County health

San Diego Experts Weigh In – Pizza, Health and the Economy

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:47:57 +0000

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have emerged offering evidence that some pizza may actually provide a number of health benefits. Between the cheese, crust, toppings, and oils, pizza fulfills servings in each of the recommended six categories that make up the food pyramid, created by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. These studies may come as a pleasant surprise for many, as pizza is not only an economical food, but the American Dairy Association also reports that the pies are America’s fourth most craved food behind cheese, chocolate and ice cream.

Pizza and Health
According to a Men’s Health article in 2005, scientists contributing to the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating pizza can reduce your risk of a heart attack. In a four-year study of nearly 1,000 Italians, those who ate pizza at least once a week were 30% less likely to experience a heart attack than those who did not consume pizza. This is contributed, in part, to pizza’s cardio protective ingredients, including natural olive oil and tomato sauce.

Further elaborating on the health benefits of tomato sauce, Lisa Mozing, MS, RD, FADA reported in a 2005 article in LifeScript, that lycopene, a natural antioxidant chemical found in tomatoes and tomato sauce, is thought to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Dr. Mozing reports that Italian scientists also discovered that in a study of 8,000 people, those who ate pizza as a healthy snack one or more times per week were several times less likely to get mouth and colon cancer. The tomato, she reported, is suspected to be behind the results that pizza lowered esophageal cancer by 59%, colon cancer by 26% and mouth cancer by 34%.

With more than 69,000 pizza restaurants in the United States as of July 2006, as reported by Pizza Marketing Quarterly, Americans have a variety of options when it comes to choosing pizza. But most experts agree that healthier pizza options are not found in the frozen food section or at major fast food chains. Patrick Farley, owner of Knockout Pizzeria of Carlsbad and Oceanside and FLIPPIN’ PIZZA, New York Style, of La Costa, Vista and Encinitas notes, “While these studies offer an interesting perspective on pizza, it’s important to be selective about what kinds of pizza you choose and where you purchase pizza from. If you choose to eat out, look for pizzerias that use all fresh, whole food ingredients and don’t add extra sugars and oils to the dough or sauce. These additives may taste good, but they don’t provide any nutritional benefits. Also, consider adding fruit, vegetable or meat toppings to ensure you’re touching upon each of the recommended food groups.”

Jessica Janc, owner of Body & Soul Nutrition, agrees. “A lot of my clients don’t want to give up pizza because it’s a Friday night family tradition, and they don’t need to. If you’re going to eat pizza, make it healthier by ordering it in a certain fashion. Choose thin crust pizzas that are lighter on the cheese and heavier on the vegetables. And always have a salad on the side for extra vegetables and fiber to avoid overeating on the pizza. It wouldn’t hurt to add some lean protein to the salad or pizza to help you feel more satisfied at your meal while eating less. As a general rule of thumb, stick to two slices with a nice salad on the side.”

Janc also recommends that you compare nutritional information of different pizzerias and pizza types before ordering. “The top three areas to pay attention to when considering nutritional information are serving size in relation to calories, fat grams and sugar count.” For pizzerias like FLIPPIN’ PIZZA, New York Style, that don’t add extra sugar and oil to the dough or sauce, Janc notes, “For sugars, you want to consume right around 1-2 teaspoons per serving, which is the equivalent of 4-8 grams. The sugar count in an average slice of FLIPPIN’ PIZZA falls well within this range.”

Pizza and the Economy
The media have said it, “SD Economic Forecast Looks Pretty Bad” (San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 2007), “San Diego Economic Prosperity Falls Behind Rest of Nation” (KPBS, Mar. 2008), but what does it mean for the food and beverage industry? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs have increased over 4.5 percent, partly due to higher fuel costs.

“The increase in food costs for providers typically translates to increased food prices for consumers,” says Farley. “In the food service industry, rising food costs also affects labor and utilities costs. To stay in business, full-service restaurants have no choice but to raise their prices and fast food establishments have no choice but to cut corners on quality ingredients or lose their budget-conscious customers.”

To feed a family of four a nutritious, plentiful meal, prices typically start in the low twenty-dollar range. To feed a family of four with pizza, salad and beverages at FLIPPIN’ PIZZA, New York Style, Farley notes the price is right around $25.

“Pizzeria establishments should feel secure, despite the slowing market,” notes Farley. “We offer a food with a lot of health benefits for an extremely reasonable price. Fast food restaurants can’t compete with the nutritional benefits and full-service restaurants can’t compete with the prices.”

Janc adds, “Some people have the misconception that improving eating habits means doubling the expense. Families that don’t want to spend as much on food typically go to fast food restaurants, but if you shop around, look for specials and make better, more healthy choices in general, you’re already making steps in the right direction without spending more. Plus, what you’ll save on doctors’ bills will make it worth the effort.”

With approximately three billion pizzas sold every year in the U.S., according to the National Association of Pizza Operators, and evidence continuing to emerge about the health benefits of certain types of pizza, consumers can feel financially and economically sound enjoying their Friday night pizza traditions for a long time to come.

By: Caroline Callaway

More Small Business Health Insurance Basics In Texas

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:07:07 +0000

Because premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance levels for small business group health insurance policies in Texas can vary widely from plan to plan, it pays to shop around.

Have a good understanding of your employees’ healthcare needs before you start shopping. Do they require frequent medical care or do they rarely see the doctor? Are they more concerned about preventive checkups or coverage in case of emergency? Are prescription or maternity benefits important to them? This is an essential first step. You want to purchase a plan that offers the medical benefits your employees need, without a bunch of “extras” your employees won’t take advantage of. You’ll pay for these “extras” in the form of higher premiums.

When shopping for coverage, the Texas Department of Insurance recommends keeping these guidelines in mind:

How to Stop the Latest Threat to Your Health – MRSA-MDR

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:00:16 +0000

Can garlic stop Godzilla?

Godzilla, as you know is this monster. An unstoppable monster that rips up whole cities. Bombs, bullets and even missiles just bounce off his back like raindrops.

So what if you ran into a real-life Godzilla?

A Godzilla called MRSA

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a dangerous bacteria that has exploded from 127,000 cases in 1999 to 278,000 in 2005. According to the CDC, this deadly threat was responsible for more deaths in the US than AIDS in 2005. Spreading across the world, MRSA is now found in 38 states, Canada, and 9 European Union Countries.

So will garlic help?

MRSA mutates quickly

A new variant of MRSA called MDR has been recently identified in the Jan 15th 2008 physicians journal called the Annals of Internal Medicine. Standing for multidrug resistant, MDR is the newest MRSA-zilla monster to be unleashed. Cases of this newest monster have been found in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston.

This strain has also shown the ability to resist almost every antibiotic. Without antibiotics, there are not many drugs that will protect you.

By: Greg Lee

The Disadvantages of Business Litigation in Orange County

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:57:42 +0000

Although identified with large suburban areas and numerous tourist destinations, Orange County is fast becoming a promising place for business activities. In fact, more and more companies and firms are being established in various localities to operate and to provide their services and products.

However, this development upsurge also brought about a growth in number of cases involving business disputes and other violations of the California Labor Code. Hence, this scenario results in the need of fine Orange County business law attorneys who can help the aggrieved parties obtain justice and suitable compensations.

There are two ways to pursue a lawsuit; one is to file a case in court through litigation and the other is to enter into alternative dispute resolutions. These two legal procedures aim to resolve a disputed issue between two or more parties.

In most cases, business entities in Orange County who have been involved in legal disputes prefer entering into alternative dispute resolutions. This is due to the many disadvantages entailed in resolving a disputed issue through litigation.

Disadvantages in Pursuing Business Litigation

It is more costly to undergo litigation proceedings – although some businesses are lucky enough to find lawyers who offer their legal services on contingency basis, business litigation may still cost them huge amount. In Orange County, business litigators commonly charge their clients thousands of dollars as their minimum fee. To add, any delays in litigation would mean bigger legal fees. These delays happen for many reasons such as unavailability of courtrooms. Litigation may necessitate long period – As most people perceive it, time is definitely important. Spending more time pursuing a lawsuit would mean large opportunities or productivity being lost. Unfortunately, many companies that engaged in business litigation have to deal with their cases for several weeks to even months or years. More sadly, many court decisions are not enough to cover the damages incurred by the affected businesses. The privacy of the business may be lost – Because the court may ask about certain issues and information regarding the parties involved, some secret matters may be divulged in public. These may include business records, trade secrets and other information about the business operation. Aside from these, the legal counsels of each party may use tactics in order to reveal the misdealing or illicit activities of each company. This is the reason why it is necessary to make sure that your company operation is in order before deciding to file a lawsuit. The public may have wrong impression on your business although you were able to win the case – Most of the times; people will choose to believe negative criticisms or bad issues rather than the decision of the court acquitting a company of any fault. Consequently, the acquitted business may suffer the lost of public trust that will surely affect its potentials. The other party may file their counter charges – there are extreme possibilities that the defendant company has its own side of the disputed issue. Thus, it is necessary to be ready for such event.
Why Hire Orange County Attorneys?

No matter what legal procedure a business decides to pursue, it is vital for them to hire expert representation. The intricate provisions of the California Corporations Code and other related business laws necessitate the expertise of Orange County business law attorneys. These legal professionals will make sure that their clients’ rights will be upheld in the litigation process.

Our skilled Orange County lawyers can assist you in issues involving business laws and transactions You can avail of their services by logging on to our website.

By: Rainier Policarpio

Health Insurance for Musicians? – An Innovative Austin Program

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:49:07 +0000

Austin enjoys the self-promoted but well-deserved reputation as live music capital of the world. In recent years, the city has decided to put its money where its mouth is to ensure that it stays that way. One of the most innovative and socially progressive ways it is doing that is by providing an insurance program for working musicians through HAAM, or Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

It’s a unique concept. Besides New Orleans, Austin is the only city in the US to provide such comprehensive health care to its local musicians.

“This city loves those who make music for us all,” according to Betty Dunkerley, Austin Mayor Pro Tem and HAAM board member. “What better way than Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is there to show our appreciation? HAAM makes members’ lives better.”

HAAM was created in 2005 as a result of a partnership between local hospitals and the SIMS foundation with support from the city and various Austin businesses. They recognized the tremendous need that existed in the community of musicians in the city for affordable health care. More than 8,000 working musicians live in Austin and most of them are uninsured. Rather than wait for the federal or state government to come up with a plan to help the millions of Americans who do not have health insurance, this community of musicians and their supporters decided to provide that help themselves.

Funding for the organization is provided by business and private donations and various grants. The HAAM benefit day every October mobilizes musicians, local businesses and city officials to raise money for the organization. In 2006 they raised more than $107,000, and more than $180,000 in 2007. Other events throughout the year, such as Austin music backer Nancy Coplin’s BIG SIX-O birthday party recently, donate their proceeds to HAAM as well. Of course, interested supporters may also donate money at any time through the HAAM.

HAAM’s 2007 annual report reveals nearly 4,900 medical, dental and mental health visits which earned a 94 percent approval rating from member-musicians. This success results from a one-of-a-kind collaboration among the Seton Family of Hospitals (clinic visits, prescriptions, hospital services and specialist referrals), St. David’s Community Health Foundation Leadership (dental visits) and The SIMS Foundation (counseling, psychiatric and addiction-recovery sessions).

Membership in 2007 grew to 929 of which 65 percent were age 40 and younger, with 67 percent earning less than $15,000 a year. To receive the benefits from the program, members must live in Travis County and be able to prove that they earn money playing music. For many services, members must pay a small co-pay; some other services are provided for free.

The SIMS foundation was named after Austin musician Sims Ellison who lost a long battle with depression and committed suicide in 1995. His death shocked the Austin community and a group of family and friends decided to create the SIMS foundation to provide low-cost counseling, psychiatric and addiction recovery service to musicians who needed it. The foundation provided more than 2,300 such sessions in 2007.

In addition, through HAAM, more than 573 members made more than 1,300 clinic visits that same year and benefitted from more than 500 hospital services of various kinds as well. Many members also took advantage of the free dental services provided by the organization.

Almost all members are very positive about the work HAAM is doing and the services it provides. Guy Forsyth is an Austin musician who has built up quite a reputation throughout Texas.

“It makes me really happy for younger musicians who are coming up and for parents who may have a child who’s very talented and it’s scary to think of them becoming an artist. Because we see all these examples around us of people, who aren’t part of a corporate structure are left behind in terms of health care and public support,” Forsyth said.

By: Ki Gray

The Reason’s Why You Need Health Insurance

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:45:23 +0000

One of the biggest debates in America usually begins and ends with health insurance. The health care industry in this country is one that is becoming expensive for the common man. With health care costs rising with the advent of new life saving technology and medicine, it is becoming more and more expensive to receive health care if you become sick. This article will focus on the different reasons why it is important to have health insurance and the benefits and disadvantages that is associated with this type of insurance.

As mentioned above health care is extremely expensive and you never know when you may become sick. If you do become sick, hospital fees can reach levels, where you may become bankrupt. The beauty of health insurance is the fact that for a small monthly fee (premium) you can have coverage in the event you become sick and need to seek medical treatment. This makes health insurance very beneficial as it can protect your family against financial hardships that may result from health care expenses

If you have health insurance your are somewhat protected financially against sickness. Let’s say you do not have health insurance and you become sick and have to pay a tremendous hospital bill. After spending all that money, you might get sick again and this time wont have the money to cover the cost of the treatment. In a scenario like this you might be sued or a lien placed on your property in an attempt to recover the costs of the medical bills.

Another benefit of having health insurance is the fact that your are more likely to go and visit a health facility to get preventative care or treat your ailment. Some people who do not have health insurance wait until the problem reaches a level when they are very sick or when their condition becomes too expensive to be treated. Even in an event like this, there is still the option of going to the county hospital, which is extremely bad. The conditions are overcrowded and you might take a long time before you are seen or treated.

By: James Daltons

Home Inspection Report – Get One Before Taking Out an Orange County Home Loan

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:13:32 +0000

Who has not heard of Orange County? Immortalized as the O.C, where rich kids party like crazy and take a break from school and family life on board a yacht, Orange County has become synonymous with wealth and privilege.

Orange County’s posh and picturesque reputation is truly well-deserved. It combines upscale living with breathtaking natural beauty. It spans 798 square miles of prime California land and boasts of sun, surf, and lifestyle that are proudly Californian and at the same time, uniquely its own. No wonder many people are considering taking out Orange County home loans!

If you are one of those who are on the look-out for Orange County home loans, do not underestimate the significance of home inspection reports. Orange County properties are among the most expensive in the whole country. It is, thus, only prudent that you have the property checked before you buy it.
Before you actually take out an Orange County home loan, ask for a home inspection report first.

Why a Home Inspection Report Matters

A house in an investment. Over the years, its value increases. Structural problems, however, diminish a house’s commercial value and future marketability. Always ask for a detailed inspection report before you finalize the details of your Orange County home loan.

Should the inspection reveal problems, it is perfectly legal for you to wriggle your way out of the contract. After all, no homeowner should be forced to purchase a defective home. To give yourself wriggling room, however, be sure to incorporate a contingency clause in your mortgage terms, detailing your way out of the contract should the house be seriously flawed or wanting in some way.

The Home Inspection Report

Most inspection reports are 10 to 20 pages long. They detail structural problems, if any are found. Home inspectors check for a lot of things, and structural problems are only one of them. They check for termite infestation, too. At the same time, they look for presence of lead paint hazards, particularly in homes built before 1978.

Using Your Home Inspection Report

Suppose you now have the report in your hands. What do you do with it?

1. Review the report carefully.

2. Zoom in on the items that indicate potential health hazards. Usual problems of this nature include use of lead paint, the presence of asbestos, or a cracked heat exchanger in the furnace.

3. Comb the report for items requiring expensive repairs in the not-too-distant future. Two examples would be holes on the roof or cracks in the foundation.

4. Show your seller the report. Inform the seller of the findings and the possible repairs needed.

5. Get an estimate of how much the total repairs would cost. Then, provide your seller with the figures. If you do this, you will surely be able to save thousands of dollars on that Orange County home loan you’re thinking of getting. This is because most sellers agree to adjust the selling price or have the repairs carried out before the deal is closed.

6. Consider whether the Orange County home loan you’re taking out can cover repair costs. If not, then it’s wise to initiate proceedings for rejecting the property.

The only downside to getting a home inspection report is the expense. Because you are the one taking out an Orange County home loan, you will be paying for the home inspection report yourself. The cost? Between $50 to $100. The benefit? Priceless!

By: Rony Walker

National Health Insurance In America, Part 2

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:57:54 +0000

So why don’t we have National Health Insurance In America

The political will has not gained momentum on this issue due to AMA propaganda that continues to cast doubt in the public mind concerning the success of such a plan. The first misgiving usually offered is that our country cannot afford to pay for comprehensive care for everyone.

Every other industrialized nation provides comprehensive care to all at a much lower cost than our system which leaves so many people out. Other nations spend 6-10 percent of their Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, whereas we, the wealthiest nation on earth, spend 14 % of our GDP.

Our country already has enough funds dedicated to health care to provide the highest quality of care for everyone. Studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, the Lewin Group and Boston University School of Public Health have shown that under a single payer system, comprehensive care can be provided for everyone without spending any more funds than are now being spent.

There has been considerable publicity about the delays in receiving elective services that are characteristic of other nations, especially the United Kingdom and Canada. At 6% and 9% of their GDP, respectively, they are spending much less than we are as a nation.

Not only do we have more than sufficient funds, we are also a nation that is infamous for our excess health care capacity. Typical of these excesses is the fact that there are more MRI scanners in Orange County, CA than in all of Canada.

With our generous funding and the tremendous capacity of our health care delivery system, the delays would not be a significant limiting factor in the U.S.

“Americans do not want socialized medicine,” is a phrase that is frequently used glibly to dismiss the single payer concept. Socialized medicine is a system in which the government owns the facilities, and the providers of care are government employees.

In sharp contrast, a single payer system uses the existing private and public sector health care delivery systems, preserving private ownership and employment. The unique feature of a single payer system is that all health care risks are placed in a universal risk pool, covering everyone. The pool is funded in a fair and equitable manner so that everyone pays their fair share in taxes, unlike our current defective system in which some pay far too much while others are not paying their share. The funds are allocated through a publically administered program resulting in optimum use of our health care dollars.

A single payer system has no more in common with socialized medicine than our current Medicare program.

Many contend that government bureaucracies are very wasteful compared with the efficiencies of the private market place. In the health care arena, this has not been true. Our Medicare program, a publicly administered program, operates on an administrative cost of less than 2%. The managed care intermediaries consume 9 to 30% of the health care dollar.

This difference is due to large corporate administrations, costs involved with competition between companies and marketing expenses that would be nonexistent in a public program. A single payer system has as its mission the optimization of resources for better patient care. Funds are not wasted on corporate administrative excesses.

Another argument is that a single payer system, by being universal, would lower the standard of care to a level of mediocrity for everyone, preventing the affluent from exercising her/his option to obtain the highest level of care.

However, our current system is characterized by essentially two alternatives: either no insurance with severely impaired access to even a mediocre level of care, or being insured by a managed care industry that has whittled down what is available until mediocrity has become the standard of care. Only the relatively affluent have access to unlimited care.

The generous level of funds that we have already dedicated to health care, adding to this a more efficient administration with an exclusive mission of optimum patient care well above the mediocrity that we now have, lays the foundation for a universal health care system in America.

A single payer system does not preclude the affluent from paying, outside the system, for a penthouse suite in the hospital, or for cosmetic surgery or for any other service that should not be part of a publicly funded program.

Other than the assurance that everyone would have coverage for health, there is even a greater good that a single payer system would bring to our nation: Making preventative and public health services available to everyone would improve the level of health of this country. Reduction of communicable diseases and reducing the higher costs of untreated chronic diseases helps us all.

Healthy people, for instance, make for a healthier work force with less lost work time, greater productivity and a more positive healthy environment.

Socialism is a dirty word in this country. Universal health care for all has been equated with socialism, and much propaganda has been communicated by the press, by right wing politicians, by medical groups such as the AMA or anyone else who has an agenda to keep the 1500 plus health insurance companies a thriving market with profits that undoubtedly help to pay for their agendas.

But if Americans knew the truth, and would turn off their TVs and use that time instead to change this country, using the power of grassroots politics, to make a single payer universal system a reality for all, then we would finally have the best health care system in the world. The Green Party in this country has as one of its missions to bring a universal system of health care to all Americans.

Any group with the passion to change the world, one issue at a time, with a loving intent, can do it.

By: Kate Loving Shenk

How To Get Rid Of Mold

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:49:25 +0000

Mold is most often green, red, black, or blue in coloring while most mildew is generally gray or white. Mold is very common outdoors, depending on an individuals location, a good many people do suffer from mold allergies. Mold is a live organism that will develop when in combination with the right temperature, mold spores, dampness, and a sufficient food source are available. Mold is a natural living organism. The term toxic mold can be somewhat misleading to some, as it precludes an idea that certain molds can be toxic, when in actuality certain strains of mold produces secondary metabolites that will produce toxins. Mold is the general terminology used to describe a furry growth or organic matter, caused by fungus, mainly in the presence of dampness and rot.

Various Mold Strains

There are thousands of varieties of mold. Molds are not always necessarily harmful, penicillin was created from mold. Molds do release spores as part of the their reproductive cycle. Molds can and do grow on wood, ceilings, wallpaper, paint, carpeting, drywall, and the different types of insulation, and they utilize their very powerful enzymes to eat up and dissolve home materials the same way that they can dissolve rotting and decaying plant matter. Molds that have the ability to produce toxins are very common. Molds can also grow at a variety of humidity and temperatures, but they have a difficult time growing in arid environments.

Mold Issues Indoors

Indoors mold can be found where dampness and humidity levels are high, mainly in basements and showers. Unfortunately, our government has not established a set of guidelines that determines unhealthy amounts of poor indoor air standards. Thereby making it difficult, if not impossible for scores of sickly people to get help during this possible emerging health crisis. A lot of people are unaware or ignorant about the extreme health hazards that may be involved with certain types of indoor molds. In many areas, your local health department might also have important information on mold, and you might want to contact your state Air Quality office.

Toxic Molds

Toxic mold may cause cold like symptoms in an individual . Headaches, possible sneezing, running nose, itchy red eyes and/or skin rashes, according to many experts, certain molds may cause permanent neurological, psychological, pathological, and immune system damage. In some cases toxic effects have been recorded from ingesting moldy grain, but evidence is feeble that breathing mold spores inside a structure can cause toxic effects. Toxic mold will very commonly occur in damp and humid areas of a dwelling including behind the walls and also appliances. Toxic mold or commonly known as black mold can be deadly, mainly targeting children with allergies to mold. Extremely toxic molds may develop from water leakage, while black mold is generally not as common than other mold types, it is by no means rare.

How to Get Rid of Mold Conclusion

If you spot mold in your home, it is a warning sign that you have water seepage or a leak that needs to be attended to. While mold is getting plenty of coverage in the media these days, it has actually been around for since time eternity. This mold is an undesired intruder in our home’s. Regardless of the variety of mold found in the home, a home that has mold is not necessarily a healthy home. You may be able to contact your local county or state health department about mold concerns that you may have in the area that you live to find out about what mold assessment they may offer.

Cautionary Side Note: How to Get Rid of Mold

Attempting to mixing bleach with ammonia or any other cleaning products will produce dangerous and toxic fumes.

By: Charlene Rhodes

Lower Your Premiums With Florida Health Savings Account Plans (HSA)

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:52:16 +0000

I would like to talk to you today about Florida Health Savings Account plans (Florida HSA). This is a type of health insurance plan that offers very low cost premiums with a somewhat higher deductible.

Many of you have discovered how great these plans can be and have already taken advantage of them. The rest of you still have a frame of mind that prevents you from buying these cost-saving Florida health insurance plans. You still think that you will be able to buy a plan with low co-pays, covers everything and has a $100 deductible. Then again, many of you still hold on to the hope that Santa Claus is a real person.

Let’s say you are sitting in your living room and a baseball flies through the window. It breaks a pane of glass. You call to have it repaired and the charges total $100. Your homeowner’s policy has a $5,000 deductible so you pay out of pocket.

Chances are you do not spend the next day shouting about your rotten homeowner’s policy that would not reimburse you the $100. Chances are that you do not shout at your home owner’s insurance agent about “What the hell do I pay premiums for?”

Why? It is because you bought the policy to help pay for the things that can happen to a home that cost a lot of money. Situations like a fire or a hurricane. You are smart enough to know that if they paid for the broken window, your homeowner’s plan would be even more outrageously expensive than it already is. You can pay for the window and your children will still eat tomorrow.

The purpose of insurance, any type of insurance, is to provide financial help for those situations that would be a hardship if we had to pay out of own pockets. The degree to which you want to be protected, in other words the amount of compensation you receive and the deductible (the amount you have to pay before the insurance company does), will determine how much you pay for insurance. It is as simple as that.

Those of you looking for a Florida health insurance plan with $10 co-pays, $100 deductibles, vision, dental and a limo to pick you up and take you to the doctor are living in a dream world. Health insurance premiums in Florida, in case you did not notice, are going up each year 8% to 20% depending on the carrier and plan.

Now, let’s talk about an intelligent solution. The rest of this discussion will assume a working knowledge of 4th grade arithmetic. You do NOT have to smarter than a 5th grader to understand all of this.

All of our HSA plans are PPO’s. In other words, if you go to a network provider (physician, lab, testing facility, etc.) you are entitled to the discounted PPO rate for services. You will pay the reduced rate the insurance company pays. A physician visit may be reduced from $100 down to $60 under these circumstances.

You pay a premium each month for the health insurance plan, just like any other Florida health insurance. However, this plan has a somewhat higher deductible and a lower monthly premium. If you meet the deductible, the insurance company pays the rest of your expenses. It is still multi-million dollar major medical coverage.

What about doctor’s visits and prescriptions? You pay them. But here is the catch. Uncle Sam allows you to set up a special savings account. This is an interest bearing account, the money is yours, and it does not disappear at the end of the year.

For every dollar you put into the savings account, you can take a dollar off of your gross income at tax time. Your “Uncle” is helping you to pay for your health insurance. You are paying medical expenses with pre-tax money.

Here is an example. A couple (Male 40 and Female 35) living in Pinellas County would pay $130 a month for a $6000 deductible HSA plan. A plan with a similar out of pocket expense and some doctor co-pays would be $270 a month.

For the privilege of paying a doctor visit for $35 instead of $60, it will cost them more than $1600 a year. From my stand point, that is insane. If something terrible happened to you, the coverage is the same. Actually, you would pay a little less in out-of-pocket expenses with the HSA plan.

If this couple were in a 25% tax bracket and put the $1600 into their Health Savings Account, they would save $400 a year in taxes and get interest on the money as well. If you factor that in, they are paying less than $100 a month for multi-million dollar PPO Florida health insurance. Not bad.

I am not going to go through a complete explanation as to how the HSA plans work. It is discussed on our website flquote.com. Plus, I would be glad to email you a complete brochure.

You need to approach health insurance (or any type of insurance) with a business mindset. The question you need to ask yourself or your agent is “What do I get for the extra dollar of premium?” In our aforementioned example, what did they get for the extra $1,600 a year? Not much really.

Believe it or not, the insurance carriers want you to buy the cheaper high deductible plans. They structure their prices to make it much more attractive. It is good for you and it is even better for them. Plus, the rate increases tend to be much lower.

Florida HSA plans are almost always the best choice for health insurance. How much are you paying for your low deductible health insurance plan? You think you are going to the doctor for $20. But, if you pay an extra $1,000 a year for the plan and go to the doctor 4 times in a year, the visit is costing you $220. Not such a bargain after all.

Has the light gone on yet? Are you starting to understand that the insurance company is trying to rip you off? Call us at 800-2727-0512 and we will walk you through a quote that will compare your plan to a Florida HSA plan.

By: Martin Unger