понедельник, 28 мая 2012 г.

Most Affordable Health Insurance – Health Insurance At Affordable Rates

Are you looking for Most Affordable Health Insurance?  Using certain websites, you can compare the best health insurance quotes available.  Discover the best health insurance rates available for you here.
It’s a bad idea not to have health insurance coverage.  It’s hard to predict illnesses and injuries and they tend to pop up when you least expect it.  Health insurance isn’t cheap and the costs can increase rather quickly.
In the event that an injury or ailment should come up and there is no health insurance, the finances needed to cover such misfortunes could be too overwhelming for many people.  Today’s medical care is so expensive that people need to secure a low-priced health care policy.

There are plenty of firms who give health insurance.  To ensure a proper insurance policy match-making process, several different insurance packages are available.

Getting the right health insurance policy can be time-consuming.  You need to check that you get an ideal health coverage for a sum that you can afford to pay comfortably.  Thus, you should compare health insurance rates online to see who can give you the best deal on your insurance policy.
Get a free health insurance quote now.
To get Most Affordable Health Insurance when using a service, you simply need to fill out a basic questionnaire.  You will get a number of different insurance policies from different providers to review the prices and policy figures from all the different providers.  At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably.
Take advantage of the time-saving health quote services available to you for free.  If done separately, it would take several hours to get a quote from each insurance provider.  But luckily there are free services you can use to get health rates from the various companies in no time.
Get more info on Most Affordable Health Insurance and get a free insurance rate by going here

Types of general insurance

Types of general insurance General insurance solely pays out when an insured event happens. It includes:home insurance (contents and/or buildings)car insurancetravel insuranceprivate medical insurancepet insuranceaccident, illness or unemployment insurance to shield your income, mortgage or loan payments (also known as 'Payment protection insurance')critical illness insurancelong-term care insurance

How to research for general insuranceWith such a big amount of insurance deals on the market it's value looking around. Key points to match include:suitability for your explicit needscostflexibility: what happens if you miss a payment or would like to cancel or switch?terms: when will the policy pay out/are there restrictions?'Keyfacts' documents to assist you search aroundWhen you contact an insurance supplier, they'll provide you with details of the service they provide. this may normally be found within the 'about our service document'.Once you have mentioned what you would like and answered all the questions on yourself and what you wish to insure, the intermediary, insurance company or the firm selling you the insurance can provide you with key policy data. This sets out the essential facts.

1. shopping for insurance - learn additional on Moneymadeclear from the FSA:
Getting helpYou can purchase insurance yourself or with the assistance of a broker, however either method you will get key policy data regarding the insurance and what it covers.Generally, corporations selling insurance and people providing insurance cowl (underwriting the risk) need to be regulated by the money Services Authority (FSA), the UK's money services regulator, or be the agent of a regulated firm. There are some exceptions, as an example the sale of extended warranties on non-motor product (such as on electrical goods) where the person selling the insurance is additionally providing the products.Regulated corporations and their agents are placed on the FSA Register and need to meet sure standards. forever check that that the firm you employ is on the FSA Register before surrendering your cash. If they are not regulated by the FSA, you will not have access to complaints and compensation procedures if things fail – see If things fail. to seek out out if a firm is on the FSA Register, see Check the FSA Register.Your friends or family could suggest an insurance broker or insurance company otherwise you will realize one along your high street.

Alternatively there are organisations that may assist you – see helpful links. however keep in mind, forever ensure the firm you employ is on the FSA Register.If the firm isn't on the FSA Register, or if you have got been contacted by or treated an unauthorised insurance firm or broker, it might facilitate the FSA if you'd offer some data on your dealings with that firm or individual. See its list of Unauthorised corporations/individuals and report any dealings using its Unauthorised firms reporting kind.Buying while not recommendationYou haven't got to induce advice before you are taking out an insurance policy, and UK corporations that sell insurance while not recommendation still need to follow the FSA's rules. however it's up to you to come to a decision whether or not the policy is appropriate for you. you will have less grounds for grievance if the merchandise seems to be unsuitable.Comparison websitesComparison websites can raise you many queries and then offer you with quotes from numerous brokers and insurers. None of the websites cowl the complete market, and a few larger insurers aren't represented on any of the websites, therefore you will would like to contact them directly. The comparison web site ought to contain an inventory of the brokers and insurers they search.Some insurance comparison websites could raise you fewer inquiries to speed up the method, and instead create variety of assumptions regarding you. forever check the assumptions created regarding you and proper them where necessary.Most comparison websites can automatically pass your data on to a broker or insurer.

Health Insurance Dealer: Roles along with Responsibility

A health insurance broker isn’t different from a regular broker or some other broker; he / she just concentrates on the health sector. A health insurance professional helps you discover the most suitable insurer by complementing your requirements while using provisions offered by the various plans offered by medical insurance companies.
Unless you currently have insurance coverage or you usually do not belong to virtually any group insurance, you may effectively benefit from choosing the help of any adverse health insurance broker. Self-employed or people with medical conditions typically seek the advice of a medical insurance broker. A health insurance broker furthermore works for the advantage of the coordinators of a class insurance. The insurance broker is offered a list of rewards sought through an individual or a group manager. What a specialist does will be search for men and women or coordinators which greatest match people needs. The real key presents his recommendations and when both parties agree, the specialist formulates a contract relating to the two events.
Does any adverse health insurance broker work with any specific company?
Usually a medical insurance broker doesn’t work for any distinct company. A new broker’s job is always to gather details about the plans offered by the many companies in the vicinity, the costs they charge, how they treat people who submit medical statements very often and then for any other information. However, many a times it lets you do happen that a health insurance specialist is given an economic incentive pertaining to promoting a business among the medical insurance seekers.
Will it be costly to obtain a policy by way of a heath insurance broker?
The answer to this question can not be generalized. Often a health insurance professional makes an personal a member of a bunch plan offered by the state or trade marriage or business. In this case, the consumer will find costs lower and coverage better than if he previously opted to visit alone and seek the insurance policy from the provider company. Medical insurance brokers typically get a commission, which can be given as long as both parties achieve an agreement. This implies that one get together or the some other, and sometimes equally, are responsible for the particular payment of broker’s fee or share.
Your rates, legal guidelines and regulations related to medical insurance keep on altering very frequently, therefore health insurance brokers are few in number. Moreover, almost all of the states call for that medical insurance brokers become licensed just before they can work. Also, these requirements are not uniform throughout the nation and differ from region to region.
You should seek the advice of a medical insurance broker if you’re mired within the health insurance documentation. In such a scenario a health insurance professional might make a great source of help to suit your needs.

Health Insurance--A Necessity

Watched Satyamev Jayate episode on state of healthcare in India today (27/05/2012). One of the issues which attracted lot of sound bites was high cost incurred on medical treatment today. One study estimates demand for healthcare to be increasing at a rate of 25% a year. This demand coupled with growing middle class and rise in cost of medical treatment raises the costs of medical treatment even further.
With a rise in lifestyle diseases and high healthcare costs, lack of adequate health insurance coverage can severely impact not only your finances, but can also derail achievement of your financial goals.
However, it is sad that the concept of adequate health insurance is still missing in India. Cost of medical insurance is usually treated as sunk costs and hence low priority is accorded to it. Further we usually do not want to believe that we will be facing a medical emergency ever—until we face it.
The most popular personal medical insurance—Mediclaim-- are-imbursement medical insurance policy offered by private & public sector insurance companies. While the maximum coverage offered by public sector mediclaim insurance companies is Rs. 5 lacs, private companies offer a higher coverage.  Health insurance is a hospitalization cover where the actual medical expenses are reimbursed subject to overall limits as set by companies. This is termed as individual health insurance.
Where the entire family is covered under a single insurance policy is called Family Floater Policy. The logic of such a policy—which is cheaper than individual cover-- is that all the family members are less likely to fall sick together. This results in higher coverage for the family member who may need the coverage in any eventuality.
Another type of medical insurance (it is a rider benefit) which is available is called Critical Care Insurance. This is a replacement type of insurance rather than re-imbursement. Under such a policy the entire sum assured is paid on diagnosis of a specified disease---irrespective of actual expenses incurred. Critical illness like
·         Kidney Failure
·         Cancer
·         Stroke
·         Heart Attack
·         Major organ transplant (as a recipient)
·         Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
The above is not exhaustive and the list of critical illness may vary from company to company.
For salaried individuals, where employer normally subscribes to a group insurance plan for the benefit of employees, and non-salaried people the critical care policies—if subscribed by them-- can be a blessing in disguise. In such cases, while mediclaim takes care of actual medical expenses, payment of the guaranteed sum assured ensures that the family finances are not disturbed and the person can meet his life’s goals.
However, one of the basic flaws in medical insurance policies is that your cover mostly expires at age 65—the period when you are most likely to fall ill.
So does it mean that post retirement, meeting medical expenses should be left to chance, or should it be met out of your retirement fund?
The answer is big no! You can make your own health insurance by investing a small sum every month till you retire. (Goal based planning)The fund so accumulated can fund your medical treatment even when you do not have the security of medical insurance. For example if you invest Rs. 1000 per month(less than the cost of a movie at multiplex) in a Monthly Income Plan(MIP) of a mutual fund religiously for say 40 years (typical working life) @ 8%, then you would have accumulated close to Rs.35,14,280—a decent fund to meet medical exigencies.

пятница, 25 мая 2012 г.

The 5 Best and Worst Parts of Being a Migraineur

MigraineToday’s post was prompted by the WEGO Health Challenge instructions for today: 5 Challenges, 5 Small Victories. Make a list of the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus. Make another top 5 list for the little things (small victories) that keep you going.


The 5 hardest parts about being an M Worder:

  1. Living a life of prevention: Constantly in fear of the next migraine, we carry pills with us everywhere and heed our doctor’s instructions. Leaving my house requires me to prepare as though I’m packing for a weekend trip with a toddler (pills, water, approved snacks, etc.).
  2. Lack of understanding/empathy from others: see this post
  3. Cost of medical bills: Most insurers refuse to cover us because migraines are a “pre-existing condition,” along with cancer and AIDS. My injections cost around $400 and an average ER visit is around $650.
  4. Restrictions that other people don’t have: For me this means leaving a career, giving up caffeine and alcohol, strict dietary changes, keeping to a strict daily exercise regimen (but not OVERexercising), and pill schedules.
  5. Being unreliable: I’m hesitant to make plans and constantly canceling on people

The 5 small victories that keep M Worders going: (I had a REALLY hard time with these).

  1. Migraine free days!
  2. Support from the virtual migraine community: Joining Twitter and Tumblr has really boosted my mood and made me feel less alone.
  3. When people DO understand: My co-workers show their respect for my condition and me by not bringing fish for lunch, for example, since the smell is a huge trigger for me.
  4. Doing things I never thought I could do: Whether it’s maintaining a blog, pushing myself in a yoga pose, or completing a running plan, I try to use the momentum from these little things to keep a positive outlook.
  5. Finally finding what works for you: Eating vegan, drinking plenty of water, giving up caffeine and alcohol, regular exercise and yoga, and keeping stress to a minimum has been HUGE for me. There’s no cure for migraine, but there are ways to have more good days than bad.

What would you add or take away from this list?

Raynaud's Revisited

Raynaud's PhenomenonM worders, Runners, Raynaud-ers, I need your help! I’m noticing that when I run, especially longer distances, my Raynaud’s flares up.  It’s May and I’m getting white cold fingers and toes. Since there is a potential link between Raynaud’s and migraine, I thought I’d turn to you! Is anyone else having this problem?

I did a little research and found a variety of potential remedies:

  • Linda Patch from “Don’t Stop Believing” found relief through taking 500 mg the amino acid L-Arginine three times a day
  • Runners World suggests using running gloves and even “Hot Hands” in the winter
  • Health Central suggests trying biofeedback or asking your doctor about more intensive medications
  • Finally, this New York Times post has a nice overview of Raynaud’s generally

It’s my understanding that Raynaud’s patients should wear mittens because gloves actually make the problem worse by isolating the fingers. I’m not sure about the effectiveness of wearing mittens while I’m running either. Also, I would HATE to be on a medication like a blood thinner for this type of problem. There has to be a more simple solution, right?

Is anyone else having Raynaud’s flare ups (even though the weather is warmer)? Have you been able to find relief?

How to Survive Wedding Season as an M Worder

My boyfriend and I started getting “Save The Date” cards for upcoming spring and summer weddings.  My immediate thought process goes something like this:

  1. “Oh how awesome for [Insert Friend Here]!”
  2. AHH, is it possible for me to get through their special day without a migraine?”

Weddings have generally been a source of M Words for me, and it’s not really surprising is it? Weddings are chock full of migraine triggers!

  • Incense at the church (smells)Migraine Bride
  • Church being too hot/cold (Topamax)
  • Outdoor ceremony/reception (barometric pressure/weather)
  • Drinks at cocktail hour (alcohol)
  • Lack of migraine-friendly foods (food intolerances)
  • Loud music (noise)
  • Not enough water during the day (thirst)
  • Coffee at reception (caffeine)

That’s just a list I came up with in about 60 seconds, so I’m sure I’m missing major ones.  It’s obviously not our day as M Worders, it’s about the bride and groom.  But you have to take care of your own health first before you can be of use to anyone, including being a good friend to the bride and groom.  So what can we do?

At the Ceremony:

  • Consider sitting toward the back so you can step out for some fresh air (or step into air conditioning) if necessary. I have passed out in a church before from being too overheated (thanks Topamax) so I don’t believe that subtly sneaking out for a minute for the sake of your health is rude.
  • Take water. I take a waterbottle with me everywhere. EVERYWHERE. To work, the mall, out to dinner, and yes even to church. I certainly don’t mean to be disrespectful, but it’s an absolute necessity to prevent M Words. (Thirst = trigger)

At Cocktail Hour:

  • Re-consider your drink selection. I have stopped drinking alcohol completely.  Nearly each sip of alcohol I’ve taken in the past few years has ultimately led to a migraine. This is not worth it for me, but I choose to put my health first. I also do not drink any soda (Caffeine/Aspartame = Trigger). At a cocktail hour, I’d typically just ask for water.
  • Those trays of fried goodies and bacon-wrapped deliciousness look appealing, but I head straight to the fresh veggie and fruit stand (if there is one). You might even want to pack a little snack to take with you. Waiting too long to eat between meals is a trigger.

At the Reception:

  • If the music is too loud (noise = trigger), it’s okay to step out. You have to put your health first - keep telling yourself that!
  • Politely decline the after dinner coffee (Caffeine = Trigger). Water is your friend. This is the time when I might have to take an abortive migraine pill, such as sumatriptan/Imitrex. Don’t forget to pack your migraine meds (along with your water bottle and snacks - and the wedding gift!)

Luckily, my boyfriend is a pro at the role of Date Of M Worder. He goes outside with me if the music is too loud, and he’ll switch plates with me if I get something I can’t eat. I am so lucky - it would be very difficult for me to get through a wedding without him at this point!

Do you have any upcoming weddings? Do you have any tips to share on how to survive (and enjoy) weddings as a migraineur?

Holistic Health and Migraines

Yoga for migrainesTechnically, the tagline for “That M Word” is “Because sometimes just saying the word “migraine” is painful. Isn’t it true? Sometimes just talking about “migraines” and “migraines” and “migraines” can be overwhelming and emotionally difficult.

The response to the USA Today article has been interesting, with a few people suggesting I champion the cause for a drug-free approach to migraines. While I believe that different approaches work for different people, I very much believe in the idea of another tagline: “a holistic approach to migraine.”

For me this includes:

  • Regular exercise, including yoga
  • Sticking to a diet that suits my needs, for me this is vegan
  • Keeping a regular migraine journal to record my symptoms
  • Not consuming ANY caffeine or alcohol
  • Participating in regular psychotherapy sessions
  • Using natural supplements approved by my doctor

Is this the end-all be-all cure for migraines? No, of course not; there is no such thing. But since we M Worders live lives of prevention, a holistic approach to prevention certainly can’t hurt.  For a migraineur that considers 10 migraines in 30 days to be a good month, I have only had ONE so far in the month of April. I guess it is working so far!

(This post was prompted by the WEGO Health instructions for today: Health tagline. Give yourself, your blog, your condition, or some aspect of your health a tagline.)


This Month in Review

April ShowersMy time blogging the WEGO Health Activist 30 Day Challenge has come to an end so let’s take a look back on the M Word highs and lows of April…

  • I got to write a ton of fun posts and get great answers from others on the Facebook page and in the comments. My favorites are “Keep Calm and Carry Imitrex,” the migraine theme song, and “24 Hours of Migraine.”
  • I was in USA Today raising awareness of migraine and migraine medications!
  • I had ONE debilitating migraine this calendar month. ONE. I survived this rainy, crazy month. The last time I had one migraine in a 30 day period was at least 6 years ago. Such an exciting milestone for me!

What was the best part of your month? How have your migraines been?

"And then a throb hits you on the left side of the head so hard that your head bobs to the right...."

“And then a throb hits you on the left side of the head so hard that your head bobs to the right. There’s no way that came from inside your head, you think. That’s no metaphysical crisis. God just punched you in the face.”

- Andrew Levy, A Brain Wider Than the Sky: A Migraine Diary

четверг, 24 мая 2012 г.

A New Type of Pain Scale

A New Type of Pain Scale:

Isn’t it frustrating when you go to the ER with a horrible migraine attack and the only way the doctor can measure your pain is through an ambiguous pain scale? Or when you go to your neurologist and they want to know your average pain number for that month?

Victoria Saxton from Migraine Monologues found this great new pain scale that I wanted to share with you. Because of the helpful descriptions, I really think I can use this to jot down my headache and migraine attack pain.

Do you use a pain scale to track your migraines or chronic pain?

I’ve lost count of how many emotional breakdowns...



I’ve lost count of how many emotional breakdowns I’ve had due solely to health insurance. In the past two years, I’ve had four different insurance plans, and each new plan is worse and worse. I am so tired of not being able to buy a cheap insurance plan like the rest of the world because of migraines being a “pre-existing” condition.

Anyone else fed up? How do you deal with insurance issues (on top of your chronic pain)?

3 Things You Need to Consider Before Choosing a Doctor for your Migraines

Migraine doctorOver 60% of migraineurs have had a negative experience with doctors with regard to treating their migraines, myself included. How can you tell what kind of doctor will be best for you and your migraines? 

1. Did you know that there is a difference between neurologists and migraine specialists?

  • Neurologists: Known as the “general physicians” of neurology, these doctors treat a wide range of head injuries, diseases, conditions, and illnesses. Migraine is just one aspect of that.
  • Migraine Specialists: These doctors see only patients with migraines and headaches every day. They are not necessarily neurologists; instead, they are doctors with specific training and expertise in migraines.

2. You may want to consider the treatment options suggested by each doctor before becoming a patient with them.:

  • Variety of treatments: My first neurologist prescribed one type of preventative medicine regardless of each patient’s medical history and diagnosis (cluster, migraine, or tension). Make sure your doctor works WITH you to find the best possible approach to your condition.
  • Holistic approaches: This is just a personal preference for me, but I would have preferred a doctor that suggested diet/lifestyle changes and alternative therapies before jumping straight to an invasive daily drug.

3. You may need to pay out of pocket or travel to find the right doctor for you:

Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover part or all of your visit to a migraine specialist, and since there are less than 300 in the U.S., they may not be conveniently located to you. Luckily, the Migraine Research Foundation created this list of migraine specialists to help! Be sure to do your own research too; I found a general physician specializing in migraines in my town who is not on this list.

Don’tbe afraid to switch from one type of doctor to the other if you find it’s not working for you. Your health comes first!

Works Cited:

  1. MAGNUM: Misdiagnosis and Misconceptions about Migraine
  2. Help for Migraines: Find a Migraine Doctor
  3. Migraine.Com: How are Migraine Specialists Different?
  4. Migraine is a Disease, Not a Death Sentence
  5. Consumer Story: Teri Robert

Running and Migraines

Running migraineI’ve been told that daily exercise is crucial to preventing migraines but OVER exercising can trigger migraines. Now, add to this the fact that for the years I took Topamax I was unable to sweat. Add further the fact that my neuro insisted that I exercise when I had a severe migraine (now THAT’S a joke). Because of all this, I am so confused about the interaction between exercise and migraine.

The day I took my last Topamax pill, I started this Couch to 5K running plan. This plan is based on time as opposed to distance. When I started, I was only able to run 1 minute intervals at a time, and now, 7 weeks later, I am up to running 27 minutes at a time. 

I’m not sure if I can attribute anything specific to my recent “success,” only one migraine since mid-March. I’ve done a few things:

  • Kept a low tyramine diet (but re-introduced soy, bananas, and avocados in moderation)
  • Switched from vegetarian to vegan (mostly because I found out that I was lactose intolerant)
  • Consumed NO caffeine or alcohol, and
  • Exercised almost every day. 

I have to wonder if exercising daily is part of the reason I’ve felt better? Because this plan is so gradual, I’m not overexerting myself which could lead to a migraine. Ladies, my migraines are always worse during that time of the month, and regular exercise has actually caused that time to be not quite as terrible. I’m also running my first 5K next Sunday - wish me luck!

Have you found that running or regular exercise affects your migraines? What’s your exercise routine? Can you exercise when you have a migraine (I DEFINITELY cannot)?