Considering High-Risk Health Insurance: How to Tell If It’s The Right Fit For You

July 13, 2016| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment | 12:47 pm

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Health

If уоu аrе considering enrolling іn thе high-risk health insurance оf уоur state, thеrе аrе ѕоmе things I’d like tо discuss hеrе ѕо thаt уоu саn make аn informed decision аbоut whеthеr a high-risk health insurance plan іѕ fоr уоu. Let mе start wіth a quick definition оf high-risk health insurance: It іѕ defined аѕ medical coverage fоr individuals wіth health conditions thаt prevent thеm frоm enrolling іn a traditional health insurance plan.

Thеѕе “high-risk pools” аrе options thаt аrе available tо help ensure thаt individuals whо аrе labeled аѕ high-risk аrе ѕtіll able tо carry health insurance. Nоw, fоr thоѕе оf уоu thаt аrе аll set tо jump оn thе risk pool bandwagon, I dо advise уоu оf thе following negative aspects оf іt: іѕ typically mоrе expensive, іѕ оftеn difficult tо obtain (strangely) аnd mау аlѕо require thаt уоu hаvе bееn wіthоut health insurance fоr thе past ѕіx months. And I gеt thе following question аlmоѕt daily, ѕо I figure I wіll answer іt hеrе: ѕhоuld I forego applying fоr аn individual health plan аnd gо straight tо thе pool? Thе answer іѕ nо! Mоѕt high-risk pools require getting formally declined frоm аn individual health insurance carrier оr a letter frоm a health insurance agent thаt states thаt уоu аrе medically ineligible fоr аn individual health plan.

Wіth thіѕ bеіng said, let’s discuss situations іn whісh high-risk health insurance іѕ a good fit.

Yоu Hаvе High-Risk Health Conditions

If уоu hаvе оnе оf thе conditions listed іn thе eligibility requirements оf thе pool іn уоur state, thеn іt іѕ mоѕt likely thаt іt wіll bе a good fit fоr уоu. Conditions mау bе аlѕо bе considered high-risk іf thеу require costly оr ongoing medical treatment іn thе fоrm оf prescription medicine оr medical treatments аnd procedures. Hоwеvеr, nоt аll individuals thаt I wоuld advise tо gо іntо thе risk pools wіll hаvе chronic diseases thаt prevent thеm frоm obtaining medical insurance. Thе pools mау аlѕо bе a good fit fоr thоѕе thаt hаvе conditions wіth a high incidence оf complications оr require ongoing medical care, thuѕ making іt difficult tо obtain coverage. Obesity аnd pregnancy аrе examples оf ѕuсh conditions. Health factors ѕuсh аѕ thеѕе саn make іt difficult fоr аn individual tо obtain healthcare whіlе thе conditions аrе ѕtіll present. Thе pool іѕ аlѕо a good option іf уоu hаvе a condition thаt іѕ nоt specifically listed аѕ аn eligible condition іn thе eligibility requirements but wаѕ excluded frоm coverage whеn уоu applied fоr аn individual health plan. In оthеr words, іf уоu applied fоr individual health plan аnd уоu weren’t declined but уоu got уоur condition excluded frоm coverage, high-risk health insurance іѕ available tо уоu аѕ wеll.

Yоu Hаvе Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

High-risk health insurance ѕhоuld bе a good fit fоr уоu іf уоu hаvе a pre-existing condition thаt mау nоt bе high-risk. Pre-existing conditions аrе health issues thаt аrе known tо exist prior tо аn individual seeking healthcare. Hоwеvеr, whеn obtaining new individual health coverage, thеrе іѕ typically a waiting period durіng whісh insurance wіll nоt cover medical care related tо thеѕе conditions. Thе lаѕt thіng уоu want іѕ tо enroll іn a health insurance plan аnd thеу tell уоu, “we’re going tо cover thе vеrу condition you’re getting health insurance fоr аftеr a year.” Yeah, thanks! It іѕ easier tо gеt аrоund thе pre-existing condition clause іf you’re іn a high-risk health insurance program. Thе pools hаvе special rules governing pre-existing conditions thаt аrе muсh easier tо navigate thаn thеіr corresponding individual health plans. An example оf ѕuсh pre-existing medical conditions thаt I’d advise fоr thе risk pool аrе neurological conditions. Neurological conditions аrе usually nоt оnе оf thе conditions listed іn thе eligibility requirements оf thе high-risk pool but thеу аrе typically pre-existing conditions thаt, іf уоu wеrе tо enroll іn аn individual health plan, you’d bе waiting a year fоr coverage оn.

Yоu Cаn Afford Tо Pay Higher Premiums

Thе premiums саn bе higher whеn compared wіth individual health policies, thе premiums аrе based оn thе carrier considering thе fact thаt thеу аrе covering people wіth pre-existing conditions. Yоu wіll bе paying аn average оf $660/month fоr a 50-something year old non-smoker (in states whеrе thе federal government іѕ running thе pools), whісh іѕ nоt affordable fоr еvеrуоnе.

Yоu Hаvе Bееn Uninsured Fоr Sіx Months

Fоr thе mоѕt раrt, іn order tо qualify fоr coverage іn оnе оf thе risk pools, a person hаѕ tо hаvе bееn uninsured fоr аt lеаѕt ѕіx months. Thіѕ wаѕ created tо kеер people frоm switching оff оf оthеr coverage (including existing high risk pools) аnd thеn jacking uр thе new pools wіth members. Fоr thоѕе whо hаvе conditions аnd hаvе bееn uninsured fоr ѕеvеrаl months аftеr exhausting COBRA оr аftеr аn employer goes оut оf business аnd stops offering health insurance аll tоgеthеr, a high-risk health plan wіll likely bе a good fit fоr уоu.

If you’re considering high-risk health insurance, consider thе аbоvе situations аnd аlѕо make sure уоu know уоur state’s plans аnd regulations. Thе pools vary bу state duе tо rules аnd regulations thаt аrе аt thе state government level. Individual states offer high-risk pools thаt allow thоѕе whо hаvе bееn denied coverage tо obtain health insurance аnd thеѕе pools аrе designed tо grant medical care tо thоѕе whо саnnоt оthеrwіѕе obtain іt but thеу аrе nоt available іn аll states. High-risk health coverage mау аlѕо bе a higher cost thаn individual health insurance but іt саn ѕtіll bе аn extremely viable option fоr thоѕе whо саnnоt obtain coverage bу аnу оthеr means.

Thank уоu fоr reading, I hope thіѕ wаѕ helpful!

At 20, 40, 60 and 70 years: how to eat healthily at any ageAt 20, 40, 60 and 70 years: how to eat healthily at any age

May 20, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 8:59 am

Sometimes the body needs more protein, sometimes more carbohydrates and after a certain age it should be less overall. If you want to eat healthily for a lifetime, you should always keep an eye on your age when shopping and cooking.

According to today’s recommendations, a healthy diet consists of plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, good oils, as little industrially processed food as possible, economical consumption of animal products, white flour and sugar – from children to old people.

So there is only healthy and unhealthy diet, but no age-related diet. But: Over the years and depending on the situation in life, the need and utilization of nutrients change. And here age definitely plays a role. For example, the nutritionists at the University of California in San Diego have put together an overview of what to look out for .

This is what matters from 20 to 40:

The basal metabolic rate is highest in young adults, which means that the body consumes the most calories even without physical activity. At this age, many people can “eat what they want” without getting fat. At least at this age, the body forgives a few fast-food orgies and other antics.

In general, it is important to build up muscles, bones and connective tissue between the ages of 20 and 30 , also with the help of a sensible diet. Everyone can benefit from this basis in later years, when it is no longer so easy to maintain fitness.

In these years, special attention to nutrition requires more of a life circumstance for women: pregnancy.

Special dietary instructions for young pregnant women only

In addition to a diet full of high-quality nutrients and the natural avoidance of tobacco and alcohol , it is important to ensure an optimal supply of vitamins, minerals and trace elements so that the child develops well. Eating for two, on the other hand, is completely unnecessary and wrong.

Therefore, all expectant mothers should take folic acid in the first 3 months of pregnancy . Iodine tablets can also be useful. And vegans also have to pay attention to a number of micronutrients that they lack by avoiding animal foods: iron, zinc , calcium, vitamins B12, B2 and D as well as an appropriate intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

This is important from 40:

From the age of 40, the metabolism begins to slow down. While the body can usually break down too much sugar and carbohydrates by the age of 30, it loses this ability by the age of 40 at the latest. Suddenly, an unchanged diet is reflected in the stomach and hips.

Anyone who is only now finding an adequate diet can still set the course for a healthy future.

Anyone who has already eaten reasonably healthy should now pay more attention to the following elements:

Fruits and vegetables in bright colors – the antioxidants they contain act as cell protection with an antiaging effect in the body.
more whole grains on the menu
a (small) portion of red meat twice a week – good for building muscle , also important for women because of the prevention of iron deficiency
Vegetarians should pay particular attention to green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale or Swiss chard.

Here are some things to watch out for in your 50s and 60s:

Now begins a dangerous age for cardiovascular problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Anyone who has neglected their diet and has not taken much exercise must expect type 2 diabetes .

It is now important to have a diet that keeps the blood sugar level stable and prevents deposits in the blood vessels. It should be low in cholesterol, high in fiber and slowly digestible carbohydrates, so:

lots of vegetables
little animal fat
no sugared soft drinks
little white flour products

In addition:

nuts
Good oils (olive, flaxseed)
Fish (omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D)
Low-fat dairy products (calcium)

Changes in hormones accelerate the loss of calcium from the bones. The substitution of calcium plus vitamin D can now counteract the threat of osteoporosis . Because of the breakdown of estrogen during menopause , it occurs earlier and more frequently in women. But bone loss threatens men too.

An omega-3 supplement can benefit heart health if someone doesn’t eat sea fish. Omega-3 fatty acids stabilize the blood vessels.

Proper nutrition with 70 plus:

With age, various physiological and psychological changes occur that directly affect nutritional needs. The taste buds and appetite decrease, as does the desire to cook freshly and by yourself.

The body is less able to absorb and use many vitamins and minerals. With age, the digestive juices in the stomach change, reducing the absorption of iron, calcium, and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.

Long-term use of prescription drugs can decrease the absorption of certain nutrients.

Less calories, but not less nutrients

Seniors need fewer calories than younger people, but no fewer nutrients. Protein becomes important again in old age: it can delay muscle loss in old age, especially when combined with strength training.

As a rule of thumb, one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day . However, it should not be exclusively protein from meat, as it promotes inflammation, especially in the joints.

Because digestion becomes sluggish with age, fiber is important for the 70+ generation. A teaspoon of psyllium husks are a recommended alternative to the vegetables or whole grains that would be necessary for an optimal supply. To do this, seniors have to drink plenty, even if that is difficult for many.

Stomach cancer emerges years beforehand – these symptoms must be taken seriouslyStomach cancer emerges years beforehand – these symptoms must be taken seriously

June 7, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 9:29 am

Stomach cancer is not as common as colon or breast cancer, but its prognosis is less favorable. FOCUS Online explains the reasons why early detection is therefore particularly important, the current therapies and what belongs to prevention.

Stomach cancer is not uncommon, with around 15,000 new cases per year on the list of carcinomas. 9,300 men and 5,600 women are affected. The cause of the gender difference is currently unknown.

Stomach cancer is not one of the most common cancers, but the chances of survival are not good. Two thirds ultimately die of the tumor disease. “We have to assume that three out of four patients will only be diagnosed in a locally extended or even metastatic situation,” reports Michael Stahl, head of the Clinic for Internal Oncology at the Evangelical Clinics Essen-Mitte (KEM).

This late diagnosis means that three quarters of the patients have a poor prognosis and cannot be cured with an operation alone, summarizes the oncologist, who is among other things the author responsible for the German guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer and a member of the lead group of the working group for internal oncology for carcinomas of the stomach and esophagus.

Cause of stomach cancer unknown but there are risk factors

“The only good relative risk factor for stomach cancer is the stomach germ Helicobacter pylori”, the expert clarifies. That would be risk factor number 1.

However, around a quarter of Germans are infected with this bacterium, but only a fraction of them develop gastric cancer. Why they get sick is not yet fully understood, just as much is still unknown about the causes of stomach cancer.

There is also evidence that smoking increases the risk. And what about alcohol? “However, there is no meaningful evidence that alcohol also increases the risk of stomach cancer,” adds the oncologist. However, it can lead to gastric mucosal inflammation, i.e. gastritis, up to and including gastric ulcer (ulcer).

Chronic gastric mucosal inflammation and reflux disease could in turn increase the risk of stomach cancer at the junction with the esophagus.

Stomach cancer can also develop from previous operations on the stomach.

The reflux of bile is also considered a risk factor. This danger arises from being very overweight.

And on the subject of obesity and nutrition: Scientists assume that a one-sided diet with a lot of processed meat products, heavily salted, but also smoked and grilled foods promote stomach cancer – keyword nitrosamines, which are known to be carcinogenic. Rotten and moldy foods pose a general health risk, also with regard to stomach cancer.

Stomach cancer with certain genetic changes

In addition, there are genetic components in the development of gastric cancer: first-degree relatives (children, siblings) of patients with gastric cancer have an increased risk – i.e. if the father, mother or sibling are ill. In addition, stomach cancer can occur if a certain form of colon cancer is already present (hereditary colorectal cancer) or breast cancer.

These are patients with changes in their genetic makeup, for example what is known as microsatellite instability (MSI). You are at an increased risk of various types of cancer, including cancer of the stomach and intestines. “Doctors should keep this in mind if a patient has a colon cancer with microsatellite instability , or if there are multiple carcinomas in the family,” emphasizes the Essen-based oncologist.

However, all of these are only possible risk factors. “Of most patients who fall ill, we don’t know why, because none of these risk factors apply to them,” summarizes Michael Stahl.

Look out for these warning signs

Besides this, there is the second difficulty in gastric cancer – late diagnosis. This is because the symptoms are rather unspecific, affecting the stomach, but are often dismissed as harmless everyday complaints. Early signs can be:

Feeling of fullness, pressure in the stomach
general upper abdominal discomfort
Eructation
nausea
Vomit
Flatulence
Loss of appetite

“Anyone who has one or more of these complaints for more than three weeks should have them checked out by a doctor,” advises Michael Stahl.

Do not treat persistent stomach problems with acid blockers on your own initiative

However, many sufferers do not take these symptoms seriously and try to relieve them first with self-medication – wasting valuable time on early cancer therapy and thus a high chance of recovery.

They resort to gastric acid blockers that are available over the counter or prescribed by doctors. The pain will actually go away. “Cancer itself does not cause the pain at the beginning of the disease, rather the mucous membrane defect it causes is irritated by stomach acid – and that triggers the pain,” explains the expert.

This pain disappears when the stomach acid is blocked because it no longer irritates the mucous membrane. The cancer growth is not influenced by this, the tumor can spread undisturbed.

The most important diagnostic tool – gastroscopy

The oncologist therefore urgently recommends that the complaints be clarified by a quality-assured endoscopy, i.e. in a gastroenterological practice that carries out these examinations on a daily basis or in an appropriate center.

The gastroscopy only takes a few minutes; the doctor can not only check the condition of the esophagus and stomach up to the duodenum, but can also test whether Helicobacter is present and possibly take additional tissue samples.

Usually no tumor is discovered, but rather the stomach germ or an enlargement or relocation of the area between the stomach and esophagus (hernia), which can cause reflux. A change in diet can help here or medication may be necessary. Sometimes, however, the doctor finds stomach cancer, “and more and more often in the transition area to the esophagus,” reports the expert from the practice.

The reason for this is that there are more and more people who are very overweight. “Being overweight puts pressure on the abdominal cavity, which is why bile acids and stomach acids flow back into the transition area to the esophagus, which is not designed for frequent contact with these acids and is therefore damaged,” says Michael Stahl, summarizing the chain of reactions.

How stomach cancer spreads

The treatment depends on the severity of the disease (grading):

Whether the carcinoma is limited to the mucous membrane,
already affects the underlying muscle
in addition, the outer connective tissue of the stomach
surrounding organs
Lymph nodes
Has metastasized.

In Asian countries, where the risk of stomach cancer is very high and gastric cancer screening is therefore carried out regularly, the cancer can often be detected early. If the diagnosis “stomach cancer” is made in the early stages, i.e. only the mucous membrane is affected, there is a high chance of recovery.

Unfortunately, this is extremely rare in Germany, explains the oncologist. In this country, stomach cancer is usually only discovered when it has worked its way deeper into the tissue or has already broken through the stomach. This is also the reason why the prognosis for stomach cancer in Germany is so unfavorable – the cancer is recognized very late.

Stomach cancer does not depend on age

How long the time span between gastric cancer in its initial stage and the appearance of metastases cannot be answered. However, Michael Stahl points out in this context that it is a cancer myth that the tumor only grows slowly in the elderly. “We also have elderly patients with rapidly growing stomach cancer, and young ones,” he warns. Young people should also take stomach problems seriously and not dismiss them: “I’m only 35, it can’t be something bad, like cancer.”

Treatments for stomach cancer – chemotherapy plus surgery

Only in the early stages, i.e. when stomach cancer is limited to the mucous membrane, surgery alone is the method of choice. Then it is the only way to cure the patient.

Most patients, however, need more than the operation, the scientist reports. For locally advanced tumors (without metastasis), treatment consists of chemotherapy, surgery and renewed chemotherapy. Chemotherapy before the operation is intended to shrink the tumor and combat (invisible) metastases at an early stage.

Antibody therapy for HER2-positive gastric cancer

In addition, chemotherapy plus antibody therapy with so-called HER2 antibodies is used for certain forms of metastatic gastric cancer. In around 20 percent of gastric cancer patients, HER2 receptors (HER2-positive gastric cancer) are found in particularly large numbers on the cancer cells. They are docking points for growth factors. Occupied by the special antibodies, tumor growth can slow down significantly.

By the way, HER2 receptors are also found on breast cancer cells, keyword HER2-positive breast cancer. This is where this antibody therapy, which incidentally does not count among the immunotherapies, was first used.

In addition, attempts are being made in Germany, the scientist reports, to treat HER2-positive gastric cancer with HER2 antibodies plus immunotherapy. Scientists hope that this will enable them to offer equivalent treatment without chemotherapy in the future. However, the effect of this combination of therapies has not yet been proven.

Immunotherapies for gastric cancer do not (yet) meet expectations

In some forms of cancer such as melanoma or lung cancer, immunotherapies, for example with checkpoint inhibitors, are considered particularly successful today. These drugs are also currently being tested in studies for gastric cancer .

“Unfortunately, the first results are sobering,” reports the scientist. He and his colleagues had hoped that immunotherapy could improve the effect of chemo, but this was not confirmed. “If, however, all therapy options have already been exhausted in a patient, more can be achieved with immunotherapy than without further tumor-specific treatment,” reports Michael Stahl about the studies.

The problem with this is that it is currently difficult to predict in which patients the immunotherapy will work and which will not. Only in the few patients (less than ten percent of all patients with gastric cancer) whose tumors show what is known as high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) can one predict that immunotherapy has a high chance of effectiveness. Overall, the risk of severe side effects under immunotherapy is significantly lower than under chemotherapy, namely 20 percent instead of 60 percent.

The prognosis for gastric cancer is poor because the patients are late

How successful are the therapies at a glance? “The chances of a cure for stomach cancer are on average 25 to 30 percent; if stomach cancer is metastatic, the average life expectancy is one year,” reports Michael Stahl. The prognosis is only very good at a very early stage. However, patients with gastric cancer in this easily curable stage would be the exception in practice because many go to the doctor too late.

Prevention of stomach cancer – three measures

This makes provision and prevention all the more important. This includes, on the one hand, having longer stomach complaints clarified by a gastroscopy – and it does not matter how old the person affected is.

On the other hand, everyone should pay attention to the following three factors. Because little is known about the development of stomach cancer, so few are:

Pay attention to food hygiene, do not eat spoiled food, nothing that is moldy
Do not smoke
Avoid being overweight

This can not only protect the stomach, but is known to promote general health – not smoking and maintaining a normal weight are among the most important preventive measures against cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, but also against cancer.

Magnesium is vital – you need to look out for it to stay healthyMagnesium is vital – you need to look out for it to stay healthy

April 30, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 8:05 am

Magnesium is involved in hundreds of different processes in the body. Therefore, the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency can be different. What surprising signs are possible, who is particularly at risk and how you can intelligently compensate for a magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is particularly well known in connection with magnesium deficiency and cramps. This applies to nocturnal calf cramps, but also massive cramps in athletes. But this important role that magnesium takes on for well-functioning muscles, only reflects a tiny aspect of its very broad spectrum of activity with diverse, vital functions.

What is magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral and belongs to the group of metals. This mineral is essential. This means that the body cannot produce magnesium itself, but the mineral is vital and must therefore be supplied with the diet. It is then absorbed through the intestinal walls and gets into the blood. Any excess is excreted through the kidneys with the urine. High fat foods, oxalates and phosphates can slow down the absorption of magnesium in the intestine.

Around 25 grams of magnesium are present in the organism (in a person weighing 70 kilograms). A good half is in the bones, a little less in the muscles and only one percent in the blood. The bones also act as magnesium stores. However, the magnesium content in bones decreases over the course of life.

In addition, minerals are divided into bulk and trace elements. Magnesium is one of the bulk elements because the body needs relatively large amounts of it, unlike trace elements such as iodine and copper.

Why Magnesium is Vital

Magnesium is involved in the activation of over 300 enzymes in the body, including in the protein structure. The mineral takes on decisive tasks for energy and cell metabolism and regulates many vital functions, including:

Impulse transmission in muscle and nerve cells, magnesium ensures normal conduction of excitation in nerves and muscles. In connection with nerves, magnesium also supports brain functions and via the muscles, for example, the heart muscle. Adequate magnesium intake even seems to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, a study suggests.
Magnesium influences the heart rhythm and blood pressure.
It relaxes muscles, nerves and blood vessels and can reduce the production of stress hormones. This normalization of the excitability of nerves and the vascular tension is probably responsible for the fact that with an adequate supply of magnesium, among other things, the number of migraine attacks demonstrably decreases, as the analysis of several studies showed.
Magnesium can reduce the clumping of blood platelets, so it can support normal blood clotting. The risk of having a stroke decreases when the body receives enough magnesium, further research shows .
It is involved in the utilization of glucose and in blood sugar control. The risk of type 2 diabetes has been shown to decrease if the mineral is taken in sufficiently.
Magnesium is an important antagonist of calcium, prevents too much calcium from being stored, for example in muscles, but also vessels and organs. Magnesium can prevent the formation of kidney stones, which often consist of calcium oxalate.
In addition, magnesium can neutralize too much stomach acid somewhat and thus reduce the risk of heartburn.
In conjunction with calcium and vitamin D, magnesium controls the bone metabolism. Among other things, magnesium supports the activation of vitamin D in the kidneys. Magnesium is therefore an important factor in preventing osteoporosis. Already existing osteoporosis could be slowed down somewhat by adequate intake, as a study suggests.
The mineral regulates important messenger substances that also play a role in the mental mood. Studies show that magnesium can have a similar effect on mild depression as certain antidepressants , the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Overall, these and similar studies provide strong indications that an adequate supply of magnesium, including through dietary supplements, is associated with a lower risk of numerous common diseases.