Research conducted at the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that women who consume large amounts of Beta Carotene and Vitamin C, which can be found in dark green and yellow vegetables and fruits, were less likely to get cervical cancer. In addition, women with diets high in Vitamin E reduced their risk by 33%.

Today, it is required that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide veterans who qualify with hospital and outpatient care. The care provided includes various treatments, supplies, or other services for our veterans.

Factors that influence eligibility and enrollment:

VA health care is something that one must qualify for, and as a result there is an application process involved. There are a number of different variables which will impact whether or not you qualify. Variables involved include:

1. status of discharge
2. how long your service period was
3. income level
4. disabilities obtained from your service

Read the full post on Veterans and Health Insurance.

Today I read an interesting letter from congressman Mike Rogers, and I thought I would share some of the updates he discussed regarding the United States recent legislative activities on health care. Specifically Rogers addressed two recent Acts being pushed through congress; i.e., The School-Based Health Clinic Act and the Food Safety Enhancement Act.

The School-Based Health Clinic Act:

Read the full post on Congress Proposes Two New Health Acts.

Research over the last 30 years has shown a clear-cut link between diets high in cholesterol and the development of heart disease. Now, according to a long-term study that appeared in the American Journal of Epidemiology there may be a link between cholesterol and an increased risk of lung cancer. Although further research is needed, clearly the evidence supports a reduction in the consumption of foods high in cholesterol such as egg yolks and organ meats.

Flexible spending accounts are utilized today by people looking to pay for various medical expenses, and function in a similar fashion to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). A major difference however is that FSAs are only available through group/employer health insurance plans.

So how does a FSA work?

FSAs allow employees to allocate a specific amount of their yearly earnings at the beginning of a year into an account used for medical expenses. A nice feature about FSAs is the fact that they are essentially prefunded. What this means is that although you contribute small amounts from you paychecks each month, the entire fund will be available from the first day the FSA is put into force. Furthermore, you also get a tax break on the money in your FSA because it is not subject to payroll taxes.

Read the full post on Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

For decades, a cancer diagnosis usually meant death. This is no longer the case. Now 50% of all Americans diagnosed with cancer will survive. The survival rates of people under the age of 55 are even greater. The chances of recovery from some types of cancer are as high as 80-90%. Early detection and treatment is your best defense for survival.

This last week President Obama held and an annual meeting with the American Medical Association where he correlated today’s struggling economy to the cost of our nation’s health care, and the changes that must be made. Although doctors and various health care providers are apprehensive about what changes this reform may bring, President Obama emphasized that such a reform demands a collective effort of all parties involved in order to guarantee a better future for our country.

Read the full post on President Obama Addresses the American Medical Association.

As many of us may know, there will undoubtedly be periods in our lifetime where we are medically uninsured and unprotected from catastrophic medical events.  Such an occurrence could be as simple as graduating from college and getting dropped off of your parents plan, or being in between jobs waiting to get one that offers benefits.  As a result, today many people are turning to short term health insurance policies to provide coverage during this lapse.  Short term coverage can be purchased anywhere from 1-6 months at a time.  But as with any form of coverage, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of a particular plan.

Read the full post on Short Term Health Insurance: Convenient? Yes. Full Protection? No..

To decrease the likelihood of developing skin cancer, wear a sunscreen with SPF of at least 15, and do the following: Apply the sunscreen liberally over all exposed skin surfaces. Put it on at least 20 or 30 minutes before going outdoors. Even if you are wearing one of the waterproof varieties, you should reapply frequently as it wears off.

To no surprise, congress is still struggling on how to pay for Obama’s proposed health insurance reform. With the deadline of July 31st to have this reform passed, congress has begun to implement new ideas on how to compensate such a large expenditure.

The house of democrats has suggested the idea of incorporating a sin tax to help offset this cost. Specifically, they are proposing that everyday items such as soft drinks, junk food, and even additional taxes on tobacco products be applied.

Read the full post on Struggling to Finance Obama’s Health Care Reform.