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3 Facts Everyone Should Know About Stem Cells
Cord Blood Cord Blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Cord Blood is routinely discarded with the placenta and umbilical cord. The blood in the cord is a rich source of stem cells. Stem cells are...
4 Reasons Why Everyone Likes the Mediterranean Diet
Introduction
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matter of routine, nearly everyone who has the opportunity to
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Fast And Easy Weight Loss Using Diet Programs And Diet Pills
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HOW TO DIAGNOSE IMPOTENCE?
The inability of a male to sustain an erection for intercourse is termed as Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or male impotence. It affects one out of every ten men in America. As 30 million of men are affected due to ED and men in the age group 40 and...
How To Get A Private Pilot Medical Certificate
If you want to learn to fly, you have to have a FAA medical
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Keeping Your Health Insurance Premiums Low
Health Savings Accounts offer tax deductions for medical
expenses, and the opportunity to set up additional retirement
accounts. But regardless of any other positive benefit of HSAs,
lower premiums are the primary reason that thousands of
Americans have chosen Health Savings Accounts as the best way to
protect their family's health and assets. So I'd like to talk
about some key suggestions on how to keep your premiums low.
1. Choose an HSA-qualified plan for lower rate increases.
Average group health insurance premiums rose by 9.6% last year
and rose over 10% for each of the previous six years. Individual
plans went up even more. Yet I expect most HSA plans to
experience much lower rate increases. A very large study was
recently published showing that rate increases over the past
year for consumer driven
health plans such as HSA plans was only 3.4%. Blue Cross of
Minnesota has reported that its HSA customers spent 8% less than
their traditional insurance clients. Humana has reported claims'
costs of 4.9% for consumer-driven plans, versus a 19.2% increase
in claims for other plans. In fact, average HSA premiums for
individuals have actually dropped 19.5% during 2005.
The reason these plans will have lower rate increases is that
people who have HSA-qualifying hig
h deductible health insurance plans are likely to pay closer
attention to costs, and take better care of their health. For
instance, an HSA owner offered a statin drug to lower her
cholesterol may be more likely to request a generic version, or
ask her doctor if inexpensive nutritional supplements such as
niacin or fish oil may be a solution. These actions save the
insurance company money and should result in lower rate
increases.
2. Raise your deductible as your Health Savings
Account grows.
When you fund your account you build up a financial "cushion"
which allows you to raise your deductible as your account grows.
Every time you raise your deductible, your premium should go
down.
By the way, don't forget that every time you fund your account
you get an instant tax-deduction. When you offset the tax
savings against your premiums, you'll find your net cost for an
HSA plan can be very low.
The maximum allowable contribution goes up every year with the
rise of the Consumer Price Index. Final numbers are not out yet,
but in 2006 we expect the individual contribution limit to go up
to $2,700, and the family limit to be $5,450. So each year you
can
deposit greater amounts into your HSA and continue to raise
your deductible, if you choose.
3. Stay healthy, so you can switch plans.
All health insurance plans have rate increases, and we've even
seen premiums jump on some HSA plans. If a rate increase happens
to you, you can switch to a different insurance company - but
only if you pass their underwriting requirements. If chronic
disease develops, you may be stuck with your current plan, and
its accompanying rate increases, for eternity. Or at least it
may seem that long...
If you pay attention to the pharmaceutical commercials, you
learn lifestyle really has nothing to do with disease, and it is
natural and healthy to be on many medications for the rest of
your life, which will then solve your health problems.
If you pay attention to the science, you know the truth is quite
different. It appears lifestyle is probably 95% of the picture,
and we know the occurrence of degenerative disease can be
dramatically reduced and even prevented.
Fortunately, I've found many of our customers are interested in
wellness, and disease prevention. After all, they're paying for
their own doctor visits if they do get sick. I also believe it
is because HSA owners are "forward thinking" people, and like to
plan for their future - both financial and physical. You can
improve your odds of excellent health with just a few key habits:
Eat very high quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits. Shoot
for 35% of your calories. This will lower your risk for
diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and more.
Limit your intake of sugar and starchy carbohydrates like bread
and pasta. The majority of health problems in the U.S. are
related to metabolic diseases that involve insulin resistance.
Exercise and lift weights. Exercise guru Jack La Lanne just
turned 92 on September 26, and he says if you have muscles you
never feel old.
4. Compare your plan to other available plans at least once a
year, or whenever you get a rate increase.
Often-times people keep their plan much longer than they should,
and end up paying much more than they should. If your rates go
up, you can compare a wide variety of plans at
http://www.HSAforAmerica.com/instant-quote.htm. If you have your
coverage through HSA for America, we automatically do this
analysis of available plans for you any time we are notified of
rate increases.
To your health and wealth,
Wiley Long President - HSA for America
About the author:
Wi
ley P. Long III Bio
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| American Diabetes Association Home Page |
| Their mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by this disease. Available in English and Spanish. |
| www.diabetes.org |
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| Diabetes Information - American Diabetes Association |
| The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, ... Take the first steps toward better diabetes care by visiting the Diabetes ... |
| www.diabetes.org |
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| Diabetes UK home page - Diabetes UK |
| Diabetes UK is the largest organisation in the UK working for people with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people live with the ... |
| www.diabetes.org.uk |
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| Canadian Diabetes Association |
| To promote the health of Canadians through diabetes research, education, service, and advocacy. |
| www.diabetes.ca |
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| Diabetes information including treating type 2 diabetes at ... |
| Offers dietary recommendations, including recipes and tips on managing blood sugar levels. From GlaxoSmithKline. |
| www.diabetes.com |
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| Diabetes |
| Web site for Diabetes. ... publishes Diabetes. Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press ® assists in the publication of Diabetes Online ... |
| diabetes.diabetesjournals.org |
|
| CDC Diabetes Public Health Resource |
| The diabetes information homepage of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, provided by the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. |
| www.cdc.gov |
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| CDC - Health Topic: Diabetes |
| Diabetes · Diabetes and Research Diagnostics · Diabetes Surveillance Report · FAQ's on Diabetes · Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon ... |
| www.cdc.gov |
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| National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse |
| Provides educational materials to increase knowledge and understanding about diabetes among patients, health care professionals, and the general public. |
| diabetes.niddk.nih.gov |
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| Diabetes mellitus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| For diabetes mellitus in pets, see diabetes in cats and dogs. ... Type 1 diabetes mellitus - formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| MedlinePlus: Diabetes |
| (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF ... Select services and providers for Diabetes in your area. ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
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| MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Diabetes |
| Diabetes affects about 18 million Americans. There are many risk factors for ... These levels are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its ... |
| www.nlm.nih.gov |
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| Diabetes |
| What to expect from your diabetes diagnosis? Get up-to-the-minute information about medications, insulin, blood sugar management, nutrition requirements, ... |
| diabetes.about.com |
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| WebMD Diabetes Health Center - Information on Type 1 and Type 2 ... |
| Find in-depth information here about diabetes prevention, diet, ... Study Shows Burned-Out Staffers More Likely to Get Type 2 DiabetesGo To Article ... |
| www.webmd.com |
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| WebMD Health - 404 Error |
| Allergies|Anxiety Disorders|Arthritis|Asthma|Back Pain|Bipolar Disorder|Cancer|Children's Health|Cholesterol|Depression| Diabetes|Diet & Nutrition|Erectile ... |
| www.webmd.com |
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| Diabetes Overview |
| Defines diabetes, including the various types and treatments. Provides information on the impact and cost of the disease, its increasing prevalence, ... |
| www.niddk.nih.gov |
|
| Diabetes News - The New York Times |
| A free collection of articles about diabetes published in The New York Times. |
| topics.nytimes.com |
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| children with DIABETES Online Community |
| An online community for kids, families, and adults with diabetes, featuring message boards, chat rooms, and questions/answers from medical professionals. |
| www.childrenwithdiabetes.com |
|
| International Diabetes Institute - Diabetes Research, Education ... |
| The International Diabetes Institute is the leading national and international centre for diabetes research, diabetes education and diabetes care. |
| www.diabetes.com.au |
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| Diabetes New Zealand |
| Educates and informs people about diabetes, its treatment, prevention, and cure of diabetes. |
| www.diabetes.org.nz |
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