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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

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.

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

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.

<< [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."

It is common knowledge that men prefer a tight vagina for extra sexual pleasures. Generally, the vagina can lose some elasticity due to ageing, menopause, overstretching from childbirth or sexual activities. VAGITOT Vaginal Cream is proven to restore vaginal tissues to help relieve vaginal dryness and even painful sex due to menopause. Menopause can cause changes in the vaginal tissues, called vaginal atrophy. This can lead to vaginal dryness, itching and burning, and painful sex. VAGITOT Vaginal Cream treats the underlying cause of vaginal dryness and painful sex, to restore the tissues that provide elasticity and lubrication. And you don't need to use it forever; just for as long as you need treatment. http://hashmimart.in/product/vagitot/

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.

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…)

How To Burn Stomach Fat. I t will eventually not be quite easy to melt away stomach fat. It just can be achieved throughout consistent eating and working out. So many people are directed by excessive fats concerning stomach to start thinking about how to burn stomach fat.

How To Burn Stomach Fat. I t will eventually not be quite easy to melt away stomach fat. It just can be achieved throughout consistent eating and working out. So many people are directed by excessive fats concerning stomach to start thinking about how to burn stomach fat.

Top Five Car Care Do's That Don't Get Done Car Care Month AAA Gives Tips on How to Prevent Costly Breakdowns Media Contact: Jennifer Mack San Francisco, October 11, 2007 An oil change or tire rotation is one more chore on your never-ending to-do list that never takes priority and seldom gets done. AAA of Northern California points out that October Car Care Month is a great time to take care of routine auto maintenance before winter sets in, and to prevent budget-busting repair bills later. "Not only will better vehicle maintenance improve fuel economy, in many cases it also will prevent expensive, unforeseen repair bills," said AAA of Northern California automotive expert Mark Woods. "Your savings account isn't the only thing you'll protect by paying attention to your vehicle. A car that is in top working condition is much safer for you and your passengers."

Building your immunity doesn't have to be complicated. Most people dread the process because they think they have to follow an awfully difficult diet plan or gulp down bitter decoctions. The good news is you don't have to jump through any of these hoops to increase your immunity and overall wellness. Kerala Ayurveda provides organic jam that is 100% natural, sweet, and comes in convenient packaging. Scoop it out of the jar and spread it over the bread, or eat it as it is. The recommended dosage is 1-2 teaspoons a day, preferably alongside your breakfast. If unsure, consult your Ayurvedic practitioner for the right dosage. This organic jam is made with a special blend of antioxidant-rich ingredients like Amalaki fruit, clove, cinnamon bark, and various other herbs that help build immunity and promote overall wellness. It also contains just the right amount of ghee, which acts as a bio-enhancer for maximum absorption. Apart from improving immunity, this sweet organic jam also helps pacify vitiated doshas, enhances blood circulation, aids in digestion, and helps stay healthy and age gracefully. Visit the official website of Kerala Ayurveda to place your order now.

Everyone's has got concern to How To Get A Flat Tummy. Many people don't be aware of best way on how to get a flat tummy. Whether you have a flat tummy, you can use everything from tight-fitting clothes and also gowns to two pieced swimwear designed for summer season.

Throughout a sexual partnership, the dominant partner is the one who takes control, while the submissive partner refuses any form of control and generally prefers letting their dominant partner make decisions. Submissive partners don't have to be submissive to ' act like slaves. You would actually choose to let someone else making the decisions on how intimacy should be worked out. Most dom and sub couples find a good balance in the bedroom with the sub being that way, yet domestically dominant. Or they may be submissive at home and dominant at work. If you look at BDSM, dominant partners or membership typically discuss with a willing sub their deepest and darkest desires while the submissive partner allows himself to be dominated and enjoy the resulting sensation of losing all control. For more info about Domination and Submissive lifestyle visit our site.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. While most women (about 80 percent) of child-bearing age have some symptoms of PMS, the official definition limits the scope to having symptoms of "sufficient severity to interfere with some aspects of life". Such symptoms are usually predictable and occur regularly during the two weeks prior to menses. Generally, symptoms may vanish both before or after the start of menstrual flow.

Spring is the perfect time to start our new healthy habits and enjoy the effects of sunshine to our energy level as we try to execute our fitness plans to achieve better health.

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.

Our clean urgent care white plains clinic is ready to serve patients especially the residents of White Plains. It is situated at 222 Mamaroneck Avenue at the intersection with Maple Avenue. You don't have to wait in an emergency room or hassle with appointments, just drop by our clinic and we'll be happy to get you on the road to recovery. For more information, call us at 914-401-4282.