Selecting a Policy

Before signing your health insurance contract, it is important that you read your policy carefully. You may want to schedule an appointment with your agent or insurance representative at your place of employment so that you can ask any questions you may have regarding your policy. The amount of your monthly premium is an important consideration. In order to keep your premium down, you might consider a higher deductible; however it is important that you choose a deductible you can afford to pay in the event of an illness or accident.

There are a number of questions you may want to ask your agent or representative such as:
* Are the doctors and hospitals you prefer in your policy's network?
* What is your co-insurance and what are your co-pays?
* How are emergency room visits handled? Are they paid in full? Do you have to pay a portion?
* What is considered an emergency? If your insurance company denies your ER claim stating it was not a true emergency, what are your options? NOTE: It is important that you do not use the emergency room for non-emergency treatment.
* Are major medical expenses and hospitalizations covered in your policy?
* Are there any exclusions in your policy such as plastic surgery or substance abuse treatment?
* What is the family out-of-pocket limit or the maximum you will have to pay each year?
* Are there limitations on pre-existing conditions? NOTE: By law, there can be no limits on pre-existing conditions for people 19 years of age and younger.
* Is preventive care covered at 100%? If so, what procedures, such as annual physicals or mammograms, are covered each year? NOTE: It is wise to take advantage of all covered preventive care as you are paying for these services with your premiums, and preventive care helps detect illnesses before they become life-threatening.
* Does your plan include prescription medications, vision or dental care? If so, what is the additional cost for this coverage?

Before selecting an insurance company, you may want to check the reputations of the companies you are considering by checking this insurance rating website.

HMO, PPO, POS or Traditional Policy? What's the Difference?

The type of insurance plan you choose is important, and it is vital that you understand how each one works before you make your choice. Most insurance contracts run for one year, at the end of which you may renew or change companies.

Let's Take a Look at HMOs

One of the least expensive plans is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). Although the plan is usually less expensive, you have a limited list of doctors and hospitals from which to choose to benefit from the plan. You will have to pay out of pocket if you venture outside of the list of providers that participate in your HMO. You will be required to select a primary care physician (PCP) you will see for all of your healthcare, and you will not be permitted to see any kind of specialist without a referral from your PCP, except in the case of an emergency. An HMO will most likely require you to pay a co-pay for doctor visits and may include a deductible for hospital stays.

More Choices but Higher Premiums with PPOs

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) exercises less stringent controls over your choice of doctors and hospitals. There is often a longer list of doctors and hospitals associated with the PPO. The premium is typically higher, but you do not have to visit only doctors on the PPO list. You may use doctors who are "out of network," but you will pay a higher share of the cost than you would if you use an "in network" doctor. Also, a PPO plan does not require a referral from a PCP in order for you to see a specialist.

Where Does the POS Fit in?

Somewhere between HMO and PPO lies the POS (Point of Service) plan. As long as you stick with doctors and hospitals that are in network, your POS plan will pay according to the policy; however when you visit a doctor or hospital that is not in the network, you will have to pay considerably more than you would with a PPO plan. You may go outside of your plan to see a specialist or other provider, but you may be subject to additional co-pays or deductibles. Most HMOs, PPOs and POS plans have a limited amount that you will have to pay out-of-pocket.

Going Traditional is Nice if You can Afford It

The most expensive health insurance plan is usually the traditional indemnity plan. You may visit any licensed practitioner or healthcare facility. There is not a limited list. You will need to know the list of covered services in this plan, and whether or not there are any services that are not covered such as cosmetic surgery.

Look at your household budget, decide what is important to you in terms of healthcare providers, and choose your insurance plan.

In this day and time, health insurance is a major concern and a huge cost for most families as well as single people. Today starts a 3 part series that aims to help make the often intimidating world of health insurance a little easier to understand.

Selecting an insurance carrier and a plan that is right for you and your family does not have to be a complicated task. The sheer volume of insurance carriers and policies may seem overwhelming, but there are some things you may do to make the process of selecting one easier. Taking an organized, step-by-step approach will help you make an informed decision.

First of all, examine your circumstances. Are you:
-  currently uninsured and selecting an individual policy?
-  insured through your employer and choosing from the options offered by your employer?
-  insured through your employer, but given no options?

Individual or Group Plan?

Choosing an individual policy means you can examine all the choices in the insurance market to make your selection. If your employer offers group coverage, typically you may have several options from which to choose, or your employer may choose the coverage for you. Often larger companies offer several coverage options to employees, and smaller companies just have one plan for everyone. You are not required to go with your employers insurance carrier. You are free to investigate and

Coverage Through Your Employer

Taking advantage of health insurance offered through your employer could be the most cost effective way to go as long as your employer is paying part of the premium. If your employer is not paying any of the premiums, you may be able to score a less expensive premium as an individual, particularly if you and your family are healthy. Group coverage through an employer takes into account the health histories of all employees; therefore if you are an exercise/health food freak with a resting pulse rate of 50, you still may pay a higher premium by being grouped with the overweight smoker in the cubicle next to yours.

Insuring Your Children Separately

It is possible to insure your children separately. Few people consider this option. Sometimes teenagers and college-aged children who are in good health have very low premiums when insured separately instead of as part of a group plan that includes their middle-aged parents who have health issues.

Educate Yourself

Educating yourself about the insurance choices that are available to you instead of just going with the one your employer chooses can help you make the most of your premium dollars by getting you the right coverage at a price you can afford. It is unwise to simply go with the cheapest plan. You may find out the hard way that the cheap plan covers very little of what your family really needs. Cutting your household budget in another area to allow you to pay a little higher health insurance premium for better coverage may prove to be a worthwhile investment down the road.

Make this cute Snowman Christmas ornament at home with your children if you are a mom looking for this year's addition to your family ornament collection, in your classroom if you are a teacher or by yourself if you are just a creative individual.
Supplies you will need:
Glass or plastic ball ornament
Cotton balls
Orange and pink felt scraps
4" piece of green yarn
2 small glittery green pom poms
1 gold chenille stem
Black paint
Instructions:
Remove hanger top from ornament & set aside. Stuff interior of ornament with cotton balls.
Cut the yarn in half. Measure enough to go from the top of the ornament to the middle and glue in place on both sides of the ornament.
Cut each pom pom on one side to make that side flat and glue toe pom poms to the end of the yarn.
Cut a long triangle from orange felt and two circles from pink felt and glue to the front of the ornament for a nose and two cheeks.
Dot on the eyes and mouth with black paint using a  small paint brush.
Replace the ornament's hanger top. Insert the chenille stem through the loop in the hanger top and enjoy hanging your snowman ornament on your Christmas tree.

Now light a blazing fire in the fireplace. Fix hot chocolate with marshmallows for the children and a little spiked eggnog for yourself! Homemade ornaments always  serve to bring back fond memories every year when they are unwrapped and placed lovingly on the family Christmas tree.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to think about Turkey. Are you tired of using the same turkey recipe year after year? Even if it is grandma's traditional recipe, you may be ready for something new and different. If that is the case, take a look at these 3 unique turkey recipes.

1.  ROAST TURKEY WITH CRANBERRY-HONEY GLAZE

Ingredients

* 1 C jellied cranberry sauce
* 1/4 C honey
* 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
* 1 - 10 lb fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
* 1 fresh lemon
* salt and pepper to taste or about 3 hours.

Directions

Combine cranberry sauce, rosemary and honey in a small pan. Cook over medium heat until sauce is smooth, whisking frequently. Set aside. Remove turkey from package and remove neck and giblets from cavity. Rinse turkey with cold water an pat dry. Tuck wing tips under body. Fasten legs with a clip. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thinly slice lemon. Loosen turkey skin at front of breast.
Using wooden spoon, lift skin and slide lemon slices under skin on both sides of turkey. Place turkey breast side up on wire rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush turkey with cranberry honey glaze.
Roast turkey uncovered until skin is browned, then cover loosely with tent of aluminum foil for the remaining time. Continue to baste with cranberry glaze while cooking. Roast until meat thermometer reaches 180 degrees or about 3 hours. Remove from oven and let stand about 20 minutes before.

2.  HERB ROASTED TURKEY WITH CITRUS

Ingredients

1 - 15 lb turkey thawed
3 large lemons
2 large limes
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 C dry white wine
1/4 C packed brown sugar
3 T salad oil
1 bunch each fresh sage, marjoram, thyme

Directions

Rinse turkey with cold water and drain well. Blot dry with paper towels. Peel lemons and limes. Squeeze 2 T each juice from lemons and limes. Cut remaining lemons and limes in half and place in turkey cavity. In small bowl, mix wine, brown sugar and citrus juices. Reserve for glaze.
Loosen skin of turkey and place 1 T each sage and marjoram under skin. Fold neck skin and wings back. Tuck legs under.
Place turkey breast side up on oven rack in large shallow roasting pan. Rub turkey with salt, pepper and salad oil. Insert food thermometer in thickest part of thigh. Roast turkey in preheated 325 degree oven for 3 - 4 hours. Baste with pan drippings periodically. During last 30 minutes, pour glaze over turkey, make tent with aluminum foil and return to oven. Roast until thermometer reaches 180 degrees. Remove turkey from oven and allow to rest 20 minutes before carving.

3.  ROASTED TURKEY IN APRICOT-CHILI GLAZE

Ingredients

1 - 12 lb turkey
3 C chicken broth
2 T unsalted butter
1/4 C tequila
2 Anaheim chilies, stemmed, seeded and cut into large chunks
3 C apricot jam
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a medium saucepan, combine broth, butter, tequila, chilies and 1/2 C apricot jam. Bring to boil and cut until chilies are tender. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Press mixture through fine mesh strainer, discarding any solids.
Return mixture to saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Stir in the rest of the apricot jam to make a glaze. Season with salt and pepper.
Place turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan. Separate turkey's skin from flesh. Pour 1/2 of glaze under skin and rub it into turkey. Replace skin and rub remaining glaze on outside of turkey. Roast for 1 hour. Cover turkey with foil and roast for another 2 hours or until breast registers 180 degrees in thickest part of thigh.
Allow turkey to rest in pan for 10 minutes. Transfer turkey to serving platter and let it rest for another 10 minutes before serving.

For a new twist on turkey, try one of these recipes and spice up your Thanksgiving celebration this year and have a safe and happy h

If you are hesitant about pumping your body full of chemicals to get rid of sicknesses commonly contracted during the fall and winter months, consider natural remedies for healing and prevention of minor illnesses. Of course, you should listen to your doctor. Home remedies typically do not cure serious sicknesses. If you have an acute illness, it may be wise to take the prescribed pharmaceuticals. But for prevention and help with minor health conditions, try these natural remedies.

* Ascorbic Acid - contains Vitamin C which aids in body repair by helping to form collagen in bones, cartilage, muscle, blood vessels, and also helps with absorption of iron.
* Camphor spirits - are used for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains in muscles and joints associated with simple backaches, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains.
* Castor Oil - is a laxative used for temporary relief of constipation.
* Charcoal Powder USP Activated - can be used in emergencies to absorb some swallowed poisons.
* Cocoa Butter - helps prevent and temporarily protects chafed, chapped, cracked or wind burned skin and lips.
* Cola Syrup - is recommended for the relief of simple nausea associated with an upset stomach.
* Glycerin - also helps to prevent and protect chapped, chafed and windburned skin. It can be used when making bath salts for aromatherapy baths as well.
* Iodine Tincture Mild 2% - is a first aid antiseptic which helps prevent infection from minor cuts, scrapes and burns.
* Mercuroclear - helps soothe itching from insect bites and pain from burns.
* Mineral Oil - can be used to relieve constipation.
* Oil Anise - can be used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri.
* Oil Cinnamon Artificial - can also be used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri.
* Oil Clove - used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri too.
* Oil Eucalyptus - used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for fragrance in potpourri as well.
* Olive Oil - is an emollient used to soften cracked or dry cuticles, and helps loosen ear wax buildup. It can also be used for temporary relief of minor earaches.
* Sodium Bicarbonate Oral Powder USP - is an antacid for relieving excess stomach acid, relief of heartburn and indigestion. It also absorbs odors.
* Wintergreen Oil - is an external analgesic, used to reduce pain and inflammation of sore muscles and joints.
* Zinc - is helpful for use when you feel a cold coming on. It often reduces the severity of the cold and speeds the healing process.

Keep these natural remedies on hand and see if you and your family get through the winter with less sickness. Remember to take your daily supply of vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water and look for a doctor who knows about natural remedies. Any time you can go natural over chemical, that is best.

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year and my personal favorite. The colorful leaves are akin to God's own artist's palette, and the crisp air is rejuvenating. Christmas shopping commences, out come the snuggly sweaters and in comes the firewood. Unfortunately, cold and flu season is thrust upon us at this time as well, but there are simple ways to boost your immune system and preserve your health through the change in weather and the approaching flu season.

There is little more important than thorough hand washing to prevent the spread of bacteria and other germs. Lather your hands with soap completely for at least 20 seconds including the backs of hands, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Rinse with warm water and air dry.

Drinking enough water and getting adequate sleep are absolute necessities, but many people neglect these basic components of human survival. At least seven or eight hours of sleep is best for the average person after a day of work and home activities. Most people need 72 ounces of water each day or 9 eight ounce glasses or bottles. If that is more water than you think you can drink each day, try substituting green tea to satisfy part of your daily water requirement. Whether you drink it hot or cold, green tea contains powerful antioxidants. check out WebMD for results of an extensive study conducted on the health benefits of green tea.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea

Exercise is another vital part of a healthy lifestyle that will help you fight off flu and cold bugs. A daily brisk walk of about two miles should take approximately 30 minutes, and what a great, and inexpensive, way to start the day. If you are not the outdoorsy type, you can always use a treadmill with television or iPod to pass the time, or invest in a Wii Fit which could provide hours of fun for the whole family.

Fall is a wonderful time to include seasonal fruits and vegetables in your meals. Fall fruits include apples, pears, cherries, cranberries, plums, grapes, pomegranates and passion fruit, all of which can be used to make scrumptious salads. Check out this website for more fruit salad recipes than you can imagine.
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/salad/fruit-salads/

Some of the tastiest fall vegetables include squash, broccoli, pumpkin, cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach and sweet potatoes. A hearty vegetable soup or stew can be a perfect evening meal as well as one that is both healthy and inexpensive. Take a look at this website for some delicious soup and stew recipes.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/soup_and_stew/

Fall is also a great time to tackle that list of classic books or novels you have always wanted to read. You might even consider organizing a book club. Sitting in front of a roaring fire with a steaming cup of green tea engrossed in thought provoking literature might be a welcome respite from mindless television viewing. Keeping your mind healthy can be almost as important as keeping your body healthy.

So get ready for combat against the flu, colds and other viruses this fall with healthy food, exercise, plenty of water and adequate sleep. Watch for next week's blog on simple home remedies to help prevent fall and winter sickness.