St Johns Wort for nutrition

Natural Remedies"Questions to ask your health insurance agent"

Questions to ask your health insurance agent"

Questions to ask your insurance agent. These questions will help to ensure that your agent is being honest with you and help you understand and some of the big differences in the different types of policies.

1. Stop Loss- (The maximum out of pocket you will pay before you have 100% coverage for the rest of the year.) Most companies it will be under $5,000. There is a couple of companies that don't actually offer a Stop Loss. They will have limits to what the company will pay out but they have no limit to what YOU will pay out. This is the most important aspect to your insurance policy. I have seen some people get stuck badly with $50,000-$200,000 worth of medical expenses without a good stop loss.

Question to ask your agent: What is my maximum out of pocket (stop loss) per year before I have 100% coverage?

2. Deductibles- Some companies will have separate deductibles for different aspects of their policies.(Testing deductible, therapy deductible, chemotherapy coverage, separate accident deductibles etc.) This is where some insurance companies depend on there being big holes so that they don't have to cover things that may otherwise be covered. Ex: Things that one company may call testing and therapy, may not be considered the same type of procedure by another company. If something falls between categories for different deductibles, you will be stuck paying bill for all of it. You want a plan that has ONE DEDUCTIBLE. This way there are no gaps. You reach your one deductible each year, then everything that is covered under your policy will be covered as your policy states. It drastically eliminates holes in your policy.

Question to ask your agent: How many deductibles does my policy have?

3. Networks- You want to be in a plan that offers networks. Some companies will offer plans that are good at any doctor, any hospital, anywhere in the country. This is a great selling point but unfortunately, it is also very dangerous. Networks exist for very good reasons. If you have a plan that has big coverage holes in it and you go to a doctor for some reason, anything that is not covered by your policy you will pay 100% of all costs and you will pay 100% full retail price for it. If your plan has holes in it this can be catastrophic financially. Insurance companies and doctors give their customers/patients what is called 'Network Pricing". If you go to a network provider with insurance and something is not covered by your plan, in many cases you will still get the big discount that the insurance company would get just because you have insurance. This is "Network Pricing". Some companies offer nation wide networks so even if you travel a lot you will never be out of network. This is very important.

Question to ask your agent: If my company doesn't use networks and I have medical procedures performed that are not covered by my policy, how much will I have to pay? Do I get a discount because I have insurance? (The correct answer to this is you will have to pay 100% of retail prices. If the company does not use networks, any other answer is either wrong or deceptive.)

4. Coverage per period of confinement- Some companies will have definitions for deductibles as "per period of confinement." Ex: Your plan could have a $1500 deductible but we need to know if it is a yearly deductible or "per period of confinement" deductible. Some companies will list a period of confinement as 90 days. This would mean that if you are hospitalized for the same thing within 90 days you only have to meet one deductible. However, if 91 days later you have another medical problem, you will then have to hit ANOTHER $1500 deductible.
Again, this is another scary scenario.

Question to ask your agent: Is the deductible a yearly deductible or a per period of confinement?

If this article was helpful, please feel free to repost it unaltered

About the Author

Shad Woodman is a licensed health insurance agent and specializes in marketing Arizona Health Insurance ,
Washington Health Insurance , and a nationwide
Dental Plan online.



Flaxseed
Rio Amazon Camu-Camu 60 x 500mg caps
Organic Lucuma Powder | Ginkgo Leaf Powder | Ginkgo Leaf

Organic Maca Reviews and info

Organic Maca• Modern-day medicine men forge a natural-healing bond - The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:58:08 GMT

• Modern-day medicine men forge a natural-healing bond The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - 15 hours ago It is the basis of Radiance Maca, an Earth Healers product said to bolster strength, stamina and clarity. Pesek, 33, who calls himself "an Appalachian root ...

Health and WellbeingUsing Herbs for Weight Loss

Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers

In this world of extreme makeovers and desperate diets, there are two definitive actions that bring about effective long-term weight loss--(1) a high nutrition and high protein, low calorie meal plan and (2) consistent, regular exercise routine. Forget about magic pills that melt the fat away or sauna wraps that steam away inches. There are, however, herbs for weight loss that can supplement--not replace-- healthy eating and exercise. These herbs can help increase the body's digestive and metabolic efficiency and make easier the process of long-term health and weight management.

The principle behind weight loss is that energy intake must not exceed energy expenditure. What you eat must have fewer calories than what you put out in day to day activities. A body composed of lean muscle (built from protein and exercise) will use more calories than an unexercised body. There is every reason to maintain a solid exercise regimen and high protein consumption because you need both to turn your body into a fat-burning machine.

Some herbs that can help weight loss and make this process more efficient are Green Tea, Flaxseeds, Psyllium and Chromium.

Green Tea is not only a powerful anti-oxidant but a fat-burner as well. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (January 2005), consuming green tea rich in catechins leads to a lowering of both body fat and cholesterol. These compounds enhance nervous system activity at the level of the fat cell, causing it to release more fat. In another recent study, one group of subjects was given green tea extract (with 150 mg of caffeine) and 375 mg of catechins three times a day.

A second group was given just 150 mg of caffeine alone and a third group was given a placebo. These subjects spent three 24 hour periods in an energy chamber during which they received their green tea, caffeine or placebo 3 times a day. Results show definitely that the green tea group burned the most energy--by almost 5 percent more when compared with those who received the placebo alone and 3.2 percent more than those who received the caffeine alone. In addition, fat burning was increased in the green tea group.

Researchers speculate that a special antioxidant compound in green tea called EEG may trigger fat oxidation and thermogenesis (fat burning). What is also interesting is that the maximum fat-dissolving capacity of green tea comes from the tea in concentrate form, which provides the benefits of 5-6 cups of tea in a single dose of tea powder. Green tea is an herb that has demonstrated effectiveness in encouraging weight loss.

Flaxseeds provide essential fatty acids which are building blocks the body uses to make fats. The body must get various kinds of fats ( fish oil, flaxseeds oil) not only to ensure proper health but to stabilize blood sugar level. Stabilized blood sugar means stabilized appetite. Unusual hunger and food cravings develop in people who do not consume sufficient essential fats. These people often turn to a high consumption of carbphydrates ( bagels, donuts, chips) because their bodies are on a frantic search for the missing nutrient--essential fats. Moreover, the body has an intelligence of its own; when it is deprived of fats, the body will lower its metabolic rate, store fat as well as make fat. A body deprived of essential fats will turn into a fat-producing machine. Flaxseeds are therefore another form of herbal tools for weight loss.

Psyllium is a soluble fiber that comes from the small reddish black seeds of the "Plantago Psyllium" plant. Psyllium seeds not only help ease constipation, they are effective in lowering cholesterol and promoting weight loss when used in conjunction with exercise and healthy eating. Psyllium helps stabilize sugar in the blood which also controls food cravings. The bulk in psyllium adds to the sensation of fullness and satiety when it is taken in its recommended dose:1-3 tsp of powdered psyllium dissolved in water taken 3 times a day before meals. In a British study, women who took psyllium with water 3 hours before a meal consumed less fat and fewer calories during the meal.

Chromium is a trace mineral found in whole grains, potatoes, prunes, nuts and brewer's yeast. It seems to help the body use insulin more effeciently so that normal blood sugar levels are maintained. Chromium also helps the body break down protein and fat. In a recent study, people consuming 400mcg of chromium picolinate a day lost 6 pounds over 3 months while another group receiving a placebo lost only 3 pounds. The most significant aspect of the study was that the weight lost by those taking the herbal supplement chromium was in the form of body fat, not muscle.

While all four herbs have demonstrated that they can help promote weight loss, they are by no means magic pills and should be taken in conjunction with a solid nutrition and exercise program.

About the Author

A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://www.greatbodyproteinpower.com

Stevia