As discussed in previous posts, a keystone element of our nation’s health care reform is the mandate for every American to have health insurance. An incentive proposed to promote such a change is a tax penalty placed on both family households and employers who do not have/offer health insurance. The questions that remain are what does this mean for small business owners, and what can they do to offer quality health insurance to their employees without breaking the bank?

Read the full post on Impact of President Obama’s Health Care Reform on Small Businesses.

Diet is the single greatest factor related to the likelihood of getting cancer, responsible for some 35% of all cases. Tobacco use is close behind with responsibility for 30% of the cases. Alcohol and sun exposure cause 6% of cases.

Obtaining health insurance coverage not only protects you and your family from financial ruin, but alleviates the financial burden of having insurance for your fellow Americans. Why? Not only is the cost of medical care more for the uninsured, but if unpaid the burden of subsidizing the expenses fall upon the government and those who are insured.

It has been estimated that the uninsured only compensate roughly 30% of their total medical bills. The outcome of these financial shortcomings results in hospitals and physicians being inadequately reimbursed. Unfortunately, the government typically does not subsidize hospitals and doctors so the cost falls upon private insurance carriers. This cost then undoubtedly trickles down to the insured by way of their monthly premium. Specifically, on average 8% of a family’s health insurance premium is directly related to paying for the uninsured.

Read the full post on Cost of the Uninsured.

The most deadly form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma. It can be identified by certain types of pigmented spots. Asymmetry in which one-half of the pigmented spot does not match the other half. Border irregularity. Color varies from one area to another. Diameter is larger than a pencil eraser.

If you are self-employed, never had health insurance or recently laid off you cannot afford to not have major medical insurance. Why? Because today’s leading cause for financial ruin and filing for bankruptcy is the inability to pay medical bills. By purchasing a major medical policy you are able to implement a cap on your out of pocket expenses, and have the support of a large organization to subsidize the majority of your medical expenses. To give you an idea of what a burden medical bills and can be, a 3 day stay in a hospital can run upwards of $28,000.

Read the full post on Find Affordable Health Insurance.

Most people might not know this but Broccoli is a food of great value. Broccoli, as well as other deep green, yellow and orange vegetables is a good source of beta-carotene, a substance that may prevent cancer. Broccoli also contains another possible cancer prevention compound, glucarate, as well as good amounts of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and fiber. The next time you want to say, “I love you,” give your special someone a bouquet of broccoli.

As we all well know, President Obama has been focused largely on reforming our nation’s health care system. One of the biggest adjustments he is trying to create is a greater abundance and utilization of preventive health services.

So why is encouraging preventive health care such a keystone element of President Obama’s health care reform? The bottom line is that if Americans took advantage of their preventive health services; namely, their annual exams (including blood work and immunizations) millions of serious and life threatening illnesses could be prevented early on. Not only is it easier to prevent and conquer an illness early on in its stages of development, but if caught too late the procedures and treatment can often be useless and quite costly.

Read the full post on President Obama and Preventive Health Care.

If your father or brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer, your risk of getting it doubles. The risk increases fivefold if two men in your immediate family have had the disease. Get regular physical exams that include screening for prostate cancer.

As a result of our nation’s struggling economic times, there is no doubt that the importance of having local low-cost health clinics is on the rise as people lose both their jobs and their health care. Understanding this growing need, the nation’s stimulus bill has allocated $2.5 billion to help finance free and low-cost health clinics.

Read the full post on Stimulus Package Impacts Health Clinics.

Sun exposure should always be limited but especially if a member of your family has had melanoma. Research shows that your likelihood of getting the disease is 3 to 4 times greater if you have a family member who has had it.