Urge Your Representatives & Senators to support a Single Payer Health Care System

It will come as no surprise to most that the health care system in the United States is badly broken. With 47 million uninsured Americans and many more underinsured, many people find themselves not getting the basic care that they need. Often less serious conditions become more serious and costly conditions because many people who lack health insurance simply avoid going to a doctor. In some cases care for the uninsured and underinsured can be similar to that found in Third World Nations. Read my blog post on the Shame of the U.S. Healthcare System: http://healthplansplus.blogspot.com/2007/11/shame-of-american-health-care-system.html.

One major problem is that the U.S. health care system has been held hostage by the for profit insurance companies. With the large profits that these companies make by denying coverage to many or not paying claims, they are able to use these profits to lobby our politicians, pay for ads frightening people from supporting health care reform, and paying 7 figure salaries to their top executives. These companies are clearly in the pockets of our politicians.

Another problem is that the U.S. system is basically an employer sponsored system. Unfortunately the price of health insurance has become so exorbitant that many of the smaller companies have dropped health insurance altogether or have asked their employees to contribute larger and larger percentages of their incomes for their health insurance package with many opting not to take coverage. If you are self-employed, you must pay even higher costs and will be lucky to receive any coverage at all especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Often individuals must pay premiums of over $500 per month and families will usually pay premiums greater than $1200 per month. This is equivalent to paying a second rent each month. Many hard working middle income and working class families will have very little left after paying for food, rent or mortgage, utilities, car expenses, clothing, and other household expenses. With this being the case, many families simply go without any health insurance coverage.

Although some of the blame must also be placed on our health care providers for not containing costs, much blame lies in the reimbursement schedule. One suggestion has been to pay a certain amount to the provider for treatment of a particular condition rather than paying for each visit, procedure, and test ordered separately. If we make a comparison to a restaurant, it might be akin to choosing a prix fixe dinner as opposed to ordering everything a la carte. Clearly some oversight is necessary and would be provided by a single payer system.
Accessibility to health care should be a basic human right. The United States is the only major industrialized country to not have a national health care plan.

When a system is this badly broken, the best solution is just to replace it with something completely different. Only a single payer system would provide healthcare coverage for all. This system, also called Medicare for all, would offer cost savings not found in any other system.

According to Physicians for a National Health Program: “Single payer would be the simplest and most efficient health care plan that Congress could implement.” Unfortunately we are not likely to see a single payer healthcare system unless we the people place enough pressure on our Congressional officers who seem to worry more about their re-election possibilities rather than the health of their constituents. It is about time that they listen to the people that they represent and not the big insurance companies. So for all of my readers in the U.S., who are serious about healthcare reform, please take a few minutes to write or call you representatives in Washington today and ask that they consider a single payer health care option.

If you find yourself without health insurance but need to see a doctor or dentist or save money on prescriptions, visit www.healthplansplus.net.

My Tomato Rarebit Recipe A Good Source of Lycopene

We all know the nutritional benefits of tomatoes. Tomatoes are a great source antioxidant vitamins A & C, various minerals including potassium and iron, and are a particularly good source of the powerful antioxidant lycopene which is responsible for the red coloring in tomatoes and other fruits such as guava, pink grapefruit, etc.

According to mayoclinic.com: Lycopene is a carotenoid, and is present in human serum, liver, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate, colon, and skin at higher levels than other carotenoids. Lycopene has been found to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative properties in animal and in vitro studies, although activity in humans remains controversial.

What this means is that not only is lycopene a powerful antioxidant which can reduce the cell and DNA damaging affects of free radicals, but that it possesses antiproliferative properties which can help prevent the spread of cancer cells especially in the breast, uterus, colon, lungs and prostate. The Mayo Clinic website also lists a number of conditions where lycopene can be helpful. These conditions include: age related macular degeneration, exercise induced asthma, atherosclerosis and high cholesterol, sun protection, and the prevention of certain cancers including those of the prostate, cervix, colon, lungs, and breast.

While fresh tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, and lycopene is available as a supplement, some consider cooked tomatoes such as that found in ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato paste the best source. Whoever knew that ketchup could be so good for you?

Simple Tomato Rarebit Recipe

Here is a very simple but tasty recipe that has been in my father’s family for many years and is a good source of vitamins A, C, K and lycopene.

Ingredients: 1 can condensed tomato soup, 2 – 3 slices of American cheese cut up into small pieces, and 4 – 6 slices of bread.

Directions: In a small saucepan combine the soup and cut up pieces of American cheese. Use at least 2 slices of American cheese per can of soup. If you prefer a more mellow and less acidy taste, as I do, use 3 slices of cheese per can of soup. Heat on medium stirring constantly until all of the cheese is melted. Serve over lightly toasted bread or plain bread. This makes a hearty lunch on a cold Winter day. Serves 2. Just double the recipe to serve more people. To make a fancier rarebit, just add bacon bits to garnish or stewed or sun-dried tomatoes. This simple version tastes just fine, especially if you use a good quality condensed tomato soup.

Take care of your family's health by visiting: Health Plans Plus.
Happy and healthy eating!

The Shame of the American Health Care System

As is well publicized, over 47,000,000 Americans have no health insurance—more than 15 % of the population. Even more Americans do not have any dental insurance. With the exception of the United States, most developed countries have a National health system which benefits all of its citizens both rich and poor. Although the United States is a first world country, for the more than 47 million uninsured, medical care is third world.

I recently read an article, “Patients without Borders” by Sara Corbett, in the November 18, 2007 edition of The New York Times Magazine, which made me feel very ashamed of the state of the health care situation in the United States. This photo journal told of some very generous and humane physicians, dentists, optometrists, and nurses who belong to a group called Remote Area Medical (RAM). The original purpose of this group was to send health expeditions to such 3rd world countries as Guyana, India, Tanzania and Haiti. The only difference was that this time the expedition took place right in the United States.

On a rainy July weekend, at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Virginia, right after the finish of the Virginia-Kentucky Fair and Horse Show, volunteers from the Virginia Lions Clubs scrub down the facilities and ready the fairgrounds for the Remote Area Medical team. Working in animal stalls and makeshift tents, these volunteers provided free eyeglasses, dental work, radiology, and even minor surgery to over 2,500 patients without health insurance. These patients had to wait on long lines and were treated in less than comfortable surroundings. At the end of the weekend, several hundred patients were turned away because they simply arrived too late to be seen. This expedition is only held once a year. What happens to these patients if they become ill and have medical or dental needs before the RAM team returns?

Many of the RAM health expedition patients are hard working people who simply can’t afford the high cost of medical care or the medical insurance needed to pay for this costly care. Is good medical care only a privilege of the wealthy?

To the credit of the Democratic candidates running for President, each of them does have a health care plan which would ease the current health care crisis. Unfortunately a few of them only address the needs of children whose families don’t have any health insurance. While this might be a good place to start, don’t adults need medical care as well?

If you listen to the Republicans, the solution to the current health insurance debacle can be found in the private sector. Hasn’t the private sector failed? It is the private sector that has brought us managed care, overly priced pharmaceuticals, and out of control prices. Can we trust our health care to a private sector that cares more about corporate profit margins than the health of Americans? If you listen to the Republicans debate, you come away with the feeling that they have more interest in abortion, guns, gay marriage, persecuting undocumented immigrants, spying on American citizens, and what goes on in our bedroom than in providing decent health care to hard working Americans.

George Bush fooled the American people by stating that he would be a compassionate Conservative. Do these 2 words even go together? This so-called compassionate Conservative vetoed the SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Plan) which would have extended more health benefits to children without insurance. There were not enough Republicans to join with the Democrats for the 2/3 majority needed to override the presidential veto.

Keep health care in mind when you vote in the upcoming primary elections and the November 2008 general election. In the meantime, if you are one of the 47 million Americans without health insurance or the 7 out of 10 without any dental benefits, visit www.healthplansplus.net for information on how to save money on your health care.

Call for submissions at Take Charge of Your Health Care Carnival

This is a call for submissions to my new "Take Charge of Your Health Care Blog Carnival." This blog carnival will publish monthly and will feature articles pertaining to saving money on heath care, current issues in health care, medical and dental benefits, and alternative medicine. Please visit www.blogcarnival.com and look for "Take Charge of Your Health Care" for more details.

Access to good health care, especially in the United States, has become quite costly in the last 10 to 20 years. With big pharmaceutical companies and health maintenance organizations in charge of our health system, things are not likely to get any better until some changes are made. The purpose of Take Charge of Your Health Care is to blog about the high cost of health and dental care, suggest ways to save money using the present system, focus on consumer directed health care where patients can make choices for their best interest, expose attempts by the big pharmaceutical companies to lower acceptable blood pressure and cholesterol values so they can sell more expensive medications or drug our children for made up mental disorders, and seek alternative medicine solutions to health problems.

The carnival will publish each month so we are looking for article submissions on various healthcare issues such as the high cost of medical and dental care, ways to save money on health care, alternative medicine, consumer directed health care, and current issues in health care. Our first edition will be published on September 20, 2007, and we will publish around the 20th of each month. If you would like your blog article to be published in the next edition, please submit no later than September 19th.

What Are Discount Health Plans? Part 2

Discount health plans offer businesses, families, and individuals a way to save money on their health care costs. For individuals and families who lack basic medical and dental insurance, discount plans can be used as stand alone programs to help save money on expensive medical costs. Often substantial discounts are given on dental procedures, physician visits, lab tests, imaging studies, vision care, prescriptions, and chiropractic treatment. Discounts on ancillary services such as hearing aids, physical therapy, mental health services, and diabetic supplies are also included. At AmeriPlan® we even include a hospital advocacy plan on our health plans which can help families and individuals avoid bankruptcy. This is how our hospital advocacy program works. As soon as the hospitalized patient reaches $2,500 or more in hospital expenses, a professional advocate is assigned to that patient. The hospital advocate negotiates the patient's fee with the hospital often achieving a substantial reduction for the patient. An affordable and convenient payment plan is then worked out for the patient.

For patients with health insurance, discount health plans can also be used as supplemental benefits. These benefits can include prescription, vision, chiropractic, and other benefits not included in the patient’s insurance plan. In addition, traditional health insurance plans usually don’t include coverage for cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, alternative medicine, or Lasik eye surgery while most discount health plans do include savings on these services.

Businesses can benefit from including discount health plans as part of their total benefits package. Businesses can purchase less costly catastrophic, high deductible, and health savings accounts. These high deductible medical insurance programs save the company considerable money. A discount health plan is purchased along with the high deductible plan to provide supplemental benefits. These supplemental benefits provide savings on routine health expenditures and dental care while the catastrophic coverage provides a safety net for lengthy hospitalizations and complex care. Companies can save money on their health insurance while providing their valued employees with the security that they need.

For more information on discount health plans, visit www.healthplansplus.net.

Save Money on Prescriptions

I recently wrote several blog posts describing how patients with more than $90 in prescription medication expenses who were without prescription drug coverage and met certain income eligibility requirements (generally 2 times the Federal poverty level) could qualify for patient assistance programs sponsored by the large pharmaceutical companies. I also described how AmeriPlan®, a discount dental and medical benefits company, had created the Ameriplan® Prescription Advocacy Program to help patients navigate the complicated paperwork required to access these patient assistance programs.

What if you do not qualify for a patient assistance program? How can you save money on your medications?

One thing that you can do is ask your healthcare provider to prescribe the generic version of the more expensive brand name medication. Most generic drugs are cheaper than their brand name equivalents. Both generic and brand name medications must meet the FDA’s rigorous standards, so consumers can be confident that there is no discernable difference between generic and brand name drugs. According to Gary J. Buehler, Director of the Office of Generic Drugs for the FDA: “The American public can be confident that when a generic drug product is approved, it has met the rigorous standards established by the FDA with respect to identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency.

Avoid taking a new and more expensive brand name medication when an older drug is available and is equally effective. In some cases, generic drugs may prove to be safer than brand name medications. Most generic drugs have been on the market for several years, so potential side effects and problems are better known that with newer drugs. The site worstpills.org reports that there have been many more incidences of health problems associated with brand-name drugs than with the older generic drugs. Worstpills.org recommends that consumers stay away from newly launched drugs for several years until both safety and efficacy are well established. For example there have been many reported serious side effects for the type 2 diabetes drug Avandia. The older drug, Glucotrol, provides equally effective blood glucose control without the serious and possibly deadly side effects of Avandia.

Do some comparison shopping. Consumers can cut their prescription drug costs by doing some comparison shopping both locally and online. Compare prices at local pharmacies, supermarkets and department stores. Also, compare different online sources as well. A study by the National Center for Policy Analysis reveals that price comparison shopping can reduce prescription costs for some common drugs up to 90%

Consider enrolling in a discount health plan with a prescription discount card. Even if you have medical insurance, you may not have adequate prescription drug coverage. AmeriPlan® offers several excellent health programs which include an Rx benefit. With AmeriPlan® you can save up to 50% on your prescriptions with even larger discounts available on mail order maintenance medications. These savings are available on all prescriptions at over 50,000 participating pharmacies throughout the Nation. For more information call 1-800-635-3394 or visit: http://www.healthplansplus.net.

U.S. Lags Behind 41 Nations in Life Span - Commentary

The following AP article caught my attention the other day when it posted on AOL news: “U.S. Lags Behind 41 Nations in Life Span.” Although the U.S. spends more per capita on health care than any other nation, the article states that Japan and most of Europe surpass the United States in life expectancy.

Dr. Christopher Murray, of the University of Washington, was interviewed for the AP article. He stated that: “Something’s wrong here when one of the richest countries in the world, the one that spends the most on health care, is not able to keep up with other countries.” In fact, U.S. life expectancy moved down from 11th place to 42nd on the list.

Although several factors have contributed to the United States falling behind other industrialized countries, researchers state that a major reason is the fact that over 47 million Americans lack health insurance while our counterparts in Canada and most European countries have universal health care.

In addition to the uninsured, many Americans are underinsured and may lack prescription drug coverage, adequate mental health coverage, or dental insurance. People without adequate health insurance will wait longer before seeking treatment allowing illnesses to become more serious and difficult to treat. The uninsured and underinsured may also skip necessary preventative examinations and treatment. Every day there are people in the U.S. who have to make the difficult choice between skimping on food and paying for their medications. This should not be the case in a wealthy country like the United States.

It is not by choice that many people do not have health insurance. Smaller companies can no longer afford the high cost of health benefits for their employees. This leaves employees to find their own insurance. For those with pre-existing conditions, it may be impossible to find coverage, even for those that can afford the high premiums. For many, the high cost of health care is beyond their means to pay.

Consumer Directed Health Care companies can make paying for health care more affordable. Discount health plans can be combined with high deductible health savings plans to keep costs more affordable for businesses. Discount health plans can also help individuals and families who do not have insurance pay for needed health care by reducing the costs of doctor and dental fees; ancillary services such as lab tests, imaging studies, hearing aids, diabetic supplies; prescriptions; vision; and chiropractic care. For more information on affordable health care plans visit: http://www.healthplansplus.net.