Healthy People | Healthy Communities

The world is watching to see what will happen in America after the passage of President Obama’s health care reform earlier this year.  In the UK’s Top News, Gene Rickman wrote an article about the new high risk health insurance pools called “2,400 Apply for High Risk Health Insurance Pool.”  The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and will make many changes to the health care system in the United States with the overall goal of getting all Americans health insurance that is affordable.

Rough estimates show that 2,400 people have already signed up for a high risk health insurance pool nationally.  Each state had the option of running their own health insurance pool or letting the federal government run it for them.  South Carolina is one of twenty-two states that chose the government option based on the cost to the state and some political factors.

Starting in 2014, insurance companies will not be allowed to deny health insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or chronic ailments.  Examples of these include diabetes, HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, asthma, and cancer.  The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, or the high risk pools, are meant to help Americans with these chronic conditions get insurance coverage until the requirement is enforced in 2014.

Americans are expected to spend $47.7 billion this year on their pets, some of which will be spent on expensive health care procedures.  As we treat our pets more and more like humans, there has been an increase in the amount of people looking to obtain health insurance for their pets.  We go to great lengths to keep our dogs and cats alive so insurance to help cover those health care costs makes sense.  The number of insured pets increased by 56% between 2003 and 2007, according to USA Today’s article “Popularity rises for pet health insurance” by Megan Neighbor.

Dogs are the animals most often insured, with the most recent count showing over 2 million of them covered.  Cats are next with about 900,000 insured.  This still only accounts for 3% of dogs and 1% of cats though.  Experts think that more and more animals will be insured as Americans learn more about the products offered and are willing to protect these members of their family that are like their own children.  Since the top animal expense in the $47.7 billion spent is for surgical visits to the vet, health insurance surely makes sense for our beloved pets.

One reason for the increasing interest in pet health insurance is the skyrocketing cost of veterinary care.  Service prices have increased 80.4% since 2000, a huge difference from the 28.1% inflation for other services.  Vets say that their own costs have dramatically increased because of the demand for new technologies, medical supplies, and expensive equipment.  They say that their industry is just like the medical industry in general with rising costs.

PetFirst Healthcare, Veterinary Pet Insurance, and Pethealth, Inc. are three of the largest companies insuring pets today.  Most plans don’t accept pets with pre-existing health conditions or those who are over the age of 9.  Your monthly premiums can be anywhere from $10 to $100 and the annual deductibles range from $50 to $500.  Most have annual or lifetime maximums as well.  The plans usually cover crises rather than preventative care, but you can pay more to have your check-ups, cleanings, and vaccinations covered.  There are also savings discount plans available to cover only preventative services rather than crisis care.

Although Florida seems to be the most watched, nineteen other states are also fighting the federal government and President Obama over the health care reform bill.  According to NPR’s Carrie Johnson, “States Lay Out Battle Lines In Health Care Suits.”  The states have filed lawsuits hoping to get their cases to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Their argument is that Obama’s health care reform actually violates the Constitution.  Many experts think that Florida’s suit is the largest and has the best chance to go all the way to the top court.

The lawsuits have the goal of throwing out the entire health care reform act from earlier this year based on the fact that these states believe the federal government is reaching too far into controlling people’s lives and the health care industry.  Not only do they think that this reform will backfire in the health industry, they go as far as to predicting mass chaos in the country’s constitutional infrastructure.

Florida’s argument targets the mandate that individuals must purchase health insurance or they will be penalized.  The state argues that the government went too far in their authority under the commerce clause of the Constitution.  They don’t believe that the government has the right to regulate citizens’ inactivity, versus their activities.

Obama’s administration argues that Americans are footing the bill for $43 billion a year in medical bills incurred by those who do not have insurance.  They have also said that state’s can opt out of following this new law by stopping their federal insurance programs such as Medicaid.  But the states say that ditching Medicaid is easier said than done and that it could be nearly impossible to cut all ties with the federal program.

September will bring about a court date between the sides, so we’ll have to see what the court decides.  Battle lines seem to be clearly drawn between Democrats and Republicans, with the former being in favor of this bill and the latter believing it is a terrible mistake.  Since the individual mandate doesn’t even go into effect for nearly 4 years, things are likely to change based on the impending congressional and presidential elections that will happen before then.

Reader’s Digest Magazine recently published an article debunking five common diet and exercise myths.  In “5 Fitness Myths You Need to Forget,” common misconceptions that may be hindering your fitness routine are exposed.

The first myth is that running is more effective than walking.  It is more important to go the distance instead of worry about your speed.  Although it will take you longer to burn the same amount of calories walking than it will for running, as long as you complete the same distance you will burn about the same amount of calories.

The second myth is that you will be hungrier if you exercise.  This article says that research shows exercise will not increase your hunger unless you are an athlete working out two or more hours a day to build endurance.  Your appetite is actually suppressed both during and after workouts in most instances.

Contrary to the belief that all calories are created equal, they are not.  Eating proteins burns more calories because they tend to use more in chewing, digesting, and getting stored than carbohydrates.  High fiber foods don’t raise your blood sugar as much as refined carbohydrates so they don’t store as fat as easily.  Filling up on foods with a high water content also helps you to take in fewer calories.

Many people believe that they can lose weight and sustain the loss through diet alone.  While they will lose weight at the beginning, building muscle which uses more calories to store than fat, is more important in the long run.  Experts believe that it is better to exercise more than to eat less for weight loss and overall health.

The fifth myth is that there is not any time of day better than another to work out.  Late afternoon workouts are best for athletes looking to get the best quality workout or the most bang for their buck.  This is because your body temperature is at its highest and you are at your peak strength.  It’s better to work out at any time than skip it if the late afternoon doesn’t work with your schedule of course.

So were you falling into the fitness myth traps?  If so, maybe you can be less focused on those myths and get a more effective workout and eating regimen.

In these rough economic times where everyone seems to be cutting back, a lot of younger Americans are going without dental insurance.  A recent study showed that a quarter of Americans under the age of 65 did not have any dental coverage.  While it may seem like it’s okay to ignore your teeth when you don’t have any problems, doing so can lead to an array of problems as you age.  Your dental and oral health are linked to your overall health, so not taking care of your teeth can cause a domino effect.  If you don’t have dental insurance, look to your health insurer or see if you can get individual coverage for you or your family.

This information is from U.S. News & World Report’s article “1 in 4 Americans Under 65 Lacks Dental Insurance.”  The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics performed the study in 2008.  A full 45 million Americans did not have coverage then and the number has probably grown since the study was done.  Whether or not you have dental insurance seems to directly correlate with education, employment and race.

Employees who have private health insurance through their jobs also had dental insurance 80% of the time.  But for Americans who directly purchase their own health insurance, they only opted for dental insurance in 30% of the cases.  Obviously, those Americans with no health insurance at all most likely would not have any dental insurance either.  Black Americans had dental insurance coverage more than whites, Hispanics, or Asians in America.  Americans with higher incomes were more likely to have dental insurance than those with lower incomes.  Forty-percent of Americans with education less than a high school diploma did not have dental coverage.

Adult obesity is still on the rise, while childhood obesity seems finally to be stabilizing.  This might be in part because the President and Michelle Obama have waged a war on childhood obesity.  Washington D.C. was actually the only place that adult obesity had any decline.  This information is from “Obesity in America 2010,” an article for MSN Health & Fitness from Maia Szalavitz.  In 28 of the United States, obesity rates continued their long rise.  With two-thirds of Americans defined as obese or overweight, this is an epidemic of huge proportions.  A full 10% of health care costs are related strictly to obesity so this is affecting not only Americans’ health, but the health care industry in general.

It might shock you to learn that while 15% of adults were obese in 1980, less than 30 years later in 2008 34% of adults are obese.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health released a ranking of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in their recent report “F as in Fat.”  Mississippi remained the fattest state for the sixth year in a row, with a 33.8% rate of adult obesity.  Alabama and Tennessee were tied in second place with obesity rates of 31.6%.  The rest of the top ten in order were West Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Michigan.  Michigan was actually the only northern state in the top ten.

Not only was Mississippi the most obese state for adults, it also ranked highest for children 10-17, as 21.9% of them are seriously overweight.  Five other top ten states also ranked in the top ten for childhood obesity.  Most states with the lowest obesity rates were in the north and the west.  The ten least obese states in order were Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, Montana, and New Jersey.  Although they were the least obese states, they still have epidemic numbers with nearly 1/5 of Colorado adults being obese.  The results aren’t good in any state.

Unemployment has led to an increase in poverty for some Americans.  Higher poverty levels, less education, and less outdoor recreation lead to the highest obesity rates.  As people cut costs, they tend to cut healthy food out and opt for cheaper, unhealthy foods.  States with the lowest obesity rates tend to have a lot of outdoor recreational activities, higher education levels, and lower poverty rates.

Childhood obesity rates have remained stable over the last decade or so.  There has even been a small decline for the 2-5 year old age group.  Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” anti-childhood obesity campaign has a goal of cutting the childhood obesity rate to under 5% by 2030.  As portions have grown increasing caloric intake and many children are drinking 13% of their daily calories in high sugar drinks like soda, something has to change.  While the government is working hard to help lower the obesity rates, it really does start at home for both adults and children.  Healthier eating and exercise or playing outside will truly make all the difference.

In The New York Times article “Health insurers promoting limited-choice plans to keep costs down,” Reed Abelson talks about this new trend for cutting costs.  Some of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. are promoting lower cost plans with smaller premiums that decrease the choices you have for doctors and hospitals.  They are being tested in some of the biggest U.S. cities like Chicago, New York, and San Diego.

Small employers who already offer coverage to their employees are very interested in these plans to help them cut their increasing health insurance costs.  Even larger employers have begun showing interest and insurers believe that more companies will be on board over time.  With a possible premium reduction of 15%, it will be hard for companies to pass up these limited-choice plans.  Consumers, of course, will have to pay more if they want to keep doctors that are now out of their network or they will have to switch to ones that are covered by a plan with more limited choices.

As the new insurance exchanges begin to form under Obama’s health care reform bill, many individuals and small businesses will likely look for deals with low-choice, low-cost plans.  Millions of Americans who were uninsured before the exchanges don’t really have anything to lose by opting for a low-cost plan where their doctor and hospital selection is lower.  It is better than no choice and no insurance by far.  More choice is simply going to cost more money in a time when health care costs are very high.  Insurers already testing out the low-cost plans with limited networks include Cigna, Aetna, WellPoint, and UnitedHealth Group.

According to The Washington Post’s article “FDA panel’s vote on Avandia reveals mixed opinions on diabetes drug’s safety,” Rob Stein says that while the majority of the FDA panel wants to keep Avandia available there is much significance in the number who want it pulled from the market.  Once the most popular diabetes drug in the world, Avandia has been a topic of debate for a long time because of concerns over it increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The FDA’s scientists are divided over the safety of Avandia.  The final decision will be left up to Margaret A. Hamburg, the FDA Commissioner.  If the drug is kept available to diabetics, it will most likely be with added warnings and tougher restrictions.  The 33 member panel voted in a number of different ways.  12 members wanted Avandia removed from the market while 10 voted for it to remain on the market with changes to the label and possibly sales restrictions.  7 members voted for added warnings on the label and 3 voted to leave the product as is.  The final member did not vote.

Although the panel concluded that there is an increased risk of heart attack and stroke with Avandia, they did not see evidence that there is an increased risk of death.  Panel members were frustrated at the lack of clear evidence available for a drug that has been used since it was approved in 1999.  Hundreds of thousands of Type 2 diabetics still use Avandia, despite evidence that it could be dangerous.  But since the FDA has not pulled the drug, many diabetics have put their faith in the government organization.

GlaxoSmithKline, the drug’s manufacturer, denies that they have hidden any dangers from the public or regulators and defends the safety of Avandia.  They say that they will continue to research the safety of Avandia and will work with the FDA.  They recommend patients with concerns should speak with their doctor like with any medication that they are taking.

There are some basic dental care tips that everyone should follow to ensure the good health of not only their mouth, but their entire body.  “Basic Dental Care” from Health Key states that your basic care should include brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist at regular intervals, and eating well.  It’s important to follow the basic rules of dental care to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, save money on dental costs and make visits shorter, prevent bad breath and stained teeth, and improve your overall health.  Caring for your teeth can also help you keep them over your lifetime.

It’s possible to avoid dental problems with proper care.  By brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing them once a day, you remove damaging plaque.  Using flouride toothpaste helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.  By staying away from high-sugar foods, you avoid plaque that can damage your teeth.  It’s also important not to use tobacco products.  Not only can they cause gum disease, but they also cause oral types of cancer.  Clean your tongue with a special tongue cleaner or just a soft bristle toothbrush to help with bad breath and other mouth problems.  Most people need to see the dentist for cleanings every six months.  Based on your personal needs and your insurance coverage, visit the dentist as often as you need.

Most experts recommend that children begin seeing the dentist around one year of age.  Your pediatrician can assess whether your child has any problems that require seeing a dentist sooner than that.  Practice healthy dental habits with your kids so they pick up a lifetime of taking care of their teeth and mouth.  Healthy eating is actually very important to good dental care.  Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are good for you mouth and teeth just like the rest of your body.  Since dental problems affect overall health, taking care of your mouth is one of the first steps toward good overall health.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is the newest major surgery to help treat obesity and diabetes.  According to “Insurers Divided Over Experimental Stomach Surgery To Treat Obesity” by Matthew Sturdevant of The Hartford Courant, some insurance companies will cover the procedure while others will not.  The procedure costs between $16,000 and $25,000 and makes the stomach into the shape of a shirt sleeve by removing its outer curve.

Aetna and UnitedHealthCare, two of the largest insurance companies in the United States, will cover the surgery for members who qualify.  But CIGNA and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut will not foot the bill for a surgery they call experimental and unproven.  Anthem does cover gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding, but doesn’t believe that enough research has been done to cover the sleeve gastrectomy.  They plan to review the procedure, as does CIGNA, during their yearly coverage review time.

Insurance companies like Aetna believe that the cost of the surgery is far less than the cost of healthcare for an obese or diabetic person over the course of many years.  The number of diabetic people in the United States has tripled in the past few decades, leading to more heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and much more.  By eliminating a person’s obesity and many times their diabetes, insurance companies believe that they will save money in the long run.

The sleeve appears to be a better procedure from gastric banding which often requires multiple surgeries to adjust the band constricting the stomach.  A benefit that the sleeve has over gastric bypass is that it doesn’t pass over the part of the small intestine which absorbs your body’s nutrients like bypass does.  Patients are better able to obtain the nutritional value their food offers.  All new procedures take time to be widely adopted so advocates of the sleeve gastrectomy believe that all insurance companies will cover the procedure in time.