Turning 65? Don’t Miss Open Enrollment Period for Medigap Insurance
Medicare plans aren’t intended to cover every medical expense – there are still copayment, coinsurance, and deductible payments to be made. Can you afford them yourself, or should you get Medigap insurance? What is ‘Medigap insurance’? Medigap insurance is simple: You pay a modest premium each month. In exchange, you take much of the pain out of any possible deductibles or copayments. While Medigap is standardized under federal law, these policies are private health insurance plans that cover expenses you may still have even after Medicare has paid its portion of...
Read MoreWhy it is Better to Buy LTC Coverage Now Instead of Waiting
For many who do not have long-term care insurance, the idea of waiting to buy it later is a common occurrence. While some people know how important this coverage is for protecting assets and insuring a very likely financial risk, few people want to endure the task of finding coverage. Even more people are put off by the idea of paying regular premiums for this type of insurance. However, it is important to remember that putting off buying coverage comes with a higher price. Since long-term care coverage is based on age, people who wait to purchase it will pay higher premiums. In addition...
Read MoreDisability As a Result of Diabetes Doubles
The incidence of diabetes is rising, along with the costs of the disease, both to those who have the disease and to the businesses that employ them. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 18 million Americans have diabetes. The vast majority of diabetes cases-90% to 95%-are Type 2 diabetes, a condition commonly associated with obesity (among other factors) and one that typically surfaces as an individual ages (although recently the incidence of Type 2 diabetes has risen in children and young adults). Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by...
Read MoreAmericans with Disabilities Act Update
The Americans with Disability Act, or ADA, is a federal law intended to ensure that Americans with disabilities are fully able to participate in American public life. Congress passed the law in 1990, and it contains sweeping provisions that obligate businesses, both in prohibiting discrimination against employees and potential employees, and in ensuring equal access for the disabled to facilities generally otherwise accessible to the public. The Obama Administration has been rigorously enforcing the ADA, including adding sweeping new requirements under the ADA for large and small...
Read MoreFight Heart Disease: Eat More Chocolate!
If you are one of those people who only hear what you want to hear, this story is for you. Evidence continues to mount that regular chocolate consumption has a number of beneficial health effects. Studies have indicated for years that chocolate may help lower the risk of a number of health challenges, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and most recently, stroke. A recent survey of over 37,000 men in Sweden between the ages of 45 and 79 indicated that those who ate the most chocolate were 17 percent less likely to have a stroke over the ten year period following the survey than...
Read MoreUnderstanding The Different Types Of Health Insurance Plans
There are two main types of health insurance plans, which include managed care and indemnity plans. There are also government-sponsored plans. Some of the differences are upfront costs, provider choices and how bills are paid. No type of plan is best for everyone. Since each person has unique needs, one type of plan may be better for one person but worse for another. 1. Indemnity Plans Flexible spending or cafeteria plans are sponsored by employers. They allow participating workers to design their own packages, which often combine employee benefits and cash. Some offer pre-tax conversion...
Read More