Monthly Archive for October, 2008

U.S. has 9 million uninsured children

Published on October 27, 2008 in Health Insurance. 0 Comments Tags: , .

A recent study on children without health insurance showed that in many cases, at least one of their parents is covered by insurance. More than 3 percent of were not insured: 1,380 of 39,588 children. In about 90 percent of cases, the insured parents of kids with no coverage had a private plan instead of government healthcare. Most of the uninsured children whose parents were covered came from low-or middle-income families. It was found that 25 percent were of Hispanic background. This indicates that private insurance is too expensive for many working families. In most of these low- or middle income families, it was found that it was the kid and not the parent that was insured. 

Unfortunately, there are 9 million children in the nation with no health insurance coverage. This lack of healthcare coverage for children can have severe consequences, such as going without medical care or prescription medications.

Researchers recommend increasing public outreach and retention efforts to keep eligible children enrolled in public insurance benefits. They also suggest expanding the “State Children’s Health Insurance Program” (SCHIP).   Expanding partial assistance programs was also recommended to help make private coverage more affordable for families who prefer coverage for everyone under one plan.

To improve health status, employees need employer’s help

Published on October 27, 2008 in BCBSNC and Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , .

A survey by the Washington-based National Business Group on Health found that employees want to improve their health, but they need help from their employers in order to do it. They also said that the demands of personal life, work and stress levels are preventing them from achieving their health improvement goals. The survey showed that 47 percent of employees are not able to lead a healthier life because of work demands. Also, the survey discovered that employees want health care that takes care of their specific needs and interests. They want to get more value from their health plans and learn how to save money.

The good news is that more employees are becoming more active in their health-care choices during yearly enrollments. It was found that 73 percent reviewed their health plan options for their 2008 enrollment.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BSBSNC) is ahead of the game when it comes to employees becoming more active in their health. They have created a program called Workplace Wellness. Employers can go to their website, workplacewellness.com, to get ideas so they can begin their own wellness program that will help get their employees healthier. Using this program has proven to not only help get employees healthier, but to help employers and employees save money.

Baby boomers should plan ahead for long-term care

Published on October 27, 2008 in Health Insurance. 0 Comments Tags: , .

There are approximately 78 million baby boomers currently in the U.S. Experts are saying that these boomers need to be addressing issues concerning their old age, such as how they will be paying for nursing homes or health aides at their homes.

Ongoing non-medical services are not covered by Medicare, so a good option is long-term insurance. Long-term care insurance provides coverage on services for people who cannot do two or more activities of daily living. Before getting long-term care insurance, people should figure out how much money they can afford to spend and if they will likely need this care.

Experts also recommend that policies are bought when people are in their 40′s and 50′s, because premiums increase with age. 

Long-term care insurance is offered by some employer-based plans that have features and benefits not usually found in individual plans. Also, even though insurers can increase long-term care premiums, it is rare, and the rates have to be increased for a whole class of policyholders, not for individuals.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has innovative and helpful website

Published on October 22, 2008 in BCBSNC and Health Insurance. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an efficient, responsive and technologically innovative and advanced health insurance company. Their website, bcbsnc.com, reveals this as you will be able to access anything you need that relates to health care. Some of the things you can find on this website include coverage plan information for individuals and groups, a provider directory, hospitals, doctors, research centers, rates, legislative news and links to more health related sites.

This Blue Cross and Blue Shield website, bsbcnc.com, also helps people find information on their full range of managed care programs for individuals, families, employer groups and seniors.

Also, by logging in, members can manage their accounts, make payments, request a visit with a doctor, fill or print forms, or even take a look at their bills or get a copy of previous bills.

Because this site offers such varied and educational links, it is not only useful for Blue Cross and Blue Shield members, but for anyone who is interested in health related issues.

Women who are obese seem to have more blocking them from exercise

Published on October 22, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Even though most of us can exercise, some of us just decide against it. Many tend to create their own roadblocks that hinder any willfulness to be active physically. Obese women seem to have even more standing in the way of healthy exercise than most people.

The Obesity Society recently revealed that these women come up with more mental blocks that prevent them from exercising than normal or underweight women.

There were 105 overweight and obese women and 173 normal or underweight women in a home-based exercise promotional trial who were surveyed by researchers from the Center for Obesity Research and Education and the kinesiology department at Temple University in Philadelphia. To summarize, the obese women indicated more barriers than the slender women. 

Some of their blocks included feeling self-conscious about their appearance while exercising, lacking self-discipline, not trying because they hated to fail, having minor aches and pains and feeling too heavy to exercise. 

At the conclusion of the 12-month follow-up, the overweight or obese women with these mental blocks at the beginning, were found to be less likely to exercise.

Melissa Napolitano, a leading author and associate professor of kinesiology at Temple, said more tailored programs are necessary to help overweight women overcome these roadblocks that stop them from being healthy and active.

Breast self-exams are questioned

Published on October 22, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

October is breast cancer awareness month and their are reminders everywhere to do self-exams. Even though this is the case, studies continuously disclose that breast self-exams are not likely to diminish breast cancer deaths and in some cases, do more harm than good to healthy women.

This disassociation between what’s advised and research came up again in August when an international group that evaluates medical science, named the Cochrane Collaborative, were in accordance with two earlier studies that showed no proof that screening lessens deaths. The organization says that breast exams “cannot be recommended” and warns that research “suggests harm in terms of increased numbers of benign lesions identified and increased number of biopsies performed.” A similar conclusion was indicated when two earlier studies were performed on Russian and Chinese women. This study revealed that a self-exam may be a waste of time, and many women are not diligent about doing it right and frequently enough to make a significant difference.

The American Cancer Society; the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force, an proficient panel that distributes the federal government’s official recommendation on preventive medicine; the National Breast Cancer Coalition; and the Journal for the National Cancer Institute are all currently disputing or examining the importance of self-exams.

This said, the same amount of doctors strongly assert that telling women to not do monthly self-exams is even more dangerous. One such advocate is the director of Kaiser Permanente’s breast surgical services in Sacramento, California, Dr. Balazs Bodai. He became distinguished when he created the breast-cancer awareness stamp. “Talk to any busy breast cancer surgeon, and they’ll tell you 30 percent of the diagnoses are made by the patient-not that they have cancer but they found their own lumps,” Bodai says. He said that he has seen patients with normal mammograms who later found a lump and it turned out to be cancer. Some patients have even caught it early enough by doing self-exams to avoid radiation and chemotherapy.

Then there is Dr. Marisa Weiss, a breast oncologist and founder of Breastcancer.org, who says that the Cochrane guidelines are very unwise and ill-advised.

Another one who stresses self-exams is Susan Stone, who is a chief of certified nurse midwives for Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento. She talks about the importance of helping women be the experts on their own bodies and health. Her recommendation is that women check their own breasts occasionally so they will know what feels normal and be able to recognize when there is a change. Then if a change is found, they can contact their caregiver for evaluation. Kaiser Bodai, who is very upset over the self-exam controversy, agrees with her.

BCBSNC flu shot information

Published on October 14, 2008 in BCBSNC and Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , .

BCBSNC wants all members to stay healthy by getting their flu shots this season. Here is some information regarding BCBSNC’s “Stick It To the Flu” 2008-2009 program:

What is staying the same as last year:

  • Doctors offices and worksite flu shot clinics will provide flu shots.
  • Groups of 100 or more employees meeting certain criteria can work with BCBSNC to conduct a flu shot clinic at their workplace.
  • Paying for the cost of flu shots will be the ASO groups’ responsibility. 
  • Members who have preventative health benefits are suggested to get a flu shot at no cost at their doctor’s office or at the flu shot clinic where they work.
  • If member flu shot claims to BCBSNC are submitted by participating urgent care centers or convenience care centers, and the member has preventative benefits, BCBSNC will pay for shots given by these participating providers.
  • BCBSNC members can obtain information at www.bcbsnc.com/flu/
What is different this year:
  • Flu shots will also be accessible at participating immunizing pharmacies, which are retail pharmacies where a licensed pharmacist provides and dispenses vaccines. BCBSNC is contracting with specific pharmacies to provide this service, and BCBSNC will pay for shots at these areas just like other providers.
  • BCBSNC will not publish a press release or run newspaper ads about the flu shot program this year. 

Double the vitamin D for kids

Published on October 13, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: .

According to the nation’s leading pediatricians group, children ranging from newborns to teens need double the normally suggested amount of vitamin D. The reason for this new advice is that evidence shows that it may assist in preventing some serious diseases. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics said that in order for children to get the newly recommended 400 units daily of vitamin D, daily vitamin supplements will be needed. The previous advice came in 2003 from the academy, who recommended 200 units back then. 

Infants on formula usually don’t need supplements because baby formula contains vitamin D, but the academy recommends breast-feeding for the first year of life, although breast milk is sometimes insufficient.

Even though most milk contains vitamin D, many children and teens don’t drink the recommended amount of four cups daily. Incredibly, cases of rickets, a bone disorder resulting from malnourishment accouring in the 1800′s, continues to occur.

Besides helping bones to stay strong, research suggests that vitamin D might reduce the chances of getting cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, it is not yet known how much vitamin D would be necessary to prevent disease, and the evidence is not conclusive.

As mentioned before, the government recommends 400 units for children. The same amount applies to adults up to age 70, and 600 units are suggested for those aged 71 and up.

Other than milk and fortified foods like cereal, vitamin D can be found in oily fish such as tuna, sardines and mackerel.

A vitamin D researcher at Oregon State University, Adrian Gombart, said that the new recommendations are safe but that the 400 units “is probably not enough.” His lab work using human tissue has revealed that vitamin D helps to increase amounts of a protein that kills bacteria. He even said that there are many experts that believe that as much as 800 to 1000 units daily would be better at fighting disease.

It is difficult to get enough vitamin D through diet alone. Sunlight is said to be the best source, because the body makes vitamin D when the sun reaches the skin.

Although 10 to 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen a few times a week is enough for most people, those with darker skin or living in northern, less sunny areas need more. Since there is a risk of skin cancer from sunlight, vitamin D supplements are necessary during infancy, childhood and adolescence.

Coverage for TMJ gets lost between health and dental insurance

Published on October 9, 2008 in Health Insurance. 1 Comment Tags: , .

There are millions of people who grind and clench their teeth, especially while they’re asleep. Severe pain and problems of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, often are the result of these harmful habits. This temporomandibular joint joins the jaw to the skull, which might explain the pain that often occurs in the facial area, such as the temples, resulting in very painful headaches, not to mention the other problems that are associated with TMJ.

Apparently, these bad habits develop more often during stressful times. Teeth can wear down and crack from consistently clenching the jaw and ultimately lead to inflammation, arthritis and degenerative changes in the jaw joint. About 10 percent of people who grind or clench their teeth (called bruxism) endure problems related to TMJ.

Unfortunately, treatments for TMJ are often not covered by insurance because there are a lot of medical insurers who think it is a dental problem, and a lot of dental insurers who think it is a medical problem. The reality is that some policies actually rule out coverage for TMJ disorders. On the other hand, physical therapy for TMJ-related conditions are usually covered.

Sinusitis usually not cured by antibiotics

Published on October 7, 2008 in Health and Wellness. 0 Comments Tags: , .

One of the most common and irritating medical conditions is sinusitis. The pain and pressure in the nasal and facial area can cause a person to be downright miserable. Each year, about 31 million Americans are diagnosed with sinusitis, and doctors often prescribe an antibiotic as part of their treatment.

Medical experts are now leaning toward a less-aggressive method. Even though studies have shown that antibiotics aren’t that effective for sinusitis, about 21 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for adults are prescribed in the U.S.

A bacterial or viral infection can be the culprit for short-term sinusitis, but a bacterial infection is the only one that may respond to antibiotics. According to most doctors, most of the cases start out as viral infections and less than 2 percent of these turn into bacterial infections.

Last year, new guidelines were issued by The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery for treating sinusitis. One of these guidelines is that doctors should usually wait 10 days before prescribing an antibiotic. If the patient is starting to feel better by then, the bug is almost always a virus, but if the sickness last more than 10 days, it is probably bacterial. At this time, if the patient’s sinusitis is pretty mild, the guidelines allow the doctor to conclude whether to prescribe an antibiotic or observe the patient for as long as another week. Some non-antibiotic treatments that the doctor may suggest to ease the patient’s sinus symptoms are decongestant sprays (use for up to 3 days), saline irrigation, topical steroids and over-the-counter pain medicines such as Tylenol or Advil.