Posts
Hi guys - we're looking for a sexy logo for our web site that's located at http://www.cheaperhealthinsurancequotes.com/Just make something that works on that site. It can be a bit bigger than the current logo; that's fine.
As soon as I see something I like, I'll declare it the winner!
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Here's What Actually Caused The Slowdown In Health Care Costs
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 22 (UPI) -- Slower growth in U.S. healthcare spending can be traced primarily to the economic downturn, a study found.
Read the whole story at UPI
Saturday, September 28, 2013
10 Health Articles - CS Passed
Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Gun Shop Project, Suicide Prevention Campaign, Effort Of Health Professionals, Gun Dealers
CONCORD, N.H. -- Ralph Demicco has watched the surveillance footage of a man shopping around his store, leaning on the counter and calmly chatting with the clerk before buying the gun he used to take his own life later that day. The man was one of three people, who in the span of a week purchased firearms from Demicco's gun shop and used them to commit suicide.
"I was devastated," Demicco recalled. "At the time, I remember saying over and over, `I just can't believe it.'"
A review of the state medical examiner's records showed that recently purchased firearms were being used in suicides roughly once per month in New Hampshire. Since the string of suicides in 2009, Demicco has joined forces with health professionals and gun dealers in a campaign to help gun stores and firing ranges learn ways to avoid selling or renting a firearm to a suicidal person. The campaign, known as The Gun Shop Project, also encourages gun businesses to share suicide prevention materials with customers.
"It's not that gun owners are more likely to be suicidal or depressed. It's that guns are the most lethal way for someone to take their own life," said Elaine Frank, with the New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition. Firearm suicides account for more deaths than all other suicide methods combined and 65 percent of all gun deaths in the U.S., according to figures from 2011 provided by gunpolicy.org, an international group working to reduce gun injuries.
Since the project launched two years ago, groups in 15 states have reached out for guidance or have asked to use its informational posters and brochures. Scott Ridgeway, executive director of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, said his group hopes to distribute those materials to the more than 1,000 gun stores in his state by September. A Maryland gun dealer and an Illinois sheriff's department have also expressed interest in the project, though most of the interest has come from suicide prevention groups.
"When you put suicide prevention in firearm safety terms, it makes it something that's already part of these businesses' mission," said Granger Brown, outreach coordinator for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network. "It changes something that could sound like gun control to being about firearm safety."
Project members hope that media attention from their work and the prominence of the national gun debate will help them draw more attention to preventing firearm suicides. They see it as an opportunity for gun makers to be in the spotlight for a positive reason and said they believe if a major gun manufacturer would sponsor their message, suicide prevention could become a standard part of firearm safety training.
"I would love to see the firearm industry take on this issue the same way the alcohol industry has embraced the idea of the designated driver," said Cathy Barber, project member with the Injury Prevention Research Center at Harvard.
One poster for the group shows two men at a kitchen table, one resting his arm on the other's shoulder, their heads bowed. A pistol and magazine sit before them. The poster reads: "Concerned about a family member or friend? Hold on to their guns." It also lists signs of suicidal behavior.
In August 2011, the group mailed their materials to 65 gun shops in New Hampshire. Four months later, the group followed up, dropping by to see if stores were using the materials. Close to half of the shops were.
"The dealers who chose not to participate, I think, in time will see the value in it," Demicco said, adding that they worked hard to make the project's language "nontoxic" to dealers and gun owners for whom suicide remains a controversial topic.
Some who declined to be involved worry that acknowledging the gun industry has a role to play in suicide prevention could be fodder for lawsuits or gun control groups to ague they're not doing enough, Demicco said.
Demicco said his shop has sent people away "madder than hoot owls" when he wouldn't sell them a weapon, but he doesn't recall any formal allegations of discrimination. He said most denials are because a person lacks basic firearm knowledge, but others were denied because something about them gave him or his employees pause. Demicco said his workers were never under any pressure to make sales, but taking on the project has helped his business make better decisions.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Get Alerts Subscribe to the HuffPost Hill newsletter!Saturday, September 21, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Dalai Lama 'Culture Of Compassion' Talk: Key To Good Health Is 'Peace Of Mind' (VIDEO)
Good nutrition and exercise may be important, but the secret to good health and long life is all in your head, according to the Dalai Lama.
After participating in a Peace Walk at the Peace Bridge in Derry, Northern Ireland on April 18, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, gave a talk at the "Culture Of Compassion" event at Ebrington Plaza. During the discussion, His Holiness -- who quite literally wrote the book on happiness -- shared his wisdom on the importance of stress relief and compassion in achieving good health.
"Warm-heartedness is a key factor for healthy individuals, healthy families and healthy communities," he told the audience.
The Dalai Lama called for early childhood education in moral ethics, or as he calls it, "education for warm-heartedness," and discussed how positive well-being can contribute to vitality and longevity.
"Scientists say that a healthy mind is a major factor for a healthy body," His Holiness said. "If you're serious about your health, think and take most concern for your peace of mind. That's very, very important."
The spiritual leader went on to spread his message of tolerance, compassion and non-violence, and answered questions from the audience on such subjects as poverty, global conflict and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor.
Watch the video above to view the full talk.
Tell us: What do you think of the Dalai Lama's message? Share your thoughts in the comments or tweet @GPSforSoul.
Also on HuffPost:Sunday, August 4, 2013
Banners for sale on PR2 Health Article blog - 40,000+uip/month
Hi, I would like to offer you banner advertising on my PR3 unique Health Article site. The site has 35,000+ unique visitors per month. The main traffic is coming from UK and USA (see Geomap here). Site is hosted on high-quality hosting in US.WEBSITE STATS:-
Latest Analytics CURRENT STATS:
GEO Location STATS:
Attachment 63131
Traffic Source:-
Attachment 63134
AVAILABLE BANNER FOR SALE
There are several options available for the banners:1.) Top Sidebar banner (max 300 x 250px) HIGH CTR BEST SPOT
Located in the top of right sidebar visible on homepage and each subpage.$39 /1 months (Click Here To BUY From BuySellAds)
2.) Big Header banner (max 720 x 90px)
Located in the top of right sidebar visible on homepage and each subpage.$35 /1 months (Click Here To BUY From BuySellAds)
3.)Bottom Banner , Below Each Article(max 125 x 125px) - VERY HIGH CTR BEST SPOT
Located on the bottom of each article (Immediately below post)$30 /1 months (Click Here To BUY From BuySellAds)
If you are interested, please PM with the required position and type. More Details Stats you can find http://www.healthresource4u.com/adverti
![[IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u-F2MGCUSZt1x9jaTl6m8SsYXHshDU1JCRVLyfH3ZaqaFGLJEJGtLrrRziGbvKssa9AA8WaIPXsLSHQCMRx8xJupL3j6PvuH25W2Qz6ZTXWj1YNm-DhxCx8j7qHUrhAeA5aMhP8wFgtPvWX5fSm4WK=s0-d)
![[IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uhMown6WuhNHG1cW72LUuPPcthf6qB2D9-HENNIcwBkDiu5S24rrullEBKUSQDR5TSKpEDbax-GQ-7x2PC9UZPu7lhKmvK-B7Ak95TsMQB5-MDt-h2zUwyoGiuhVY-zhDSeTl4AhNXCXlWLxKlst94Dde2JIcjx08=s0-d)
![[IMG]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uTUwv4eAfoKRxbP8pc3HxuO34-TaTKALOuQ19KFWK4IfxJzyHi4I97rmga7mdWqu9AXiNgksAsd5KZ-t-OsBe2dmZBIKFfxEQ5ALTYJ8yoR5_M6goxZYAYgBtQX0pe05FhCgMEuy8vcO6AAO-NEBUZbUgLmNurkE4=s0-d)
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
HUFFPOST HILL, sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans - NRA Readying For America's Mad Max-tastic Future
Democrats are SO EXCITED that Marco Rubio took that hilarious sip of water during his response to... wait, why was Rubio there, again? It's clear that Wayne LaPierre isn't giving up crazy for Lent, given his new Daily Caller op-ed. And to truly appreciate the creepiness of Lindsey Graham's statement that, "I own an AR-15. I saw the movie 'Django.' I like Quentin Tarantino," try imagining it as an OKCupid bio. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Wednesday, February 13th, 2013:
WAYNE LAPIERRE'S DAILY CALLER OP-ED IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK IT IS - Git yer dehydrated food packets and yer AR-15 and yer least dovetailed "Left Behind" installment because the government man is coming. Take it away, Wayne: "Meanwhile, President Obama is leading this country to financial ruin, borrowing over a trillion dollars a year for phony 'stimulus' spending and other payoffs for his political cronies. Nobody knows if or when the fiscal collapse will come, but if the country is broke, there likely won't be enough money to pay for police protection. And the American people know it. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Riots. Terrorists. Gangs. Lone criminals. These are perils we are sure to face--not just maybe. It's not paranoia to buy a gun. It's survival. It's responsible behavior, and it's time we encourage law-abiding Americans to do just that." [Daily Caller]
EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN'T STOP WRITING MEMOS ABOUT HOW IT CAN KILL YOU - Just so long as these things stay memos and don't devolve into fundraising emails from drones ("Hey"). Ryan Reilly: "Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office revealed Wednesday that the Obama administration has yet to show members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence seven additional opinions laying out the legal basis for targeted killing. Disclosure of the existence of the additional seven opinions from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel came the day after President Barack Obama pledged greater transparency during his State of the Union address. Feinstein (D-Calif.) said there were a total of 11 OLC opinions related to targeted killing. Senators had already seen two of them and an additional two were made available to senators -- but not their staffers -- last week, leaving seven that haven't yet been disclosed." [HuffPost]
Rand Paul'd: "Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul announced Wednesday that he plans to place a hold on the nomination of John O. Brennan to run the CIA until he receives information related to the administration's use of armed drones...The Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on Brennan's nomination, after the panel held a closed-door session Tuesday with the nominee." [Roll Call]
Lindsey Graham today on his Benghazi antics: "If this were a Republican president, then I guaran-damn-tee-ya Democrats would be doing a whole lot more than I'm doing." Kind of like how Democrats drove all the officials involved with the WMD fiasco out of government...
MICHAEL BRUNE ARRESTED - The Sierra Club broke today with a 120-year-tradition of playing nice when its leader, Michael Brune, was arrested in front of the White House protesting the Keystone XL pipeline. It's not easy for liberal groups who operate inside the White House orbit to break with it, so HuffPost Hill give this a big radical thumbs up. It comes a day after the president promised to do what is in his power to save the planet. Presumably that includes not actively wrecking it. [AP]
RUBIO: GOVERNMENT ISN'T GOING TO HELP YOU. ME? MAYBE - Addressing the nation on Tuesday night, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio came with a simple message. "More government isn't going to create more opportunities. It's going to limit them. And more government isn't going to inspire new ideas, new businesses and new private sector jobs," Rubio said. "More government isn't going to help you get ahead. It's going to hold you back." That might be true for you. It's not true for Marco Rubio.
Read this rundown of Rubio financial shenanigans and tell us if you really think he has national potential. That's a rhetorical question. Don't actually tell us.
@thegarance Rubio selling home in "same working-class neighborhood I grew up in" -- $675K, pics via Curbed http://bit.ly/VbrOT0
GOP SENATORS SLOWING DOWN HAGEL CONFIRMATION BECAUSE SECRET SERVICE WON'T LET THEM WET WILLY THE PRESIDENT - The Hill: "Republican senators are blocking a vote on former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) this week unless he provides additional financial information, setting up what Democrats say is the first-ever filibuster of a Defense secretary nominee. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed cloture on Hagel's nomination when he said it was clear Senate Armed Services ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (Okla.) and others would block a motion to proceed to a vote. But Republicans say they aren't filibustering Hagel's nomination, only delaying the vote in order to get answers to their outstanding questions on payments to Hagel and paid speeches, as well as answers from the White House about last year's Benghazi, Libya, attack. Republican senators said Wednesday they were confident they had 41 votes to block a vote on Hagel's nomination this week, even though some GOP senators have said they are opposed to filibustering a Cabinet nominee." [The Hill]
Final vote is on Friday. Hagel should be confirmed.
DAILY DELANEY DOWNER - Arthur is still on vacation. :-(
Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill
JACK LEW CONFIRMATION HEARING ABOUT AS EXCITING AS JACK LEW - Zach Carter: "Jack Lew, President Barack Obama's nominee for Treasury Secretary, maneuvered around questions during a Wednesday confirmation hearing about his work at bailed-out bank Citigroup during the financial crisis, including his controversial investment in a Cayman Islands fund. [Orrin] Hatch pressed Lew on his activities at Citi, where Lew was Chief Operating Officer of the company's Alternative Investment Unit. Little is known about Lew's precise role at Citi, but the unit he helped manage was responsible for some of the most disastrous bets the bank placed prior to its bailout. Lew appears to have arrived after the bets were placed, but has not detailed his work mitigating the damage...Hatch asked Lew whether he was involved with controversial securities maneuvers that eventually drew charges of wrongdoing from the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also asked whether Lew was a competent manager or someone who held 'a political trophy position.' In response, Lew said that while he had been aware of his unit's operations, he was not responsible for them." [HuffPost]
-------Advertisement-------
A message from America's Health Insurance Plans: The health care law fully takes effect next year. Millions get coverage for the first time. Will coverage be affordable for everyone? It's time for affordability. www.AHIP.org/affordability
-------Advertisement-------
CORY BOOKER UNLEASHES THE LAUTENBEAST - Unless Newark's mayor finds a way to save every single Garden State resident from a burning building and/or exhumes them from a snowbank, his path to the Senate is going to be messier than anticipated. NYT: "If Mr. Booker was hoping to nudge Mr. Lautenberg toward the door, his announcement has had precisely the opposite effect. Mr. Lautenberg, a fighter dubbed 'swamp dog' by a past opponent, has embraced his job with new vigor. He has taken a leading role on the issues of the day: fighting for recovery money for his hurricane-hit state and pushing for gun control after the shootings in Newtown, Conn. And he brightens at the prospect of tussling with a man half his age, even speaking openly to his staff about running again. He has jabbed at Mr. Booker, joking that he deserves a spanking for trying to unseat a fellow Democrat, and noting that the well-traveled mayor has no shortage of work to do in his own struggling city. 'I'm going to finish the work I'm doing,' he said in an interview." [NYT]
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMERS UPSET WITH STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS - Washington's favorite pushovers, good governance types (they're basically the political version of the stapler guy from "Office Space" -- but we sure they'll torch the Capitol eventually), were given no love in last night's address. Paul Blumenthal: "Campaign finance reformers and government watchdogs were disappointed Tuesday night when President Barack Obama failed to include any messages around money in politics in his 2013 State of the Union address. This was actually the first of Obama's State of the Union addresses where the president did not mention any steps that reformers have championed to reduce the influence of big money or lobbyists in the political system. 'Historically, President Obama has spoken forcefully about his commitment to addressing the money in politics crisis, but has failed to follow through with anything of substance,' said Josh Silver, president of campaign finance and lobbying reform organization United Republic and the director of Represent.us, an effort to pass a campaign finance reform bill. 'This week he abandoned even the pretense of leading reform.'" [HuffPost]
Poland Spring responds to Marco Rubio's on-air water gulp.
SOTU scorecard: " A majority of Americans who watched President Barack Obama's State of the Union address said they had a very positive reaction to his speech, according to a survey of people across the country who viewed Tuesday night's address. But a CNN/ORC International poll also indicated that less than four in ten think the speech will lead to more bipartisan cooperation. Fifty-three percent of speech watchers questioned in the poll had a very positive reaction, with 24% saying they had a somewhat positive response and 22% with a negative response." [CNN]
LINDSEY GRAHAM IS NOT COMPENSATING FOR ANYTHING, NOT AT ALL - The South Carolina senator today, during a press conference on guns, came about *yay* close to professing his love for BMX bikes and Insane Clown Posse. Sabrina Siddiqui: "Many lawmakers have touted themselves as responsible gun owners amid the national debate on gun control. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) took things a step further on Wednesday while pushing back against the call for new gun laws -- by professing his love for Quentin Tarantino and his violent movies. 'Being from South Carolina, I've owned guns all of my life,' Graham said at a press conference. 'I own an AR-15. I saw the movie "Django [Unchained]." I like Quentin Tarantino.'" [HuffPost]
Paul Broun, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss, called shotgun: "As a Member of the House of Representatives for the last few years, I have fought tooth-and-nail against President Obama's agenda at every turn. I was the first Member of Congress to call him a socialist who embraces Marxist-Leninist policies like government control of health care and redistribution of wealth..." He must be referring to Lenin's lesser known pamphlet, "What Is To Be Done To Boost The Customer Pool
For Private Insurers." [AJC]
Paul Broun should dial up every municipal, state and federal elected official and call them a socialist, just to be safe. You never know who my be president in 2020.
WE'RE GIVING MEDALS TO DRONE OPERATORS NOW - Sgt. Menendez distinguished himself conspicuously at his LAN party by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his dating life above and beyond the Call of Duty multiplayer guidelines. AP: "Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce Wednesday that for the first time the Pentagon is creating a medal that can be awarded to troops who have a direct impact on combat operations, but do it from afar. The Associated Press has learned that the new blue, red and white-ribboned Distinguished Warfare Medal will be awarded to individuals for 'extraordinary achievement' related to a military operation that occurred after Sept. 11, 2001. But unlike other combat medals, it does not require the recipient risk his or her life to get it. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made. A recognition of the evolving 21st Century warfare, the medal will be considered a bit higher in ranking than the Bronze Star, but is lower than the Silver Star, defense officials said." [AP]
Gives him more time to catch up on his (harmless) emails, we suppose: "Gen. John Allen, caught up and later cleared in a scandal over emails with a Florida socialite, is likely to withdraw from consideration for the job of top NATO commander, three U.S. military officials have told NBC News. A Pentagon investigation last month cleared Allen of wrongdoing, but U.S. military officials said that Allen does not want to drag his family through a nomination process in which the emails would almost certainly come up." [NBC News]
RON PAUL TO APPEAR ON THE RADIO - Catch him before Agenda 21 takes him away from us! Nick Wing: "Starting in March, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) will be taking his libertarian-leaning voice to talk radio, where he'll deliver one-minute radio commentaries twice a day. Courtside Entertainment Group announced the upcoming launch of "Ron Paul's America" in a statement on Wednesday...Paul addressed the career move, saying he was ready to deliver dispatches with an angle that people were 'hungry' to hear. 'I am very excited to have this opportunity to take the message of freedom to more people than ever, especially now when our country needs it so much,' said the former congressman and presidential candidate." [HuffPost]
BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR - Cat knocks on doors in a very strange way .
COMFORT FOOD
- History's coolest Teen Jeopardy! contestant gives phenomenal final answer. [http://bit.ly/XA0Te3]
- "Die Hard" redone with claymation. Yippie kay clay, mother----. [http://bit.ly/XyIWjM]
- Valentine's Day is tomorrow, which means you're either going to have your TV-watching plans interrupted or are depressed. Either way, we're sorry. Here's a video on the science of love. [http://chzb.gr/Y7i2LT]
- "Seven Sites You Should Be Wasting Time On Right Now," including "Crabify," which puts crustacean limbs on celebrities. [http://huff.to/ZanDYP]
- Daschund is not fazed by this wall. [http://bit.ly/X4MB8Z]
- An honest trailer for "The Notebook." Enjoy your Valentine's Day, chumps. [https://bitly.com/shorten/]
TWITTERAMA
@elisefoley: Blocking nominees is the new holding press conferences to yell about nominees.
@dceiver: Marco Rubio! WHAT ABOUT YOUR CARAFES?
@pourmecoffee: If you can't stand up to applaud protecting the right to vote, maybe being an elected representative isn't the right job for you.
ON TAP
TONIGHT
5:30 pm: Help prolong the Republican Party's political life while you shorten yours at Jerry Moran's "Burgers and Shakes" fundraiser benefiting his NRSC PAC. [NRSC, 425 2nd Street NE]
6:00 pm: Steny Hoyer, who we strongly feel needs an Onion-style Joe Biden treatment (we're sure he'd appreciate the attention), is the man of the hour at a campaign function benefiting his reelection. [DNC, 430 South Capitol Street SE]
TOMORROW
1:00 pm: Nothing says love quite like the soft, doe eyes and come-hither lips of Jim Inhofe. The Oklahoma senator hosts a "Valentine's Lunch" because love is in the air. [Johnny's Half Shell, 400 North Capitol Street NW]
Got something to add? Send tips/quotes/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to Eliot Nelson (eliot@huffingtonpost.com), Ryan Grim (ryan@huffingtonpost.com) or Arthur Delaney (arthur@huffingtonpost.com). Follow us on Twitter @HuffPostHill (twitter.com/HuffPostHill). Sign up here: http://huff.to/an2k2e
Friday, March 15, 2013
Health Care Exchanges To Transform Insurance Market
-- Health insurance exchanges will change the way people buy coverage and will help millions of uninsured people get a private plan. Nearly 49 million people are uninsured in the United States, but the numbers vary dramatically by state.
Exchanges will be the most visible part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law in everyday life. Open enrollment starts Oct. 1, less than 10 months away.
Some questions and answers on how the exchanges will work:
Q: What's a health insurance exchange?
A: "Exchange" is just another word for "marketplace." The plans sold in the new markets will start covering patients on Jan. 1, 2014. Each state will have its own exchange serving people who buy their health insurance directly, as well as a separate one for small businesses. The vast of majority of people now covered by employer plans will not see a change.
There will be three types of exchanges at the beginning: those run by states, those run by the federal government, and partnerships. Most Republican governors opposed to "Obamacare" are letting Washington run the exchanges in their states.
For consumers, the benefits should be the same no matter who runs the exchange.
Q: How will exchanges work?
A: Exchanges are supposed to have the feel of an online travel site – think Orbitz or Expedia.
Middle-class people will be able to pick from a range of private insurance plans, and most people will be eligible for help from the government to pay their premiums.
Low-income people will be steered to safety-net programs for which they might qualify. This could be a problem in states that choose not to expand their Medicaid programs under a separate part of the health care law. In that case, many low-income residents in those states would remain uninsured.
Q: How will I know if I can get help with my health insurance premiums?
A: You'll disclose your income to the exchange at the time you apply for coverage and they'll let you know. Only legal residents of the United States can get financial assistance.
The health care law offers sliding-scale subsidies based on income for individuals and families making up to four times the federal poverty level, about $44,700 for singles, $92,200 for a family of four.
But do yourself a favor and read the fine print because the government's help gets skimpier as household income increases.
For example, a family of four headed by a 40-year-old making $35,000 will get a $10,742 tax credit toward an annual premium of $12,130. They'd have to pay $1,388, about 4 percent of their income, or about $115 a month.
A similar hypothetical family making $90,000 will get a much smaller tax credit, $3,580, meaning they'd have to pay $8,550 of the same $12,130 policy. That works out to more than 9 percent of their income, or about $710 a month.
The estimates were made using the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation's online calculator. Some people will also be eligible for help with their copayments.
Final note: Though it's called a "tax credit" the government assistance goes directly to the insurer. You won't see a check.
Q: What will the benefits look like?
A: The coverage will be more comprehensive than what's now typically available in the individual health insurance market, dominated by bare-bones plans. It will be more like what an established, successful small business offers its employees. Premiums are likely to be higher for some people, but government assistance should mostly compensate for that.
All plans in the exchange will have to cover a standard set of "essential health benefits," including hospitalization, doctor visits, prescriptions, emergency room treatment, maternal and newborn care, and prevention. Insurers cannot turn away the sick or charge them more. Middle-aged and older adults can't be charged more than three times what young people pay. Insurers can impose penalties on smokers.
Because the benefits will be similar, the biggest difference among plans will be something called "actuarial value." A new term for consumers, it's the share of expected health care costs that the plan will cover.
There will be four levels of coverage, from "bronze," which will cover 60 percent of expected costs, to "platinum," which will cover 90 percent. "Silver" and "gold" are in between. Bronze plans will charge the lowest premiums, but they'll have the highest annual deductibles. Platinum plans will have the highest premiums and the lowest out-of-pocket cost sharing.
Here's a wrinkle: The government's subsidy will be tied to the premium for the second-lowest-cost plan at the silver coverage level that's available in your area. You could take it and buy a lower cost bronze plan, saving money on premiums. But you'd have to be prepared for the higher annual deductible and copayments.
___
Online:
Federal government health care site: www.healthcare.gov
Kaiser Health Reform Subsidy Calculator: http://healthreform.kff.org/subsidycalculator.aspx
Also on HuffPost: Get Alerts Subscribe to the HuffPost Hill newsletter!Wednesday, March 13, 2013
CRFB Corporate Ties: Budget Watchdog Funded By Big Tobacco In 1990s Health Care Fight
Packs of cigarettes wait to be purchased at a Chicago-area news stand on Nov. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) WASHINGTON -- The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is known in Washington as a nonpartisan budget watchdog, a central voice in calls to rein in the nation's debt. The CRFB features a respected list of Republicans and Democrats on its board and regularly hosts current leaders in the nation's capital for panel discussions on the future of the budget.
But historical documents raise questions about whether the CRFB -- which is also the primary vehicle advocating private equity billionaire Peter Peterson's debt reduction agenda, including cuts to social safety net programs --- has allowed corporate donations to influence its work on budget issues.
The organization was used in the early 1990s to create a front group for tobacco companies during the battle over President Bill Clinton's health care reform proposal. That group, called the Cost Containment Coalition, presented itself as a civic-minded coalition of those interested in finding the most responsible solution to the health care crisis. The corporate interests funding it had entirely different motives, according to documents collected by the Public Accountability Initiative, a public interest research nonprofit.
According to these documents, found in the Tobacco Legacy Library and at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the CRFB from 1992 to 1994 accepted money from the tobacco industry -- including Philip Morris and the Tobacco Institute -- in exchange for using the group's image as a bipartisan budget watchdog, through the coalition, to advocate against a proposed excise tax on tobacco products.
In a 1992 memo, Philip Morris spokesman Craig Fuller wrote that health care coalitions at the time were focused on how to solve the problem of access to health care, while "[v]ery little attention has been paid to the true problem with the health care system that actually impairs access and also puts Philip Morris at risk vis-a-vis increased excise taxes -- the escalating costs of the system and how to pay for it."
The solution to explaining this "true problem" was found in the formation of the Cost Containment Coalition. This group, according to the same 1992 Philip Morris memo, was to be formed "under the auspices of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and will be directed by Carol Cox," then president of the CRFB.
At the time, the CRFB president, whose full last name is Cox-Wait, was listed in an internal Philip Morris document as one of many "corporate affairs consultants" receiving personal compensation from the company. These documents show that she received $47,000 from the tobacco company in 1993, in the middle of the CRFB's work for the tobacco industry. Cox-Wait was also married to Philip Morris Vice President Bob Wait.
In an interview, Cox-Wait denied any impropriety, saying that the information in the tobacco documents may reveal Philip Morris' perspective on its interaction with the CRFB, but it was not that of the committee.
"They contributed to us, and they may have seen it that way, but what we were doing was a very serious study," Cox-Wait said, referring to a report on health care reform costs released by the CRFB.
In 1993, Calvin H. George, tax counsel at the Tobacco Institute, the industry's lobbying arm, described that report as "useful" to protecting tobacco profits.
"What is most useful here is a strong statement from a bipartisan group of budget experts warning that rhetoric about reforming health care as a means of bringing the deficit under control should be viewed with skepticism, at best," George wrote in an internal message to Susan Stuntz, vice president of public affairs at the Tobacco Institute.
Cox-Wait further defended her dual work at the time as both a corporate consultant and the head of the respected budget group. "When I was president of CRFB, I also ran a small consulting firm called Carol Cox & Associates. My board was aware of it. When I did that, I took a cut in pay and separated the time I did for the two of them."
Corporate interests pushing unpopular policies often seek cover from respected independent groups. In the tobacco industry's eyes, the CRFB apparently filled that role. "Because of her bipartisan Board, 'Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget,' and given her 'neutral' status, Carol is able to access many people who would be inaccessible to us given our issues," another internal Philip Morris document explained.
Cox-Wait said she always made it known that her consulting work was separate from her work at the CRFB. "I would say this is two hats, and this has nothing to do with the committee when I was giving budget process advice to private parties and being paid for it," she said.
The CRFB's connection to the tobacco industry did not end after the Clinton health care proposal fizzled in 1994. Internal documents from both Philip Morris and the Tobacco Institute show that Cox-Wait continued her consulting for the industry up until 2001. In a Feb. 7, 2001, letter dictating a schedule for a Philip Morris tax-and-budget team meeting, Cox-Wait is listed as the presenter for the "Federal Budget Situation."
Tobacco companies were not the only ones who saw the CRFB as worth connecting with. During the 1990s, insurance companies made contributions to the group and, according to a 1994 SEC filing by the health insurer Cigna, Cox-Wait was paid $12,000 as a consultant before joining the company's board in 1995. While Cox-Wait was under contract with Cigna, which opposed health care reform, the CRFB released a 148-page report that pointedly criticized seemingly every significant health care reform proposal at the time.
Cox-Wait remains on the board of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which is now run by Maya MacGuineas. Last year, the CRFB created a new entity called Fix the Debt, also headed by MacGuineas and funded by Peterson and multiple CEOs and corporations. Fix the Debt is calling for a grand deficit bargain to be reached by raising revenue, cutting spending and reforming social insurance programs.
Also on HuffPost:Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Surprising Health Benefits Of Cold Weather
If you're in the midwest or the northeast parts of the United States, you likely woke up this week to the coldest air of the season -- and immediately wanted to dive back under the covers.
We can't entirely blame you. With extreme cold weather comes health hazards like frostbite, seasonal affective disorder and even an increased risk of heart attacks.
But before you curse the weather until April, there are a few silver linings of this bitter cold. We've compiled some of the surprising health benefits of cold weather in the slideshow below. Let us know what we left out in the comments.
You may have heard of "brown fat," a type of fat found naturally in parts of the body that, when triggered, can burn off other "white" fat. In a 2012 study, researchers found that cold weather seemed to set the brown fat into motion, and that simply being cold could cause significant calorie burn. (Exercise may have a similar effect, as demonstrated in a study from around the same time, the New York Times reported.) The study, admittedly, was small -- it only included six healthy men, to be exact. And experts caution that the obesity epidemic is not likely to be solved by the creation of a brown-fat triggering pill. But at least the idea might offer a little comfort when you find yourself chilled to the bone.
It can be tempting to spend the coldest mornings safely tucked under the covers; it's only natural to want to avoid the most brutal temps. But during periods of such weather-induced isolation, we tend to reach out to contact our closest friends and family on the phone, and end up chatting with them for longer than usual, according to a 2012 study.
During the summer of 2012 -- when West Nile cases were climbing -- much was made of the milder 2011-2012 winter and its effect on the disease-spreading mosquito population. The pests thrive in milder climates, meaning they were able to survive -- and breed -- all winter, just waiting to feast come spring. Freezing or below-freezing temps might kill off some skeeters (and ticks), thereby protecting you from the illnesses they are known to spread.
Week after week of balmy weather sounds pretty lovely right about now, but there's evidence to suggest that it doesn't necessarily make you happy. In fact, some research suggests that if the weather never changes, you start taking that sunshine for granted. Shivering through the cold makes those warm spring days seem even better when they finally come along, according to Psychology Today.
There's a reason putting ice on an injury works. That drop in temperature reduces inflammation in, say, a sprained ankle or stubbed toe. But the theory works on a much grander scale, too -- cold temperatures can reduce inflammation and pain all over. In fact, athletes and spa-goers even have a remedy of sorts available for muscle recovery. A 2011 study found that, at extremely low temperatures, such treatments, called cryotherapy, did more for athletes to recover from physical activity than simply resting. Runners who were exposed to temperatures as low as -166 degrees F recovered from exercise faster than those who given other therapies or told to rest, The Atlantic reported. At spas, cryotherapy chambers appear much like steam rooms -- with, of course, the opposite effect. And while the majority of us probably won't be taking a trip to the cold room, it certainly beats summer swelling!
While we certainly don't advise going all-out on the wintertime comfort foods, we do appreciate the escape from the pressure to get a "bikini body." It's a great time to focus on fitness -- hello, New Year's resolutions -- without the pressure to do so for your looks alone.
Related on HuffPost: Get AlertsSaturday, February 9, 2013
Health
Join DateJun 2011Posts256By eye-2i.com in forum General Chat Replies: 7 Last Post: Dec 1st 2011, 11:31 pm By samantha pia in forum Websites Replies: 48 Last Post: Jan 25th 2011, 11:47 pm By smindsrt in forum Link Exchange Replies: 5 Last Post: Dec 13th 2005, 9:23 pm By nohaber in forum Affiliate Programs Replies: 2 Last Post: May 31st 2005, 12:20 am By ImVickieB in forum Co-op Advertising Network Replies: 13 Last Post: Dec 22nd 2004, 9:33 am You may not post new threadsYou may not post repliesYou may not post attachmentsYou may not edit your postsForum Rules
Advertise virtually anything for relatively cheap with our full featured ad delivery system. Supports CPM banner ads, CPM email ads, CPC contextual links and has the ability to target specific relevant areas of the site.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
[WTS] PR1 Blog Post - Health / Fitness / Bodybuilding / Weight Loss / Sport / Supplements
This sale will end on Dec 31st 2012 at 9:21 am.Join DateMar 2009Posts318Feedback Score13 (100%) - [ ]
PR1 Blog Post - Health / Fitness / Bodybuilding / Weight Loss / Sport / Supplements
Hi GuysBy ahmed814 in forum Link Exchange Replies: 0 Last Post: Jul 16th 2011, 8:15 am By BlackIceCreations in forum Link Sales Replies: 1 Last Post: Apr 27th 2011, 7:47 pm Replies: 6 Last Post: Jul 16th 2010, 9:07 am By badar100 in forum Link Sales Replies: 0 Last Post: Oct 13th 2009, 5:48 am By Peter Avey in forum Link Exchange Replies: 23 Last Post: Oct 9th 2007, 12:26 pm You may not post new threadsYou may not post repliesYou may not post attachmentsYou may not edit your postsForum RulesSelling Blog posts on our PR1 blog - It is a well ranked website in the Fitness & Weightloss Niche
We're selling blog posts on our blog ONLY $9.99
However your article must meet the criteria below
High quality unique English article (no crap or spun)Min 300 wordsOnly 1 Link per articleMust be related to niches mentioned in title
PS: If you would like to diversify your links we can also no-follow them, or do naked URL mentions too.PM For details
Tom
Advertise virtually anything for relatively cheap with our full featured ad delivery system. Supports CPM banner ads, CPM email ads, CPC contextual links and has the ability to target specific relevant areas of the site.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Hobby Lobby Health Care Request: Justice Refuses To Block Morning-After Pill Rule
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday denied a request to block part of the federal health care law that requires employee health-care plans to provide insurance coverage for the morning-after pill and similar emergency contraception pills.
Hobby Lobby Stores and a sister company, Mardel Inc., sued the government, claiming the mandate violates the religious beliefs of its owners.
In an opinion, Sotomayor said the stores fail to satisfy the demanding legal standard for blocking the requirement on an emergency basis. She said the companies may continue their challenge to the regulations in the lower courts.
Company officials say they must decide whether to violate their faith or face a daily $1.3 million fine beginning Jan. 1 if they ignore the law.
Attorneys for the government have said the drugs do not cause abortions and that the U.S. has a compelling interest in mandating insurance coverage for them.
In ruling against the companies last month, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton said churches and other religious organizations have been granted constitutional protection from the birth-control provisions but that "Hobby Lobby and Mardel are not religious organizations."
Earlier on HuffPost: Get Alerts Subscribe to the HuffPost Hill newsletter!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)