Health Insurance Company

Health insurance is a form of insurance where the insurance company pays the medical costs of the insured person in cases the insured becomes sick due to covered causes of the insurance policy, or due to accidents.

To get the best health insurance policy, it is necessary to evaluate the health insurance company and its affiliate health care network. The first thing that has to be done is to get free quotes from different health insurance companies. This is easily available on the Internet, wherein you fill in some details to get your health insurance quote. Another thing that has to be taken into consideration is the health insurance company's financial ratings. This gives us the financial strength of the health insurance company, and whether it is capable of clearing claims made to the company. The ratings can be found out though free resources like Moody's, A.M. Best and Weiss and eHealthInsurance, which are all found on the Internet.

Next, check the employment and educational histories of the doctors associated with the health insurance company. Trusting the physicians and feeling content with the care you receive from the health insurance company is invaluable. Customer satisfaction is another criterion for choosing the right health insurance company. The health insurance company should respond quickly to your requests and questions. Information on patient satisfaction with a health insurance company is difficult to come by and may have to be paid for.

There are two types of health insurance companies: group health insurance companies and individual health insurance companies. The group health insurance companies handle health insurance for large groups of people, like the employees of a company. The individual health insurance companies handle health insurance for self-employed people and professionals

The Dream Of Low Cost Health Insurance

With prices for daily living items escalating and expenses running rampant the opportunity to find low cost health insurance would be welcomed by many of today's cost watching consumers. Let's be honest, without health insurance it would be near impossible to pay for medical treatments based on their rather steep prices.

Low cost health insurance isn't a bonus that someone earns, in reality it should be a right granted to everyone for the simple reason that you never know when you may need it. You could be fine one day and the very next suffering from a myriad of injuries or sickness that seem to effect so many healthy people everyday. Even if it turns out that you are suffering from a mild ailment, if you end up riding in an ambulance to the hospital the cost associated with that simple procedure can be quite large for folks without a low cost health insurance plan to cover such an event. You don't want to be in a position to find this out the hard way so affordable health insurance is a must need for everyone.

So how exactly does low cost health insurance work? For starters, health insurance is like any other monthly bill that you have. However, don't treat this like it's a phone bill or an electricity bill. Failing or forgetting to pay this one could be disastrous to your medical health. The monthly payment or premium entitles you to medical treatment that is covered by your health insurance as opposed to your having to pay the amount out of your pocket yourself. Normally, when you sign up for low cost health insurance you will be required to pick what's known as a primary care provider or physician which basically means you choose a doctor from a list that is provided. This doctor will then determine the types of treatment you will require. Unfortunately, there are many political and internal issues that seem to plague our health care industry between the doctors and the health insurance companies with the consumer caught in the middle. Issues like these are better discussed in their own article or in the daily newspapers and on the TV news.

At one point in time health insurance was a standard benefit for the employees of many companies unfortunately, the rising costs that were mentioned earlier in this article have also hit the health insurance benefit packages that most folks should be entitled to but are seemingly disappearing overnight. Low cost health insurance would be welcomed by many companies wanting to provide better benefits to their valuable workers.

Low cost health insurance may be possible with larger companies based on the fact that many health insurance organizations offer discounted rates to organizations that are large in stature and size. The opportunity for a employee to receive a nice health insurance benefit at a reduced cost still exist in companies that receive this favorable treatment from the health insurance providers.

Sadly, many companies, especially smaller or brand new ventures are unable to afford the necessary premiums needed in order to provide health insurance for their employees. As a result the workers for these companies must then find their own individual health insurance plan, usually through a health insurance broker or by surfing the Internet and visiting all of the health insurance websites currently located online. For those consumers finding low cost health insurance may be slightly more difficult and any health insurance that is truly affordable may not cover many of the ailments that strike many folks on an everyday basis.

Low cost health insurance can be obtained in today's high price society. It just takes a little more effort on the part of the consumer but in the long run it's well worth it. after all this is your health we're talking about

How To Save on Health Insurance

With health care costs soaring through the roof, the cost of health insurance premiums are increasing as well. Health insurance is a necessity, however, when you consider the costs of one visit to the emergency room, surgery to set a broken bone, scans, lab and other costs. When your budget is limited, how can you keep the costs of your health insurance premiums down? There are several steps you can take to reduce your health insurance costs and still maintain adequate medical coverage when you need it.

First step is to consider what health insurance options you have. Does your employer offer a group medical benefit? Many employers (and/or labor unions) offer health benefits to full-time employees. Group health insurance is usually the cheapest way to get medical coverage; an employer can negotiate with health insurance companies to get a group health plan at cheaper rates. In addition, many employers will pay part of the premium, reducing your health insurance cost even further. Another consideration is whether your spouse has health coverage available through their employer? If so, compare your health benefits plan to that of your spouse, and decide which health plan is the better buy. It may be possible to have one spouse carry family health insurance coverage and the other drop their health benefits. Many employers have multiple health insurance options, so review these plans as well. Choose the health plan that best meets your needs at the cheapest rate.

If no health insurance coverage is available through your employer, there are other ways to obtain health insurance coverage. Individual and family private health insurance policies are available. Shop and compare benefits and premiums from each health insurance plan. If you and your family are generally healthy, the new Health Savings Account (HSA) may be worth consideration. The HSA is an account that allows you to save tax-free dollars for your medical/health expenses. Similar to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you are limited in the amount that you are allowed to contribute each year; however, with the HSA, withdrawals for health expenses are not penalized, and no tax is paid on the withdrawal. When paired with a health insurance policy that has high deductibles and low rates, the HSA may be ideal for you. Save money in the HSA for deductibles and co-pays, and you're set.

For those over 65 or permanently disabled, Medicare is available through the federal government. The original Medicare is an 80/20 plan (they pay 80% of eligible expenses and the insured pays 20%) with an annual deductible and a monthly premium. Supplemental health plans are available to cover this deductible and co-pay. These supplemental health plans are usually private and the insured pays a premium. In addition to the original Medicare plan, there are Medicare HMOs. In these Medicare HMO health plans, the Medicare premium is paid to an HMO to provide benefits to the insured. HMO plans are more restrictive in that patients must get care through a network provider, but often these plans cover more prescription drugs and preventive care than original Medicare does.

Recently some employers have offered lower premiums to employees who do not smoke cigarettes. This is currently a controversial topic for some, but it certainly may begin a trend. In the future, employers and their health insurance providers could offer reduced premiums for employees who maintain normal weight, exercise regularly, and receive certain wellness benefits. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk to the health insurance company that they will be paying big bucks in health care down the road. And health insurance, as any other insurance, is all about risk.

Bottom line: going without health insurance coverage is a big risk for you. Find health coverage that you can afford just in case Murphy comes knocking at your door!

How to Become a Home Health Care Nurse

Home Health Care Nursing Information and Overview

Home health care is allowing the patient and their family to maintain dignity and independence. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse services because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home Health Care Basics

Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and home health care. Home health care nursing is a growing phenomenon as more patients and their families desire to receive care in their homes. The history of home health care stems from Public Health Nursing where public health nurses made home visits to promote health education and provide treatment as part of community outreach programs. Today academic programs train nurses in home care and agencies place home health care nurses with ailing individuals and their families depending on the nurse's experience and qualifications. In many cases there is a shared relationship between the agency and the academic institution.

Many changes have taken place in the area of home health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and documentation. It is important for the nurse and nursing agency to be aware of the many factors involved for these rules and regulations resulting from these organizations. Population and demographic changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers approaching retirement and will present new challenges for the home health care industry. Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also taking place with follow-up home care. This has resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these technologies and medical care has lead to increases in morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for home health care nursing a greater priority.

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in a wide range of treatments; emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone's home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient's own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the "family" team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child's condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care. Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Training and continuing education

Most home health care nurses gain their education through accredited nursing schools throughout the country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a master's degree in nursing (MSN). According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. Also, in 2004, there were 417 master's degree programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses can also earn specialized professional certificates online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning.

In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue advancement into administrative positions or research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor's degree is often essential. A bachelor's degree is also important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).

All home health care nurses have supervised clinical experience during their training, but as stated earlier advanced practicing nurses hold master's degrees and unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a minimum of two years of post clinical experience. Course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these programs have training in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004).

Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing facility, or home care, continuing education is necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care and health procedures. Universities, continuing education programs, and internet sites, all offer continuing education. One such organization that provides continuing education is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Conclusion

There are many rewards to becoming a home health care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship with a patient and their family, autonomy, independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and challenges. We must meet these challenges head on - there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing morbidity factor due to increased medical technology and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing care.

Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a time. With clinical experience and proper education, a home health care nurse will lead the future of medical care.

By Michael V. Gruber, MPH is a contributing author to My Nursing Degree Online, providing articles and resources for nurses looking for continuing education online. With a Masters of Public Health and two years of medical school, Michael provides a unique perspective on the current nursing shortage crisis on the Nursing Career Blog as well as comprehensive articles about nurse education and advancement.

Find more information about becoming a Home Health Care Nurse [http://nursing.earnmydegree.com/nursingeducation/home-health-care-nurse-education.html] including certification and job openings at My Nursing Degree Online.

Health - Your Most Valuable Asset

Your health is undoubtedly your most valuable asset. So with that in mind how do you protect your health?

Yes you probably have health insurance to look after your health if you become ill and car insurance to take car of you should your health suffer as a result of a car accident. But isn't that paying someone else to look after your health after things go wrong? A bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted? What are you doing, or, what should you be doing to look after your health right now?

Do you get regular health check ups? Do you exercise & eat all the right foods that are beneficial to your health? Do you use health care products such as health supplements? Do you smoke, drink or take drugs? Are you aware of how these habits affect your health?

I'm willing to bet that you make darn sure you look after your children's health, making sure that they are not doing anything that is going to cause long term damage to their health? But who is watching your health? Who's making sure you are not doing anything to damage your health?

Health is probably something we all take for granted & only realise how important our health is when we are ill or someone close to us is suffering from ill health. However if we all do nothing in regard to our health now, waiting until we begin to suffer from ill health & then trying to do something about it may be too late as we may have already done irreparable damage to our health. If you could do something now to prevent one of your assets diminishing, such as your bank balance, your home or your car would you? Yes of course you would, so what about your most valuable asset, your health?

Well it's about time that someone took control of your health, and that someone is you! Take control of your health now and make sure that valuable asset, your health, is well and truly looked after. Here are some suggestions that might help you to look after your health:

Get regular health check ups. If you have a good health insurance these are probably insisted upon. After all we all give our cars regular "health" checks, isn't our health more important than the health of our vehicles?

Make sure you eat a healthy diet. Even if you don't need to loose weight the right diet can help to improve your health.

Take regular exercise. 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week, even if it's just a couple of 15 minute strolls, that's not to great a chore to protect a valuable asset - your health.

If you smoke, stop now! This is probably the best thing you can and ever will do for the sake of your health.

Cut down on your alcohol intake. Stick to the recommended guidelines for sensible drinking - for your health's sake.

GIRL POWER! Is Good Mental Health

GIRL POWER! is paving the way for girls to build confidence, competence, and pride in themselves, in other words, enhancing girls' mental wellness. Girl Power! is also providing messages and materials to girls about the risks and consequences associated with substance abuse and with potential mental health concerns. For instance, did you know:

Girls are seven times more likely than boys to be depressed and twice as likely to attempt suicide.*

Girls are three times more likely than boys to have a negative body image (often reflected in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia).*

One in five girls in the U.S. between the ages of 12 and 17 drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.*

Girls who develop positive interpersonal and social skills decrease their risk of substance abuse.*

Girls who have an interest and ability in areas such as academics, the arts, sports, and community activities are more likely to develop confidence and may be less likely to use drugs.*

On the other hand, this also is a time when girls may make decisions to try risky behaviors, including drinking, smoking, and using drugs.*

The Girl Power! Campaign, under the leadership of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is collaborating with the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) to provide this valuable mental health information.

* Girl Power! Hometown Media Kit, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, 1997.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Results from a study of nearly 6,000 people aged 15 to 24 show that among young people with a history of both a mental disorder and an addictive disorder, the mental disorder is usually reported to have occurred first. The onset of mental health problems may occur about 5 to 10 years before the substance abuse disorders.**

This provides a "window of opportunity" for targeted substance abuse prevention interventions and needed mental health services.

** "National Comorbidity Survey," Ronald C. Kessler, Ph.D., et al., American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, June 1996.

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act in order to face life's situations. It is how we look at ourselves, our lives, and the people we know and care about. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, evaluate our options, and make choices. Everyone has mental health.

A young girl's mental health affects her daily life and future. Schoolwork, relationships, and physical health can be affected by mental health. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life. Caring for and protecting a child's mental health is a major part of helping that child grow to become the best she can be.

Girls' independence is usually encouraged in childhood, and their strengths nurtured. Most girls become emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy young adults. But sometimes, during the transition from childhood to adolescence, extra care is necessary, so that a girl's self-esteem and coping skills are not diminished. For more information on teen mental health, call 1-800-789-2647 and ask for the brochure: "You and Mental Health: What's the Deal?" (Order # CA-0002)

Nurturing Your Child's Mental Health

Parents and other caregivers are responsible for children's physical safety and emotional well-being. Parenting styles vary; there is no one right way to raise a child. Clear and consistent expectations for each child, by all caregivers, are important. Many good books are available in libraries or at bookstores on child development, constructive problem-solving, discipline styles, and other parenting skills. The following suggestions are not meant to be complete.

Do your best to provide a safe home and community for your child, as well as nutritious meals, regular health check-ups, immunizations, and exercise.

Be aware of stages in child development so you don't expect too much or too little from your child.

Encourage your child to express her feelings; respect those feelings. Let your child know that everyone experiences pain, fear, anger, and anxiety.

Try to learn the source of these feelings. Help your child express anger positively, without resorting to violence.

Promote mutual respect and trust. Keep your voice level down--even when you don't agree. Keep communication channels open.

Listen to your child. Use words and examples your child can understand. Encourage questions.

Provide comfort and assurance. Be honest. Focus on the positives. Express your willingness to talk about any subject.

Look at your own problem-solving and coping skills. Do you turn to alcohol or drugs? Are you setting a good example? Seek help if you are overwhelmed by your child's feelings or behaviors or if you are unable to control your own frustration or anger.

Encourage your child's talents and accept limitations.

Set goals based on the child's abilities and interests--not someone else's expectations. Celebrate accomplishments. Don't compare your child's abilities to those of other children; appreciate the uniqueness of your child. Spend time regularly with your child.

Foster your child's independence and self-worth.

Help your child deal with life's ups and downs. Show confidence in your child's ability to handle problems and tackle new experiences.

Discipline constructively, fairly, and consistently. (Discipline is a form of teaching, not physical punishment.) All children and families are different; learn what is effective for your child. Show approval for positive behaviors. Help your child learn from her mistakes.

Love unconditionally. Teach the value of apologies, cooperation, patience, forgiveness, and consideration for others. Do not expect to be perfect; parenting is a difficult job. Many good books are available in libraries or at bookstores on child development, constructive problem-solving, discipline styles, and other parenting skills.
Mental Health Problems Many children experience mental health problems that are real and painful and can be severe.

Mental health problems affect at least one in every five young people, at any given time. At least 1 in 10 children may have a serious emotional disturbance that severely disrupts his or her ability to function.

Tragically an estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need. Mental health problems can lead to school failure, alcohol or other drug abuse, family discord, violence, or even suicide.

A variety of signs may point to a possible mental health problem in a child or teenager. If you are concerned about a child or have any questions, seek help immediately. Talk to your doctor, a school counselor, or other mental health professionals who are trained to assess whether your child has a mental health problem. For a list of warning signs, call 1-800-789-2647 and ask for the brochure "Your Child's Mental Health: What Every Family Should Know. (Order # CA-0001)

Group Health Insurance Quote Tips

Group Health Insurance is necessary to attract and keep good employees. While employers may not like the cost of group health, they should be aware of the benefits to the company and overall morale. There may be things you as an employer can do to alleviate some of this costly pain. Also, all Group Health companies and insurance agents that offer them are not created equal.

The cost of this health insurance versus the need for solid employees should be weighed. There a perception that many in this country that employees will take a cut in pay if they were to be guaranteed a group health plan. There is a simple explanation for this reasoning. People know they will have to go the doctor. Women need to have mammograms and pap smears, the children need their shots and physicals, and men need their prostrate examined, people realize these services cost money. Employees often would prefer that you take money out their check for group health then for them to write a check each month for it.

Get up to Five Free Group Health Insurance Quotes

It is the job of to keep your group health cost to a minimum. If you already have a group health plan, you can raise the deductible to discourage overuse of coverage by your employees. However a dramatic raising of group health deductible or co-payment may cause some rumbling among your employees. Yet it is t is a good idea to start with a lower deductible, so you can absorb rate increases. (Your group health rates will go up) Also know beforehand what networks are in your area, and what health networks most of your employees' doctors belong to.

It is very important to review and understand your group health quotes that you will receive. Any insurance agent or broker that provides you with initial group health quotes over the phone, without having your employees fill out any applications, is doing you a disservice. Unless the agent is the Great Houdini, no one in our field can give you a firm, group health quote without a thorough underwriting. Group Health Insurance is too complicated to be taken this casual. Remember, look for an agent that gets to know your particular situation, understand your needs, and has the group health benefits that meet your expectations.

Is going with the biggest named group health insurance companies, the best choice? Choosing the "big name" companies over less known, group health insurance companies with reputable ratings, may not be in your employees and yours' best interest. All group health plan are not designed the same. If XYZ, group health companies pays 80% for a mammogram and ABC, group health company pays all, could it make sense to you to check the other benefits of the health plan?

Employers realize that they must offer group health to attract and keep quality employees. There are a few hints that can keep group health costs down. It is important to realize that an initial group health quote, with no underwriting is worthless and probably should never be used. The listings of the benefits of the group health plan would be meaningful. While big companies have good "branding," do not overlook smaller group health companies with good ratings.

Other Group Health Tips

1. Realize that you will be required as an employer to contribute as least 25% of the premiums for the group health insurance. (I never seen an group health carrier ask for less.)

2. Also realize that many group health carriers want at least 60- 70% participation of eligible employees to take the group health insurance or they will not underwrite the group.

3. Before you bind coverage with an agent or broker, find out who will process any claim paperwork and who your employees call about a claim.

4. Decide whether you will want current employees to keep their group health insurance when they retire.

5. Review and ask questions about such terms as group health deductibles, coinsurance, and maximum limits if you are not familiar with them

Bottom Line Health

Choosing a health insurance plan is not as easy as it used to be. The distinctions among health plans have begun to blur as
health benefits companies compete for your business.

Although there is no "best" health benefits plan, there are carriers that are a better fit than others for your business and your employees' health care needs.

As chief executive officer of VISTA, a health benefits company, I am not immune to the skyrocketing cost of health care. As an
employer, I face the same challenge you do of keeping health care costs affordable for VISTA's 1,000 Florida employees. My responsibility also extends to more than 10,000 South Florida employer groups and 330,000 VISTA members.

While many CEOs, presidents and CFOs complain about the cost of providing health benefits for their employees, they are rarely
engaged in the process of selecting a health benefits company.
Fortunately, South Florida employers enjoy a highly competitive marketplace when it comes to purchasing health benefits. While
there are many carriers to choose from, the differences among each are few. The network of providers, plan designs and services are all very similar.

So all things being equal, why pay more? How do you know which health benefits company is the right fit for your business?
Ask yourself these questions.

As an employer, how much can I afford to contribute to the premium?

What benefits will serve the majority of my employees?

Will offering employees more choices save or cost me money?

Does the plan have an adequate number of providers?

Evaluating cost

Business owners are searching for ways to reduce their health care expenses. Look for a carrier that administers your health benefits plan efficiently.

Administrative charges are a carrier's overhead costs. They are included in your premium and can vary significantly. These charges include processing and paying claims, answering
customer calls, marketing and advertising costs, and broker commission payments. Carriers with lower administrative costs usually are much more affordable than those with high administrative costs. When reviewing proposals from health
benefits companies, ask what they will charge you for administrative expenses.

Offering employees a choice

Giving employees the freedom to choose their health plan will help educate them about the valuable benefit you offer, satisfy
their need for health benefits and keep your premium contributions within your budget. Plan choices may vary by co-payment, network access and employee contribution. It will be the employee, not the employer, who is responsible for evaluating and choosing his or her health benefits plan.

Employees will have to determine how often they use health care services, what they estimate those costs to be and how they want
to access and pay for those services.

An adequate provider network

No health benefits plan covers every health expense an employee may have or includes every physician. You are purchasing group
coverage. As a business owner, you must evaluate whether the health benefits pIan you are considering offers an affordable level of benefits and a network that provides adequate
accessibility for your employees.

Your bottom line

In South Florida, there can be as much as a 15 percent difference in cost among the health benefits companies you have to choose from. The health plan you select should be cost-competitive and offer a choice of health plans and an extensive provider network to meet the needs of your group.

Whether your company has 20 employees or 1,000, your level of engagement in the decision-making process is vital in determining how health care costs will impact your company's
bottom line. Standing on the sidelines could be a price you cannot afford to pay.

Top 40 Health Quotations

"Health is the thing that makes you feel that now is the best time of the year." -- Franklin P. Adams
"He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything." -- Arabian Proverb
"To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth." -- Richard Baker
"There's lots of people who spend so much time watching their health, they haven't got time to enjoy it." -- Josh Billings
"Health has its science, as well as disease. " --Elizabeth Blackwell
"Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died. " --Erma Bombeck
"Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do practice? " --George Carlin
"The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health. " --Charles Caleb Colton
"As I see it every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself." --Adelle Davis
"Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady." --Francois de La Rochefoucauld
"You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well." -- Wayne Dyer
"Give me health and a day and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The first wealth is health." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." -- Benjamin Franklin
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." --Redd Foxx
"Health is not valued till sickness comes." --Dr. Thomas Fuller
"A Hospital is no place to be sick." --Samuel Goldwyn
"Health is not simply the absence of sickness." --Hannah Green
"Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos - the trees, the clouds, everything." --Thich Nhat Hanh
"A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses." --Hippocrates
"The groundwork of all happiness is health." -- Leigh Hunt
"The oneness of mind and body holds the secret of illness and health. " --Arnold Hutschnecker
"Health is worth more than learning." --Thomas Jefferson
"We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique." -- Benjamin Jowett
"One out of 4 people in this country is mentally imbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends-if they seem okay, then you're the one." --Ann Landers
"To insure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life." -- William Londen
"It's no longer a question of staying healthy. It's a question of finding a sickness you like." --Jackie Mason
"Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away." --Robert Orben
"What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease." --George Dennison Prentice
"The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results." -- Anthony Robbins
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." -- Jim Rohn
"Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." --Albert Schweitzer
"A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools." -- Spanish Proverb
"People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy." -- Laurence Sterne
"Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and Spring. " --Henry David Thoreau
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." --Mark Twain
"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." --François Voltaire
"Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it." -- Unknown
"Time And health are two precious assets that we don't recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted." -- Denis Waitley
"Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy." --Izaak Walton

Occupational Health - Workplace Health Management

Workplace Health Management There are four key components of workplace health management:

Occupational Health and Safety
Workplace Health Promotion
Social and lifestyle determinants of health
Environmental Health Management

In the past occupational health policy was frequently driven solely by compliance with legislation. In the new approach to workplace health management, policy development is driven by both legislative requirements and by health targets set on a voluntary basis by the working community within each industry. In order to be effective Workplace Health Management needs to be based on knowledge, experience and practice accumulated in three disciplines: occupational health, workplace health promotion and environmental health. It is important to see workplace health management as a process not only for continuous improvement and health gain within the company, but also as framework for involvement between various agencies in the community. It offers a platform for co-operation between the local authorities and business leaders on community development through the improvement of public and environmental health.

The Healthy Workplace setting - a cornerstone of the Community Action Plan.

The Luxembourg Declaration of the European Union Network for Workplace Health Promotion defined WHP as the combined effort of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work

This can be achieved through a combination of:

Improving the work organization and the working environment
Promoting active participation of employees in health activities
Encouraging personal development

Workplace health promotion is seen in the EU network Luxembourg Declaration as a modern corporate strategy which aims at preventing ill-health at work and enhancing health promoting potential and well-being in the workforce. Documented benefits for workplace health programs include decreased absenteeism, reduced cardiovascular risk, reduced health care claims, decreased staff turnover, decreased musculoskeletal injuries, increased productivity, increased organizational effectiveness and the potential of a return on investment (Mossinik, Licher1998(Oxenburgh 1991).

However, many of these improvements require the sustained involvement of employees, employers and society in the activities required to make a difference. This is achieved through the empowerment of employees enabling them to make decisions about their own health. Occupational Health Nurses are well placed to carry out needs assessment for health promotion initiatives with the working populations they serve, to prioritize these initiatives alongside other occupational health and safety initiatives which may be underway, and to coordinate the activities at the enterprise level to ensure that initiatives which are planned are delivered. In the past occupational health services have been involved in the assessment of fitness to work and in assessing levels of disability for insurance purposes for many years.

The concept of maintaining working ability, in the otherwise healthy working population, has been developed by some innovative occupational health services. In some cases these efforts have been developed in response to the growing challenge caused by the aging workforce and the ever-increasing cost of social security. Occupational health nurses have often been at the forefront of these developments.

There is a need to develop further the focus of all occupational health services to include efforts to maintain work ability and to prevent non-occupational workplace preventable conditions by interventions at the workplace. This will require some occupational health services to become more pro-actively involved in workplace health promotion, without reducing the attention paid to preventing occupational accidents and diseases. Occupational health nurses, with their close contact with employees, sometimes over many years, are in a good position to plan, deliver and evaluate health promotion and maintenance of work ability interventions at the workplace.

Health promotion at work has grown in importance over the last decade as employers and employees recognize the respective benefits. Working people spend about half of their non-sleeping day at work and this provides an ideal opportunity for employees to share and receive various health messages and for employers to create healthy working environments. The scope of health promotion depends upon the needs of each group.

Some of the most common health promotion activities are smoking reducing activities, healthy nutrition or physical exercise programs, prevention and abatement of drug and alcohol abuse.

However, health promotion may also be directed towards other social, cultural and environmental health determinants, if the people within the company consider that these factors are important for the improvement of their health, well-being and quality of life. In this case factors such as improving work organization, motivation, reducing stress and burnout, introducing flexible working hours, personal development plans and career enhancement may also help to contribute to overall health and well-being of the working community.

The Healthy Community setting In addition to occupational health and workplace health promotion there is also another important aspect to Workplace Health Management. It is related to the impact that each company may have on the surrounding ambient environment, and through pollutants or products or services provided to others, its impact on distant environments. Remember how far the effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear accident in 1986 affected whole neighbouring countries.

Although the environmental health impact of companies is controlled by different legislation to that which applies to Health and Safety at work, there is a strong relationship between safeguarding the working environment, improving work organization and working culture within the company, and its approach to environmental health management.

Many leading companies already combine occupational health and safety with environmental health management to optimally use the available human resources within the company and to avoid duplication of effort. Occupational health nurses can make a contribution towards environmental health management, particularly in those companies that do not employ environmental health specialists.