January Checklist
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Plan for Social Security �Changes
On January 1, 2015, benefits increase by 1.7% to a maximum of $2,663 each month.
Review retirement plan contributions
If at all possible, contribute the maximum to your employer's plan. Ask Human Resources whether you are on target to reach the 2015 limit...$18,000 for 401(k)s, plus an extra $6,000 if you are 50 or older.
Boost your creativity
January is International Creativity Month. To spark your imagination, look at something blue or green or write by hand instead of typing.
Get your flu shot now (if you haven't already)
Activity usually peaks in February-and it takes about two weeks to develop protective antibodies
Give blood during National Blood Donor Month
Call your local hospital or the American Red Cross (800-448-3543) to find out when and where to give.
Affordable Care Act Overview
Receive information on The Exchange Here
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Social media: how does it really affect our mental health and well-being?
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In 1971, the first email was delivered. More than 40 years on, social media has taken the world by storm. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, are now used by 1 in 4 people worldwide. Such activity may seem harmless, but some researchers suggest social media may affect our mental health and well-being.
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The Benefits Store Insurance Services, Inc.
(800) 446-2663 |
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The Benefits Store Insurance Services, Inc. January Newsletter
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How the High Cost of Medical Care Is Affecting Americans
- A bill of over $40,000 for the 20 minutes it took a doctor to stitch a cut.
- An ambulance ride of only 200 feet that cost $3,421.
- A healthy, insured couple "slowly going under" because their premiums, co-pays and deductibles are now twice as high as their mortgage and food costs.
Over the past two years, the New York Times series Paying Till It Hurts has examined the high costs of ordinary medical care in the United States, exposing the reasons and chronicling the human fallout behind the nation's extraordinary $2.9 trillion medical bill. In response, more than 10,000 readers shared individual experiences like the ones above.
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Thin People Get Diabetes, Too
Nearly 20% of people with this disease are not overweight...
It's widely known that type 2 diabetes tends to strike people who are overweight. In fact, about 85% of people with diabetes are carrying extra pounds. But what about those who aren't overweight? Read More
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19 Signs Your Thyroid Isn't Working Right
Crabby, gaining weight, and unable to concentrate? It could be a problem with that little gland in your neck.
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, can have a dramatic impact on a huge variety of bodily functions, and if you're a woman over 35 your odds of a thyroid disorder are high- more than 30%, by some estimates.
Read More
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Glaucoma Drug and Weight Loss Program Combined to Battle Blinding Disorder
October 2014 - Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition that causes increased pressure in the head and eyes. Those who suffer from IIH tend to be young women who are obese, 86 percent of whom develop vision loss due to strain on the optic nerves.
A new study from Saint Louis University looked at the effect glaucoma medication had on patients with IIH-related vision loss when combined with weight loss programs. The trial included 165 participants with IIH who had mild vision loss. They were enrolled in weight loss programs with meal plans, simple workout regimens and consultations with weight loss coaches. Participants were randomly assigned to use either the glaucoma medication or a placebo.
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Test Your Antioxidant Levels*
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***Antioxidant levels tested with the Biophotonic Scanner, as seen on the Dr. Oz's show:
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