Good Morning!
We've put together some of the most recent important news in the insurance industry.
Please give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions or concerns about the information enclosed in this newsletter.
We look forward to being an advocate for you in the insurance world.
Have a happy and healthy day!
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What Does it Mean to be a Health Care Consumer?
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What Does it Mean to Be a Health Care Consumer?
For the first time since people traded chickens for house calls, Americans are focusing on how they use and pay for their health care.
No matter what you think about health care reform - love it, hate it, or even if you couldn't care less - one thing is certain. It has brought to light the fact that health care has never worked like other businesses.
Think about buying a car. We spend weeks thinking about which car to buy. Then we do research, and go on test drives. We go online to check quality and safety measures. We ask friends and family for advice about what to buy and what to avoid. We compare prices at local dealerships and online to look for the best deals. After all of that, we buy a car.
But when our family doctor says, "You need surgery," we wait to be pointed in the right direction.
We should ask questions such as:
- Which hospital has the best results?
- What surgeon is the best at this procedure?
- How much of the cost will my health plan cover and how much will I pay?
Armed with information, you can review your choices and make wise decisions.
Being a smart health care consumer means looking at health care the way you look at other major purchases. It's in your best interest to be informed about the quality and cost of what you're buying. Learn how to make smart choices to meet your needs. Find out more about how to get involved in your healthcare decisions at http://www.besmartaboutyourhealth.com |
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The Best Deal Around: $4 Generics
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What Does it Mean to Be a Health Care Consumer?
Many consumers have yet to take advantage of the low prices for prescription drugs offered by many retailers. For example, some American consumers still pay an average of $50 a month for the generic drug pravastatin to lower cholesterol. But you can buy a 30-day supply for $4 at Target or Walmart and pay even less per dose for a 90-day supply.
Retailers such as Kmart, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart, and national grocers such as Kroger have been steadily expanding their discount-drug programs. To offer such low prices, retailers often purchase the medications in bulk.
Before you enroll, check the fine print. Also:
- Make sure you're covered. Many discount-drug programs don't include high dosages, and the list of drugs can be limited.
- Ask about restrictions. Some programs are offered only to people without insurance or are for medications that are not covered by insurance. And some are not available in certain states or their prices might be higher.
- Note that some programs carry an enrollment fee, which might make them less of a bargain.
- Check with your independent pharmacy. Some will match those deals when possible.
- Review the discount lists frequently. More generics are likely to be added to the lists as many major drugs, such as Lipitor and Plavix, become available as generics over the next 36 months.
Here are some of the options for discount drug programs:
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Costco Member Prescription Program
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Rite Aid Rx Savings Program
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Price: Varies by location.
Fee: Free for Costco members ($50 annual).
Note: Only for drugs not covered by insurance.
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Price: 30-day, $8.99; 90-day, $15.99.
Fee: Free.
Note: Not valid with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
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CVS/Pharmacy Health Savings Pass
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Target $4 Generic Drug Program
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Price: 90-day, $11.99.
Fee: $15 a year.
Note: Open to all.
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Price: 30-day, $4; 90-day, $10.
Fee: Free.
Note: Open to all.
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Kmart Prescription Savings Club
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Walgreens Prescription Savings Club
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Price: 30-day, $5; 90-day, $15.
Fee: $10 a year.
Note: Open to all. Up to 35 percent discount on all generics; 20 percent on brand-name drugs. Second, free program offers $5, $10, $15, and $25 medications.
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Price: 90-day, $12.
Fee: Individuals, $20 a year; family, $35 a year.
Note: Not valid with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
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Kroger $4/$10 Generics
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Walmart & Sam's Club $4 Rx Program
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Price: 30-day, $4; 90-day, $10.
Fee: Free.
Note: Open to all.
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Price: 30-day, $4; 90-day, $10.
Fee: Free.
Note: Open to all; no membership needed for Sam's Club.
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Don't Leave Money on the Table This Tax Season
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With the tax deadline looming, you're probably up to your elbows filling out one tax form after another and sweating over the fine print to make sure your small business keeps as much of its profits as possible. One thing that should not get lost in the calculations is the new federal healthcare tax credit offered to those of you who provide health insurance to your hardworking employees.
Small businesses that have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees with average annual wages below $50,000 can claim a credit of up to 35 percent of their healthcare premium on their 2010 federal tax returns. That's a healthy chunk of change made possible by the Affordable Care Act, the new healthcare law, and a boon to small businesses struggling to offer healthcare without breaking the bank.
Small Business Majority released a study in July 2010 showing that more than four million small employers in the United States, 83.7 percent, qualify for the credit. Already, we're hearing from small business owners across the country who say they are able to buy health insurance for their employees for the first time thanks to this provision of the Affordable Care Act.
Read the Full Article Here
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Wellness Tip of the Month
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Brought to you from Cheney Maddox at:
Your Guide to Getting Stronger, Leaner, and Healthier
Have you been wondering how to get rid of your body fat? Well, believe it or not, strength training twice a week can reduce your overall body fat by three percent in just 10 weeks. It's better to be losing inches - and gaining muscle - than just losing alone.
Traditionally, most think of cardio when it comes to shedding the extra pounds - however muscle mass built through strength training is a calorie burning machine!
Here are just a few reasons why you should incorporate weight training into your fitness routine:
- Aside from building long, lean muscles, strength training strengthens your bones too. Regular weight lifting for six months has been shown to increase bone mineral density by 13 percent.
- Makes you happy. Besides a boost in self confidence (from your shrinking waist-line to visibly toned muscles), strength training actually reduces your risk of depression. A small Harvard study found that 10 weeks of regular strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms at a level on par with standard counseling.
- Increased calorie burn. Not only will your body continue to burn calories after you finish your muscle pumping workout, the long term benefits are even better. Muscle, unlike fat, is metabolically active. Replace 10 pounds of fat with 10 pounds of lean muscle and you'll burn an additional 25 to 50 calories a day without even trying.
- Lower your risk of diabetes. As previously mentioned, muscle does a great job of burning your unwanted calories, but also gets rid of blood sugar quickly. As Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, building lean muscle mass is a great way to add to your prevention of this disease.
- And the final, yet most obvious reason, it will make you stronger. Not only will it help in your day to day activities, but the stronger you are, the longer and more intensely you can work out. Increasing your strength also makes you less prone to injury, which is important so you don't get sidelined.
Ready to get started? Visit our YouTube channel for workouts and tips from the H3 Fitness Team.
Cheney Maddox is responsible for H3 Direct, a corporate wellness program, facilitated by Hilton Head Health (H3), designed to take the inspiration of H3's Healthy Lifestyle™ program, delivered to your door. It's not too late to begin a program for your company in 2011 - call 843-785-3919 for information about how you can invest in your employees' health in the New Year for less than a quarter a day!
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