Society | Floridians For Patient Protection

Child Disabilities – The Most Ignored Disease

March 28, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

The root cause for the occurrence of every disease is ignorance and the disease occurring to children is no exception. Child disabilities are seeking to attract a lot of attention these days but the other factors of the world over shadow this issue causing us to ignore it completely. The issue tends to increase with the day as we try to postpone taking action over it. Amongst all the people in the world in this world our children are the most vulnerable to sickness. This affects them the most for no mistake of theirs and some disease like polio, color blindness.

These types of disabilities are rising day by day and it is not only that it affects the children of the under developed countries but it is also affecting the children in the well developed countries. In most cases we see that the cause for the disability in the child is the mother, for example it has been proved by research that women who continue to smoke even during their pregnancy are more susceptible to cause disability to the new born child.

Human beings are becoming more dependent on medicines rather than allowing the naturally provided immunization system present in the body to fight over the disease. This over dependency on the medicine reduces the work of the immunization system of the body thereby making it vulnerable to attacks by disease and this weak immunization system is in turn passed over to the newly born child. Thus we see a majority number of children with disabilities to have a background in which either the father or the mother has been taking highly powerful medicines.

Filed Under: Health Care, Society Tagged With: Child, Disability, Immunization

Checkups and Health Insurance

January 19, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Checkups can seem like a waste of time if you’re really busy, but they can help prevent life threatening diseases by spotting them while they are still treatable. Some checkups are costly, especially if you don’t know what’s wrong, and it’s tempting to try to save money by “waiting until next year” for your annual checkup. Having health insurance means that you can get regular checkups without worrying about another bill. You’ll still have to make time in your busy schedule to visit the doctor, but at least you won’t have to work the weekends to cover the cost.

Regular checkups can help with a wide array of problems. They can help prevent disease, catch cancer in the earlier stages, and remind you to watch your eating habits and stay in shape. Checkups are important because your doctor can’t help you stay healthy if you never visit.

Here are a few of the kinds of health insurance that you can get.

Group Health Insurance is great if you’re part of a big company. Businesses can get lower costs based on the number of people covered. Check with your employer to see if you qualify. This type of insurance also encourages businesses to keep their employees in good shape, as they can pay lower health premiums that way.
Individual Health Insurance is by far the most expensive type of insurance you can get, but it also covers the biggest number of health issues. Even if you’re part of a company and get Group Health Insurance, Individual Health Insurance can be used if you need larger coverage on the side.

There are many other types of insurance, but you may want to consider your budget first. Online insurance quotes can give you a good idea of what coverage you can get for the price you can pay. You’ll have more options and be able to go to those checkups — and live a longer and healthier life.

Filed Under: Insurance, Society Tagged With: Agents and Marketers, Business, Financial Services, Group insurance, Health, Health insurance, Insurance, United States

A Look at What Types of Insurances Cover Nursing Homes

December 22, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Nursing home stays can be very costly. In a recent study conducted by AARP it was estimated that the average nursing home stay costs around $200 a day. That’s over $6,000 a month to stay in a nursing home. Many people assume that they are immune to this high expense because they have health insurance coverage. What they do not know is that many health insurance plans do not cover nursing home stays and, therefore, the expense to stay in a nursing home will have to come out of the patient’s pocket.

Luckily, there are some types of insurance coverages that will cover nursing home stays. Here is a look at the various types of insurance plans that will cover nursing home stays.

Long Term Care Insurance. Long term care insurance is a type of supplemental insurance that is brought through a private provider. The amount of coverage that your long term insurance plan has will depend on what type of policy you brought. Plans can vary from covering just a few months in a nursing home to covering your stay indefinitely.
Medicare. This government-provided insurance plan will cover some nursing home stays. However, the stay will have to meet certain guidelines and doctor recommendations. In most cases the nursing home stay is only covered if it is considered a rehabilitation stay and not a permanent stay in a nursing home. Even then the patient must choose from a list of Medicare-approved nursing homes in order to have the stay covered.
Private Insurance Plans. Many private health insurance plans follow similar guidelines to Medicare. A nursing home stay is not usually covered by private insurance plans unless it is considered a rehabilitation stay.
Medicaid. This government insurance plan will cover the cost of nursing home stays if the patient has limited income or assets. The nursing home will have to be a Medicaid-approved facility.

Filed Under: Insurance, Patient, Society Tagged With: Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing home

Assisted Living: Medical Support

December 7, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

There are few moments you dread more than those spent in a doctor’s office — sitting on a ridiculously cold bench (in an equally ridiculous gown), forced to wait for the arrival of a man who confuses you for a chart. There is no intimacy. There is no connection. There is instead only a series of awkward questions and dull minutes, the inevitable prescription recommendation. You then must shuffle back to the front of the building, hoping your friend is on time to meet you. He rarely is — and you devote an entire afternoon to cursing the field of medicine.

It was once an easy thing to visit your physician. As you’ve become older, however, that ease has been replaced to frustration; and you loathe even the slightest hint of a cold. It’s a warning you don’t want. It’s a promise you don’t need (heralding a long day and a far longer tirade).

But you’re certain there’s nothing to be done. You live alone, without the convenience of a car. You’re confined to your home, relying on the good will of others to transport you from appointment to appointment. It isn’t practical. It does, however, seem to be the only choice.

It isn’t.

Assisted living is a concept many deny, sure that it’s only for the weak and the lonely. This isn’t true. It’s instead for those who lack the ability to do all that they wish. Even simple tasks — such as seeking out a doctor — can be a challenge. It’s vital therefore that an alternative be presented.

Through assisted living, individuals will find on-site aid. There is no traveling required. There is no hassle of scheduling. Instead all medication and examinations can be provided quickly and without worry. The tedium of an office is mended to efficiency, and this is invaluable for those who need constant care but not constant aggravation.

Filed Under: Health Care, Society

What is Pinkeye?

September 11, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Pinkeye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an infection of the eye lid lining. Pinkeye is one of the most common ailments affecting children, even though it can affect anyone of any age. Pinkeye is usually caused by a virus, bacteria or allergies.

Pinkeye is characterized by being a redness in the whites of an eye. A virus infection is the most common way to get pinkeye. Viral pinkeye usually has more of a watery discharge and a person can have cold-like symptoms. Viral pinkeye is very contagious and can last one to two weeks. People with viral pinkeye should see a doctor, as this could turn into a cornea infection.

Bacterial pinkeye can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain in the eye. Discharge in the eye usually occurs after sleeping. Bacterial pinkeye can be treated by applying warm washcloths to the eyes as well as a trip to the doctor to get eye drops or antibiotic ointment.

Allergy pinkeye is most commonly associated with itching and swelling of the eyes. Pollens, dust and dander are the main causes of this type of pinkeye and it typically causes the usual allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing and itching. Cold washcloths to the eyes and over-the-counter eye drops work well to give relief. If you find that you or someone you know constantly has pinkeye, that may be a sign of a more serious problem.

While cold washcloths applied to the eyes and eye drops will help to relieve the symptoms, you should visit your doctor to make sure that the infection doesn’t become more serious. Since pinkeye is very contagious, you will need to take steps to avoid passing the infection on. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching the area around the eye. Throw away any tissues or handkerchiefs that you have used, and make sure to disinfect countertops, doorknobs and sink areas.

Filed Under: General, Health Care, Insurance, Patient, Society Tagged With: Bacteria, Conditions and Diseases, Health

Male Menopause

September 9, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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For so long the world has thought that only women may suffer from menopause. Doctors are now saying that men can also suffer from menopause. More and more men are going to the doctor with symptoms of fatigue, weight gain and sexual dysfunction, which in women, are some of the signs of menopause.

Some male patients are being treated with hormone therapy containing testosterone and are experiencing relief of symptoms with this treatment. Many people dislike the term male menopause, as the correct name for this disorder is late-onset hypogonadism. Doctors are now seeing more men suffering from this medical condition.

For women, menopause means the end of fertility. Men however, are still able to produce sperm into their eighties or later. All women eventually experience menopause, but not all men will have a low testosterone level. Male menopause is different than female menopause in that it is a gradual decline of the production of testosterone.

Many people say that men are just going through the normal signs of aging and that testosterone levels lowering is not the same as female menopause. The symptoms appear to be the same, however. Low testosterone can cause problems is sexual functions, insomnia, and emotional and physical changes to the body.

There is still some debate going on about whether or not men are experiencing a male menopause. In order to diagnose male menopause, a doctor gives a physical exam to the male patient. The doctor will then ask questions and assess the situation. Tests may be ordered in order to gather more information, but more than likely the doctor will order blood tests which include testing hormone levels.

Testosterone replacement therapy may work for those with low testosterone levels, but there are some side effects associated with this treatment such as a worsening of prostate cancer.

Filed Under: General, Health Care, Medication, Society Tagged With: Andropause, Disease, Menopause

health plans need free birth control

August 20, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Could free birth control be headed our way? The possibility is there and it is a welcome development if it happens.
One aspect of the health care reforms undertaken by President Obama is that providing basic preventive health services will be mandatory under new health plans starting this fall. Many women’s advocacy groups argue that contraception should be included in these mandated health services because it is part of basic health care for a woman.
Many health plans already cover prescription contraceptives because 27 states have laws in place to require some level of coverage. But further expanding the coverage could go a long way to reducing an estimated 3 million unplanned pregnancies that occur each year.
It makes sense to make birth control a more affordable option. Experts pinpoint the costs of contraceptives as a big factor behind unplanned pregnancies. Most plans, even when offering some coverage, still require a hefty co-pay ranging from $20 to $50 per month for birth control pills.
The conservative viewpoint is to preach abstinence from sex, but that is not a practical or realistic solution. But making birth control options accessible to lower-income patients will help in a variety of ways. It can encourage more teens to practice safe sex. It will help adult women who could suffer complications if they were to bear children. And it will allow couples to practice family planning and wait to have children at a point in time where such an option is more affordable for them.
A few preventive health measures, such as mammograms, will be required to be covered by health plans under the new law. It would not be a stretch to include birth control. From the prospective of employers, covering birth control should be a welcome notion because preventing a birth is much less expensive than paying out a lengthy maternity leave. And for a patient, the costs of giving birth and raising a child are astronomical compared to using contraceptives.
When you look at it from a common sense perspective, free birth control is a sound idea.

Filed Under: Health Care, Patient, Society Tagged With: Birth control, Family planning, Health care

Global Warming and Disease

August 15, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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As temperatures rise, however, the incidence of chagas disease and others like it, have already begun to spread to other parts of the world now experience warmer temperatures. An example of this is the state of Texas, where in southern Texas, never before recorded cases of chagas disease are now being tracked. Normally, the disease was limited to the northern part of Mexico down to the southern portions of South America.

Another example of disease being spread due to warmer global temperatures is dengue fever carried by mosquito’s. Where dengue is predominantly a disease found only in the tropics and other regions of the world with annual temperature ranges conducive to the life cycles of mosquitoes. Dengue is part of the Flaviviridae family which also includes the West Nile virus, hepatitis C and Yellow fever. Dengue and others diseases like it were at one time limited to regions of the world not only because of temperature ranges but also due to the limited capabilities of those populations of mosquitoes to travel outside of their immediate regions. However, as human populations within those regions began to spread to other parts of the world, such as after World War II, then the disease also began to spread, as in the example of a dengue pandemic in Southeast Asia shortly after World War II.

Could global warming be linked to an increased incidence of disase around the world? Many experts believe that as temperatures increase, a greater prevalence of certain disease generally limited to certain, more tropical, regions of the world may spread to other parts. This is the case with chagas disease where it is normally limited to tropical environments due to the fact that the carriers of this disease generally can not survive temperatures below certain levels.
As temperatures rise, however, the incidence of chagas disease and others like it, have already begun to spread to other parts of the world now experience warmer temperatures. An example of this is the state of Texas, where in southern Texas, never before recorded cases of chagas disease are now being tracked. Normally, the disease was limited to the northern part of Mexico down to the southern portions of South America.
Another example of disease being spread due to warmer global temperatures is dengue fever carried by mosquito’s. Where dengue is predominantly a disease found only in the tropics and other regions of the world with annual temperature ranges conducive to the life cycles of mosquitoes. Dengue is part of the Flaviviridae family which also includes the West Nile virus, hepatitis C and Yellow fever. Dengue and others diseases like it were at one time limited to regions of the world not only because of temperature ranges but also due to the limited capabilities of those populations of mosquitoes to travel outside of their immediate regions. However, as human populations within those regions began to spread to other parts of the world, such as after World War II, then the disease also began to spread, as in the example of a dengue pandemic in Southeast Asia shortly after World War II.

Filed Under: General, Health Care, Patient, Society Tagged With: Dengue fever, Flaviviridae, Infectious disease, World War II

Voluntary Euthanasia

August 13, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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In certain countries, voluntary euthanasia is legal, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands and in the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. However, for most parts of the world, it is still considered illegal and patients and families of those patients are often faced with difficult and troubling prospects when the will or desire to live has long vanished. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a one time practicing pathologist out of Michigan is probably one of the most recognized figures within the debate of physician-assisted suicide. During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Kevorkian is said to have assisted over 100 patients in ending their lives. He is famously quoted for saying, “dying is not a crime.”

There also exists a distinction between voluntary euthanasia and active euthanasia, where active euthanasia is seen as more difficult to justify or evaluate in the public’s eye. The distinction is drawn where in voluntary euthanasia, the patient takes the steps towards ending his or her life, as in taking a pill or self-administering the drug intravenously. Active euthanasia is when the doctor administers the required protocols for ending the patient’s life, whereas the patient is physically unable to do so.

There is also the consideration of insurability among those whose death is due to voluntary euthanasia. Most, if not all, life insurance policies do not cover death as a result of suicide. Therefore, in the case of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act: “… participation under the Act is not suicide, so should not affect insurance benefits by that definition.”

The number of elderly and terminally ill patients throughout the world seeking a more dignified and less painless way out from their current situation is not a recent phenomenon. For decades, this has been a hot topic, strongly debated from both sides. As the ability to care for patients way beyond their body’s natural ability to survive, the topic of voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide have only become more relevant and discussed. In certain countries, voluntary euthanasia is legal, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands and in the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. However, for most parts of the world, it is still considered illegal and patients and families of those patients are often faced with difficult and troubling prospects when the will or desire to live has long vanished. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a one time practicing pathologist out of Michigan is probably one of the most recognized figures within the debate of physician-assisted suicide. During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Kevorkian is said to have assisted over 100 patients in ending their lives. He is famously quoted for saying, “dying is not a crime.” There also exists a distinction between voluntary euthanasia and active euthanasia, where active euthanasia is seen as more difficult to justify or evaluate in the public’s eye. The distinction is drawn where in voluntary euthanasia, the patient takes the steps towards ending his or her life, as in taking a pill or self-administering the drug intravenously. Active euthanasia is when the doctor administers the required protocols for ending the patient’s life, whereas the patient is physically unable to do so. There is also the consideration of insurability among those whose death is due to voluntary euthanasia. Most, if not all, life insurance policies do not cover death as a result of suicide. Therefore, in the case of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act: “… participation under the Act is not suicide, so should not affect insurance benefits by that definition.”

Filed Under: Aid, Health Care, Society Tagged With: End-of-Life, Euthanasia, Suicide, Terminal illness

Healthcare – Should the Government Play a Role?

August 13, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Is government mandated healthcare dictating how much hospitals, doctors, nurses, clinics and every other facet of the healthcare industry can generate in terms of income? Is it socialist? Will the quality of healthcare drop as a result of government intervention? The answers to these questions depend on who you ask, and nowhere else on the planet have these issues been more hotly debated in 2010 than in the United States.

One might ask, how does the U.S. health care system rank in relation to other countries? Well, great question, but who do you ask? Who might be considered the most impartial judge, the least to gain from an answer in one direction or another? And, why would the United States public care to listen? The United Nations, an organization whose roots lie during World War II, was organized as an international forum for maintaining communications among the world of nations with the lofty purpose of achieving world peace and resolving global economic, social and humanitarian issues.

One particular agency of the UN is the World Health Organization (WHO), which, as the name implies, is charged with addressing all issues relevant with the current level of health of the world population. It researches, analyzes, consults, reviews and proposes norms and standards for all member nations to consider and undertake as far as their perceived needs and political climate will allow. The WHO is as close as the world has come to an international organization for the sharing and dissemination of ideas, processes, and research to do with health as it relates to the global and individual countries’ populations.

In June 21, 2000, the WHO published The World Health Report 2000, where it found that the United States spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product on health care than any other country yet ranked 37th in the world. France was found to rank number one with Italy second and San Marino third.

Filed Under: General, Health Care, Society Tagged With: Gross domestic product, Health care, Health care in the United States