Posted on Friday, October 31, 2014

Helpful Health Care Links: October 31, 2014

This week, our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics — an update on new Ebola quarantine guidelines and a breakthrough in medical research with the approval of a new Meningitis vaccine. We also included an informative article from NPR about some important things to consider before undergoing surgery. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

♦◊♦

Obama Defends U.S. Ebola Guidelines, Backs American Volunteers in Africa (Reuters)

President Obama stated that the adopted policies in the U.S. shouldn’t discourage those who wish to fight the West African Ebola outbreak. Instead they should be applauded, and, when they return, authorities can work with them to make sure they are monitored prudently when they return.

Patients Do Better After Surgery If They Do ‘Prerehab’ First (NPR)

Patients are encouraged to participate in a rehabilitation program after a surgery, but research is showing that beginning that plan pror to the procedure could speed up recovery.

First Vaccine for Deadly Form of Meningitis Approved in the U.S. (The Washington Post)

The FDA approved a vaccine for one of the five forms of the deadly disease bacterial meningitis.

Arsenic in Gluten-Free Food: How Worried Should You Be? (NPR)

For those who suffer from Celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, rice-based foods and flours tend to be a popular solution for a wheat-free diet. However, trace elements of arsenic have been found in many of these foods.

Petition Drive To Limit Hospital Charges Gets OK From State (Crain’s Detroit Business)

The Board of State Canvassers in Michigan approved a petition drive to limit what hospitals can charge the uninsured and underinsured.

♦◊♦

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.

Available for download NOW!

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2014

How Does ObamaCare Impact Your Medicare Coverage?: VIDEO

There are a lot of rumors circulating about how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — otherwise known as ObamaCare — may or may not impact individuals currently on Medicare or about to start using Medicare coverage. In an effort to cut through this noise, in this video, MyHealthSpin founder Lori-Ann Rickard discusses whether or not ObamaCare has any impact on Medicare plans, what’s the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, and whether or not there’s any truth to the “health care rationing” rumor that has surrounded the Affordable Care Act. If you have fears about how ObamaCare might affect your Medicare coverage, this video is definitely worth your time!

♦◊♦

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.

Available for download NOW!

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2014

Four Things About ObamaCare That Are Good for Everyone

Many people disagree about whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — most commonly known as ObamaCare — is good or bad for healthcare patients. However, there are some parts of ObamaCare, which are often forgotten, that help everyone.

What are they? Here are four of the most significant positive changes the Act is responsible for:

Elimination of pre-existing conditions: Prior to ObamaCare, many people had no insurance coverage for something called “pre-existing conditions.” For example, if you had cancer or a complication from a surgery and then changed insurance companies, the new insurance company formerly would deny these type of claims saying they were “pre-existing conditions.” Because of this problem, many employees would not move to take a new job for fear they would not have insurance coverage for the things they needed. Under ObamaCare, this problem is eliminated. An insurance company can no longer use this as an excuse for no coverage.
Insurance coverage for your children through age 26: Another big change is that young adults can now stay on their parent’s insurance until they reach the age of 26. The child does not to show they are in school nor living with their parents. Prior to ObamaCare, most insurance plans only allowed the child to have coverage until they reached the age of 18 or were in school.
Elimination of Life-Time limits: Prior to ObamaCare, insurance companies had a “life-time limit” for each person who had insurance. If you had cancer or several different health problems, you could easily hit your life time limit and would find yourself with no insurance coverage. Under ObamaCare, life-time limits have been eliminated. Now if you have cancer that may reoccur over many years, you don’t have to worry about your cancer AND whether you will lose your insurance also.
Preventive Care is now covered: Many people are surprised to discover that prior to ObamaCare most preventive medical care was not covered by your insurance. Historically, insurance covered you when you were sick, not when you were well. This is silly, as preventative care often prevents you from getting sick. Without coverage, many people would not go for their annual checkups or their yearly mammograms. Now, under ObamaCare, preventative services are covered. Every insurance plan must cover certain basic services so you no longer need to worry about getting a big bill from the doctor.

We can all continue to examine ObamaCare and determine whether it requires significant changes, but we can all agree that certain basic ObamaCare benefits are good for everyone.

♦◊♦

Available for download NOW!