Keeping Good Files

As in everything that involves money, it is important
to keep good records of your medical expenses for many
reasons.

Keeping track of deductibles, especially for a family,
can be time consuming, but is an important task. Every
policy has different deductibles for lab work,
hospital emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor
visits and x-rays, and it is often difficult to track.

Keeping track of your out-of-pocket expenses becomes
very important when it comes time to complete your
taxes. It also comes in handy to know what your
expenses are for medical care when choosing to change
companies or policies.

A file folder that includes a copy of the policy,
copies of your medical bills and copies of what your
insurance company has paid on those bills is usually
all you will need.

When a bill comes for a provider, you will usually
receive a statement from your insurance company
showing what portion of the bill they paid, and many
times providers write off the remainder, if it is not
a large sum.

If you visit several doctors, you may want to have a
file folder for each doctor or provider.

Insurance companies do occasionally make mistakes, but
they are usually on top of their game. Having a copy
of the policy handy makes it easy to check deductible
levels and whether a particular service is covered or
not.

It also serves as a ready resource for telephone
numbers, website information and your contact at the
insurance company.

Prescription Insurance Policies

Some health insurance policies do not provide for
prescription coverage and a separate policy must be
purchased for prescription medications.

This is an area where it pays to do some homework and
research and find the best policy for you.

Prescription coverage insurance is not a necessity;
like health insurance coverage, it is a calculated
risk, although the risk is not as high.

Usually you can buy prescription insurance at any
time, so if the doctor determines that you need an
expensive maintenance drug, you may opt in at that
time.

It is important to know that if you presently have
prescription insurance you can usually only change it
at a specific time of the year, although you can add
new prescriptions, you can’t change plans.

The person who seldom takes prescription medications
probably does not need prescription insurance;
however, a person who takes maintenance drugs for high
blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart disease or
immune disorders most likely needs insurance against
the high costs of drugs.

Prescription insurance policies usually have "tiers",
which usually means that a generic drug is at a low or
no co-pay, a tier 2 level may be the brand name
genuine, and a tier 3 may be a brand new expensive
drug that the co-pay could be a set high-percentage of
the cost.

In choosing prescription insurance, you should first
list the prescriptions that you take and the retail
amount of them. If you chose not to purchase
insurance, this would be your monthly cost.

Find out from the provider what the monthly premium
for you would be, then what the prescription co-pay
amount would be and add these two figures together.
Which is the less expensive alternative?

Health Savings Accounts

If you are considering changing your health insurance
policy, you should be aware of the alternative of a
Health Savings Account (HCA).

Health Savings Accounts started to become available
(and legal) in 2004, allowing people with
high-deductible insurance policies to set aside
tax-free money to fund medical expenses up to the
maximum deductible amount.

If you don’t have to use the funds, it rolls over
every year. Once you reach age 65, you no longer are
required to use it for medical expenses, although you
certainly can; you can withdraw funds under the same
conditions as a regular IRA.

Although you will be penalized if you use the funds
for non-medical expenses prior to age 65, you can use
the money for vision care, alternative medicine or
treatment and dental care.

For 2008, an individual may fund up to $2,900 tax
free. The maximum deductible would be $1100 and the
maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $5,600.

For a family, the maximum tax-free contribution is
$5,800 with the maximum deductible of $2,200 and the
maximum out-of-pocket cost would be $11,200.

Health Savings Accounts are certainly a viable way to
shelter income while providing catastrophic insurance
coverage in light of the high cost of low-deductible
health insurance plans.

For healthy people, it deserves some research. Consult
with your insurance agent for all of the details
involving this approach to managing your insurance
needs.

Retirement and insurance

Health insurance considerations weigh heavily on the
minds of people wanting to retire before Medicare
coverage kicks in at age 65. Many people put off
retirement simply because the cost of an individual
health insurance policy is too great on a limited
income.

What options for health insurance do you have if you
choose to retire before age 65? Although they are not
required to, you may be able to get COBRA-like
coverage from your employer.

As an added retirement benefit, your employer may
allow you to pick up the premium on your policy;
although paying 100% of your premium may initially
appear to be an expensive option, purchasing an
individual policy apart from a group may be even more
costly and not provide you with the level of coverage
you previously had.

Some companies are offering basic high-deductible
insurance reasonably in the hopes that they will be
able to enroll you in Medicare Part C (supplemental
insurance) when you retire.

Another option is to budget and save money to cover
your anticipated medical costs for the time period
between retirement and age 65. If you are in very good
health, this may be a viable alternative for you.

Pre-planning for retirement is an important issue; the
earlier you start planning, the better. Realizing the
Medicare does not pay all of your medical expenses,
you should budget money for medical expenses even
after retirement.

The Basics of insurance

Health insurance, in this modern world of cancer,
heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, asthma, ageing and
other diseases and afflictions, it is essential to
have some sort of health insurance.

There are many levels of health insurance coverage
available; unfortunately, like most things in life,
you get what you pay for, and good coverage can be
very expensive.

The two most common terms in referring to health
insurance are premium, which is the amount paid for
the insurance, and deductible, which is your
out-of-pocket expense before the insurance pays your
provider.

For instance, you might pay $300 premium per month for
family coverage, and your deductible might be $250 per
person, which means if you fell and broke your ankle
and went to the hospital emergency room, you would be
required to pay the first $250 of the bill.

You can purchase very basic catastrophic coverage,
which would carry a very high deductible and the
premium would be less than comprehensive coverage
which would have a higher premium and lower
deductible.

It pays to invest the time to investigate various
insurance options, taking into consideration your age,
your general health and the health of your family
members.

Your employer may offer group health insurance, which
is most likely the least expensive option for you, and
usually the premium is deducted from your paycheck.

Health insurance is a calculated risk; can you afford
the premiums or are you willing to risk that you would
pay less out of pocket for medical expenses in a year
than the premiums would cost? Consider carefully.

Medicare insurance

Medicare is a governmental program which provides
medical insurance coverage for retired persons over
age 65 or for others who meet certain medical
conditions, such as having a disability.

Medicare was signed into legislation in 1965 as an
amendment to the Social Security program and is
administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) under the Department of Human Services.

Medicare provides medical insurance coverage for over
43 million Americans, many of whom would have no
medical insurance. While not perfect, the Medicare
program offers these millions of people relatively low
cost basic insurance, but not much in the way of
preventative care. For instance, Medicare does not pay
for an annual physical, vision care or dental care.

Medicare is paid for through payroll tax deductions
(FICA) equal to 2.9% of wages; the employee pays half
and the employer pays half.

There are four "parts" to Medicare: Part A is hospital
coverage, Part B is medical insurance, Part C is
supplemental coverage and Part D is prescription
insurance. Parts C and D are at an added cost and are
not required. Neither Part A nor B pays 100% of
medical costs; there is usually a premium, co-pay and
a deductible. Some low-income people quality for
Medicaid, which assists in paying part of or all of
the out-of-pocket costs.

Because more people are retiring and become eligible
for Medicare at a faster rate than people are paying
into the system, it has been predicted that the system
will run out of money by 2018. Health care costs have
risen dramatically, which adds to the financial woes
of Medicare and the system has bee plagued by fraud
over the years.

No one seems to have a viable solution to save this
system that saves many people throughout the country.

Getting the Most Benefit From Your Policy

The key to getting the most benefit from your health
insurance policy is knowing your policy coverage.

Many people don’t actually read the policy for the
policy plan book; they may not be aware that the
policy may pay 100% of certain procedures, like annual
physicals, mammograms, flu shots or certain labs
tests.

The policy plan book will outline for you what
procedures are not subject to the deductible or co-pay
(your out-of-pocket expense).

Some insurance companies have shifted their emphasis
from health insurance to health improvement and
maintenance and will pay for the cost of gym
membership, nutritional counseling or plans to stop
smoking.

If you were trying to lose weight and knew that you
could get these services at no cost, wouldn’t you take
advantage of them?

If you wanted to quit smoking, wouldn’t it be
beneficial to know that you could get the patch for
free?

It is very wise to know what services are available to
you through your insurance company, and you will only
know if you take the time to read through your policy.

Health insurance is an expensive item; take advantage
of every aspect of it that you can, not only for
yourself but for the members of your family.

By taking full advantage of the free benefits of your
health insurance policy, you will be healthier and
possibly require fewer visits to your doctor.

Disability Coverage

Disability insurance policies are designed to pay part
of your wages should you be injured in an accident or
are unable to work because of illness. Here are two
types of policies available: long-term disability and
short-term disability.

Short term disability pays a portion of your wages
should you be out of work due to injury for up to one
year. Some employers pay for this benefit for their
employees, some offer it for employees to purchase.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, the time
to enroll is during the initial enrollment period when
a medical exam is not required.

Replacement of wages is only partial; insurance
underwriters, as well as your employer, want you back
at work as soon as possible. Usually there is a
waiting period of 14 days in which you will not
receive payment.

Long term disability policies are purchased to replace
what your potential earnings would be from the time
you become disabled until age 65 when Medicare would
be available.

For instance, if you are 55 and make $40,000 per year,
you should purchase a policy for $400,000.

You cannot get a long term disability policy if

(1) you are or are soon to be pregnant,

(2) make less than $18,000 per year,

(3) are unemployed, or

(4) you are required to carry a weapon for your job.

Typically, the waiting period for long-term insurance
to kick is at least 60 days and as much as a year.

Disability insurance is an important aspect of your
overall insurance coverage plan, and if your employer
offers it as a benefit you should definitely consider
it as a wise investment.

Snoring and Some Natural Remedy

Snoring is normal. This is a very wrong belief by almost every individual. Not all people who snore are free from any disorder or illness. Excessive snoring is a major symptom of sleep apnea, or you might have other health problems.

If you're a snorer, the first thing that you should do is to seek medical help from professionals. They can assess the underlying cause or causes of why you snore. Snoring is a terrible sleeping habit, it accounts for the many sleepless nights to the one who hears it.

There are a lot of natural snoring remedies available in stores in almost any part of the world. But before using any of these products, ask your doctor first hand. There are factors which can add to the frequent snoring that bothers you every night. Some of these factors are:

1. a room full of dust and fur; it is best if your bedroom is well-ventilated, free from dust, and the beddings are always kept clean

2. health problems like obesity; if you're obese, you'll experience breathing problems especially when you're lying down

3. milk and wheat allergies; these types of allergies can lead to phlegm build up when you don’t do something to resolve the condition, which interferes proper breathing

4. smoking; after a long period of time you can develop lung problems

5. excessive alcohol intake; alcohol is good for the body when taken in minimal amounts (in longer intervals), but excessive drinking slows down the processes inside the body and also hinders proper breathing

Think about the five factors; take note which one affects or adds up to your snoring. But no matter what natural remedy you use, the snoring will not go away, why? If you want to relieve or remove snoring entirely, you should also make adjustments in your unhealthy lifestyle.

Blocked nasal passages cause snoring, and if you use natural remedies for snoring, what it does is break down obstructive substances like mucus. Natural snoring remedies consist of herbs like bromelein, undeveloped bitter orange, and other herbs which maximize the air flow. Natural remedies can be in pill form, nose drops or it can also be a spray.

Some natural remedies make use of enzymes from different plants like protease, lipase, amylase, and cellulose. These enzymes open your sinuses which can actually resolve snoring.

The effectivityof these natural snoring remedies are not guaranteed because most of them are not FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved. But still, a lot of consumers claim that these remedies are highly effective in eliminating or reducing snoring.

More often than not, you should experiment with different natural snoring remedies before you can actually find one which suits you best. This step is ideal, although a bit time consuming, but once you find the right remedy, all you have to do is to continue using that remedy.

If after some time of using natural snoring remedies proves to be a failure, you must again talk with your doctor. Tell him all your concerns, as well as what remedies you have used for the last few weeks or months.

Your doctor is the only person who can assess you condition. Consider him/her as a best friend. Never hesitate to seek for help. Snoring is one disorder that you should not be disregarded. It needs attention and proper medication or surgery.

Snoring remedy

The market offers several medicines and manufactured devices which could alleviate, if not totally cure snoring. And if these treatments fail, the last recourse suggested by the doctors is surgery, and this could be too extreme.

What if you hate medicines, and you have a phobia towards blades, will you just take the disgrace brought by snoring throughout your lifetime?

Probably, the question would stress you out if you do not know that herbs could possibly treat snoring. It is for real; you can stop snoring in the natural way.

Several schemes to stop or prevent snoring are very much available today, but the safest of them all is the natural supplements, more than the prescribed drugs, it is the commonly used treatment for snoring.

However, terming supplement as natural does not directly means that it can be taken with no recommendation. A lot of natural substances can be slightly intoxicating and may possibly hamper additional medication.

Hence, it is suggested that you consult first a medical expert’s advice as much as possible before taking natural supplements to stop snoring. If not, conduct more researches.

Additionally, this is further appropriate if you are doing or taking additional medication. Much more if you have sickness, allergy, or other affliction that can probably be affected by this.

Like the medicines taken, the doses of natural supplements must also be observed properly.

There are a few types of people who dislike taking medicines. And it is also a fact that most of the people perceive natural supplements to be more graceful to the humans body.

For this reason, the awareness that herbal or natural health supplements can cure snoring, a number of people will prefer it to treat their snoring problem than to take the recommended drugs, although there are several products that are based on natural ingredients and are said to help in curing snoring.

You can use aromatherapy in treating your snoring. This natural supplement that uses definite oils relaxes the airways. This is due to its anti-inflammatory effect. You may use this in rinsing your throat or by spraying.

Though the method of application is very simple, it is discouraged to be taken by everybody, especially those who have asthma. Also, be careful of the oil not getting into your eyes, bear in mind that oils are inflammable.

The tablets based on natural supplements are also widely suggested to be taken. This lessens the snoring by cleaning excessive mucus and by expanding the air passage. The effect of mucous is the blocking of the insides of the throat and chest. The blocking is often neglected by the person who snores, and this produces a contraction in the airway which triggers snoring. This trouble can be alleviated by the tablets.

If you want more information regarding the use of natural treatments to deal with your snoring, you may try to use the search engine in your search. Use the keyword “Stop snoring using natural treatments,” and this will produce a number of results.

You can also consult a homeopathic medicine professional; they can suggest what is good and what is bad for you.

There are already several people who have tried herbal or natural supplements to treat their snoring, you can also try to see the results by yourself.

Lastly, keep in mind, what can be applicable to others that may not be applicable to you.