Pregnant women commonly experience backaches due to the extra weight of carrying the baby. One way to minimize back problems is to start moving before you start to ache. To do this, alter your position every few minutes to prevent or relieve back strain.

The NY Daily News published a brief overview of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, or H.R. 3962. It gives a gist of the who, what, why and how of this bill.

Should the bill pass in its present form, it will affect 96% of the American population. It is estimated to cost up to $1.2 trillion over 10 years. Income taxes will be raised for those earning $500,000 per year for individuals and $1 million per year for couples.

Read the full post on Affordable Health Care for America Act.

In conjunction with President Obama’s declaration that there is a H1N1 national emergency, health insurance companies, including Humana, are taking a proactive approach to covering the vaccine for their members.

Humana recently posted on their website that they are willing to cover the H1N1 vaccine for all of its current members who are fully insured. This benefit is even being extended to those clients who currently have immunization benefits excluded from their coverage.

Read the full post on H1N1 Vaccine Covered By Humana.

This last week Democrats of the House of Representatives revealed their bill, a combination of three separate plans, for our nation’s health care reform. The proposed bill not only incorporates a government-run insurance option, but also introduces new taxes on the rich. Specifically, a 5.4% tax would be imposed on individuals making more than $500,000, and couples making more than $1 million annually.

The new bill requires individuals to purchase their own health insurance, as well as the majority of businesses to offer coverage for their employees. In addition, the bill prohibits insurance companies to refuse coverage based upon pre-existing conditions. Although the current health insurance market is in dire need of this very amendment, there have been no concrete numbers proposed as to the actual cost of such a plan.

Read the full post on House Unveils Health Care Reform.

Many minor surgeries can now be performed at freestanding surgery facilities. If you need surgery, check with your physician about having it done as an outpatient. This will save time and money.

Real hunger is the body’s physical need for food. Appetite, on the other hand, is an emotional desire for food that can be caused by stress, boredom or depression. Eat only when hungry.

Ironically enough, as Congress pushes to pass legislation that could put health insurance companies out of business, Unicare has decided to pull out of both the Texas and Illinois marketplace. In doing so, Unicare will be leaving almost 200,000 Illinoisans, and 400,000 Texans in need of new insurance. However, according to the insurance department, individuals will be able to transfer over to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of each state which is operated by Health Care Service Corp.

Read the full post on Unicare Leaves Insurance Market.

One of the biggest items being set into motion in the health insurance reform is creating a consumer- driven health care environment. Consumer-driven health insurance plans provide individuals the ability to take control of both their health and insurance. The idea is to educate individuals about their options, and create a health insurance market that allows individuals to compare plans, as well as force carriers to offer competitive prices.

With a HIA plan, a very prevalent policy with Anthem, individuals actually receive an annual allowance put into a Health Incentive Account. This money is to be spent in any manner you wish on covered health insurance expenses, and the money rolls over to the next year.

Read the full post on Health Incentive Accounts (HIA).