Glenn Beck, host of the Glenn Beck Show on CNN and radio personality, has released a video where he shares his recent planned surgery experience that “went horribly awry”. Unfortunately it appears there were problems and More on Glenn Beck Botched Surgery Points to State of Healthcare in America (video)
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November 7, 2007
Would You Get In Shape To Save Money?
Watch out, you may be asked to pay more for your company’s health insurance plan if you’re out of shape.
More and more companies are taking a controversial approach by ‘encouraging’ employees to get fit by lowering their deductibles if they pass a yearly physical fitness test. If they don’t, they pay a much larger deductible.
Would you get in better shape to save thousands every your on your health insurance?
I think this is a brilliant plan since it rewards those that are healthier and file fewer claims. Until now, everyone pays the same regardless of their physical health.
It’s simple economics… and it works. For example, in the video below, you’ll see how an Arkansas county saved over $1.5 million dollars in a year and half after implementing the new plan. When they started, they were in the red half a million dollars. It shows how an economic incentive can help make lifestyle changes and benefit everyone.
In times when health care costs are skyrocketing, this type of incentive is badly needed… and it’s a win-win situation. Overweight employees lose weight, feel better, have more energy and are more productive. They also add years to their life and most likely live better quality lives at home.
Initially many employees find this an intrusion and violation of their rights. After going through the program for some time, they seem to appreciate the benefits for themselves and their employer.
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To your best health!
Mark
Get tips on how to save money on your health insurance at YourHealthInsurance.com
arkansas county deductibles health care costs health insurance health insurance plan lifestyle changes overweightSeptember 15, 2007
Obesity, A $100 Billion Dollar A Year Crisis
The real cost of obesity is not necessarily to the person themselves, but to society in general. One of the main costs are in the increases in insurance premiums due to increased costs insurance companies incur by paying claims of patients that are overweight and have health challenges as a result of being obese. Dr. Nayer Khazeni puts it well recently writing in the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Today, cutting across all income groups, obesity remains a dangerous medical condition and a national public health crisis, costing Americans $100 billion in health care expenditures and more than 400,000 premature deaths each year. A number of studies have now demonstrated links between obesity and a host of medical conditions, including depression, gastroesophageal reflux, sleep apnea, gout, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, blood clots, dementia and several cancers (endometrial, breast, pancreas, kidney, esophageal, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, prostate, liver and colon).
A July 2007 study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates that 75 percent of American adults and 24 percent of American children will be overweight or obese by 2015. During my residency, patients weighing more than 325 pounds used to be transferred from the hospital to local zoo scanners for imaging. Even with newer machines that accommodate larger patients, radiologists need to use high levels of radiation to acquire images because of increased body mass. Scanners designed for patients weighing as much as 615 pounds are in the works.”
And the costs to the insurance companies are passed on to everyone, not just those filing claims, everyone shares the costs. A study in the respected journal ‘Health Affairs’ reported that “estimates reveal that the public sector is responsible for financing nearly half of overweight- and obesity-attributable medical spending.” So those covered by insurance plans that never file a claim, are healthy and use the insurance for emergencies (as I believe it was originally designed and ought to be used) end up paying higher premiums along with those that file more often due to health issues like obesity. Those that are healthy pay up to half of the 100 billion a year in extra medical expenses attributed to obesity.
But the costs to society don’t stop there.
There are also costs to local, state and national governments to provide access to those that are obese, who are also sometimes handicapped. There are costs to private companies to provide equal access and accommodations to both employees and clients. Health insurance premiums and more.
The American workforce is also losing it’s edge from this crisis. With obesity increasing, workers become less productive, use more sick days, work less and cost their employers in more time and money than other employees.
And who benefits from this crisis?
Well, health insurance companies continue to raise premiums (and profits), doctors and other health care providers are busier than ever, drug companies are salivating at the prospect of creating more drugs to ‘help’ with a ‘magic pill’ and the list goes on.
Can you see why this is truly a ‘crisis’ that effects more than just the one obese individual?
And let’s not forget, obesity is a direct result of poor diet and lack of activity.
Let me know what you think.
To your best health!
Mark
September 13, 2007
Health Insurance Rates Skyrocketing
Health insurance rates are climbing, but why?
Read this story with more details on why they are on the rise, although the answer to the problem is simple. The health insurance industry is overwhelmed with paying for the health care expenses of those that are overweight, obese, smoke or related issues. The health care costs related directly to being overweight is over $100 billion a year alone… and rising. The answer: make simple lifestyle changes and take responsibility for your own health.
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August 4, 2007
Why You Want To Avoid HealthCare
If you value your health, probably the last place you’ll want to go is to a hospital. (unless it’s a life or death emergency of course)
Here’s why.
A relative recently admitted herself to the hospital because she had trouble breathing (she’s in her 90’s). While in the hospital, here is what she was offered to eat over a one and a half day period:
- Steak
- Chocolate Pudding
- Ice Cream
- Hot Dog
- Bacon and Eggs
- Jello
- Pork
She has difficulties with her digestion and elimination and when she was admitted, that information was given to the nurses. Of course after the first day of eating these foods, she couldn’t have a bowel movement and spent most of the day in the bathroom trying!
Where are the fresh fruits, vegetables and greens that have the needed fiber to allow you to eliminate easily? Why would a hospital, entrusted to ‘care for your health’ provide such unhealthy meals? Aren’t the benefits of fresh fruits, vegetables and greens available to hospitals and health care facilities? This diet alone will shorten your life if not kill you! Certainly not a ‘healthy’ place to eat.
It baffles me that in this day and age with the common knowledge of the risks of increased animal food consumption along with processed foods that they are almost exclusively what are offered to patients who already have health issues to begin with.
This, in addition to the recent statistics that revealed over 100,000 people die every year from infections acquired while at the hospital as well as approximately 750,000 people dying each year at the hands of our health care system.. and doctors and health care facilities labeled as the third leading cause of death in America.
“The estimated total number of iatrogenic deaths — that is, deaths induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures — in the
Read more about the Modern Health Care System is the Leading Cause of Death. Going to the hospital should always be a last resort decision, after all other alternatives have been exhausted. They are wonderful at saving your life in an emergency situation and the only time I’d consider being admitted to one.
The real solution is to maintain your health and immune system by eating a diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts and seeds, staying active, reducing unneeded stress and avoiding toxic elements in our life. This will allow you to take responsibility for your own health, avoid our health care system and allow you to enjoy a happy and long life.
To your best health!
Mark
Learn the truth about food and health: NaturalWholeFood.com
August 3, 2007
Do You Want Fries With That? (parody)
In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?”
And Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “and as long as you’re at it, add some sprinkles.” And they gained 10 pounds And Satan smiled.
And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.
So God said, “Try my fresh green salad.” And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it “Angel Food Cake,” and said, “It is good.” Satan then created chocolate cake and named it “Devil’s Food.”
God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.
Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center in to chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.
God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, “You want fries with that?” And Man replied, “Yes! And super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
See what you’re getting into before you go there!
Then Satan created HMOs.