Over and over again we hear about health care reform and yet there are very few people who understand what this means. That is probably because the name is misleading, it is indicative of a much needed change in the U.S. healthcare system. Actually however, the only thing that is being reformed is who is paying for it and who is covered.
Health care reform, as it is being called, will be a welcome relief for those who can’t afford health insurance for whatever the reason. Two of the most common reasons are available financial resources or pre-existing health matters. This reform, they reason will give everyone, regardless of status, health care coverage.
This new plan will not deny health care coverage to anyone, including those who have pre-existing conditions or life threatening illnesses; everyone will be covered. Every American citizen, regardless of personal status, will be equally eligibility and no one will be turned down or turned away for health care.
There are concerns about this new plan however, it is important to realize that by adding all these additional people into the health care system this will raise the cost especially when you will now be including people who have serious health issues and those who have not been receiving regular health care. This in theory will be balanced by all those who are healthier and will supposedly balance out, but many individuals who are currently insured and employed are seriously concerned about how this will all work out and how much extra it will wind up costing them.
Using a misleading term or name such as The Health Care Reform to describe what it really is: a Nationalized Health Plan and will bring with it, its own unique set of problems. It is very misleading, no matter how you look at it. Other nations who have adapted this type of health care, have experienced a hugh imbalance between care that is needed and the ability of the health care professional to keep up with the demand. Long waits to see specialists and a less than adequate number of doctors to see patients seems to be a uniform problem with this type of health care. Why U.S. law makers cannot see the trend of other nations who are moving away from a nationalized health care system, because of the inefficiencies it creates and caters to, is beyond belief to many voting citizens. Why would an advanced nation such as the United States be taking a step backwards concerning health care?
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Imagine you are enjoying an entertainment event, such as the Houston Rodeo, and a special TV announcement interrupts the lively chain of events of the evening. The message on the TV is from the chairman of the event, and he says, “In an effort to fight cancer, we would like to share a cancer prevention tip. Make sure 75% of your plate consists of fruits and vegetables.” And then music ramps back up in preparation for the next activity. How would you respond to such a short, but powerful message?
The Health Seekers
When I hear a health tip or news headline such as what the Houston Rodeo gave, I instantly become curious and want to learn more. I wonder how eating mostly fruits and vegetables impacts my health and prevents cancer. I immediately seek to incorporate this health tip into my lifestyle. I am a health seeker. A health seeker is anyone who wants to learn more and better their lives, regardless of current knowledge or education. So how about you? Are you a health seeker?
The Indifferent
You may respond by shrugging your shoulders and not think twice about a health tip like this. You figure that there is no point in changing because you don’t see an immediate need right now. You are just fine. You know about “health freaks” that die at a young age, and you definitely have a crazy great-aunt who drinks and smokes-and she’s living strong! I would challenge you not to bank on just luck when it comes to your health, and do everything in your power to put the odds in your favor.
The Naysayers
If you’re reading this, I doubt that you fall into this category, but ask yourself if you are a health naysayer. This usually involves a response to health advice such as, “I’m not worrying about preventing cancer-everything causes cancer. Eating better is not going to help.” If you or someone you know is a health naysayer, leave it alone for now. This person is not ready to make any health changes, and trying so will only make them more turned off. When they are ready, you will know. You will be a shining example of a healthy lifestyle, and they will be coming straight to you for advice. In the mean time, do not let them get to you or cause doubt-keep seeking health!
As a nation, only 33% of adults meet the recommended fruit servings daily (two or more), and 27% eat the recommended vegetables (three or more). Wow! If your goal is to be eating a plate that is mostly fruits and vegetables, we have some work to do. Become a health seeker-find out what you can change in your lifestyle to be closer to this amount. Think about what you are eating next today-throw in an apple or a small side salad. Your health will thank you today, and for many years to come.
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There have been a number of different health care reforms proposed during the Obama administration. The first of these reform proposals to be passed by the United States Congress is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which originated in the Senate and was later passed by the House of Representatives in amended form on March 21, 2010 (with a vote of 219–212).President Obama signed the reforms into law on March 23, 2010
A clear goal of the new health care reform law is increased access to home-based care.
Last month’s health care law contained some benefits for the nation’s older population. It provided long-term care options to allow more seniors to stay in their current homes rather than seek institutionalized care, and called for more publicly available information about nursing homes.
The number of Americans over 65 will mushroom in the coming decade, as roughly 75 million Baby Boomers reach retirement age. Their long-term health care needs will strain the nation’s collective wallet, stretching thin programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
Meanwhile, more than 10 million Americans are currently in need of long-term services that help them function in their daily life, and that number is expected to rise to nearly 15 million by 2020, according to the National Council on Aging.
A variety of specific types of reform have been suggested to improve the United States health care system. These range from increased use of health care technology through changing the anti-trust rules governing health insurance companies and tort-reform to rationing of care. Different overall strategies have been suggested as well.
Reforming or restructuring the private health insurance market is often suggested as a means for achieving health care reform in the U.S. Insurance market reform has the potential to increase the number of Americans with insurance, but is unlikely to significantly reduce the rate of growth in health care spending. Careful consideration of basic insurance principles is important when considering insurance market reform, in order to avoid unanticipated consequences and ensure the long-term viability of the reformed system. According to one study conducted by the Urban Institute, if not implemented on a systematic basis with appropriate safeguards, market reform has the potential to cause more problems than it solves.
Critics have argued that medical malpractice costs (insurance and lawsuits, for example) are significant and should be addressed via tort reform.
How much these costs are is a matter of debate. Some have argued that malpractice lawsuits are a major driver of medical costs. A 2005 study estimated the cost around 0.2%, and in 2009 insurer WellPoint Inc. said “liability wasn’t driving premiums.” A 2006 study found neurologists in the United States ordered more tests in theoretical clinical situations posed than their German counterparts; U.S. clinicians are more likely to fear litigation which may be due to the teaching of defensive strategies which are reported more often in U.S. teaching programs. Counting both direct and indirect costs, other studies estimate the total cost of malpractice “is linked to” between 5% and 10% of total U.S. medical costs.
President Barack Obama argues that U.S. healthcare is rationed, based on income, type of employment, and pre-existing medical conditions, with nearly 46 million uninsured. He argues that millions of Americans are denied coverage or face higher premiums as a result of pre-existing medical conditions.
The payment system refers to the billing and payment for medical services, which is distinct from the delivery system through which the services are provided. The over 1,300 U.S. health insurance companies have different forms and processes for billing and reimbursement, requiring enormous costs on the part of service providers (mainly doctors and hospitals) to process payments. For example, the Cleveland Clinic, considered a low-cost, best-practices hospital system, has 1,400 billing clerks to support 2,000 doctors. Further, the insurance companies have their own overhead functions and profit margins, much of which could be eliminated with a single payer system. Economist Paul Krugman estimated in 2005 that converting from the current private insurance system to a single-payer system would enable $200 billion per year in cost savings, primarily via insurance company overhead. One advocacy group estimated savings as high as $400 billion annually for 2009 and beyond.
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Concerned about the health of your parents? Why not keep a check on it all the time? It does sound a bit unrealistic but there is one thing that makes it easy for you to be able to do this- a health watch. Holistic health care is possible only through a health monitoring watch that can keep a track of different aspects of your health. Even when your parents are thousands of miles away from you, you can keep a track on their health by a simple press of a button. With a simple click of a button on a medical health watch, one can get information about blood pressure, body fat, and EKG. This watch can also act as an oximeter.
Your parents and loved ones are special and it is thus your duty to make sure that they enjoy good health. Taking up a health care management plan for your parents from a good company will ensure that your parents stay hale and hearty and do not have to face problems when ill. Under the medical plan, your parents will be monitored by expert doctors 24 hours in a day and you will be able to get regular updates for the same. You can get these updates even when you stay thousands of kilometers away from your parents with the help of these medical alert watches.
VESAG health watch is one such device that can help you keep a check on the health of your parents. This watch is portable and one can wear it on the wrist or as a pendant. The location of the wearer can be tracked with this watch through the built-in GPS tracker. This watch can also act as a medical monitor as reminders can be set in it to remind the patient of the time when he has to take some medicine or has to go in for some health check up. While the health is being monitored, an alarm from the watch can signal bad health. In case this happens, the elderly and your loved ones in problem can be taken to the hospital on time and their life can be saved. Web portals can be used to set reminders in the digital health monitoring watch.
Living with elderly people in home can be difficult when you have to go to your workplace on a daily basis. Elderly are prone to falls and if this happens, a serious situation can emerge. A health watch from Vesag can help you detect falls and offer them complete medical care as and when they need it. It is important to keep a check on the internet round the clock and this can only be made possible through devices like these medical alert watches. Doctors and even common people can use this watch and help their parents and patients enjoy good health.
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