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Up to Speed The latest buzz in L.A.'s car culture. « Previous Post | Up to Speed Home | Next Post » Price of a new car hits 30-year low -- but not in California May 14, 2009 | 8:00 am Dealerprices Californians may not agree, but a new car is more affordable to the average family now than at any time in the last 30 years, according to a new report. Buyers can expect to see an average of $2,931 in incentives off the price of a new vehicle. In some cases, such as buying a Chrysler, a consumer can expect to get as much as $6,000 off the price of a new vehicle as dealers seek to move inventory amid a recession -- and in Chrysler's case, a bankruptcy -- and a sudden downshift in sales nationwide. The average price of a new vehicle nationwide is $1,700 less than in the final quarter of 2008, according to Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index, which has tracked auto prices since 1979. California buyers likely will see a smaller drop in average price. A temporary 1% rise in the state's sales tax that began April 1 and a doubling of license fees to arrive May 19 add about $400 to the average price of a new car. A provision of the nationwide economic stimulus package, however, allows them to write off a portion of the sales tax and license fee on any new vehicle bought between Feb. 17 and Dec. 31 this year. Nationally, the survey found it took 21.5 weeks of work for a median family to buy an average-priced new car or truck, or 1.3 weeks less than in the fourth quarter of 2008. It also found that consumers are getting better interest rates from dealers as credit slowly returns to the market. Financing, though, may not be available to as many potential buyers as before.

Women Pay The Price For Health Insurance by Sarah Varney April 2, 2009 Listen to the Story Morning Edition [4 min 40 sec] * Add to Playlist * Download * Transcript In Depth Search For Health Insurance Learn About COBRA Read About A Government Subsidy For COBRA A State-By-State Guide to Health Insurance text sizeAAA April 2, 2009 During the last economic bust, I got laid off and couldn't afford the monthly COBRA payments for my health insurance. I applied for an individual plan through Blue Cross. I was 28 at the time and had no health problems. I was thin and athletic. In fact, I'd done a triathlon and biked from San Francisco to Los Angeles twice. I got a letter from Blue Cross saying I was denied. They told me it was because my medical records showed I'd gone to the doctor complaining of stomach pain. The pain had long since gone away, but Blue Cross said if I wanted insurance, my doctor would need to fax a note guaranteeing I didn't have stomach cancer. He faxed the letter, and eventually I got a plan. It makes you wonder, though, if Blue Cross didn't want to insure me - a healthy 20-something - how on earth do actuaries determine who's a good risk and who's not? "It's very scientific and fact-based," says Jeff Fluke a senior underwriter with the risk management company Ingenix in Minneapolis. Fluke says actuaries first calculate average health costs over a broad population like 28-year-old women or 50-year-old men. Then the underwriter adjusts those averages based on your medical history and health status - your height and weight, and whether you have high blood pressure, asthma or hay fever. "Maybe there's a heart condition," Fluke says. "How long ago was it? What were the treatments? Are you on treatment now? What are the medications you're taking? Because some medications [are] expensive and some aren't." Complex Calculations These complex algorithms boil down to: Will you cost the insurance company more money than the insurer c

Women Pay The Price For Health Insurance by Sarah Varney April 2, 2009 Listen to the Story Morning Edition [4 min 40 sec] * Add to Playlist * Download * Transcript In Depth Search For Health Insurance Learn About COBRA Read About A Government Subsidy For COBRA A State-By-State Guide to Health Insurance text sizeAAA April 2, 2009 During the last economic bust, I got laid off and couldn't afford the monthly COBRA payments for my health insurance. I applied for an individual plan through Blue Cross. I was 28 at the time and had no health problems. I was thin and athletic. In fact, I'd done a triathlon and biked from San Francisco to Los Angeles twice. I got a letter from Blue Cross saying I was denied. They told me it was because my medical records showed I'd gone to the doctor complaining of stomach pain. The pain had long since gone away, but Blue Cross said if I wanted insurance, my doctor would need to fax a note guaranteeing I didn't have stomach cancer. He faxed the letter, and eventually I got a plan. It makes you wonder, though, if Blue Cross didn't want to insure me - a healthy 20-something - how on earth do actuaries determine who's a good risk and who's not? "It's very scientific and fact-based," says Jeff Fluke a senior underwriter with the risk management company Ingenix in Minneapolis. Fluke says actuaries first calculate average health costs over a broad population like 28-year-old women or 50-year-old men. Then the underwriter adjusts those averages based on your medical history and health status - your height and weight, and whether you have high blood pressure, asthma or hay fever. "Maybe there's a heart condition," Fluke says. "How long ago was it? What were the treatments? Are you on treatment now? What are the medications you're taking? Because some medications [are] expensive and some aren't." Complex Calculations These complex algorithms boil down to: Will you cost the insurance company more money than the insurer c

Estrogen dominance is a condition where a woman has excess estrogen and low progesterone. Progesterone Hormone helps in counter balancing the effect of estrogen hormone. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can have estrogen dominance if she has very low progesterone. This was first time recognized by Dr. John Lee. Estrogen hormone imbalance may lead to weight gain especially on hips and thighs. You might have observed that fat deposition on hips and thigh is common in women but rarely in men because estrogen is prominent in females. Symptoms associated with estrogen imbalances are excess fat deposited on hips and thighs, menstrual irregularities, PCOS, infertility, miscarriage, unsuccessful IVF, heavy menses, decreased libido, mood swings, increased triglycerides, forgetfulness, painful and heavy breast. Lipolyzer Hips & Thighs Tablet contains natural herbs and nutrients which help in weight loss and inch loss for females having estrogen hormone imbalance. Lipolyzer Hips & Thighs also contains Garcenia Cambogia whose main role is to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates in the body thereby helps in losing weight, Disclaimer: This product is a dietary supplement, not a drug. Hence it is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any disease.

New Health Dialogue - logo Health Policy Facts February 27, 2008 - 1:57pm - admin "We're raising the first generation of children who may live sicker and die younger than their parents." --Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Upcoming Events February 27, 2008 - 2:11pm - Paul Testa Upcoming Events Obama and Health Care Reform Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:00pm - 1:30pm American University Washington College of Law 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Room 603 RSVP here Recent Events: Health CEOs for Health Reform To see a webcast of this event click here The Wireless Future of Health IT For a summary of this event click here New Health Insurance Marketplace For a summary of this event click here CEOs for Health Reform To see a webcast of this event click here For previous events click here Health Policy Links February 27, 2008 - 2:17pm - Joanne Kenen * Who We Are * NEW SITE: The State of State Health * Health Policy Program Website * Guide for Journalists * Guide for Hill Staff New America Blogs * The American Strategist * Blockbuster Democracy * Climate Action * Ed Policy Watch o Early Ed Watch o Ed Money Watch o Higher Ed Watch * The Ladder * New America Voices * New Health Dialogue * Political Reform * The Religious Center * US Budget Watch * Wireless Future * The New America Network Topics Ambulance Diversion California California Cancer Chronic Disease Comparative Effectiveness Comparative Effectiveness Congress Cost Cost Coverage Disparities Emergency Rooms Employer Burden Global Health Good News HC4HR Health Care Health Insurance Health Insurance Health IT Health Politics Health Reform Health Reform Hospitals Hospitals Individual Mandate In the News In the States Lessons of 93 Mandate Massachusetts Medicaid Medical Errors Medical Homes Medicare Nurses Obama palliative care Payment Policy Payment Reform Prevent

New Health Dialogue - logo Health Policy Facts February 27, 2008 - 1:57pm - admin "We're raising the first generation of children who may live sicker and die younger than their parents." --Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Upcoming Events February 27, 2008 - 2:11pm - Paul Testa Upcoming Events Obama and Health Care Reform Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:00pm - 1:30pm American University Washington College of Law 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Room 603 RSVP here Recent Events: Health CEOs for Health Reform To see a webcast of this event click here The Wireless Future of Health IT For a summary of this event click here New Health Insurance Marketplace For a summary of this event click here CEOs for Health Reform To see a webcast of this event click here For previous events click here Health Policy Links February 27, 2008 - 2:17pm - Joanne Kenen * Who We Are * NEW SITE: The State of State Health * Health Policy Program Website * Guide for Journalists * Guide for Hill Staff New America Blogs * The American Strategist * Blockbuster Democracy * Climate Action * Ed Policy Watch o Early Ed Watch o Ed Money Watch o Higher Ed Watch * The Ladder * New America Voices * New Health Dialogue * Political Reform * The Religious Center * US Budget Watch * Wireless Future * The New America Network Topics Ambulance Diversion California California Cancer Chronic Disease Comparative Effectiveness Comparative Effectiveness Congress Cost Cost Coverage Disparities Emergency Rooms Employer Burden Global Health Good News HC4HR Health Care Health Insurance Health Insurance Health IT Health Politics Health Reform Health Reform Hospitals Hospitals Individual Mandate In the News In the States Lessons of 93 Mandate Massachusetts Medicaid Medical Errors Medical Homes Medicare Nurses Obama palliative care Payment Policy Payment Reform Prevent

<< [Back to News Releases] Auto Affordability Worsens Slightly Comerica Bank Chief Economist Reports DALLAS, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The purchase of an average-priced new vehicle took 24.1 weeks of median family income in the third quarter, according to the Auto Affordability Index compiled by Comerica Bank. The latest reading is up 1.0 week from the second quarter and down 1.1 weeks compared to a year ago. Including finance charges, the total cost of buying an average-priced light vehicle was $28,929 in the third quarter, up about $1,200 from the second quarter. Family income barely increased in the latest quarter. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010807/CMALOGO) "The surprise to me was that the average amount of money spent on a new car increased about 5 percent to $25,200 last quarter, excluding financing costs," said Dana Johnson, Chief Economist at Comerica Bank. "In all likelihood, many moderate income buyers pulled out of the market due to the limited availability of financing, thereby temporarily inflating the average amount of money spent on a new car. A sharp drop in loan to value ratios, to the lowest level in three years, was another indication that tight auto financing conditions were a restraint for many potential buyers."

Gender can cost you in individual health insurance June 22, 2008 When it comes to health insurance, Valencia resident Tova Hack's first problem is that she works part time and thus needs an individual policy for medical coverage because her employer doesn't offer one. Her second problem is that she's a woman. Ads by Google / Ad Feedback * Blue Cross Blue ShieldHealth insurance plans as low as $4/day. Call 1-8... FREE! www.Vimo.com * Individual BlueSave Big on Health Insurance Rates- Get Affordable Brand Name Care Now! www.YourFreeQuotes.com * Nevada Health PlansFree health insurance quotes! Find the right plan and apply online. www.GoHealthInsurance.com * Blue Cross Short Term InsHealth Insurance Quotes Online from Blue Cross. Plans from $50 month. www.healthinsurancesort.com Hack, 22, a grad student at Cal State Northridge, is insured by Blue Shield of California. She just found out that the cost of her bare-bones, high-deductible insurance plan is going up 20%, to $119 a month from $99. But the real surprise -- which Blue Shield neglected to point out in its recent letters to individual policyholders but which was apparent from a close reading of an accompanying chart -- is that men and women will now be charged different rates. The change takes effect July 1. "I don't think it's fair at all," said Hack. "I'm in perfectly fine health." That may be. But as far as Blue Shield is concerned, Hack and all other women are somehow more accident-prone, or more likely to break a bone, or more susceptible to costly ailments. Why? Because they're women. "Our egghead actuaries crunched the numbers based on all the data we have about healthcare," explained Tom Epstein, a Blue Shield spokesman. "This is what they found." That women get sicker than men? "It's all about the statistics," Epstein said. It's not about pregnancy, though. Hack's policy doesn't even cover pregnancy and maternity care. No, this is purely a matter of Blue Shield deciding t

Gender can cost you in individual health insurance June 22, 2008 When it comes to health insurance, Valencia resident Tova Hack's first problem is that she works part time and thus needs an individual policy for medical coverage because her employer doesn't offer one. Her second problem is that she's a woman. Ads by Google / Ad Feedback * Blue Cross Blue ShieldHealth insurance plans as low as $4/day. Call 1-8... FREE! www.Vimo.com * Individual BlueSave Big on Health Insurance Rates- Get Affordable Brand Name Care Now! www.YourFreeQuotes.com * Nevada Health PlansFree health insurance quotes! Find the right plan and apply online. www.GoHealthInsurance.com * Blue Cross Short Term InsHealth Insurance Quotes Online from Blue Cross. Plans from $50 month. www.healthinsurancesort.com Hack, 22, a grad student at Cal State Northridge, is insured by Blue Shield of California. She just found out that the cost of her bare-bones, high-deductible insurance plan is going up 20%, to $119 a month from $99. But the real surprise -- which Blue Shield neglected to point out in its recent letters to individual policyholders but which was apparent from a close reading of an accompanying chart -- is that men and women will now be charged different rates. The change takes effect July 1. "I don't think it's fair at all," said Hack. "I'm in perfectly fine health." That may be. But as far as Blue Shield is concerned, Hack and all other women are somehow more accident-prone, or more likely to break a bone, or more susceptible to costly ailments. Why? Because they're women. "Our egghead actuaries crunched the numbers based on all the data we have about healthcare," explained Tom Epstein, a Blue Shield spokesman. "This is what they found." That women get sicker than men? "It's all about the statistics," Epstein said. It's not about pregnancy, though. Hack's policy doesn't even cover pregnancy and maternity care. No, this is purely a matter of Blue Shield deciding t

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Women and older individuals are more likely to have high out-of-pocket costs. Individuals in high-cost households are, on average, 8 years older than those in lower-cost households. In addition, women represent 55 percent of individuals in high-cost households, compared with 50 percent of those in families without high out-of-pocket costs.7

send to a friend printable version What that car really costs to own Knowing a vehicle's cost over time can save you thousands in the long haul Illustration of a car blowing money out the exhaust Illustration by Carlo Stanga A less-expensive car can cost you more in the long run than a more-expensive alternative, our new ownership-costs comparisons have found. At about $17,500, a Mitsubishi Lancer could cost $4,000 less than a base Mini Cooper to drive home. But when you estimate the total costs of ownership for each car, the Lancer could cost you $5,000 more over five years. A Toyota Highlander can cost you $3,000 more to purchase than a Ford Explorer V6, but owning the Ford after five years can cost $6,750 more. In addition to shopping for a good deal, car buyers should also consider how much a model will cost them to own. That includes depreciation, fuel costs, interest, insurance, sales tax, and maintenance and repair costs. To help, Consumer Reports is introducing its new owner-costs estimates, which can help you compare models and could save you thousands of dollars. The "owner costs" Ratings cover one, three, five, and eight years of ownership and are based on a comparison of all models within the Consumer Reports database over eight years. Because depreciation is factored in our estimates, we assume that the vehicle will be traded in at the end of the term.

The most common question arises in mind while taking a decision for abortion, should I go for abortion or not? And this question makes her concern every instance. It is a very bad and tough decision for the lady. However, abortion is the process in which the termination of undesirable pregnancy is done as per the choice of lady. It is difficult to declare that whether this decision is right or wrong because some conditions force them to do abortion. If it is related to the health of the mother and fetus, then abortion is the right decision. MTP kit is now to help you in your tough circumstances. This kit helps in the finishing of undesirable pregnancy.

Can Your Car Last 1 Million Miles? by Lauren DeAngelis | USNews.RankingsAndReviews.com Posted: May, 01 2009 With HP wireless printers, you could have printed this from any room in the house. Live wirelessly. Print wirelessly. Print | Email More Text Size A A A More Autos Stories Other auto articles from U.S. News & World Report: * 2009 Car Rankings * Best Cars for the Money * More Cars That Could Be Killed This Year * 6 Myths About GM, Ford, and Chrysler Americans are keeping their cars on the road longer than ever before. According to a March 2009 study released by R.L. Polk & Co., the median age of passenger cars in operation was 9.4 years in 2008 - a record high. That means that, assuming a car is bought new and driven 12,000 miles per year (which is about average), many Americans are logging 112,800 miles before selling or trading in their car.

Oil Change Intervals With improved technology, does the old mantra of 'every 3,000 miles' still apply? by Larry E. Hall Most of us already know that regularly scheduled oil and filter changes are a vital part of routine car maintenance that is necessary for engine longevity. During the miles between changes, the oil in your vehicle's engine gradually becomes contaminated with soot, metal particles, gasoline and other impurities. As mileage accumulates, so do the contaminates in the oil. Eventually, enough impurities accumulate that the filter cannot remove them and the oil cannot keep them in suspension. When this happens, the resulting sludge can dramatically shorten engine life. Even though modern technology has vastly improved engines and the oils that lubricate them, regularly scheduled oil and filter changes are still a vital part of regular, preventative auto maintenance. The question is: Just how often does the oil need to be changed? At regular intervals The old mantra of responsible motorists that said, "Change your oil every 3,000 miles!" is being replaced. Today car manufacturers' recommendations for oil changes range from 5,000 to 7,500, or even 10,000 miles for many cars when operated under "normal" driving conditions-more often if conditions are "severe." Before you relax, let me point out that the way most of us drive is listed as severe by the automotive experts. According to the owner's manuals of many new cars and trucks, normal operation of a vehicle is at least 20 minutes, at a medium speed with a steady throttle, and in a clean environment.

Lipolyzer Herbal Slimming Tea is a sweet and tasty blend of powerful herbs which helps in weight loss and inch loss. You must follow the diet plan provided with the pack for maximum benefit; you may contact NutroActive nutritionist during office hours for any queries. There are two main mechanisms through which Lipolyzer Herbal Slimming Tea helps in weight loss; first - it helps in reducing water retention in the tissues and second - it may improve the metabolic power of liver to burn more fat. Apart from weight loss Lipolyzer herbal tea has several other benefits. It contains antioxidant which helps protecting our body from harmful toxins, it is anti-inflammatory hence may reduce joint and muscle pain. It's easy to prepare Lipolyzer herbal slimming tea; you may use both water as well as milk.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many hang-ups about sex in the Catholic Church? Sex is an important part of our lives and so are relationships, passion, emotions. Sexuality in the world is a big deal because our bodies are hard-wired to want sex. We are fully prepared to develop into sexual beings who use sex not only for procreation but also for coming closer to a spouse and having great fun doing it. A D/s-M Lifestyle is a lifestyle in which submissive men and women and slaves of any gender are engaging in all or Dominance and submission lifestyle. Life's Hierarchy is considering sex because our evolution needs us to pass on our genetic knowledge to keep the species alive. How are we listening to religious nutcases and encouraging them to manipulate habits that don't concern them and have no facts to prove their God's impact.

Microfruits Daily Tablets healthy energy boosters Vitamins and minerals are required for digestion and metabolism of food but cooking and processing destroys 80-90% of vitamins present in the food. This food is called as dead food. This dead food when enters our body, steals the vitamins from body resulting into weak metabolic system. Our skin, bone, blood and every cell of body gets replaced by new cell every year. Weak metabolic system and dead food cannot regenerate new cells efficiently leading to low energy, rough & dry skin, weight gain and many diseases. The fast-food served in restaurants and malls is a dead food; you feel very lethargic and low in energy after having food. This dead food has stolen vitamins from your body, pulling your energy down. Microfruits Daily tablet provides 26 different vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to refill the lost vitamins. Disclaimer: This product is a dietary supplement, not a drug. Hence it is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any disease.

The cost of IVF in Patna varies depending on several factors, including the clinic's reputation, the experience of the medical team, and the treatment plan tailored to individual needs. On average, IVF in Patna may range from INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,50,000 per cycle. It is essential for patients to inquire about any additional costs and available packages to make an informed decision that suits their budget and preferences.

Isis Hospital's embryology program is world-renowned. Our brand new facilities are equipped with the latest in medical equipment, and our embryology staff has decades of experience. This translates into higher than average success rates for our patients. http://isisivfhospital.com

In-vitro fertilization for self transfer SCI Healthcare offers a full range of infertility treatment to women including sono-hysteroscopy, IUI, IVF, abdominal oocyte collection, and embryo transfer to patients using embryos created with their own eggs or donor eggs. IVF/embryology Isis Hospital's embryology program is world-renowned. Our brand new facilities are equipped with the latest in medical equipment, and our embryology staff has decades of experience. This translates into higher than average success rates for our patients.

Earning less, paying more for health care: fighting a battle on two fronts By Hygeia | Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 Today, April 28th, is Blog for Fair Pay Day. In recognition of this important day, our guest post by Lisa Codispoti, Senior Counsel for Health and Reproductive Rights, National Women's Law Center, relates to health care and equal pay. Between 2000 and 2006, health insurance premiums increased 87.5 percent-4 times more than wages. In addition to the burden of inflated health care costs, women are still paid only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men-with women of color earning even less. In a world where women are earning significantly less than men for comparable work, how can they also afford health care? Pay inequity for women compounds the issues that already exist with our broken health care system. This is a system that makes unfair practices by insurance companies flourish, such as allowing health to be more expensive for women. For example, women pay higher premiums than men when they try to buy health insurance directly from an insurance company through the individual health insurance market (a practice known as gender rating.) Even worse is that many of these health plans do not cover maternity care or expect women to pay an additional fee (what is called a rider) to gain maternity coverage. Women are then left trying to stretch their already smaller paycheck for a much larger health care bill. (more…)