Category Archives: Healthcare Insurance

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Bupa Awards Free Places in Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run

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Bupa awarded ten free places in the Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run to pupils from Moorgate Primary School in Bolton, Lancashire.

Ten pupils from the school, situated in close proximity to Bupa’s Mill View Residential and Nursing Home and Nursing Home were offered the chance to tackle the 2.5km course for free.

Bupa awarded the ten free running places to the school, to encourage the children to exercise, after members of staff from the Bupa residential and nursing home delivered Activ-eat, Bupa’s initiative which teaches children the benefits of healthy eating through fun and memorable activities.

The school gratefully snapped up the free places and all funds raised were donated to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

This year Bupa also offered free running places to the relatives of all its care home residents. In addition, four staff members from Bupa Care Services took part as runners and one as a volunteer.

Sue Kilby, activity coordinator at Bupa’s Mill View Residential and Nursing Home, said: “We have been delivering Activ-eat to the children from Moorgate Primary School for some time and they are always excited about getting involved and learning more about healthy eating. I am so pleased that the children decided to take part in the Bupa Junior Great Manchester Run, and they all did brilliantly on the day.”

Siobhan Drane, Bupa’s community affairs consultant, commented: “As a healthcare company, Bupa is keen to help tackle the issue of child obesity and promote nutrition and exercise. I am delighted that the children at Moorgate wanted to get involved in the run, and it is a great addition to the lessons learnt on our Activ-eat programme.”

Via EPR Network
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Bupa Announces Unhealthy Brits Cost Country Around £17.7 Billion a Year

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Bupa has revealed that unhealthy Brits are costing the NHS, employers and themselves £17.7 billion every year through their lifestyle choices, according to new research from the leading international healthcare group. This figure could rise to almost £33bn a year by 2025 if current health trends continue.

The study calculated immediate and long-term potential savings to individuals and public purses if obesity rates stop rising; the 26 per cent of smokers who attempt to quit each year are successful; and excessive drinkers bring their intake down to recommended levels.

According to the findings, making healthier lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and becoming more active can have an immediate impact on people’s wallets. Signing up for health cash plans could also help save money if any medical problems did arise, which could be found by undergoing health assessments such as a liver check or a coronary health check.

By 2025, if healthier lifestyles are adopted the total savings made by individuals alone across the UK could amount to £22 billion a year, two thirds of the potential annual savings of £33 billion. The £22 billion comes from savings of £5 billion and£3.9 billion through reduced expenditure on alcohol and cigarettes respectively and£7.4 billion saved in additional earning potential due to increased life expectancy from quitting smoking. Individuals could also save £1.7 billion through increased employment and £3.9 billion through increased earning potential due to a fall in obesity levels.

The findings of the report also outline the long-term financial implications of healthier lifestyles to employers and the NHS, which make up the remainder of the £33 billion figure.

Dr Johann Carinus, assistant medical director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said:
“This study not only reveals the true cost to the nation of unhealthy lifestyle choices but it also highlights the considerable savings to the public purse which could be achieved through individual commitments to health improvement.

“Data released earlier this year from the Bupa ‘Health Age’ report showed that almost 70 per cent of people in the UK wanted to make a positive change to improve their health in 2011. While ultimately it’s up to individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices, there is a huge opportunity for healthcare providers and employers to play their part in empowering individuals to live more healthily. The benefits for everyone are clear.”

To coincide with the new findings, Bupa is launching the “Bupa Health Pledge” campaign, calling on the public to make a Pledge to achieve their health goals – whether it’s to quit smoking, cut down on alcohol, eat more healthily or do more exercise. Bupa has launched a simple tool that allows members of the public to track their progress on a specific Health Pledge and access information, free expert advice and support needed to make the desired change, all on its Facebook page.

As Bupa’s own Health Pledge, the healthcare company is also committing to donate £1 to the British Heart Foundation for everyone who signs up to a Pledge.

Via EPR Network
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Bupa Care Homes ‘Grow Their Own’ For Community Initiative

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Bupa care homes’ residents have their watering cans at the ready as they prepare to ‘grow their own’ for ‘Community Crops’.

‘Community Crops’ is a Bupa care homes initiative which promotes the health benefits associated with gardening and growing your own fruit and veg.

The project is being supported by young people involved with The Prince’s Trust, who are linking up with Bupa homes, including nursing care homes, across the UK to help sow and grow the crops.

Residents have also been inviting local schools and community groups to lend a hand with planting and start their own vegetable plots.

Caroline Davy, Bupa’s community affairs assistant, said: “This is a great way for our residents to appreciate the fresh air, stay active and get a real sense of achievement by tending to the crops and watching them grow.

“For our residents who were keen gardeners before they joined us, ‘Community Crops’ offers a great opportunity to get back involved, but it also helps minds as well as bodies. Particularly for our residents receiving dementia care, sharing stories about ‘dig for victory’ and the tradition of growing your own are excellent memory triggers to aid connections with the past.”

Helen Thurston, from The Prince’s Trust added: “‘The Community Crops’ campaign is a fantastic project which provides our Prince’s Trust XL club members with the opportunity to get involved with their local community. It enables young people to engage in a positive way with a different generation and learn about the importance of healthy eating.”

Altogether, the Community Crops campaign has taken root in gardens and greenhouses in over 300 care homes across the UK.

Via EPR Network
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Bupa Care Home Residents Set To ‘Get Into Reading’ With Special Reading Aloud Groups

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Bupa has joined forces with charity The Reader Organisation to encourage its care home residents to ‘get into reading’ with special reading aloud groups.

The ‘Get into Reading’ groups will be piloted in eight Bupa care homes for six months from April 2011. Get into Reading aims to bring the benefits of reading aloud and of social interaction to people in health and care environments, such as residential homes or homes offering nursing care.

Each group will enjoy shared reading led by a project worker from The Reader Organisation for an hour each week. Members will discuss what’s being read as they go along, and relatives, staff and members of the local community will be welcome to join in as well. Studies show that literature can have a healing or therapeutic effect on readers, helping them to identify with characters and situations in books or to be ‘taken out of themselves’ by the story.

The Reader Organisation’s experience has shown that short stories and poetry have proved most beneficial for people with dementia. The project will ensure that Bupa care home staff members will be trained to deliver read-aloud groups themselves. Following assessment of the pilot, Bupa plans to offer groups to its 305 homes nationally as part of its industry-leading Activities programme.

Siobhan Drane, Bupa Care Services community manager said: “We are really pleased to be working with The Reader Organisation to deliver ‘Get into Reading’. We hope that these reading aloud groups will reignite a passion for literature in our residents, spark a new interest or offer an opportunity for reminiscence. We believe our residents will benefit from the positive effect literature can have on wellbeing.”

Via EPR Network
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Bupa Care Homes Hold Communi-tea Week Celebrations

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Bupa has held Communi-tea Week events in its care homes to help tackle loneliness in older people.

Residents of Bupa care homes throughout the UK have brewed up some community spirit by inviting older people to join them for a friendly cup of tea.

Altogether, over 300 care homes, including residential care and nursing care homes, hosted special afternoon tea parties to mark Communi-tea Week, a nationwide campaign which aimed to use tea-related social activities to help tackle the problems of isolation and loneliness in older people.

Worrying statistics demonstrate the size of the isolation problem in the UK, with over 1 million (11%) of people aged 65 or over saying they are always or often feel lonely. Nearly half of all older people believe that the television is their main form of company and 17% of older people have less than weekly contact with family, friends and neighbours*.

Siobhan Drane, Bupa’s community affairs manager, deemed the week a great success:
“Communi-tea Week is a great way of highlighting the support networks that are available in local communities, as well as raising awareness of the serious issues facing older people today. Everyone put on the kettle and contacted someone they thought may need their spirits lifting – a cup of tea is the perfect way to reach out and make a difference.”

As well as organising tea-related social events, from tea-tasting sessions to tea dances, Bupa care homes urged others to help by inviting older people living on their own to join them for a cuppa, whether it be a neighbour or friend.

Via EPR Network
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Bupa Announces Results of Customer Satisfaction Survey

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Bupa has announced the results of this year’s Bupa Care Services Customer Satisfaction Survey.

74% of Bupa care home residents rate the overall standard of care at their Bupa care homes ‘excellent’ and/or ‘very good’. The results came from the annual independent survey of residents and relatives which has been running for 12 years.

This is the eighth consecutive year the overall customer satisfaction score has risen.

In addition to this 94% of residents rated Bupa’s quality of nursing care and other care as excellent or very good, 91% of residents rated Bupa’s staff as excellent or very good for being treated as individuals and 91% of residents rated Bupa’s staff as understanding the residents needs as excellent or very good.

Oliver Thomas, director of Bupa’s UK Care Homes, said: “Residents and their families are in the best position to judge our care and I am delighted to see such a positive response from them.

“Our overall customer satisfaction score has risen for eight consecutive years since the introduction of our Personal Best development programme, which encourages staff to recognise the individuals we care for and to go that extra mile.

“This is a tribute to all our committed care home staff and the excellent care that they provide. Their efforts are clearly being acknowledged by residents.”

The Bupa Care Services Customer Satisfaction Survey is commissioned annually and carried out independently by Deighton Consultants.

All residents at Bupa care homes are offered the opportunity to fill in a questionnaire each year, which allows them to feedback and comment on their overall care, staff, the buildings and grounds, their room, being treated as an individual, communal rooms, the food and their activities. Relatives of residents with dementia are also offered the opportunity to feedback on these aspects including dementia care.

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PruHealth Reveals 39 Is The Age Brits Start To Worry About Health

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PruHealth has announced that 39 is the age Brits really start to worry about their health, according to new calculations* by the insurer that rewards people for engaging in healthy behaviour.

With thirty-something peers such as fitness-fanatic Gwyneth Paltrow (38 years) and channel-swimming David Walliams (39 years) showing vitality and achieving their health goals, perhaps it’s understandable the average Brit is feeling the heat as they approach the big four-zero.

However it seems Brits are all woe and not enough go. Whilst one in ten (11 per cent) constantly worry about their health and a further 40 per cent** worry that they are not healthy enough, they are not doing much to improve it. One in five (20 per cent) people admit laziness and time pressures are the main barriers to living healthily. For a further 15 per cent it’s simply their love of unhealthy foods that gets in the way.

Given the power of hindsight and their chance again, the survey asked respondents over the age of twenty-five what advice they would give their younger selves. The top five tips were: don’t smoke (19%), look after your body (15%), do more exercise (14%), think about the consequences of your actions (11%) and eat more healthily (10%).

Only 10 per cent would advise a ‘live for the moment’ approach and tell their younger selves to enjoy the present and not worry about the future.

However despite good intentions, the unfortunate reality is it takes the diagnosis of a serious illness to encourage four in five (80 per cent) Brits to improve their health, and over half (51 per cent) if it were a close friend or family member***.

Dr Katherine Tryon at PruHealth, said: “People lead busy lives, but there is a big task ahead in the UK to encourage people to make health changes now rather than later – prevention rather than cure. We need to stop worrying about our health and start doing something to look after ourselves. If approaching the big four-zero is the kick-start thirty-somethings need, then that can only be a good thing.

“Encouragingly over half the respondents (54 per cent) said that the offer of health incentives and health rewards are likely to change their behaviour and help them lead a healthy life. At PruHealth our key focus is to help remove barriers to health living and incentivise healthy activities via our Vitality scheme.”

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PruHealth Finds The Nation Believes People Should Take More Responsibility For Their Own Health

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PruHealth has revealed new research that shows a third of Britons want people to pay for ‘self-inflicted’ health issues, two thirds believe the nation is unhealthier now than ten years ago and half expect the range and quality of NHS care to decline over the next few years.

Two thirds (66%)* of Britons believe the nation is unhealthier now than it was ten years ago, and taking more personal responsibility (69%) could be the best foot forward.

The latest findings from PruHealth, the insurer that rewards people for engaging in healthy behaviour, found respondents to be in line with Cameron’s ‘Big Society’. More than two thirds (69%) of the nation believe people should take more responsibility for their own health, while just 19 per cent feel it should lie on the shoulders of the NHS. Nearly a third of Britons (30%) even go as far as believing those with ‘self-inflicted’ health concerns caused by smoking, alcohol abuse or being overweight should pick up the bill themselves.

While half of respondents (50%) feel the NHS currently offers a good level of care, many believe the range (67%) and quality (49%) of services are likely to decrease in the next few years.

Dr Katherine Tryon at PruHealth said: “People have realised that the nation’s health is worse than even a decade ago and now the issue is whose responsibility is it to change this – which is particularly crucial at a time when there is increased pressure on healthcare finances. The key for both the public and private sector will be to remove the barriers to healthy living – for example, increasing access to healthy activities and providing stronger motivation through both financial and non financial incentives.”

What Brits consider as the nation’s problems are not necessarily ones they would class as their own. For example, over half of respondents (52%) state obesity and being overweight as the greatest risk to the UK. According to 2008 data from the latest Health and Social Care Information Centre report** a quarter of adults (25% men, 24% women) are obese, and 42% and 32% of men and women are overweight, yet in this nationally representative survey less than one in ten (9%) of respondents consider it a personal healthcare concern.

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Bupa Boosts Cancer Cover

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In an industry first, Bupa, the leading international healthcare group, has announced plans to improve the quality of its cancer cover by no longer selling corporate health insurance schemes which feature overall cost or time limits for cancer treatment.

Cancer treatment costs increased sharply in 2005 and 2006 due to the introduction of new drugs. In response to the concerns this caused about rising costs, the health insurance market developed financial benefit caps and time limits to restrict financial exposure for client businesses.

However, experience has shown that these limits mean that patients who claim on their policies can be left vulnerable at critical points in their treatment.

Once employees reach their benefit ceiling they face the possibility of having to change their treatment mid-stream. The varying cost of cancer drugs also makes it very difficult for patients to make informed choices about their treatment path, and its likely cost, at the point of diagnosis.

Dr Natalie-Jane Macdonald, managing director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing explained: “We work closely with our clients to help them to provide their employees with the best quality healthcare at a sustainable affordable cost, and this remains a priority for us. We have developed better, fairer ways of controlling healthcare costs without compromising the experience and outcomes of patients at a difficult time in their lives.”

In 2010 Bupa spent £18m on drugs that are not widely available elsewhere and it routinely funds cancer treatments that are approved by the European Medicines Agency. Bupa also makes prompt decisions to pay for experimental drugs when clinically appropriate.

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Bupa Reveals the Average Brit is Cutting Life Expectancy by 12 Years

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Bupa has revealed that the average Brit is at risk of cutting more than a decade off their life through unhealthy lifestyle habits. This is according to new research from the leading international healthcare group.

The Bupa study assessed lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol intake, diet and exercise as well as other factors, in nearly 5,000 adults across Britain to calculate the nation’s average Health Age, which is the impact that lifestyles are having on Briton’s life expectancy.

The results showed that on average, Brits have a Health Age 12 years older than if they adopted healthy habits. Worryingly, more than one in eight people are at risk of cutting their life short by 20 years or more.

Being married or in a long-term relationship has a positive impact on Health Age across all age groups, increasing potential life expectancy by more than four years.

Women in their 50s had some of the unhealthiest behaviours, being more inactive and overweight than women in other age groups. Men in their 50s and 60s were also more inactive and overweight than other men.

Dr Annabel Bentley, medical director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing said: “We all know that bad habits such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol damage our health but these findings show the real impact of our habits and the number of years we’re knocking off our lives unnecessarily.

“But it’s never too late to make a change for the better. Whether you’re in your twenties or in your seventies, you could add years to your life by making lifestyle changes.”

A link between happiness and healthiness also showed that nine out of ten of the healthiest people (91% – those within 6 years of their ideal health age) thought they were as happy as or happier than other people, while less than 7 in 10 of the least healthy people (66% – 25 or more years away from their ideal health age) thought so.

Even making one change to lifestyle can have a significant impact on life expectancy. For example, a 25 year old female who drinks 20 units a week (ten standard glasses of wine), could add up to three years to her life by drinking three fewer glasses of wine a week.

Users can discover their health age by completing the health age calculator at bupa.co.uk/findhealthy.

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HealthInsuranceFinders.com Announces Free Online Help Resources for Choosing or Maintaining your Health Plan Insurance

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HealthInsuranceFinders.com, an online provider of health insurance quotes and designed to offer the public free access to health insurance information, announces the release of their new article series in addition to questions and answers to help consumers make educated decisions.

With unemployment reaching record highs it’s easy to see why so many Americans are struggling with their medical insurance. In response to the growing need for information about medical coverage during times of economic distress, HealthInsuranceFinders.com Answers is a community that offers the public information for keeping or getting the coverage you need when your employment runs out as participants can ask health insurance agents and experts in the industry any questions they wish.

Perhaps you don’t know how to apply for COBRA, or haven’t had time yet to think of managing your health care, but in any case the advice offered atHealthInsuranceFinders.com Answers is free of charge and designed to provide the growing number of men and women who no longer get coverage from an employer with .

This includes ideas for those who need individual health insurance, family coverage, or just children’s health insurance. In addition to all the free resources providers in an easy to read format, users can enter their zip code into the search box displayed and quicklycompare the insurance quotes and coverage available in their specific area.

With so many different plans and deductibles, each depending on your state and county locale, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the modern and sometimes complex health insurance market.

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PruHealth Set To Grow Following Approval Of Standard Life Healthcare Acquisition

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PruHealth has become a competitor of scale in the UK Private Medical Insurance (PMI) market following the completion of the acquisition of Standard Life Healthcare by Discovery Holdings* of South Africa.

The acquisition opens a new chapter in PruHealth’s development, boosting cover to 700,000 lives and market share to 11 per cent, demonstrating its commitment to the UK market and making it the fourth largest PMI provider in the UK.

Neville Koopowitz, previously CEO of Discovery Health, has been appointed CEO of PruHealth, and has transferred to London. Herschel
Mayers continues as the CEO of PruProtect.

This transaction provides PruHealth with a significantly strengthened competitive position in the UK PMI market. The business will draw on its combined core strengths in product innovation, wellness and service delivery to offer one of the broadest and most flexible health insurance plans and product ranges in the market.

Full integration will roll out over the coming months. A product suite building on the best of the current PruHealth range and the range previously offered by Standard Life Healthcare is scheduled to be launched later this year.

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LifeInsurance.org Launches Key Information Designed to Take the Guess-Work Out of Choosing Your Life Insurance

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If you’re in the market for good quality life insurance at affordable prices either be whole life insurance or term life, be sure and take a look at LifeInsurance.org. Their comprehensive articles reveals information and all you need to know when searching for affordable coverage in your area.

To access the articles you are not required to give any personal information. If you are buying life insurance in the near future, all you need to do is simply input your zip code into the search box, and a list of the best and most reliable agencies in your area will appear.

Users can select a variety of insurance agencies and get free quotes in order to discuss the “ins-and-outs” of the market with someone knowledgeable in the field, and licensed to sell that coverage. With the laws governing life insurance varying from state to state it’s easy to fall victim to misinformation, to get confused, or to end up paying more thanyou should.

Shopping around is also the easiest way to save money, and to compare notes on different companies, different plans, and different rates. Life insurance is a long term investment that could potentially involve large sums of money, and choosing the right coverage is essential for protecting the people and assets that you could leave behind in the event of your sudden passing.

LifeInsurance.org is an entire site dedicated to offering information that clarifies the process of selecting life insurance, and offers users the ability to get that coverage at a great price. The site is full of details regarding Whole life insurance, Term life insurance, and Variable life insurance, including definitions, tips, and things to look out for.

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How to Combine Medicare Part B with Medicare Part D

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HealthInsuranceFinders.com News and Information Center today covered the topic “Not everybody on Medicare has the same coverage”. In fact the goal of the Medicare reforms that have been enacted over the past decade or so have been to give seniors more options. Many believe these changes in the system have tended to over complicate things. On the other hand, the large variety of Medicare plans, and Medicare Supplement plans now available, ensure that seniors are only paying for the coverage they want and need.

Among your options with original Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance are Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. Medicare Part B and D can be combined to give you very comprehensive coverage for medications.

Medicare Part B is your “out patient” medical coverage, in other words, it pays for doctors visits, home healthcare to a degree, durable medical equipment and some forms of medications. Things that are technically medication that could be covered under your Part B benefit include, vaccines, flu shots, allergy injections, Immunosuppressant drugs and some oral cancer treatments. For the most part however, Part B is not designed to pay for regularly taken prescription medication. That is where Part D comes in.

Even if you have one of the lettered Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance plans (with the exception of some of the older plans issued before 2002 which are no longer sold) – you still will require Medicare Part D to receive a prescription drug benefit from Medicare.

Medicare Part D will cover all of the following medications:

* Any approved doctor prescribed medication taken regularly for a chronic condition.
* Any approved doctor prescribed medication for a short-term condition.
* Inhaled nebulizers.
* Vaccines, even those that are not prescribed as a result of injury.
* Hepatitis B vaccines.
* Oral anticancer drugs that may have been prescribed for reasons other then cancer treatment.
* And many more types of medication.

Independent health insurance companies sell Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans. What drugs they cover and how much they pay for medications does vary depending on the type of Part D plan selected. If you are soon to enroll in Medicare, or are currently enrolled and your prescription drug needs are changing – discuss all of your medications with a Medicare Supplemental Insurance specialist, he or she will help you find the right combination of Medicare and Medicare Supplemental insurance that will work best for you.

Via EPR Network
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HealthInsuranceFinders.com Releases Comprehensive Guide

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HealthInsuranceFinders.com, an insurance quote aggregator offering the public the option of comparison shopping in the health insurance field, offers users access to its new guide designed to offer insightful information on health insurance for individuals.

Before you purchase an individual health insurance policy, take a look athealthinsurancefinders.com and their new insurance guide. It could save you time, money, or both.

Dedicated to educating Americans looking for medical coverage, their new individual health insurance guide is full of up-to-date informationregarding today’s coverage, your options, and how the new healthcare bill will impact individuals who don’t get medical insurance from an employer.

It also addresses more traditional concerns, including managing maternity issues, understanding how prices and premiums are decided, and the best means of finding good quality coverage at affordable prices.

No stranger to the ever-changing health insurance industry, healthinsurancefinders.com offers a variety of consumer resources on a state and federal level, including information for the unemployed, health insurance answers geared towards common but frustrating Medicare questions, and even information designed to explain COBRA and to examine supplemental insurance considerations.

“Health insurance is a hot topic today”, says Grace Della, VP of online marketing, “But with so much conflicting information out there, it’s easy to get overloaded. We like to keep our guides clear and easy to read, so consumers can focus on what’s really important: getting the coverage they need”.

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Medigap Plans Providing Prescription Drug Coverage Clarifications

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The MedicareSupplement.com News Center reported making a clarification that many are confused due to the name Medigap. Many seniors think that one of the “gaps” these Medicare insurance plans cover in traditional Medicare is prescription drug coverage. But they do not – at least all of the Medigap plans since the revamping of the plans in 2006, and more recent overhaul in June 2010, do not.

According to the website medicare.gov, prior to 2006, there were Medigap plans, notably H, I, and J, that did provide prescription drug coverage. These represent 3 out of the 4 Medigap plans that were eliminated in June 2010, only adding to the confusion. As explained on the Medicareinformational website, medicare.gov, Medicare Part D was introduced in 2006 to replace standardized Medigap polices that covered prescription drugs and to breakout prescription drug coverage from Medigap coverage. At that timepeople who were enrolled in one of the Medicare supplemental plans that had drug coverage were offered the choice of keeping those plans, changing them, or dropping the prescription drug coverage from them, and opting for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

Since all lettered Medigap plans sold after 2006 did not offer prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part D is now the only prescription drug coverageavailable for seniors with original government Medicare and a Medigap plan. When purchasing prescription drug coverage only, to add to original Medicare, you are purchasing what is also known as a PDP, or Prescription Drug Plan. You may, during the open enrollment period, decide to switch out of original Medicare and into a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, also called a MA-PD.

If you have a pre-2006 Medigap plan that does have prescription drug coverage you still have a few options. If you are happy with that coverage you may continue to keep it and pay the premiums, EVEN IF THE PLAN HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.

You may also opt to switch to a Medigap plan that does not have prescription drug coverage, and then enroll in Part D. Many Medicare advisors believe this is advantageous, because the prescription drug benefits offered by Part D exceed those in the Pre-2006 Medigap plans, and you may actually be able to lower your monthly premiums, and improve your benefits by switching to one of the newly offered low-cost Medigap plans such as N or M, and then enrolling in Part D.

Also be advised that there are only certain enrollment periods for Medicare Part D; so do not drop any existing drug benefits until you are enrolled in Medicare D. For more information about Medicare, Medigap plans, and Medicare Part D, visit medicare.gov.

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The Impact of Health Reform Industry

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The HealthInsuranceFinders.com News Center reported that under the rules and stipulations outlined in the new health reform law, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be tasked with not only revamping current health coverage policies and procedures, but also restricting costs for health plans and ensuring that health insurance for individuals as well as for families is easily attainable. As our lawmakers begin this overwhelming task of streamlining health plans, it is critical for them to keep in mind the overall impact their actions will have on the health industry, children and e-health and patient care.

Health Reform Industry Impact

With all the changes and red tape surrounding the new laws, one might wonder if the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries will be affected during the transition. In the early 90’s, the pharmaceutical industry displayed some stiff resistance to restructuring and reforming America’s health plans and health insurance for individuals. However, in modern times, the sector has embraced and even encouraged the widespread reshaping of health coverage in this country. While motivating these changes, the industry also exercised a little self-preservation by outlining the terms of a deal for protection during the reform.

The medical technologies sector will experience a hybrid of new opportunities as well as never before experienced difficulties throughout the revamping of the current policies. In order for future medical progress to remain current and relevant, new payment methods and procedures must be implemented to streamline the process.

Children and Insurance Coverage

Results from recent studies really solidify the need for policy restructuring in an effort to best protect minors through Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. These efforts must be in place as soon as possible to ensure a more seamless transition as we prepare to extend health insurance to individuals that have previously been uninsured.

Children currently covered under a private policy will often lose benefits within 90 days of a parent losing a job. This number is 6.5% higher than children who have parents that continue to stay employed. To eliminate this dilemma, Gerry L. Fairbrother of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, maintains local and federal officials need to eliminate waiting periods and eligibility restrictions to these children when their parents lose their jobs.

Also, despite being eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, approximately two million children enrolled in these programs still lost coverage in 2008. Benjamin D. Sommers of Harvard University noted this trend in his analysis spanning 2002 through 2008. He also made note that while retention rates for children in publicly offered plans have gone up, new matriculation has gone down.

Via EPR Network
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Quoteboffin.co.uk Welcomes New Research on the Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s

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A study published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology has suggested that the eating habits of those suffering from Alzheimer’s may have an effect on their cognitive abilities.

The research involved two groups of mice being fed two different diets over the course of 5 months. A precious study had shown that foods rich in methionine – an amino acid – were able to increase the symptoms of dementia within mice, and as a result scientists deduced that it may be effective in the increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

The most recent study sought then to determine if the methionine induced effects could be counteracted and even reversed. For 3 months one group of mice was fed a methionine filled diet, whilst the other group ate a healthy, balanced diet. The mice on the methionine diet were then introduced to a healthy menu, and the results were analysed after another 2 months.

The scientists found that the negative effects suffered following the 3 month period eating the amino acid had been reversed. The discovery demonstrated the capability of the brain to counteract the damaging effects it has endured. However, the study is far from conclusive, not least due to the fact that the test subjects were mice.

There is uncertainty regarding the applicability of such results to humans.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research Trust commented on the findings, reminding us that:

“This research is on mice, but the Alzheimer’s Trust is supporting work looking at the effects of this type of diet on people. We look forward to the results but at the moment we don’t yet know if this type of diet could have beneficial effects for people with Alzheimer’s.”

Health insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk have given their backing to the research findings, insisting that:

“Any investigation into the causes and potential treatments for this disease are crucial, as research is the main tool we have in the battle against Alzheimer’s.”

Another piece of research carried out recently, revealed that people with larger craniums possess better cognitive abilities, including memory and thinking skills. 270 patients were recruited for the trials, the results of which were published in the Neurology journal.

Via EPR Network
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Life Insurance Comparison Site Quoteboffin.co.uk Is Calling For A Greater Emphasis On The Health Benefits Of Jogging

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Following research by US scientists, it has been shown that running on a regular basis can slow the effects of ageing and even stave off premature death.

Runners aged 50-years-old and upwards were found to enjoy a healthier life and suffered fewer disabilities than those who did not exercise on a regular basis.

The research – which was conducted by the Stanford University Medical Centre – tracked 500 older runners for more than two decades in comparison to a similar group who did not exercise on a regular basis.

At the end of the study, 34% of the non-runners has died compared to 15% of the runners.

Life insurance comparison site QuoteBoffin.co.uk is now calling for more older people to get fit and active as a means to living a longer, healthier life.

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Quoteboffin.co.uk Urges Health Providers To Maintain Momentum In Light Of Improving Cancer Survival Rates

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Survival rates for some cancers has doubled since the 1970s. Now health and life insurance comparison site, QuoteBoffin.co.uk, is calling on health organisations to continue their good work.

Following research by leading organisation Cancer Research UK, it has emerged that survival rates for some cancers including bowel, breast and ovarian have doubled over the past four decades.

Comparisons between survival rates for those with cancer in the 1970s and people with the disease in the late noughties show vast improvements in the number of patients expected live more than ten years with the disease.

Breast and bowel cancer have seen remarkable improvements in survival rates with the number of people living at least ten after diagnosis years jumping from 40% to 77% and 23% to over 50% respectively.

Despite the improvements, health organisations and cancer charities are still calling for more work to be done to improve cancer patients chances of survival.

A spokesperson from QuoteBoffin.co.uk joined the calls for further research, with cancer treating drugs high on the agenda:

“It’s encouraging to see such a stark improvement in cancer survival rates in such a short space of time.

“As technology improves so does our ability to detect and treat cancer earlier and earlier and this brings with it its own set of problems.

“No longer is cancer treatment about prolonging a patient’s life, it’s about completely curing the disease altogether so now we must put more and more money and time into crafting and fine tuning a range of drugs and treatments that can be applied to the disease at any stage.”

Via EPR Network
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