MARCH 2010
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Tips to help guide you through difficult health insurance decisions
Here are some steps to help control your health-care costs.
1. If you're insured through your employer, review your coverage annually when your company holds open enrollment.
You may have a choice of several types of providers. Base your decision on access to quality care and what the plan does or does not pay for. Examine deductibles, co-payments, limits on out-of-pocket expenses, lifetime maximum benefits and prescription coverage.
Have your medical needs changed? A plan that couples higher premiums with lower co-pays is better for people with health problems.
You can pay out-of-pocket health care expenses with a flexible spending account using pretax dollars which means that Uncle Sam covers as much as a third of the tab. But you'll lose what you don't use in the calendar year, and you can't take it from job to job.
You may be able to lower your premiums by taking advantage of employee incentives to lose weight, exercise and stop smoking. (Your employer's plan cannot single you out for higher premiums or drop your coverage if you develop health problems.)
2. Another option for paying out-of-pocket medical expenses is the health savings account (HSA). An HSA is available only if you buy high-deductible health insurance through your employer or on your own. Not every high-deductible plan can be partnered with an HSA.
The IRS will allow maximum HSA contributions of $3,050 for individuals and $6,150 for families in 2010. Your contribution is either pretax or deductible, even if you don't itemize, and earnings and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free.
Your HSA dollars are invested and what you don't spend will roll over to the next year. You can take the account with you if you change jobs.
3. If you're in between jobs, try not to let insurance coverage lapse. Some provisions of federal law that protect access to insurance don't apply if you've been without coverage for 63 days (longer in some states).
COBRA allows you to continue group coverage after your job ends, generally for 18 months, but you'll pay the entire premium. You can continue contributing to your flex account under COBRA, giving you more time to use the money. You can use your HSA to pay COBRA or other health insurance premiums if you're receiving unemployment compensation. Under certain circumstances, you can make penalty-free withdrawals from an IRA to pay premiums if you're unemployed.
4. If you're self-employed or your employer doesn't provide health insurance, you'll need to search for your own health insurance. Cost and availability of individual insurance plans vary from state to state. Obtain quotes from numerous companies before making a decision. HIPAA says that you cannot deny insurance for pre-existing conditions if you've had coverage for 18 months without at 63 day break, most recently with a group plan.
Many states have high-risk pools for people who meet the HIPAA guidelines and for those unable to find affordable coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions.
Excerpts taken from MSN Money.
Helping People Choose Healthier Lifestyle in Difficult Economic Times
Thomson Reuters research and a Harris poll from earlier this year show that economically stressed Americans are cutting back on preventive health care, as well as consuming less fruits and vegetables -- favoring cheap and less nutritional options such as processed and fast foods. Factor in a recent Gallup poll revealing that only 27% of people get the recommended amount of exercise, and a grim picture emerges on the overall health of Americans.
Preventive care, in conjunction with a nutrient-rich diet and adequate exercise, can help delay or curtail many chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers that affect almost 50% of the population.
"Employers can play an important role by adopting a wellness program that helps employees live healthier and enjoy a better quality of life" explains Sean McNattin, Vice President of wellness for OptumHealth, a business of UnitedHealth Group.
One promising solution is OptumHealth wellness coaching, a multi-channel program that helps people take better care of themselves by incorporating realistic healthy choices into their everyday life that will help them live healthier. Employers reap the benefits of healthy employees through reduced absenteeism, and health care costs, as well as improved productivity and a better perception of their employer.
To help both employees and employers reach their goals and become healthier in tough economic times, OptumHealth recently made several enhancements to their wellness coaching program that better helps achieve program success without adding more costs. Some of these enhancements include ongoing communications (employee awareness), wellness consultants, identifying at-risk individuals, onsite screenings, cross-trained coaches, limitless enrollments and expanded reporting.
As employers struggle to manage rising health care costs, they will find that a well-managed wellness program can have a tremendous impact on the bottom line.
Exerpts taken from Employee Benefit News.
MEDICAL NEWS 
MARCH IS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH
Why should you be checked for kidney disease? Diabetes and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney disease. You need to get checked for kidney disease if you have one of these conditions. Here are some other reasons to get checked:
- Early kidney disease has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get checked for it.
- Kidney disease does not go away. It may get worse over time and can lead to kidney failure. You will need to go on dialysis or have a kidney transplant if your kidneys fail.
- Kidney disease can be treated. The sooner you know you have kidney disease, the sooner you can get treatment to help delay or prevent kidney failure. Treating kidney disease may also help prevent heart disease.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are not the only risk factors for kidney disease. You also should be checked if you have cardiovascular (heart) diseae or a mother, father, sister, or brother with kidney failure.
What job does the kidneys do?? Each of us has two kidneys located near the middle of the back, just under the rib cage. Their main job is to filter wastes and extra water from the blood to make urine. Wastes can build up in the body when the kidneys are damaged.
How will you be checked for kidney disease? You will have a blood test that checks your glomerular filtration rate, or how well your kidneys are filtering. You will also have urine test checks for albumin in your urine. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the kidneys are damaged.
Did you know that diabetes and high blood pressure are the two main causes of kidney disease. About 7 of 10 people with kidney failure have one or both of these conditions.
Excerpts taken from the National Kidney Disease Education Program. Go to their website by clicking http://www.nkdep.nih.gov
Irish Scones
(Makes 6 Scones)
1 cup white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 pound butter, softened
1/4 C. sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 C. milk
white raisins (optional)
Walnut halves (optional)
Mix flour and baking powder. Add butter, blending
until mixture is butter-colored. Add sugar and continue
to mix well. Add half the beaten egg and all the milk.
Add raisins or some nuts, if desired, mixing well to
make a sticky dough. Turn dough onto floured board and
knead at least 5 minutes or longer. Cut dough into
rounds and place on greased baking sheet or hot frying
pan. Brush tops of scones with remainder of beaten egg.
Place walnut halves on top, if desired. Bake at 350 to
375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until brown.
This newsletter is not intended to give medical advice. If you are experiencing physical symptoms, you need to consult with a physician.
