$4 Generic prescription drugs are becoming more common!
 

As most people currently taking prescription drugs have found out, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are currently offering a pretty decent size list of generic drugs for only $4. (30 day supply)  As I assumed we are now going to see more and more companies joining in on the fun.  Who is the next in line?  How about Target!

Kris Willy

Kris@ColoradoHealthSolutions.com
Your Colorado Health Insurance Specialist

 

Friday, April 13th, 2007

Most People Underestimate Health Care Costs!

I recently read an informative article the other day that really didn't surprise me one bit.  It had to do with people underestimating the cost of health care in this country. Honestly, I talk to people everyday who are ignorant to the cost of an overnight hospital stay as well as other medical procedures.  For example, I spoke with a female at Starbucks the other day and she said that she is going to pay out of her own pocket the cost of a physical exam, as opposed to getting a health plan that would cover it or at least help pay for the testing.  I then asked her, "How much do you think a complete physical exam costs someone who isn't insured?  She said, oh probably about $75.  I kind of chuckled and told her the procedure normally costs anywhere from $300 to $500.  She was very surprised, as are so many other people when they realize the cost of health care today.

 

It doesn't have to be this way!  It just goes to show that most consumers are misled by the media, an agent, or what they hear on the street when it comes to choosing a health plan.  Most people are on the wrong type of plan!  They may have limits and caps on surgeries or prescription drug coverage without even knowing it.  The fact is most people are only an illness away from financial disaster!

If there were a one size fits all plan out there it would be easy wouldn't it?  No one person or family is the same, therefore you must look at the important things in a health plan.  It will save you a headache and a lot of money in the long run!

Not sure if you're on the right plan? Click here for a free no obligation consultation!

 

Make Sure You're In Network!

 

Please remember to run a network search before you see any doctor, go to any lab facility or any hospital unless it's an emergency.  If it's a non-emergency and you see a non-network provider you may be responsible for the charges between the network price and the total charge.  If you're unsure about how to run a network search or forgot which network you are in please call me, I'm always here to assist you.

I also encourage you to call me before a scheduled surgical procedure so I can make sure all providers and facilities are in network.  I will also make sure any and all pre-authorization requirements are met.  Simply call or e-mail me and I will do the rest for you!

Kris, am I going to be in network?

Understanding Your Medical Bills!

 

Are you really getting the most out of your current Life Insurance policy?

Term Rates have dropped and are lower than ever right now!  If you haven't looked at your current policy and coverage amounts I highly recommend doing so!  Over 90% of the time I can get you more coverage and protection for the same price or for less than you are paying right now!  I work with hundreds of companies and can help you maximize your current policy!

Either call or send me an e-mail and I will see if there is a better options available to you!  It doesn't hurt to at least look!

Hospitals Charging the Uninsured More!

"Patients without insurance and those who pay out of pocket were charged more for services, according to a study published in the May-June issue of the journal Health Affairs.

In 2004, those who paid for their own medical care were charged 2.57 times as much on average as those with health insurance.  While that number has risen steadily since 1984, the most significant increases have occurred since 2000."

I found this article in the July issue of the Agents Journal.  I run into people every single day who are uninsured that tell me the same thing, "If I get sick or hurt I'll just pay for it out of pocket."  You can do that, but you will not only be paying more, but you also take on the risk of being financially ruined.  I then proceed to ask them this, "If you get hurt and wind up in the hospital for a week, how are you going to pay the $50,000 bill?"  I get a deer in the headlight look for a second, then they respond, "I'll just file medical bankruptcy or pay $25 a month."  I continue to tell them hospitals will usually require 5-10% of the total bill each month.  Then ask them if they know that the bankruptcy laws have recently changed, and it is now pretty much impossible to write off your medical bills.  If you have assets, house, car, property, retirement, a business etc. they can and will take it from you!  I've seen it happen first hand, and it's not pretty.

I look at it this way, if I were to get sick or hurt and wind up in the hospital I can manage and pay a $5,000 to $10,000 deductible or bill.  But if I were to take the huge risk and go uninsured, myself as well as most people will find it difficult to recover from and pay a $50,000 bill.  What if the bill was $250,000?  You don't think the hospital and doctors will come after you for this?  If you have assets they can and will make you liquidate them to pay your bills, again I've seen it happen!

So the next time you talk with a friend or a family member who is uninsured, ask them why?  If they think they can't afford Colorado health insurance they are wrong!  They just can't afford the extremely benefit rich low deductible plan.  They CAN however afford a higher deductible catastrophic plan which WILL protect everything they've worked so hard for in life.

If you know someone who is uninsured or underinsured I'd love to help them out.  Please pass along my contact info so I can help them get protected.

 

Disturbingly Useful Health Tips!

I found this interesting little article on msn.com the other day.  And for the record, no I haven't tried them yet, but I'm in a trusting mood.  Enjoy!

1. If your throat tickles, scratch your ear!

When you were 9, playing your armpit was a cool trick. Now, as an adult, you can still appreciate a good body-based feat, but you're more discriminating. Take that tickle in your throat; it's not worth gagging over. Here's a better way to scratch your itch: "When the nerves in the ear are stimulated, it creates a reflex in the throat that can cause a muscle spasm," says Scott Schaffer, M.D., president of an ear, nose and throat specialty center in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. "This spasm relieves the tickle."

2. Clear your stuffed nose!

Forget Sudafed. An easier, quicker, and cheaper way to relieve sinus pressure is by alternately thrusting your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then pressing between your eyebrows with one finger. This causes the vomer bone, which runs through the nasal passages to the mouth, to rock back and forth, says Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine. The motion loosens congestion; after 20 seconds, you'll feel your sinuses start to drain.

3. Thaw your brain!

Too much Chipwich too fast will freeze the brains of lesser men. As for you, press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth, covering as much as you can. "Since the nerves in the roof of your mouth get extremely cold, your body thinks your brain is freezing, too," says Abo. "In compensating, it overheats, causing an ice-cream headache." The more pressure you apply to the roof of your mouth, the faster your headache will subside.

4. Wake the dead!

If your hand falls asleep while you're driving or sitting in an odd position, rock your head from side to side. It'll painlessly banish your pins and needles in less than a minute, says Dr. DeStefano. A tingly hand or arm is often the result of compression in the bundle of nerves in your neck; loosening your neck muscles releases the pressure. Compressed nerves lower in the body govern the feet, so don't let your sleeping dogs lie. Stand up and walk around.

 

 

Medical Fact or Fiction?

I ran across an interesting article the other day that I though you might get a kick out of.  I remember my grandmother telling us as kids, "don't go outside with a wet head, you'll catch a cold".  Was she correct on this?

This article was written and published by Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld on January 22, 2006.

You don't catch cold because you're chilled or exposed to a draft.  Fact or fiction?

Fiction! We used to think that colds are more common in winter simply because people spend more time indoors, where they are exposed to each other's germs. Cold weather was not believed to have anything to do with it. However, recent research suggests that when you are chilled, the blood vessels in your nose constrict and deliver less warm blood to its lining-which means fewer white blood cells to boost the immune system and fight disease. If you happen to be harboring a cold virus but don't as yet have any symptoms, this decreased supply of white blood cells allows the virus to multiply and give you a full-blown cold.

Chocolate reduces the absorption of calcium in a person's diet.  Fact or Fiction?

Fact! Many foods that are high in oxalic acid-including spinach, rhubarb, chard and chocolate-reduce calcium absorption in the small intestine because they combine with the calcium to form an insoluble salt that the body cannot use.

Eating grilled food can cause cancer.  Fact or Fiction?

True-to some extent! In areas of the world where grilled meat is frequently eaten (such as Japan), there is a high-er incidence of stomach cancer. That's because prolonged barbecuing of meat at high temperatures forms cancer-causing compounds on the charred areas of the food. Carcinogens also are present in the smoke released by meat on the grill. So, it's a good idea to limit your consumption of barbecued meats to days when you can't resist the temptation to cook outdoors. When you do so, try not to char the food. Keep the heat low and the cooking time relatively short (but long enough to kill any bacteria).

Eating and drinking dairy products when you are congested makes the phlegm thicker and more difficult to expectorate.  Fact or Fiction?

Several studies have questioned the truth of this widely held belief. However, many doctors (and patients) remain convinced that milk and other dairy products do tend either to cause more phlegm or to make it thicker. This is presumably due to the fat and casein (protein) in dairy foods. If you like milk and cheese, try them when you are congested and see what happens. If they make the phlegm worse, hold off until you're healthy again.

 

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