Insurers Push Plans That Limit Choice of Doctor

This stuff is not fun to read but it is probably good if we have an idea of what we are facing in the health insurance market, whether it be immediate changes or those to come in later years as health care reform is phased in. As it appears health care costs are going to continue to rise, these limited plans described in this article are going to be more common. We will try to keep you as updated as possible on this subject that is so important to all of us. Some of the comments here are interesting and feel free to add yours in our comments section.

www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/business/18choice.html?_r=1&ref=health

What to Expect in Next Year’s Health Benefits Offerings

For those fortunate enough to have employer based health insurance, here is some information describing how the new health care laws may affect you in 2011. Most provisions don’t kick in until 2014 but there are a few highlighted here that can impact your coverage and your share of the costs this coming year. No matter what one thinks of the health care legislation from a political perspective, it is here, and the more information we have the better. We will do our best to track this for you and post all relevant information we come across.

www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/health/12patient.html?pagewanted=print

Communication is key to every office visit

With co-pays rising all the time if we are insured and with costs rising also which especially affects those without insurance, it might be best to maximize each visit to the doctor. This article form the LA Times by a physician tells both sides of the story. Not only will quality appointments mean better health for us, they will help our bottom line also, by getting well sooner and needing fewer appointments and less medication, therapy, etc. and thus saving valuable dollars.

www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-0412-the-md-20100412,0,1785519,print.story

No Matter What, We Pay for Others’ Bad Habits

This article from the NY Times written by a cardiologist addresses a topic that is becoming more widely discussed and is very controversial and complex. I think the doctor does a good job of trying to offer a balanced explanation for people’s behavior regarding their health. As health care costs and health insurance costs continue to rise and become a bigger factor in the economic health of the U.S. this issue is going to be even more relevant.

www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/health/30risk.html?ref=health

To Double the Odds of Seeing 85: Get a Move On

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, here is more evidence of the need to become more active and exercise on a regular basis. Some basic guidelines are laid out here in this article from the Wall Street Journal.Here is a quote that says it all and sums up our philosophy here at TK Health and Wellness and that is that we simply cannot afford not to get healthy.

“It’s one more piece of data that says we all need to be moving in America,” says Emelia Benjamin, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, who wasn’t involved with the study. “It’s pretty clear that Americans want to take a pill, but we’re all going to be bankrupt unless people start taking on these lifestyle changes.”

Visit our site at www.tkfamilyplan.com to get started with a basic exercise plan you can perform in your home and some minor nutrition changes you can make that will have a big impact on your life.

online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703954904575109673558885594.html#mod=todays_us_personal_journal

When Hospital Fees Catch You Off Guard

To go along with the idea of becoming smarter health care consumers, this article from

the Wall Street Journal offers some good advice regarding add on fees at doctor’s offices

that are affiliated with a hospital. Being caught unaware can be very costly as the article

attests to.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703819904574555723216593610.html?mod=WSJ_hps_RIGHTTopCarousel

Seeking the Best Medical Care Prices

As out-of-pocket health care expenses continue to rise, it is imperative that

as health care consumers, we become better shoppers and consumers of

these services. There is some valuable information in this article from the

NY Times Well section. They refer to a couple web sites that consumers can

use for pricing information. The sites are linked in our blogroll in the right

hand column.

www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/health/28patient.html?ref=health

Web Sites Contain Health Care Cost Information

As consumers of health care, we usually have no idea what any tests, procedures or any other

medical needs we have might cost. This Wall Street Journal article lists web sites which

can help us at least have an idea or a basis for what we should be paying for health care services.

Hopefully, more and more information such as this will become available so as consumers we

can affect health care costs from the bottom up. Look in the near future for a new section on

health care costs on our www.tkfamilyplan.com site (see link in right column) that will list the sites

in this article and others as they are available. Whether we are insured or not, as the article points

out, this is valuable information.

online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704222704574499623333862720.html