen with Medicare costs. Compared to the national average, Texas health insurance premiums are higher for 30, 40, 50 and 60 years old male.

When looking at the health insurance premiums across Texas, rates vary depending on the city. Six of the ten largest cities in Texas have lower than average cost of living that the state of Texas, including San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi and Laredo. Houston, Dallas, Austin and Plano have higher than average cost of living that the state of Texas.

How should couples plan to spend on the costs of health care retirement? According to Fidelity Investments, they should put a little money aside for - wait for it - $ 240,000! This shows why it is so important for adults, young and older, to start thinking about the cost of health care now

Here are some ways to prepare for health care costs retirement :.

1. Start saving now . Open a Health Savings Account to save funds for retirement. There are many benefits to HSA, but these accounts allow individuals between 55 and 65 to save an extra $ 1,000 a year in the HSA account.

For more information, read previous blog post on GoHealth HSA.

2. Determine if you need additional coverage . Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement plans may cost a little more out-of-pocket initially but generally provide more benefits than Original Medicare.

3. Understanding the reform of health care benefits . Because of the Affordable Care Act, seniors can use preventive care without copayment or out-of-pocket cost to them. But if a procedure is provided during the same visit as preventive visit and seniors can get charged. Always ask questions to your doctor before receiving treatment to prevent the surprising bills later down the road .

4. Do not be afraid to compare your Medicare options every year . Every year during the open enrollment period Medicare, health insurers offering new plans to get rid of the older and can increase premiums. This is the time to compare your options to try and get a plan with a share, franchise or better lower hospital network.

5. Understanding that health insurance and health insurance cover . Many consumers need to consider purchasing long-term care for nursing home and hospice costs. While no one knows whether they will need long-term care, this care is expensive insurance to buy for her contribution to these costs down the road.

GoHealth continues to take a look at Medicare rates across the countries to help consumers understand the cost of health insurance in their area from states across the country. Today we travel to sunny California.

As we have discussed in previous blogs, the cost of living in a particular area can have a direct impact on the cost of health insurance. Consumers end up paying extra if health care providers in their area have high operating costs or the costs of real estate.

On average, residents of the state of California to pay $ 173 / month for individual health insurance. For ten dollars less than the national average of $ 183.
In the states, health insurance premiums vary depending on which city you live. The chart below examines differences in monthly premiums among the ten largest cities in California.

The following cities have lower cost of living than the average for the state of California: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego. The three cities with more cost of living than the average for the State of California are :. Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose

The anticipation is over - Health Month men is right here! Never heard of it? Well, that's what the blog coverage GoHealth Corner is here for! The purpose of Health Month Men is to raise awareness of preventable disease among men and boys and encourage early detection and treatment.

Mission Month male health is accomplished in a variety of ways: projections throughout the country, media awareness, health fairs and health education activities.

Health Facts Men:

• In 1920, women have lived a year longer than men on average. Today, men die on average six years earlier than women.
• Men are 100 percent less likely to visit a doctor for an annual visit.
• 92 percent of deaths of victims in the workplace are men.
• men die at higher rates than women of the 10 leading causes of death.

Men and Mental Health

statistics on the mental health of men are staggering. Depression in men and boys is often undiagnosed goes. Some argue that this is due to the stigma of being considered "low" if you are experiencing depression or other mental health problems.

Clearly, there is a need in our communities for awareness and education about the health of men. For much more information on how you can get involved, visit MensHealthMonth.org.

Take good care of yourselves, gentlemen. Not only this June, but throughout the year.

As a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), since 2010 patients with health insurance can receive preventive care without co-pays or costs.

It will be interesting to see the long-term effects of free preventive care on the health of the general public. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) conducted a study to see how many people searched on preventive care before provision took effect in 2010. The findings help shed light on why some politicians were pushing for preventive care free in the first place

First of all -.? What is considered as preventative care
In other words, health care preventive refers to measures taken to prevent illness and injury, rather than cure or treat their symptoms. For an expansive list, visit healthcare.gov. Examples:

• Screening of blood pressure
• Cholesterol Screening for high-risk patients
Screening
• vaccine immunization
• __gVirt_NP_NN_NNPS <__ Prevention sexually transmitted infections
• HIV
• tobacco use screening and cessation intervention

preventive care services for women
the list continues and, but here are some examples that are specific to women:

• anemia screening for pregnant women
• Breast Cancer mammography
• human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing
• osteoporosis screening

preventive care services for children
again, there is a laundry list of services that fall under this umbrella but here are a few:

• autism screening for children 18 to 24 months
• cervical dysplasia screening for sexually active women
• hearing screening for newborns
• height, weight and body mass index measurements
• screening Lead
• obesity screening and counseling

between 07 and 2010, only half of Americans receiving preventive care
This is another key results of the study of the CDCP

• only 47 percent of people with heart disease that affect their blood vessels were prescribed, the appropriate daily dose of aspirin
• Just 44 percent of hypertension patients had their condition. under control by taking recommended medications and go to follow-up visits in the doctor's office.
• 33 percent of men and 25 percent of women are not selected for high cholesterol, despite the fact that the detection and treatment of high cholesterol can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and the death.
• Among adults diagnosed with high levels of "bad" cholesterol, only 32 percent correctly controlled.
• Less than 1 to 13 tobacco users were prescribed medications to help them detoxify.

great delivery here is that Americans have not taken steps to maintain the welfare in the recent past, largely in part to preventive health care services were too Dear. Hopefully, because of the new laws that we will see a positive change in the way Americans achieve and maintain good health in the future.

More than 12.9. million Americans working in the catering sector, making it one of the largest private sector employers in the country. The industry term "food service" large rakes, covering small corner coffee shops, five star restaurants with celebrity chefs and everything else. No matter how soft or a sumptuous restaurant can be, employees often share a common experience - no health insurance coverage.

A recent report issued by the Food Chain Workers Alliance (FCWA) revealed some facts that may be surprising to anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant.

• 79 percent do not have paid sick leave - or do not know if they do
• 83 percent do not get health insurance from their employer
• 58 percent has no health care at all
• 53 percent worked so they were sick
• 35 percent used the emergency room as primary care

as you can see, restaurant workers often be hit with a double whammy when they get sick. Not only do they have to pay for out-of-pocket for health care, but they are not paid for the days of work they miss.

Here are some ways that health reform will be impacting millions of workers restaurant

GoHealth partnership with Erie Neighborhood House to host 15 teens to our early teens Tech Day on June 27

Throughout of the day, each student attended presentations by business analysts, software engineers and quality assurance analysts.

These practical sessions set up teenagers to the software development cycle used GoHealth and gave them ample opportunities to ask questions about careers in technology.

Thanks to all GoHealth employees who have made this event a huge success! Based on the extremely positive results, we plan to Teen Tech Day an annual event. Click here to see the press release about adolescence Tech Day.

Approximately 75,000 deaths could have been prevented in 05 if every state the United States had delivered care at the best performing state quality.

Some numbers are unforgettable. The statistics above was presented in a new Institute of Medicine
report which revealed that inefficiencies, rising growing costs and complexity have greatly affected the health care system in the United States for many years. These issues have slowed the progress of the industry in some of the following :.

• Health care costs have increased at a faster rate than the economy as a whole for the past 40 years 31
• About 30 percent of health spending 09 - $ 750 billion - was wasted on unnecessary expenses such as services, excessive administrative costs and fraud.
• The value of an increase of 30 per cent of income was destroyed by an increase of 76 percent of health care costs.

Now the good news. The report also found that the new technology tools that we did not have not led to us there 12 years - including mobile technologies and electronic health records - offer great potential for capturing and sharing of best data health. The power of these resources is vast, as these new technologies are accessible to collect and use clinical data at the point of care, involving patients and their families, and to promote teamwork and transparency within health care organizations.

You, AOVE landed a job with health insurance benefits. As you paint the picket fence of your house now foreclosure dream, you can at least take solace in the fact that you, Aore save on health insurance being covered by a group plan, right?

Not necessarily, my friends. A group health insurance are not always the most beneficial and economical way to go. Here are some reasons employees should consider switching their group plans for something more individualized:

1. Group health plans may provide unnecessary advantages .
For example, depending on your particular situation, you may have no need for something like maternity coverage.

2. You, Aore group plan may be, Äúgrandfathered., At
You may have heard the touted benefits provided by the reform of health care, but if your plan health hasn, AOT change in cost or benefits in the past few years, it can not provide one of these new advantages for you. In this scenario, your plan is considered, Äúgrandfathered, Âu and keep that status until costs or plans change.

3. This Äòmini med plan AO does not provide enough benefits .
Plans Mini med become a thing of the past. In fact, they will be eliminated by 2014. However, if this is the current coverage, limited your employer offers, remember to shop around for a more robust health insurance plan to meet your needs.

4. The employer can pass more costs for you .
Group plans tend to have more generous benefits than your typical individual plan. This makes the group has more expensive, which is fine for employees when they aren, AOT pick up the cost. Unfortunately, in recent years, more and more companies require their workers to contribute more money to their plans.

5. Small businesses have higher plans cost group .
If you work for a small business, then the premiums tend to be more expensive because the risk is spread among a smaller group of people insured. Why not see if you can get a better rate with a more appropriate cover?

The breadsticks and shrimp can be endless, but the health benefits are not. Darden Restaurants Inc., owner of Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants answers the next health reform law by placing more employees in part-time positions.

"This is only a test ..." At least that is what officials of Darden Inc. say. So far, the test is only four US markets. Why are they test these waters? most likely to see how smoothly business operates with a crew part-time enhanced and less full time.

starting in 2014, companies with more than 50 full-time employees will be required by law to provide basic health insurance coverage to their workers and their dependents or face a penalty. However, companies with fewer than 50 full-time workers are exempt from having to offer coverage.

Darden operates more than 2,000 restaurants in the United States and Canada and has approximately 180,000 employees. It is not surprising that their officials are looking for ways to cut costs after going into full effect the affordable care Act. There will also be no surprise to see many other large businesses alike.

This is the second time in the last two weeks that Darden health insurance policies have made national headlines. The company announced that they are moving to a model "defined contribution" health insurance in late September.

A defined contribution plan requires employers give their workers a fixed amount of money and let them buy their own health insurance to an online market. Darden employees begin to choose their own cover 1 November 2012 for the policies that will begin on January 1st of ^st , 2013.

More than 12.9. million Americans working in the catering sector, making it one of the largest private sector employers in the country. One of the latest blog posts from GoHealth delves deeper into what the Affordable Care Act means that for much of the population.

new Health insurance companies received jarring Friday: The Health and Human Services (HHS ) Department announced that insurers will charge a monthly fee to sell plans through insurance exchanges run by the federal government. According to regulations issued by HHS, in 2014 insurers will be required to pay the government organization 3.5 percent of the premiums for each plan they sell through federal exchanges.

HHS, is responsible for the establishment of an exchange that each state chooses not to establish its own, will use the proceeds from the fee to cover the high administrative costs associated with execution of a trade. Insurers participating in state exchange can also strike with the use of these states costs.

Shipping exchanges managed by the federal government could change in the future, according to HHS. This depends largely on the number of people obtain coverage through the exchanges. HHS will also keep an eye on the fees charged by states.

The exchanges are created to provide a more organized and competitive way to purchase health insurance. Consumers will be able to see several different options and compare rates and coverage details via the online resource

The officials cited the delicate balance involved in the health insurance changes -. This makes them attractive to consumers while at the same time beneficial to insurers. One danger is that exchanges fail to attract enough insurance companies. Participating insurers could end up with patients who are unhealthy and / or expensive. This could start a vicious circle of rising costs, making this trade less attractive to consumers.

The insurers will receive guidance from the government, in the form of three programs designed to help insurance companies transition to the changing market insurance. In addition, the Affordable Care Act includes provisions that will ensure that insurers do not get stuck with an unhealthy disproportionate risk pool.

New rules issued by the Obama administration Monday oblige employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide affordable health insurance for employees and their children. Employers must offer coverage to employees in 2014, and dependents from 2015. Employers who fail to do so will be subject to a penalty tax as possible, but employers will not be penalized if family coverage is unapproachable.

What is the reasoning behind this contradiction? Well, the rules proposed by the state of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that the meaning of "affordable" depends solely on the cost for each employee of the individual coverage as opposed to the dependents of the employee. The IRS defines these terms in its proposal:

"Coverage for an employee under a plan sponsored by the employer is affordable if the employee's contribution required to cover the. self-only does not exceed 9.5 percent of the employee's household income "

This change encourages employers to channel money into the health insurance coverage for their employees rather than dependents. Family coverage is much more expensive than individual insurance, and employees generally pay more for their share of the premium.

The IRS defines a dependent as the child of an employee who is under the age of 26. Spouses are not considered as dependents. Therefore, under the new rules, employers must offer coverage to children of an employee, but they are not required to offer it to their spouse.

The rules for state and local government agencies, private companies and non-profit organizations. Several provisions have been included to prevent employers from evading the requirements using staffing agencies for temporary staff, rehire and termination or employees handle their work hours.

The fate of the dependent coverage remains to be seen. responsible for the administration reserved judgment on whether or not the spouse and children of employees will be eligible for federal subsidies to help them buy coverage through insurance exchanges of 'State.

Tax season is upon us, O joy! You may have noticed some changes on your final salary and some of that is due to taxes imposed under the health care reform legislation. Just so you're not left with surprises, here's a breakdown of some important changes to the Affordable Care Act, which could be reflected in your taxes.

penalty for abuse of HSA
under the health reform law, misuse of health spending accounts to pay for expenses non- qualified will result in a penalty of 20 percent. This provision came into force in 2011.

Tax additional Medicare
to take effect January 1, 2013, the new Medicare tax on wages affect high-income households and increases 0.9 percent for salaries over $ 0,000 for individuals and $ 250,000 for joint filers them. Employers are responsible for the implementation of this tax.

Medical Expense Deductions
The threshold for medical expense deductions increased by 2.5 percent in 2013. unreimbursed medical expenses are deductible by taxpayers less 65 as long as they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) for the tax year. The original baseline to deduct medical expenses was 7.5 percent.

Cap on FSA contributions
pretax contributions to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are limited to $ 2,500 effective January 1, 2013. This limit applies only to pretax contributions by a single employee, not a husband and wife together.

individual tax penalty
under the ACA, all Americans must have health insurance coverage by 2014 or be subject to a penalty tax when filing taxes in 2015. the sanctions begin to $ 95 per family member, or one percent of your income, whichever is greater. The penalty amount increases each year. In 2015, the penalty is $ 325 per adult (or 2.0 percent of family income, whichever is greater), and in 2016, it is $ 695 (or 2.5 percent of family income). After the sentence will be indexed to the inflation rate.

We are not usually labels, but when it comes to the reform of health care, an exception should be made. To comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), business owners must first determine if their business is large or small in the eyes of the law.

The ACA defines a company as "large" if it has 50 or more employees who work more than 30 hours per week, or 50 "full time equivalent" employees. If that is the case, then a company is required to provide health insurance coverage to their workers or face a tax penalty

There is an exception for seasonal employees. The law creates special rules where a workforce is more than 50 full-time employees for less than 0 days or four calendar months in a calendar year if more than 50 workers who have been employed for this period were seasonal employees. 0 days or four calendar months need not be consecutive.

Small businesses (less than 50 full-time workers) are effectively exempt from the Affordable Care Act. They are not required to extend health insurance benefits to their workers. If they choose to do so, they may be eligible for new tax credits for small businesses

The following formula step by step will help you to do the math to your business .:

created by GoHealthInsurance.com

How do you quantify? This is the key issue of health care coming out of the South by Southwest Interactive festival this year. As gadgets monitoring body like the Nike + Fuelband or the Garmin Forerunner, become more popular the inevitable question arises: How can we use this data and what effect these data on my life in the long term? If you have your race blood pressure, your sweat rate, and your body fat percentage will those numbers translate into better health? The companies are pushing to answer that question with a "yes, certainly."

A company that makes biometrics body to the next level is BodyMedia. Before 09, the company focused on developing products for medical research, but realized that there was a unique opportunity to help consumers. Their armband collects 5,000 data points per minute (heat flow measurement, motion, skin temperature and electrical conductivity of the skin) data points are then translated into useful advice on calories burned, sleep quality and how your body's metabolism works

BodyMedia and other companies hope their products will be. soon be able to monitor for chronic diseases. So far, the main body of the advantages of tracking devices have is communal. the devices allow you to view drive information and the organization of statistics on media social and online communities. Studies have shown that people who receive support for the objectives and specific events are more likely to stay with them.

So will quantify your fitness and rest statistical prevent you from developing a chronic disease and keep your health care costs? We do not know, but experts at South by Southwest tech will continue to try to give you all the resources available.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), effective January 1st, health insurance plans impose a ceiling on the amount of money consumers may be required to pay for costs outside pocket such as prescription drugs and co-payments. The amount of the ceiling is estimated at $ 6,250 for an individual policyholder. However, consumer groups want the Americans to know that the date of application of this provision of the ACA was delayed a year.

According to a Kaiser Health News, the Obama administration granted this one year extension because some employer health plans offered have "distinct or managers benefits policies for different parts of their cover, such as medical care and medicines, and sometimes a third for dental services for children. Some employer plans have out-of-pocket caps separated for each of the coverage areas. "Insurers and employers need more time to understand how they will make adjustments to their plans to merge these caps, and ultimately comply with the health reform law.

Some groups of consumers say all this is rubbish, citing that the technology exists to make it easier for health insurance companies to comply. patient advocates from more than 40 groups, including the American Cancer Action Network Society and the National Council of the collective health wrote a letter to the administration, referring to the huge importance of limits out of pocket to ensure that Americans have quality coverage that will not cause financial ruin in case a medical condition. consumer groups have asked the government to review the policy expressed in 2014 to keep in line with the original intent of the affordable care Act.

As if his studies and job search is not enough, health insurance is the one of those who self-exciting things you have to prepare as well! You can currently be covered by health insurance from your university, but guess what :. That ends the school year, so do college-sponsored insurance coverage

The cover works too generally within a few months of study, here are four health insurance advice for graduate students:

1. Join the plan of your parents under the affordable care Act, young adults can benefit from insurance cover by the police of assurance of a relative up to 26 years .. Whether or not you are financially dependent on your parents, living at home, are married or not married or planning for more studies, you may qualify for this blanket.
2. Get an individual plan. prefer to buy an individual policy? There are many affordable options out there. Young adults tend to be healthy and shop for a plan with a high deductible and low monthly premium to reduce costs.
3. Try a short-term health. A short-term health plan can be handy when you are in a transition period or wait a short gap in coverage. short term health plans cover medical emergencies, but you will be responsible to pay for services such as visits and prescriptions for routine doctor.
4. Do not Go Without coverage. Of course, you are young and healthy now, but that does not mean we will not get sick or have an accident on the road. costly medical expenses can quickly add up, so one of the smartest choices you can make is to buy insurance now.

We are pleased to announce that GoHealth was nominated for "Breakthrough Company the year "in the annual Second Price Moxie! Presented by Built in Chicago, the annual price Moxie together the most innovative entrepreneurs to Chicago for a night of celebration and networking because they highlight outstanding individuals and companies within the digital industry.

over 7,000 nomination papers were received for 2013 Moxie Award. Each finalist is chosen by the members of 8000, over built in Chicago, compound the leading digital city contractors, engineers, designers, investors, corporate digital innovators, academics and other notable members of the business community of Chicago.

is proud GoHealth being in the company of these amazing digital entrepreneurs in the innovative Chicago digital scene. The Moxie Awards Ceremony this year will take place on June 20 ^e in historic West Park Theatre in Chicago.

You can help win GoHealth Breakthrough Digital Company of the Year by voting today! Public voting ends June 12, 2013 and winners will be announced at the event.

[ujicountdown id=”Moxie Vote Countdown” expire=”2013/06/12 00:00″ hide = “true”]

President Obama recently spoke in San Jose, California to highlight the positive effects of health care reform to date - and also to recruit a particular demographic group to sign up for coverage. With the key provisions of the 2010 Law on health care approach, Obama used his visit to encourage young people and Latinos in particular, to sign up for insurance coverage through online exchanges.

California was one of the quickest states to develop its own health insurance exchange. Using the Golden State as an example, Obama stressed how the state implements the Affordable Care Act in favor of six million uninsured Californians "soon be able to purchase quality, affordable health care as everyone else. "

As the state's most populous nation, the performance of the health law in California is critical to the success of the Affordable Care Act signed when millions of uninsured Americans start shopping for health plans in October 1st. According to officials from the White House, the Obama administration seeks to 7 million people to register through the exchanges, and 2.6 million need to be younger, to keep costs down for all registrants. Nearly a third of the young population lives in California, Texas or Florida.

also help to promote registration among Latinos and young people are Spanish-language television networks Telemundo and Univision. reform of health care will potentially provide affordable health insurance coverage to more than 10 million uninsured Latinos across the country.

In a setback for Obama, the White House announced yesterday its decision to delay health care rule requires companies to provide insurance to workers. The decision comes at a critical time in the overhaul of the administration of health care in the nation.

The mandate of the employer

Also called the "employer mandate", this specific provision requires companies with more than 50 workers provide coverage affordable and adequate insurance to employees. Those failing to do so is punishable by a fine of $ 2,000 per worker. The mandate will now take effect in January 2015, after the 2014 Congressional elections.

The employees should have to work 30 or more hours per week to be eligible for coverage, which was cited as a reason by some employers to simply reduce the number of employee hours worked per week.

White House maintains that the delay of the employer mandate will help reduce financial and regulatory burdens on businesses by allowing them more time to comply with the new law. This includes adapting monitoring systems and requirements that many companies, large and small, have expressed complaints about the reports.

What about the employees?

The decision to push back the employer's mandate may have an impact on some employees, like those who have received coverage under the reform of health care will be required to use the health insurance market.

federal tax subsidies will be available for eligible employees who make between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which does not have an employer's coverage.

US Treasury will issue further details about the delay of this provision in a week.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the population current immigrant in the United States is more than 2.5 times more likely than natural citizens are safeguarded. Among the millions affected by the overhaul Affordable Care Act (ACA), how provisions like health exchanges based on the state, the individual mandate and Medicaid expansion affect the growth of the immigrant population of the country?

The Congressional Budget Office projections predict that the ACA will reduce the uninsured rate in some, but not all immigrant groups. Ultimately, how immigrants succeed in this massive overhaul of health care will depend on many factors such as income, immigration status, how long they have lived in this country and their country of origin.

The National Immigration Law Center provides guidelines on how the immigrant population is in the reform framework:

naturalized citizens

• even access and requirements for coverage under the ACA as US-born citizens

legal immigrants

• lawfully present in the United States immigrants have partial federal coverage, depending on the number of years in the US
• legal residents or green card holders in the country for 5 years or more Medicaid may apply if the income is quite low
• subject always individual mandate and may join a health plan of their state exchange
• eligible for premium tax credits and coinsurance lower

undocumented immigrants

• Get any federal coverage and are exempt from individual punishment mandate
• Not allowed to buy health insurance through state exchanges
• ineligible for tax credits premium
• forbidden to enroll in Medicaid or Medicare, but may still be eligible for emergency care under Medicaid

from 2011, reported 40 million immigrants lived in the US, representing about 13 percent of the total population. As the country moves deeper into the health reform, a major challenge for the government and lawyers immigrants will keep the group informed and responsible law.

The exchange of health has become quite the star-studded affair, with famous names Lady Gaga Britney Spears urging consumers to "cover" through social media platforms Twitter and Instagram. Although the list of spokespersons is growing, many consumers still show uncertainty with respect to health insurance markets.

Some states like California aggressively pushed the deployment of trade this month, using leaflets and tablets to increase the scope of the right to health. However, after all the time and investment, there are still many challenges. The complex law is not yet fully understood by the population in California, especially with a large quantity of various residents and poverty stricken. Many buyers are interested, but skeptical of the political costs. Although interest was apparently high so far, the CA officials still will not say how many people have asked to buy health care, saying they would release the numbers per month beginning in November.

In other states, positive numbers appear slowly. Kaiser Health News has collected ten states which have disclosed the number of applications received, about 80,000 nationwide. Online exchange of New York reported that more than 40,000 people completed applications so far, but not all those who have chosen a plan.

While consumers and doctors remain cautious to date, customer service operators and online exchanges continue to help consumers shopping for health coverage. open enrollment runs until March 31, 2014, but buyers should fulfill the requests of December 15 for coverage to begin in January. Consumers can clarify issues concerning the exchange of health insurance at GoHealthInsurance.com or by calling (888) 322-7557 and speak with a licensed counselor.

Despite the political battles over health care reform, recent polls show that the dimension public approval of President Obama's signature "Affordable Care Act" has actually increased.

high-profile technical problems have tarnished the deployment of government health online exchanges since 1 October, but a Gallup poll conducted October 18-20, just days after the end of the government shutdown, showed that the US views are now slightly more positive with respect to the law.

When asked, "do you approve or disapprove of the 2010 Law on affordable care in general, signed into law by President Obama that restructured the US health care system" 45 percent said they approve, while 50 percent disapprove. This approval rate edged up four points since August Also note, the disapproval rate also rose 1 percent.

The Takeaway?

With functionality issues between insurance markets online, consumers are right to criticize the health law. However, given the recent survey results, it appears that, overall, these problems are not negatively affected the view of American law.

Additional research Gallup shows that the majority of Americans still prefer that Congress change the ACA somehow, either repealed, making scale back or spread.

Another interesting point revealed by the study is that young Americans (18-29) consider the health care law more positively than middle-aged and older Americans. It could be that young adults have higher uninsured rates and acceptance is crucial to the overall success of the law.

Michael Mahoney, vice president of consumer marketing for health insurance Go visited the new WGN Evening in Chicago to discuss the deployment of affordable health care.

WATCH VIDEO

http://video.wgntv.com/Latests-in-the-Affordable-Care-rollout-25331828

SVP GoHealth GoHealth Michael Mahoney talks about the market launch with Dana Perino on On The Record with Greta Van Susterson .

WATCH VIDEO

http://video.foxnews.com/v/286716422001/alternatives-to-glitchy-healthcaregov/?playlist_id=86925

More recently, Queen B contributed an essay to "The Shriver Report," in which she urged women and men alike to require the equal opportunities for equal pay and

respect. While we live the most significant reform of health care in American history, women are slower moving towards that one giant leap for womankind.

American women across the country of all income levels are already benefiting from the reform of health care with new rights and protections. It is estimated that over 13 million women are expected to gain coverage because of the Affordable Care Act in 2016.

Since it is so important to know your rights and the extent of your coverage, here are the highlights of the law affecting women. It may shock you to read the health insurance practices that were in place last year.

• The mere fact that being a woman is considered a pre-existing condition is a big deal. Women will not be charged more or denied coverage because of their gender or pre-existing conditions (such as cancer patients or pregnant).

• The health insurance companies are not allowed to cancel policies or dropping coverage when people get sick.

• Women have higher premiums than men by age, smoking, family size or more charged location.

• young adults can stay on health insurance of their parents until the age of 26.

• companies to Medicare now must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms, well-woman visits, contraceptives, vaccines against influenza, and screening for colon cancer to stop out-of-pocket-costs such as co- payments.

• You can choose from all primary care providers, OB-GYN, or pediatrician in the network of your health plan without a referral.

What does all this mean? This means being a single lady or independent woman has new rights that aim to protect your health and keep more money in the pocket of your fly, skinny jeans.

Shop and compare a wide range of brand side-by-side health plans to www.GoHealthInsurance.com then take a festive break dance in the mirror.

In less than 30 days, the deadline to enroll in a plan through the Affordable Care Act will be upon us. This year, the payment of individual shared responsibility, otherwise known as a penalty tax will come into force and if you are not insured for more than three consecutive months, you will be faced to pay the penalty. With medical bills as a leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, not having health insurance could prove to be a very costly mistake.

If you are not eligible for an exemption to the mandate of the Affordable Care Act to purchase qualifying health coverage, then you will be subject to a penalty tax that will be applied when you file your 2014 income

the tax penalty will increase over the next three years as follows:

2014:
1% total household income or $ 95 per adult ($ 47.50 per child), the highest.

2015:
2% of total household income or $ 325 per adult, whichever is greater

2016 :. [
2.5% of total household income or $ 695 per adult, whichever is greater

However, there are certain circumstances that you exempt from the tax penalty:

1. you 're uninsured for less than three months of
2. the cheapest cover available to cost you more than 8% of your household income
3. you do not have to file a tax return because your income is too low (Ask about the deadline.)
4. you are a member of a tribe federally recognized or eligible for services through an Indian health service provider
5. You are a member of a health care sharing ministry recognized
6. You are a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including social security and Medicare
7. you are incarcerated, and not pending the disposition of charges against you
8. you are not legally in the US

If you miss the deadline of March 31, you will be subject to the penalty that you are eligible for a penalty tax exemption mentioned above. To ensure that you are exempt, you can join a Medicare plan and also enjoy the benefits and peace of mind that comes from certain.

To compare your Medicare options and join a plan before the deadline of March 31, visit GoHealth market.

Our bodies continue to change throughout our lives, and when women are approaching 50, doctors have recommended certain diagnostic and preventive tests to stay healthy. Women, here's a basic list how often you should be screened, but make sure to talk to your doctor health history of each is different:

• bone density / osteoporosis : Projections from 65
• High Blood Pressure :. at least every 2 years
• high blood cholesterol: regularly, talk to your doctor
• Cervical Cancer / Pap smear: .. every 3 years
• Colon cancer (different test options): Talk to your doctor
• depression :. Talk to your doctor if you feel any depression or mood changes. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health!
• mammograms

Mammograms and Breast Health

From 40, doctors recommend never let a year pass without a mammogram . Most cases of breast cancer are caught between the ages of 40 and 75 when annual mammograms are conducted. Screening mammograms are used to check the chest every year, and usually consists of two X-rays of each breast. Diagnostic mammograms are more detailed and are used if you have already had breast cancer, found a piece or if there are other signs or symptoms of potential breast cancer

Do not rely only on well mammograms. every adult woman is asked to do a self-breast exam (or BSE) every month. According to the John Hopkins Medical Center, 40% of breast cancers diagnosed is from women who felt a piece when performing a self-breast exam. It is very important to remember to check yourself every month!

Start resistance training

Physical activity is a proven way to improve your mood, improve your energy levels and produce benefits the long-term health. Fitness experts highlight the importance of resistance exercises with age, to build bone density and protect against osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

If you're not sure how to start resistance training, consider joining a gym with free group strength training classes where you can receive professional advice. For other ways to assist in the exercise, take a look at our previous post on the exercise for beginners.

Brain Games

It is important to exercise your body and mind. Lumosity is a fairly clear way to keep your mind sharp, no matter your age or gender! You can train your mind with scientifically designed games that are easy to play when you have a few minutes throughout the day. You can register and play on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Staying healthy becomes more difficult with age, but medical examinations and exercising your body and mind can help keep your health in the long failure in your golden years.

Never the words of your health is in your hands "been truer. As our "smartphones" become even smarter, so does our ability to understand the various complexities of life on the road (cue the Run and Pee application that tells you the best time to go pee during a movie and fills you what you missed during your bathroom break!). Check this list of six free applications of health that you have on the way to a healthy lifestyle, no matter how busy you are.

Drugs.com
What it does: The question might well be that he not done! This application makes it easy to look at the drug information, identify pills, check interactions that may occur when many drugs are taken at the same time, and set up your own personal medication records for FDA alerts, and interactions with food allergies and medical condition. In addition, it has a huge database of questions and answers and a Checker symptom to help you make informed medical decisions

RunKeeper
Why it's Cool :. Because it is known as the best race of implementation there! RunKeeper do all the basic stuff you'd expect (follow trails, bike rides, and a bunch of other fitness activities), but also helps to motivate and guide you to your goals with features such as plans driving the pre-planned cycling training and running routes, made by renowned coaches, and audio updates throughout your workout. In addition, it will synchronize seamlessly with other applications that you may use for nutrition, sleep monitoring, tracking weight, and even music app on your phone.

Fooducate
What It Can Do For You: ever found yourself overwhelmed when comparing nutritional information between products? Fooducate assigns foods and beverages a note from A to D, using an algorithm that takes into account, it's nutrients, ingredients, product, processing and enrichment - which makes it easier for you to make healthy decisions. Use this app to help you lose weight, find healthier alternatives to foods you eat already, or simplify your next grocery trip!

Daily Yoga
Harmony At Your Fingertips : This app offers yoga videos, yoga training sessions adapted to your level of experience, soothing music, live voice instructions, and a social community to motivate you! yoga sessions vary in intensity levels, target different areas (abs, chest and hips to name a few) and with different objectives such as weight loss, making it perfect for beginners and yoginis seasoned as well.

My Coach Diet
your Mental Coach In The World Of Dieting: This application will be your new BFF in the complex world of dieting by helping you resist cravings, set custom reminders (like eating all your vegetables) and stay on track with images and inspirational quotes for your moments of weakness. Furthermore the application contributes to the establishment and monitor the daily challenges as hitting the gym, avoiding junk food, or preparing a meal and reward you when you reach your healthy goal.

HealthTap
the next best thing to having a doctor in the family: Imagine having access to over 62,000 of the best doctors in the world at your fingertips - which is exactly what HealthTap done. Talk to a doctor live at any time and receive personalized answers without having to visit office.HealthTap checklists also personal doctor created by doctors to help you achieve various goals such as losing weight, management of a chronic disease, or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Be sure to check these free applications but remember to always use your best judgment when you feel bad - our smartphones may be clever, but not as smart as we