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Choosing An Assisted Living: Part 2 VIDEO

As parents and loved ones age, we want them to live their lives as independently as possible for as long as possible. But there may come a time when things change, when the need for care becomes greater than the desire to live independently. What do you do then? How do you make the right decision without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? In this video, Lori-Ann Rickard talks about the importance of making sure your loved one is included in the decision process of choosing an assisted living and some key factors to consider.

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How do you make the right decision about moving yourself or a loved one into an Assisted Living Facility without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

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Available for download NOW!

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3 Things Young Adults Should Know About ObamaCare

Portrait of beautiful young woman eating a bowl of healthy organThe ObamaCare enrollment period is upon us and the surprising fact is that 35% of the enrollees are young adults under 35.

Young adults enrolling in ObamaCare is good for everyone.  Health insurance costs are often impacted by the people who are in what insurers call the “risk pool.”  Older people tend to have more health issues.  Young adults, on the other hand tend to have less.  If there are many people in the risk pools who have varying degrees of health issues, that lowers the cost of healthcare for everyone.

If you are under 35 or have a young adult child who is under 35, here is what you should know:

  1.  You can no longer be denied health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions.This means that you can easily change jobs and don’t have to worry that you won’t be able to get healthcare from a different employer.
  2.  There is no maximum cap on the total healthcare you use in your lifetime.  In other words, if you get a serious illness, like cancer, you can’t be denied insurance coverage no matter how high the cost of your care is.
  3.  Consider whether it’s cheaper to stay on a parent’s health plan.  A parent may be able to add a child under the age of 26 for little or no cost compared to the cost for him or her to buy insurance from the health exchange.

If you are a young adult and you have not signed up for coverage yet, open enrollment began on November 15, 2014 and ends on February 15, 2015.  However, if you have a “qualifying life event,” such as losing your job, you will have 60 days to sign up for ObamaCare.

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Are you looking to cut through all the noise and find out what ObamaCare really is, what it does, and, most importantly, what it means to you? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: ObamaCare” ebook guide leaves the politics behind and gives you a straightforward, timely rundown of the changes the law made and whether or not they impact YOU.

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Available for download NOW!

 

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5 Things to be Thankful for in Healthcare

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important to look at all the things we have to be thankful for.  

This is especially true in healthcare.  So much in the news is about the controversy in our healthcare system, ObamaCare, etc., but really  There is Much to Be Grateful For:

  1. The U.S. Healthcare System Offers Sophisticated Care:  Americans have access to dependable, advanced care for all conditions.  In many countries, people either have little care or none at all.  And, in some countries, very preventable diseases go untreated, such as glaucoma, tuberculosis, and strokes.  In the U.S., no matter who you are,  doctors must treat you for an emergency no matter if  you can pay for it or not.
  2. U.S. Healthcare Technology is Expanding Every Day:  Healthcare technology has boomed over the last several years.  Most healthcare providers have begun using Electronic Health Records and Patient Portals to better communicate with other providers and patients.  Also, patients have more devices to personally monitor their health such as fitbits and smart phone apps.  This will help doctors and nurses provide you more efficient and effective care.
  3. U.S. Healthcare Protects Your Privacy Rights:  With HIPAA and other laws, healthcare providers must keep your health information private and confidential.  And if your privacy is compromised, the healthcare provider must notify you immediately and he or she could face heavy penalties.
  4. U.S. Healthcare Provides More Options for Care:  As the U.S. population ages, our healthcare system is providing more and more opportunities to stay healthy and happy.  There are more coverage for wellness programs and preventative care.  It used to be that the only way your health plan covered you is if you were sick.  Now, health plans have to cover wellness check ups as well as screening tests, such as colonoscopies and mammograms, often at little or no cost to you.
  5. U.S. Healthcare Research Continues to Grow:  Over the last ten years, healthcare research has made amazing advances.  For example, scientists are currently sequencing all of the genes that make up our DNA.  This allows other researchers to isolate the specific genes that cause certain diseases and in turn  helps healthcare providers better treat and determine cures for various diseases.  This along with many other advances are moving disease prevention moving forward at an amazing pace.

So as we consider our many blessings of family, friends and health, remember to also be grateful for our many blessings in healthcare.  Happy Thanksgiving!