CakeHealth

Paying for individual health insurance premiums can be brutal.  For those that are self-employed, or cannot otherwise receive health insurance, this is quite a significant monthly expense.

Of course, location with insurance changes everything.  Sheryl Nance-Nash reports that the national average is at $215 per person for a monthly premium.  The most expensive states are as follows:

1. Massachusetts: $437
2. Vermont: $401
3. New Jersey: $364
4. New York: $357
5. Rhode Island: $344

On the other side of the picture, those who have to get their own health insurance capture inexpensive rates in the following states:

1. Alabama: $136
2. California: $157
3. Arkansas: $163
4. Idaho: $167
5. Delaware: $173

Health insurance shoppers should know that variations exist.  Shopping around is a must in any type of insurance, and it is certainly the case with health insurance.  Also, there may be ways to get around needing to purchase individual health insurance – it could be possible to be covered under a spouse’s health insurance plan.

Part of the battle exists with overall costs.  Using savings accounts, prescription cards, and other opportunities to save money can be extremely beneficial, as part of an overall strategy.

At Cake Health, health costs can be monitored for free.  Users can see how much they are paying for insurance, prescriptions, and everything else, along with helpful tools to keep track of payments and bills.  It is also a helpful tool to analyze one’s finances, seeing if any changes may be necessary.

Don’t fret if you have to pay for individual health insurance.  Shop around and remember that there are other ways to save money.

Going to the dentist isn’t something most people think about often. But when you need to have a root canal, it’s not just the teeth pulling that can leave you feeling sore. Without dental insurance, many Americans find their bills climbing into the thousands, and are unprepared to handle it. But insurance premiums can be very expensive, especially for the average middle class family. Even if you have insurance, there are some reports that it won’t do you a lot of good if you need a lot of work done in your mouth. So how can you prevent yourself from falling into a pit of debt due to unexpected dental care billing?

The solutions can range from complex to simple, and most rely on some form of planning. You’re going to have to look ahead.

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Things have been picking up at Cake. Since rolling out Version 2.0, we’ve received a heap of emails requesting integration with various insurance carriers, and that makes us want to bust a move and celebrate!

The unfortunate news, however, is that we are unable to roll out these integrations as quickly as the requests come in.  That being said, we will be announcing our next bundle of providers in the (very) near future, so keep your eyes peeled for your provider.

In the meantime, those with the following insurance carriers will be able to use CakeHealth:

New research from Duke University and the CDC suggests that severe obesity could have a considerable effect on health costs in coming years, WebMD Health News reports.

According to the study, by 2030, 42 percent of Americans will be obese and 11 percent will be severely obese. If prediction turned reality, health care costs would see an increase in millions of dollars due to a rise in heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other related conditions. Obesity-related ailments already account for 9 percent of U.S. health costs — or $147 billion a year, according to WebMD.

The news isn’t all bad, however. Adult obesity numbers, though still unhealthful, seem to be leveling off. Earlier obesity estimates predicted that 51 percent of the population would be overweight by 2030.

So maybe we’re already getting the message.

“If Americans could become no more obese than we were in 2010,” WebMD says, “the U.S. would save $549.5 billion over the next two decades.”

But that still leaves stark numbers on the other side of the spectrum. Based on BMI (body mass index), 1 in 20 Americans is considered severely obese. At the rate we’re going, that number will rise to 1 in 10 by 2030.

The messages — and the worrisome predictions — are out there. Now it’s up to individual efforts to improve personal health, exercise and eating habits.

If nothing else, maybe we’ll do it for the money.

If you’ve been on top of your apple a day in hopes of keeping the doctor away, I’ve got some unfortunate news for you: like it or not your butt is bound to get back on that table!

Visits to the doc are an essential part of good health, so embrace it, mark your calendar and remember these important appointments that come each decade:

IN YOUR 20s

Primary care physician.  Every year you should make a visit to your primary care physician. Think of this yearly appointment as a time and money saver; the earlier health issues are detected, the better (for both your health and wallet).  The checkup should include a screening for problems such as gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer and diabetes.

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According to a recent article in AARP magazine, “When Supplements Become Dangerous,” taking dietary supplements can wreak havoc when combined with certain medical prescriptions.

“There are over 5,300 distinct dietary supplements, and very few of them have been studied systematically,” notes Vanessa Grubbs, M.D. and expert in kidney disease at San Francisco General Hospital. Newly diagnosed kidney patients should tell their doctors if they are taking any supplements, as some might adversely affect any drugs the doctor prescribes, says Grubbs.

It’s tough to know what’s really inside those supplements because although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the industry, the FDA doesn’t adhere to the same guidelines it uses for medications.

What’s worse is that FDA approval isn’t needed by the supplement manufacturers before they release their products. Yikes!

A doctor’s approval for taking supplements is a must, particularly for people with hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease or liver problems. The article references a list of potentially dangerous supplements in a 2010 issue of Consumer Reports:

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Preparing for unexpected life changes is a necessity. Most people are not prepared for sudden illnesses or accidents which put them out of work. Depending upon the situation, some people may not be able to return to work, which is why preparation is key.  In these instances, investing in short-term and long-term insurance will reduce a significant amount of financial stress.

Short-Term Medical Insurance

Short-term insurance usually starts after a person has been at their job and enrolled in the program for about a year. It is important to speak with your employer’s health care benefits coordinator to find out when you are eligible to participate. Most short-term insurance policies will cover time out for childbirth and months home with the new born. Short-term insurance also provide financial relief due to an accident, illness or minor surgery. Most people need this steady flow of income to keep paying household bills and health care costs. Obviously short-term disability will eventually reach its course, and that is when long-term disability will replace it.

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Over the past several years, yoga has seen a dramatic increase in popularity in western culture.  In major cities, studios are popping up on every block and men and women are getting hooked on the practice.  But exactly what is it that makes yoga so appealing?

Apart from the transformative toning effect it has on the body, yoga has an infinite number of benefits which improve the mind, body and (yes, really) the soul.  While some consider it a form of exercise, others consider it to be a powerful form of alternative medicine.

No matter how you view the practice, however, its positive effects cannot be ignored:

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For those that are uninsured, getting sick can be a nightmare. Even worse if you realize that you need a costly procedure that you cannot afford at the moment. But even those with insurance often struggle coming up with the funds to pay off the remaining balance that their health coverage did not cover.

Just like with most businesses however, patients can negotiate lower medical bills if they go about it the right way. In fact, statistics show that only a mere 13 percent of Americans even attempt to negotiate reduce bills. But those that do try are generally successful. That said, to learn how to haggle your medical expenses, continue reading below.

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