Palmer Insurance

Do you have a good dental plan?

2011-04-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

Now available in Indiana our Assurant Health dental plan. As low as $15.50 per month and the best thing is there are no networks. The plan pays either you or your dentist, your choice. If you would like more information please email me at gpalmer@centurylink.net

How much do I need for retirement?

2011-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

That is a very tricky question. The answer is not the same for everyone. It really depends upon what kind of life style you want. It is said that you will need about 40 times the amount you will need per year. For example if you need 40,000 per year to live on you should have in your retirement funds around 1,600,000. Two things to remember it will probably take around 600,000 just for your medical needs. That doesn't include your Long Term Care needs. The cost for this really depends upon where you live and the kind a care you need. Your assets should be in several different "buckets" like grand dad always said don't put all your chickens in one basket.

Thinking of getting a cash cancer policy?

2011-02-26T08:02:00.001-08:00

When you are looking into policies that cover cancer there are a few things you must look at and not just the price. One thing that needs to be understood is what is and is not covered. Make sure that you understand which cancers will be covered under your policy and which ones are excluded like skin cancers. Another thing that you must be aware of is how does the policy pay. Some pay when treatments are made. While other are paid at the diagnosis of cancer as just a one lump sum and can be used for any thing you want to use it for not just treatments and doctor bills. There are also policies that have return of premiums if you don't get cancer you can get the money that you paid into the policy back.

Why do I need Life Insurance

2011-02-24T18:51:00.000-08:00

I often hear why do I need life insurance. One main reason is to pay for things that you owe money for. Your House, car, and any other thing that you have an outstanding balance on. If you have children and want to provide for them and possibly there education(college). You will have funeral expenses that will need to be covered. It really is not for you but your loved ones. One other thing that Life insurance can do is provide for a retirement fund. This is true with whole or universal life that has a cash value on top of the death benefit so if you don't need or use your life insurance you can cash it in and use the money in any way you wish. But one thing with doing that is that the interest that you earned may be taxable where as the death benefit is usually tax exempt. There are two different types of life insurance Whole and Term. The both have uses and each have advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want to accomplish.

How am I going to pay for Long Term Care?

2011-02-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

One may be asking if I need long term care how am I going to pay for it. There are several ways to pay or receive your long term care. One way is to hope that your spouse/children care for you. But what if that option is not a realistic option. Then what do you do? Your medicare benefits only cover up to 20 days and then partially for up to 100 days. But you are required to have a 3 day hospital stay. So very few people receive the benefit from Medicare. You can pay for the long term care your self with assets and funds. This becomes very expense and can deplete your life savings in a couple of years. Another way is to purchase long term care insurance and/or Home health care services. You can put together a plan that meets your needs and budget as long as you are healthy. Today they have many options and even some annuities and life insurance policies include a benefit if you were to need long term care benefits. The last method of paying for your long term care is Medicaid. This requires you to spend down to a set amount and then the government to pay your bill. The one down fall of this method is that you may not have control of where you receive your care. The facility that you were in or like may not accept of have room for another medicaid person. There are many factors in making a decision if and when to purchase long term care insurance. Just remember that all the year that you purchased Home Owners insurance and you always hoped that you didn't need to use that policy.

Understanding Individual Health Insurance

2011-02-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

What is Individual Health Insurance?
Individual health insurance is private coverage that you
can buy directly from an insurance company.
If you don’t have health insurance through an employer,
association or government program, you may choose to
purchase an individual health insurance policy for yourself
and/or your family.
Individual health insurance:
􀀹 ensures you access to
quality health care
􀀹 provides you with valuable
major medical benefits
􀀹 protects your financial
well-being from rising
medical costs.
There are different types of plans you can choose from
based on your needs. Depending on the type of plan
you choose, individual health can help you pay for both
predictable health costs (such as doctor’s office visits and
prescriptions) and medical expenses you don’t plan for
(such as treating a serious illness or injury).
It provides peace-of-mind that your health needs are covered.
Q: “Do I really need insurance? Can’t I pay
out-of-pocket for any medical expenses that come up?”
A: Being uninsured can cost
more than paying premiums. While you may be able to pay
for doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and other routine medical
expenses on your own, you may not be able to afford the
high medical bills resulting from an accident or illness.
If you don’t have major medical coverage to protect you from
unexpected medical costs, you would be responsible for paying
all of these medical bills on your own.
Plus, being insured can protect your health. Uninsureds can
face serious health risks by delaying necessary medical
treatments. This can result in even higher costs in the future
if and when a medical condition has worsened.
If you don’t have major medical coverage to
protect you from unexpected medical costs, you would be
responsible for paying all of these medical bills on your own.
Q&A
Individual health insurance is a good option for people
who need coverage between jobs or who go into business
for themselves. It can also be a more affordable alternative
to COBRA continuation coverage.

Tax Deferral

2010-10-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Putting Off Taxes Can Be a Good Thing

Nobody enjoys paying income taxes. Of course, putting off taxes is rarely a good strategy, as you could find yourself paying substantial fees in late penalties. But what if putting it off could actually save you money? By investing in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can do just that.
Why deferral is a benefit

As you read through the many benefits of your employer-sponsored retirement plan, one term you’ll constantly see is "tax deferral." To "defer" taxes literally means to put off paying them. But, as you know, when you put off paying anything, it usually costs you later (think of your credit card bill). So how is deferring taxes a benefit? Won’t this cost you more in the long run – in penalties and fees – when you finally do pay your tax bill?

When you take advantage of tax deferral by investing in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you not only put off paying income taxes on the money you contribute, you may also save money on the taxes you eventually will pay.
Save now, pay later

The money you contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan is taken directly off the top of your paycheck – before income tax and any other automatic weekly withdrawals. The portion deducted goes directly into your retirement savings plan, so you’re left with a smaller dollar amount in your paycheck that can be taxed by the IRS.

As a result, you’ll pay less in your current income taxes for the year, because in the eyes of the IRS, you’ve been paid less money. This can help soften the blow– or even nullify the difference – to your overall take-home income. And remember, it’s still your money.

Of course, the money that you put in your plan eventually will be taxed; but not until you withdraw it. Ideally, that won’t happen until your retirement – up to decades later– when you could be in a lower income tax bracket. So, not only are you not paying taxes on the money you invested, you could be paying them at a lower rate when you finally do "take home" your money.
Do the math

The math of tax deferral is simple: If you’re in the 31 percent tax bracket, for example, and you invest $5,000 a year, that’s $5,000 of your salary on which you’re not paying taxes this year; so you reduce your annual tax bill by $1,550 ($5,000 x .31). It’s like you’re paying yourself to save for retirement!
Putting your savings to work

While saving on current and future taxes is one way to benefit from a tax-deferred retirement plan, you can save even more when you account for the growth potential of your account. When you invest, you earn interest on your money. And then that interest earns interest. That’s called compound interest, and it’s how your account grows over time.

Taking compound interest into account, the chart below helps show the difference between saving $100 monthly over 30 years with a tax-deferred account versus a fully taxable account.

According to the chart, even if the entire amount in the tax-deferred account was withdrawn after 30 years and taxed, more money would still be left than in the taxable account. Note that withdrawals from tax-deferred plans before age 59½ may be subject to penalty taxes.
information came from ING website found at:http://ing.us/individuals/my-financial-life/managing-my-paycheck/tax-deferral

Outliving Your Money Feared More Than Death

2010-09-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis, June 17, 2010 – More than 90 percent of Baby Boomers feel the United States is facing a retirement crisis, yet most have a limited understanding of how much money they'll need and fear they'll outlive their income according to a new survey* from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). The study, titled Reclaiming the Future: Challenging Retirement Income Perceptions, was conducted in May 2010 with more than 3,200 Baby Boomers ranging in age from 44 to 75.

Although 61 percent of Boomers fear outliving their money in retirement more than death, nearly one third (31 percent) say they are not too clear about what their expenses will be in retirement and 36 percent have no idea if their income will last.

"These results are troubling not only because people are fearful about retirement income, but also because of how little they know about how much money they'll need," said Gary C. Bhojwani, president and CEO of Allianz Life. "We hope that our Reclaiming the Future study will shed some light on the issue and inspire Boomers to take control of their retirement planning today."

A majority of respondents feel their retirement lifestyle must surpass their parents (79 percent), indicating a need to focus on income in retirement versus accumulation of assets. When asked how much yearly income is needed in retirement, respondents indicated a median income of $59,000 per year. Unfortunately, Boomers were off by a factor of nearly three times too small when estimating how much they'd need to save to create that household income.

It's clear that this level of planning amounts to no more than a guessing game, but that point was underscored even further when Boomers were asked which they were more likely to guess correctly, exactly how much money they'll have (or need) at the point of retirement or how many gumballs are in the jar at the local county fair. Sadly, just over half (53 percent) felt confident in their ability to gauge their retirement income needs – only six percent higher than those more certain of their gumball guessing skills.

While there are no easy answers to the retirement puzzle, the Allianz Life Reclaiming the Future study did yield some reasons for optimism. Perhaps the biggest of these was the fact that Americans do have options in planning for their retirement in a way that addresses reduced sources of income, the longevity risk, and market volatility.

During the next several months, Allianz Life will be releasing more data from the Reclaiming the Future study, addressing topics including; Boomer generational differences, attitudes toward working, financial education needs, working with financial professionals and the role of annuities.

About Allianz Life
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with nearly 155,000 employees worldwide. Based on its revenue, Allianz SE is the 20th largest company in the world (Fortune Global 500, August 2009).

*Study Methodology
Larson Research and Strategy Consulting, Inc. and DSS Research fielded a nationwide online survey for Allianz Life among 3,257 U.S. adults, age 44 to 75. The margin of error for the total sample was approximately +/- 1.7%. The online survey was conducted in the United States between May 6th, 2010 and May 12th, 2010. In addition to a representative sample of 1,642 US households, subsamples of more affluent households and households who own annuities were also targeted. Results were weighted by age, gender, education, race/ethnicity and income to account for disproportionate sampling of certain populations.

Insurance and annuities are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, and in New York, by Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, New York, NY. Only Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York is authorized to offer insurance and annuities in the state of NY.

Despite Desire for Guarantees, Americans Keep Old Attitudes about Annuities

2010-09-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis, September 8, 2010 – Even after describing an annuity-like solution as their ideal financial vehicle, more than half (nearly 54 percent) of Americans aged 44-75 expressed distaste for the word "annuity", according to a recent survey* from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). An overwhelming 80 percent of the more than 3,200 surveyed preferred a product with four percent return and a guarantee against losing value over a product with eight percent return and subject to market risk, demonstrating the need for education about annuities and their place in retirement planning.

The study, titled Reclaiming the Future: Challenging Retirement Income Perceptions, also found that perceptions of annuities were not based on current information. Respondents' apparent distaste for annuities comes from opinions formed decades ago. Fifty-three percent first formed their opinion of annuities 10-20 or more years ago, and 64 percent of those respondents haven't researched annuities since that time. Thus, many myths and misconceptions continue to plague the products today. In fact, only 27 percent knew of innovations made with annuities during the past 5-10 years, and even fewer (23 percent) realize that variable annuities allow contract holders to participate in market gains.

"Our study demonstrates that more education is needed about annuities because perceptions need to change if consumers are to access guaranteed income and create a more stable retirement," said Gary C. Bhojwani, president and CEO of Allianz Life. "The 401(k) industry did a great job of teaching consumers about mutual funds to save for retirement; now we need the same type of concerted education effort on annuities and how they can help Americans when they are in retirement."

When people understand annuities, they're very satisfied with them. According to the study, 76 percent of annuity owners are "very happy" with their purchase. More than half of owners like the product because it's a safe, long-term investment vehicle (57 percent), a great way to supplement their retirement income (56 percent), and an effective tool to get tax-deferred growth potential (56 percent). In fact, consumers ranked annuities second-highest (50 percent) in satisfaction among all financial instruments, beating out mutual funds at 38 percent, stocks at 36 percent, U.S. savings bonds at 35 percent and CDs at 25 percent.

In June, Allianz Life was named as a Top Workplace in the Twin Cities metro area based on an employee survey from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In July, the company was honored by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal has as one of the Best Places to Work for 2010.

This data also shows that more Americans are now seeking safety and guarantees over growth. When asked what features they find most important in a financial product, the top feature was "the ability to create a stable, predictable standard of living throughout retirement" followed by the "ability to provide a guaranteed income stream for life." Similarly, when asked to choose between putting money into an annuity-like solution (moderate growth opportunity, monthly income, but limited access to the lump sum) versus a similar instrument that provides total access but risks running out of money, 56 percent chose the annuity-like solution.

With respect to liquidity and access to funds – a common criticism of annuities – a majority of respondents (54 percent) chose a product with seven percent return and very limited access to funds over one that pays five percent but is totally accessible.

"The debate on retirement and the role annuities play in retirement planning needs to change," Bhojwani said. "No other financial product offers guaranteed income for life. Government, financial planners and the industry need to re-educate the American public about what these products do and how they can help secure a stable retirement."

About Allianz Life
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with nearly 155,000 employees worldwide. Based on its revenue, Allianz SE is the 20th largest company in the world (Fortune Global 500, August 2010).

*Study Methodology
Larson Research and Strategy Consulting, Inc. and DSS Research fielded a nationwide online survey for Allianz Life among 3,257 U.S. adults, age 44 to 75. The margin of error for the total sample was approximately +/- 1.7%. The online survey was conducted in the United States between May 6th, 2010 and May 12th, 2010. In addition to a representative sample of 1,642 US households, subsamples of more affluent households and households who own annuities were also targeted. Results were weighted by age, gender, education, race/ethnicity and income to account for disproportionate sampling of certain populations.

Insurance and annuities are issued by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, and in New York, by Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York, New York, NY. Only Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York is authorized to offer insurance and annuities in the state of NY.

Medicare Advantage Plans

2010-08-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Lots of people have questions about how the Health Care Reform bill has impacted the Seniors and the Medicare Advantage Plans. The new plans are being rolled out very soon and you should schedule an appointment with an agent or attend a seminar to make sure you understand the changes and how they may impact your health benefits. Don't forget that the Annual enrollment starts Nov. 15th and will end December 31st and there will be no open enrollment this year. So you must have your plan in place by the end of the year. NO CHANGES after December 31st.

The Individual Annuity A RESOURCE IN YOUR RETIREMENT

2010-07-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

AN AGE OF DECISION
Retirement today requires more planning than for
previous generations. Americans are living longer—
many will live 20 to 30 years or more in retirement.
Finding a way to make savings last over such a long
period of time is one of the biggest challenges of
today’s retirees.
In addition, sources of steady retirement income
have changed. Fewer workers are covered by
traditional employer-provided pension plans that
provide a lifetime benefit. Furthermore, Social
Security is not likely to provide future retirees the
level of benefits that it provides today. Americans
need other ways to create and guarantee lifetime
income so their standard of living doesn’t decline
with age.
To achieve a secure retirement, more and more
retirees are including an individual annuity in their
plans. An annuity can provide a steady stream of
income for life, shifting the burden of managing
savings from you to your life insurance company.
No other personal financial product offers this
guarantee of lifetime income. For many, the income
guarantee helps offset worries associated with
running out of money.
The American Council of Life Insurers has prepared
this guide to help retirees understand what an
individual annuity contract is, what options are
available, and how the right choice might enhance
retirement security.
Annuities are insurance contracts.
They come in different types and offer
many options to meet a variety of
financial objectives.
A deferred annuity can address
both pre-retirement savings and
post-retirement income needs. For
example, if you are years away from
retirement—or are retired and have
assets that don’t need to produce
income right away—a deferred
annuity allows your savings to
accumulate, tax deferred, until you
choose to receive income payments.
You decide how your money
accumulates—at a fixed interest rate,
an indexed interest rate, or based on
the performance of stocks and bonds.
You also select how you receive
income—in a lump sum, payments
over a specified number of years, or
steady income you cannot outlive.
If you need a guaranteed income
stream right away, an immediate
annuity converts an initial lump sum
of money into a series of monthly,
quarterly, or annual payments that
begin within a year after purchase.
You decide if you want to receive
those income payments over a
specified number of years or as a
steady stream of income you cannot
outlive.
Accumulation Options
For Deferred Annuities
Fixed Annuity
The money you put in a fixed annuity earns interest
at a rate that is guaranteed for a specific period
of time—ranging from one to five years or more,
depending on the terms of the contract. When that
period ends, a new rate may take effect—or the old
rate may be offered again. In no case will the new
interest rate be less than the guaranteed minimum
rate defined in the contract.
When you begin receiving income, a fixed payment
is guaranteed. Fixed annuities generally include
death benefit protection so that if you die before
payments begin, your beneficiary will receive at least
the amount you contributed minus any withdrawals
taken. These benefits are detailed in the annuity
contract.
Indexed Annuity
An indexed annuity is a type of fixed annuity. With
an indexed annuity, sometimes referred to as an
equity-indexed annuity, earnings accumulate at a
rate based on a formula linked in part to a published
equity-based index, such as the Standard & Poor’s
500 Composite Stock Price Index™ (S&P 500),
which tracks the performance of the 500 largest
publicly traded securities.
An indexed annuity provides a guarantee of a
minimum accumulation value, and may also offer
death benefit protection and a variety of payout
options.
The index used, the formula that determines the
indexed rate and the guaranteed minimum value, can
vary from insurer to insurer.
Variable Annuity
With a variable annuity, your money is put in
subaccounts that are invested in stock and bond
funds. You can respond to market conditions
by moving your money from one subaccount to
another—without incurring current taxes. The
return on your investments is subject to the risk of
market fluctuation. Your total account value depends
on how much risk you take, the performance
of the subaccounts, and what charges and fees
are deducted. These factors are explained in the
annuity’s prospectus, which outlines the objectives
and level of risk for each subaccount, operating
expenses, and financial statements.
Over the long term, variable annuities reflect
performance and growth in the economy and
may serve as an effective hedge against inflation.
However, it is possible to lose money in a variable
annuity. Some variable annuities allow you to place
some of your money in a fixed account with a
guaranteed rate of return. Such diversification helps
spread your risk. There are also optional guarantees
that can be purchased to provide additional
protection against downturns in the market.
Many variable annuities allow you to choose
between fixed or variable income payments.
A variable payment will fluctuate based on the
performance of the underlying subaccounts. Some
variable annuities guarantee that the payment will
not fall below a set amount.
Like a fixed annuity, if you die before payments
begin, your beneficiary may receive a death benefit,
which is typically the greater of either the current
account value of the annuity less withdrawals, or the
amount of your initial contribution.
Income Options
When you decide you want to receive income from
your annuity, a number of options are available.
Common options are:
􀁑 Life income—You receive income as long as you
live, even if payments exceed the amount of
money you put into the annuity. When you die, no
further payments are made to anyone. This
income option, also referred to as a straight
life option, usually provides the highest income
payment.
􀁑 Joint and survivor life income—This option
provides income for as long as you or the joint
annuitant live. Because the survivor feature is an
added benefit, the income payment is less than in
a straight life option.
􀁑 Life income with refund—You receive income for
life and, if you die before receiving the amount of
money you contributed, your beneficiary collects
the portion you had not yet received. Some
policies pay the beneficiary a lump sum, and
others may require benefits to be received in
installments.
􀁑 Life income with period certain—Payments
are made to you for as long as you live with the
guarantee that, if you die within a certain period
after you start receiving income (usually 10 or 20
years), your beneficiary will receive regular
payments for the rest of that period.
Other income options are available. You also can
choose to receive income in a series of payments
for a specified number of years, or if you have a
deferred annuity, in a lump sum. However, neither of
these options has a lifetime guarantee.
Many deferred annuities allow you to take money
out during the accumulation phase through periodic
or systematic withdrawals. There generally is a limit
on the amount you may withdraw each year
Costs and Fees
All financial products have costs associated with
them, and annuities are no different. An annuity is
an insurance contract that is unique in its ability to
guarantee a steady stream of income for life. This
and other insurance features, such as death benefits,
are included in the cost of the annuity.
In addition to the costs for insurance features, fees
may be charged if you withdraw some or all of
your money from your deferred annuity in the early
years. These fees are commonly referred to as
withdrawal or surrender charges. Often, after a time
specified in the contract, these fees are eliminated.
Some annuities waive these charges under specific
circumstances such as death, confinement to a
nursing home, or terminal illness. As mentioned
in the previous section, some deferred annuities
may allow annual withdrawals of a certain amount
without triggering a surrender charge.
Other fees also may apply, such as transaction,
market value adjustment, contract fees, and in the
case of a variable annuity, portfolio management.
Ask your agent or life insurance company for a
description of all applicable charges and fees.
Federal Tax Treatment
Earnings on a deferred annuity build up free of
current federal income tax. When you withdraw
money or receive income payments, the portion that
comes from earnings is taxed as ordinary income.
With an immediate annuity, you pay ordinary income
taxes on any earnings when you receive payments.
The portion of the payment that represents your
initial contribution is not taxed if your annuity was
purchased with after-tax dollars.
Because taxes are deferred until money is
withdrawn or received as income, there are tax
penalties for early withdrawal. If you choose to
withdraw money from your deferred annuity before
you reach age 59 1/2, you will trigger a 10 percent
tax penalty on the earnings portion of the amount
withdrawn plus the income tax due on earnings. The
tax penalty is not applied to certain lifetime payouts,
death benefits, or payments made if you become
disabled. Other exceptions may apply.
Annuity earnings also may be subject to state taxes,
which vary according to state. Check with a local tax
advisor for more information.
Before a Purchase
Both you, the purchaser, and the life insurance
company enter into to a long-term commitment
under an annuity contract. It is important to carefully
review your current finances, retirement goals, and
anticipated needs before you make a purchase.
To help you make an informed decision, consider
or discuss the following with a financial planner,
insurance agent, or broker.
Do you need to supplement current income?
You can convert assets to steady income right
away through an immediate annuity. Many retirees
purchase an immediate annuity with cash from a
retirement plan, the sale of a home, life insurance
benefits, or savings account. You choose whether
the income payments continue for a specified
number of years or for life.
Do you need less income in the early years of
retirement than you will in the future?
A deferred annuity allows your savings to grow—
tax deferred—until the date you decide to begin
receiving payments. An immediate annuity that
provides a cost of living adjustment also can address
this need.
What is your tolerance for risk?
In a deferred annuity, you decide whether savings
accumulate at a guaranteed rate, an indexed rate, or
bear the risk of market fluctuations.
Do you need to ensure income or asset
protection for a spouse after your death?
Certain annuities offer the option of continuing
income payments to a spouse after your death.
Some also provide death benefits if you die before
income payments begin.
If you are purchasing a fixed annuity, ask about
the current credited interest rate, how often it
changes, and the minimum guaranteed rate.
If you are purchasing an indexed annuity, find
out about the index, formula, and current factors
applicable to the initial indexed interest period.
Ask how often indexed interest is credited, how
factors may change in subsequent periods, and
level of minimum guaranteed values provided by the
contract.
If you are purchasing a variable annuity, review
the investment options currently available and
read the prospectus for each subaccount.
A prospectus, which is required to be given to
potential buyers, outlines the objectives and level
of risk, as well as operating expenses and financial
statements.
Ask if there are fees or charges for partial
withdrawal of funds or full surrender of your
deferred annuity contract. Find out how much the
fees are and for how long they apply.
Compare similar contracts from several
companies. Features, terms, and conditions vary
from company to company. Comparing contracts—
and the relative cost of features—may help you
make a better decision.
Ask if there is a guaranteed death benefit.
Some deferred annuities include death benefits
that may exceed the account value; some do not.
Know what benefit is guaranteed, how and when it
will be paid and whether increased benefits can be
purchased.
Ask how long the “free-look” period is. The
free-look period is the time you have the right to
review the contract and return it if you have made
the wrong choice. The company then will cancel
the contract and, depending on your state, refund
your initial contribution or the market value of the
contract. Free-looks usually last at least 10 days, but
rules vary from state to state and not every state
guarantees free-look rights.
Evaluate the company issuing the annuity.
Only life insurance companies can issue annuities,
although they may be sold by other financial
institutions such as banks and brokerage firms. Make
sure the issuing company is licensed in your state
and that the company is reputable, service oriented,
and financially strong. Several services rate the
financial strength of life insurance companies, such
as A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s, and Standard
& Poor’s. Ratings can be found in most public
libraries or on a service’s Web site (a small access
fee may be charged).
Make sure your agent is licensed to sell
annuities. To sell a fixed annuity requires only a
license issued by your state insurance department.
A variable annuity can be sold by a registered
representative of a broker-dealer that is a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers
(NASD). The representative also must be licensed by
the state to sell variable insurance products.
Circular 230 disclosure: This document was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to : (1)
avoid tax penalties, or (2) promote, market or recommend any tax plan or arrangement.
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association whose 356 member companies
account for 80 percent of the life insurance industry’s total assets in the United States. ACLI member companies offer life
insurance; annuities; pensions, including 401(k)s; long-term care insurance; disability income insurance; reinsurance; and other
retirement and financial protection products.
© 2005 American Council of Life Insurers, all rights reserved
101 Constitution Avenue, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001–2133 www.acli.com

Category: Safety View All Articles 'Breakthrough' to Reality of Medical Headlines

2010-07-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2009
Don't let alarming words in headlines send the wrong message. Dr. Tom James helps you sift through jargon to reveal the truth.

The headline read, "Cancer Breakthrough Promises Hope to Breast Cancer Victims." Makes it sound like a compelling story.
What's in a headline?

The point of a headline - of course - is to grab your attention so you'll want to buy the newspaper or magazine or spend more time on the Website. While the above headline is fictional, it looks like headlines we've all seen.

What do you think when you see such sensational headlines? Here's some advice:

* If the headline looks too good to be true, chances are it is.
* Have some healthy skepticism when certain words appear in the headline. Words such as "breakthrough," "promising," and "victim," all create an emotional response.
* Look to see if the information comes from a medical journal or a press release. Certain medical journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Science, JAMA, and Annals of Internal Medicine all have high standards for publication. So do many other specialty journals. But there are also magazines that publish opinion rather than science.
* Check out Health News Review on the Web for grades on health news reporting. Experienced health news reporters developed this Website.

Medical science advances slowly, with studies being repeated by others to ensure reliable results. That means that there are very few “breakthroughs.” Thorough medical researchers don't want to accept as true the results from a single study. They want to see it repeated with the same outcomes. Most advances come by adding to past improvements. This means that medical achievements come in increments and not sudden "breakthroughs."

The problem, of course, with medical sensationalism is that it may give people false hope or - on the other hand - undue fears. This happened recently when Time magazine ran an article titled “How Safe Are Vaccines?” complete with a picture of a 6-week-old infant who was “bravely facing his five immunizations.” The caption serves as another example of using emotionally-charged words to set a tone rather than provide facts.

The actual article in Time was a well-balanced review of the science, opinion, and government actions concerning evaluation of new vaccines for children. But the headline caused enough concern that the American Academy of Pediatrics had to send parent information to the nation's pediatricians. After the Time article and other sensational television pieces, immunization rates fell. The following year saw the country's first outbreaks of measles in years.

Clearly, there can be significant consequences to sensational reporting or medical stories.
What it means to you

By using common sense in reading these medical articles you will be able to pick out the important kernels of truth. Discuss those with your doctor to get some other interpretation of medical news articles of interest. Become an informed consumer of medical news.
About the author
Dr. Tom James

Dr. James is the Healthcare Advisor for Humana's Strategic Advisory Group. Dr. James is board-certified in Internal Medicine and in Pediatrics. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky.

Links to various other Websites from this site are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply endorsement by Humana of these sites, any products or services described on these sites, or of any other material contained therein. Humana disclaims responsibility for their content and accuracy.

Outliving Your Money Feared More Than Death

2010-07-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Allianz Life Study Reveals Boomers Guessing at Retirement Needs
MINNEAPOLIS – June 17, 2010 – More than 90 percent of Baby Boomers feel somewhat or strongly that the United States is facing a retirement crisis, yet most have a limited understanding of how much money they'll need and fear they'll outlive their income according to a new survey* from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). The study, titled Reclaiming the Future: Challenging Retirement Income Perceptions, was conducted in May 2010 with more than 3,200 Baby Boomers ranging in age from 44 to 75. Although 61 percent of Boomers fear outliving their money in retirement more than death, nearly one third (31 percent) say they are not too clear about what their expenses will be in retirement and 36 percent have no idea if their income will last throughout their lifetime. "These results are troubling not only because people are fearful about retirement income, but also because of how little they know about how much money they'll need," said Gary C. Bhojwani, president and CEO of Allianz Life. "We hope that our Reclaiming the Future study will shed some light on the issue and inspire Boomers to take control of their retirement planning today." A majority of respondents feel their retirement lifestyle must surpass their parents (79 percent), indicating a need to focus on income in retirement versus accumulation of assets. When asked how much yearly income is needed in retirement, respondents indicated a median income of $59,000 per year. Unfortunately, Boomers were off by a factor of nearly three times too small when estimating how much they'd need to save to create that household income. It's clear that this level of planning amounts to no more than a guessing game, but that point was underscored even further when Boomers were asked which they were more likely to guess correctly, exactly how much money they'll have (or need) at the point of retirement or how many gumballs are in the jar at the local county fair. Sadly, just over half (53 percent) felt confident in their ability to gauge their retirement income needs – only six percent higher than those more certain of their gumball guessing skills. While there are no easy answers to the retirement puzzle, the Allianz Life Reclaiming the Future study did yield some reasons for optimism. Perhaps the biggest of these was the fact that Americans do have options in planning for their retirement in a way that addresses reduced sources of income, the longevity risk, and market volatility. During the next several months, Allianz Life will be releasing more data from the Reclaiming the Future study, addressing topics including; Boomer generational differences, attitudes toward working, financial education needs, working with financial professionals and the role of annuities. About Allianz Life Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with nearly 155,000 employees worldwide. Based on its revenue, Allianz SE is the 20th largest company in the world (Fortune Global 500, August 2009). *Study Methodology Larson Research and Strategy Consulting, Inc. and DSS Research fielded a nationwide online survey for Allianz Life among 3,257 U.S. adults, age 44 to 75. The margin of error for the total sample was approximately +/- 1.7%. The online survey was conducted in the United States between May 6th, 2010 and May 12th, 2010. In addition to a representative sample of 1,642 US households, subsamples of more affluent households and households who own annuities were also targeted. Results were weighted by age, gender, education, race/ethnicity and income to account for disproportionate sampling of certain populations.

The Skinny on Diet Pills

2010-07-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Do diet pills really work? Are there any concerns with them?

Do diet pills really work? Are there any concerns with them? Some are based on the drug properties of herbs, some are stimulants, some cause your body not to absorb food, and others are designed to make you feel full.
No miracle tablets

There are prescription diet pills that have a place in a supervised diet and exercise program. But none produce the miracle results touted on the Internet or television. Some of the prescription drugs are stimulants. They work by reducing your hunger. This won't help if a person has a high-fat or high-calorie diet, or if the person eats to relieve stress.

We used to say the key to weight loss was simple physics - have fewer calories coming in than calories going out. It sounds simple, but there's more to weight loss than simple calorie counting. Some of the factors that affect weight include:

* Genetics - Increasingly we see that some people inherit a tendency to "hoard calories." We used to call it "a slow metabolism." While it's more complex than that, the fact remains that a person's genetics can create a challenge to successful weight loss.
* Cultural and social conventions - Your environment and cultural background also can play a significant role in your diet. Some cultures have a tradition of high-fat foods or consuming large portions. If you live or work in a setting that promotes poor eating habits, this can affect your weight and motivation.
* Fast food - Convenience food that's unhealthy has become a staple of modern life. With easy access and stressful, busy schedules, consuming this kind of diet can be a difficult personal habit to break.

Diet pills

Many people turn to diet pills to help them overcome the factors above. There are diet pills marketed as “all natural” because they are derived from herbs or other plants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't oversee such over-the-counter products. That raises safety issues. Many of these products have their own set of side effects and many will cause reactions with prescribed medications. For an excellent list of these over-the-counter weight-loss pills and their side effects visit the Mayo Clinic Website.
Prescription diet pills

These kinds of medications have an uneven record. For instance, in the 1990s, the pill Redux was introduced. It contained a combination of stimulants, phentermine, and fenfluramine, which was known as Phen-Fen. After heart-related concerns were raised, Redux was removed from the market. Phen-Fen generated headlines.
Stimulant medications

Most people will develop a tolerance to stimulant medications over time. For that reason the FDA sanctions such pills for short-course therapy - that is six weeks or less. Side effects of stimulant diet pills are faster heart rate, feeling of nervousness, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, and higher blood pressure.

Other kinds of pills work to reduce the body's ability to absorb fats. Xenical was the first such product. The problem is, that just by the way it works, Xenical tends to cause diarrhea. That effect is important in its method of action, but isn't a pleasant experience. People on Xenical typically lose less than 10 pounds.
What it means for you

Diet medications can help jump start a diet, but even with over-the-counter products, use of medications should be part of a coordinated program for weight loss that may be under a doctor's observation. Pills can have an impact, but should be researched and evaluated to understand their effects. Weight loss still requires understanding your social and cultural influences, dealing positively with stress, and working with your genetics.

It can be done, but there's no quick fix.
About the author
Dr. Tom James

Dr. James is the Healthcare Advisor for Humana's Strategic Advisory Group. Dr. James is board-certified in Internal Medicine and in Pediatrics. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his medical degree from the University of Kentucky.

Health Risk: Cervical Cancer

2010-07-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

What is cervical cancer?

Most cervical cancers begin in the cells around the cervix. The Pap test looks for changes in the cervical cells. Sometimes changes can occur in less than a year, but they usually take several years.

When you have a regular Pap test, any changes in the cervix can be identified early - before cancer can start. A Pap is usually done along with a pelvic exam. The pelvic exam is important in finding problems like sexually transmitted diseases or other cancers. But the pelvic exam alone can't find cervical cancer.
Who is at risk?

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), scientists have made a lot of progress toward understanding what happens in cells of the cervix when cancer develops. Scientists also have found several things that increase the odds that a woman might develop cervical cancer.

Some of the things that put a woman at risk include:

* Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
* Smoking
* Immunosuppression (such as HIV)
* Diet low in fruits or vegetables or being overweight
* Chlamydia infection
* Long term use of birth-control pills
* Multiple full-term pregnancies - three or more - or first full-term pregnancy when younger than 17 years of age
* Diethylstilbestrol (DES) maternal history
* Family history of cervical cancer

You can also find out more of the risks on the ACS Website.
What is HPV?

HPV is one of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer. It is a group of viruses that can infect cells on the surface of the skin, genitals, anus, mouth and throat. Certain types of HPV may only cause warts on different parts of the body, including genital warts. Other HPV types are considered high-risk types - HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33, and HPV 45, as well as some others - because they often cause cancer of the cervix.

According to the ACS, genital HPV is a very common virus usually contracted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Though not as common, you can also catch it through skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. About one-half to three-fourths of the people who have ever had sex will have HPV at some time in their life. HPV usually has no symptoms, unless it is a type that causes genital warts.

Although many women become infected with HPV, not all will develop cervical cancer. It is thought that HPV causes the production of proteins in the body, which turn off the genes responsible for suppressing cell growth. This would allow cells like those in the cervical lining to grow uncontrollably, leading to cancer. The body's immune system may fight the virus and the infection may go away without treatment. However, for others, the infection can persist, leading to cervical cancer.
The HPV Vaccine

Good news. Out of more than 100 HPV types, two types (6 and 11) are responsible for 90% of genital wart cases, and two types (16 and 18) are responsible for 70-75 % of cervical cancers The Gardasil vaccine protects against all four types, and Cervarix protects against 16 and 18

The ACS presently recommends girls between the ages of 11 and 12 and females between 13 and 18 years of age who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series be vaccinated.

These vaccines will prevent HPV only if given before a girl has been exposed to the HPV type. The vaccines are recommended for girls ages 11 to 12 because most girls at this age have not become sexually active. This is also an age when girls will be seeing their doctor and getting other vaccinations. All Humana plans provide complete coverage for the HPV vaccine series. For more information, look at your individual Certificate of Coverage.

Also remember:

* It is important to receive all three doses of the vaccine.
* For best protection, all three doses should be given during a six-month period: the second dose two months after the first and the third at six months.
* Routine Pap tests are still recommended because the HPV vaccine doesn't protect everyone or all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer

How often should I get a Pap test?

Recommendations may differ slightly among national agencies and organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Cancer Society (ACS) and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). To make the best decision, discuss your risks with your doctor and decide which Pap testing schedule is best for you. Also be sure to read your Certificate of Coverage for benefit information for you and your family.

Here are some important things to know from the USPSTF about routine screenings for cervical cancer:

* Who should be tested - Screening for cervical cancer is recommended for both HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated women
* When to start testing - Screening for cervical cancer should begin approximately three years after first intercourse, but no later than 21 years of age. For women at average risk, a Pap smear screening should be done at least every three years. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for benign disease no longer need to have a Pap. Even though a Pap test may not be done annually, your doctor may still recommend an annual gynecological exam.

What happens during a screening?

To do a Pap test, the doctor removes cells from the cervix by gently scraping or brushing it with a special instrument. The cells are then examined under a microscope in a lab. The Pap is a screening not diagnostic test. If abnormal findings are detected, further testing and treatment will depend on the type of cervical cell findings as well as other factors such as age or risk factors (smoker, exposure to DES, immunosuppression, etc).

Talk to your doctor today to discuss your risks and which Pap testing schedule is best for you. Refer to your certificate of coverage for individual benefit information.
Can cervical cancer be prevented?

While there isn't a guaranteed way to prevent cervical cancer, you can lower your risk by:

* Avoiding risky behaviors - sex at an early age, multiple partners, or sex with someone with multiple partners and sex with uncircumcised males - can increase your risk for HPV infection.
* Using condoms
* Not smoking
* Getting the HPV vaccine

Kaiser: Individual, Family Health Rates Up About 20%

2010-06-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

By KATHARINE ROSE
Typical non-group health insurance policyholders have seen premium increases average about 20% this year, researchers say.

Consumers in the individual and family health coverage market also are getting coverage with higher deductibles than they would get if they had employer-sponsored coverage, the researchers say.

The researchers announced those findings today during a press conference organized by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Menlo Park, Calif.

The researchers reported on results of a survey of 1,038 U.S. residents ages 18 to 64 who have bought their own health coverage. The survey was conducted between March 19 and April 2.

The researchers looked at topics such as the cost of coverage, policyholders’ out-of-pocket costs, and policyholders’ responses to rate increases.

Kaiser believes the survey is the first of its type that has been done, according to Drew Altman, Kaiser’s president.

It is important “to get a more scientific picture of the individual market,” Altman said.

About 14 million U.S. residents under age 65 have non-group commercial health coverage, Kaiser estimates.

About 77% of the non-group coverage holders said the cost of their coverage has increased, and some holders said the cost has increased more than once. Kaiser asked survey participants to tell it about the size of the most recent increase, said Mollyann Brodie, a Kaiser vice president.

Some policyholders told Kaiser they coped with proposed increases in non-group rates by switching plans. But non-group coverage holders still paid 13% more than they were paying before the premiums increased, Kaiser found.

“Increases like these are illustrative of what is happening around the country,” Altman said.

Altman predicted that the recent “warfare” over individual health premiums at the state level is likely to intensify around the country.

Average annual premiums for those in the individual market are $3,606, which is less than the average 2009 group plan premium, Kaiser says.

But the average deductible for single coverage is $2,498, compared with an average deductible of just $634 at employer-sponsored group plans, and about 25% of the non-group coverage holders said their deductible is $5,000 or more.

About 81% of the non-group coverage holders with pre-existing conditions said they are worried their insurers will charge premiums that will end up being unaffordable.

Disability Insurance Overview

2010-06-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life events can interfere with your work: if you should suddenly become disabled it could immediately affect your ability to gain an income. Further, without an income to rely on you and/or you and your family could wind up financially devastated. Instead of constantly worrying about the possibility of financial ruin in the event of a disability, many employed workers have disability insurance that will cover them if they have become disabled. As well, it is not uncommon for people to invest in additional protection: it is always wise to plan ahead, especially if one wants to protect themselves from financial complications in the future.

A regular income is clearly necessary for survival and there really is no getting around that fact. Yet, a sudden illness or injury can create a significant problem in maintaining that income. A disability insurance policy is a solution that will help a disabled worker to keep a large part of their income intact during the time that they cannot work.

Imagine suddenly becoming too ill to work or injuring yourself so badly that you couldn't work for several months. What would you do? If you are married and your spouse works, you may be able to rely on a singular income, but your finances are certainly going to suffer. What about your savings account? You will be surprised to see how quickly your savings account dwindles away when you are not actively working.

Now consider your finances: you have to buy food every month; you may have a house in Indiana or car payment; insurance payments; and finally, if you have children, consider all of their financial needs. How do you plan to pay for everything with no income or only half the normal income coming into your household? Insurance disability coverage makes it possible for you and your family to maintain the lifestyle you were all accustomed to before your injury or illness.
information from http://articles.directorym.com/Disability_Insurance_Indiana-r948-Indiana.html

If The Insurance Company Fails

2010-06-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

Insurance companies are regulated by the state governments of the individual states where they are licensed. When a state determines that an insurer is insolvent the state guaranty associations are activated. When there is a shortfall of funds needed to meet the obligations to policyholders, the remaining member insurers doing business in a particular state are assessed a share of the amount required to meet the claims of resident policyholders. The amount member insurers are assessed is based on the amount of premiums they collect in that state on the kind of business for which benefits are required. In 1983 the state guaranty associations founded the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations (www.nolhga.com). If the insolvency affects three or more states NOHLGA coordinates the development of a plan to protect policyholders.

Death versus Intensive Care
When FDIC steps in and takes over a bank you can order the coffin and set the time for the wake because the bank is not coming back to life. It is dead.

When state insurance regulators step in they will often attempt rehabilitation of the insurer and there are insurers that have entered state receivership, been rehabilitated, and emerged from state care.

Since 2001 183 banks have been taken over by FDIC and liquidated. During that same time period 7 annuity carriers have been placed under state control and three have been liquidated.

Golden State Mutual In Conservatorship
Update: 2 March 2010.Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company has entered into a letter of intent with IA American Life Insurance Company to transfer all of its in-force insurance policies to IA American. IA American was established just weeks ago in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a subsidiary of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Quebec City, Quebec.

On 30 September 2009 the California Insurance Commissioner served Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company with a conservation order and ordered it to cease selling products. In 2008 Golden State was active in 12 states with assets of $90 million. Annuities represented 12% of premiums (I estimate 2008 annuity premiums at $3.4 million) with life insurance accounting for 85% of other premiums. This action was not unexpected; Golden State had been under scrutiny by California Department of Insurance since 2004 and posted operational losses for the last three years. For more information policyowners should contact Golden State at www.gsmlife.com

London Pacific Life & Annuity Company entered liquidation 9 July 2004. Our interpretation is that owners of London Pacific annuities will be 100% covered up to state guarantee fund limits, but that amounts over state guarantee fund limits will take an 8% or 9% hit to total annuity value. This is our opinion and is not legal advice. If you own a London Pacific annuity contact your state insurance department. (you can link to your state insurance departments).

Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana entered state control on 18 December 2008. The state says it is operating on " a normal basis with the exception of partial and full surrenders" (policy surrenders were under a 6 month moratorium, that moratorium has since been extended indefinitely). http://www.state.in.us/idoi

Shenandoah Life Insurance Company entered receivership with the Virginia State Corporation Commission on 12 February 2009. All annuity withdrawals, surrenders and transfers have been frozen, but death claims will be paid. More information is available here
Update: 22 July 2009. Annuity renewal rates have been cut to contractual minimum rates. Link To News

There were three other annuity carriers that entered rehab since 2001 and all were affiliated with the holding companies of Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities and Summit Securities Inc. The three annuity carriers were Old Standard Life Insurance Company (ID), Old West Life & Annuity (AZ) and Western United Life Assurance Company (WA). Old West Life & Annuity policies and Old Standard Life Insurance Company policies were fully assumed by Great American 17 January 2006. Western United was acquired by a joint venture formed by Global Secured Capital and DLB Capital in June 2008 and continues to operate.

The data above reflects annuity carriers only. If you include non-annuity carriers like property & casualty companies, bail bond insurance, health insurance and malpractice insurance carriers over a dozen have been liquidated and nine entered rehab since 2001.

Data Sources:
Florida Department Of Financial Services http://www.fldfs.com/receiver/receivership_list.asp

NOLHGA http://www.nolhga.com/insolvencycorner/main.cfm/location/fundamentals

Illinois Office of the Special Deputy Receiver http://www.osdchi.org/receivership_order_menu_a.htm

Help elderly loved ones maintain their oral health

2010-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Oral health is an important, often overlooked component of an older person’s general health and well-being, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re a caregiver to elderly parents or grandparents, you can help maintain their oral health by ensuring that they do the following:
# Brush their teeth and floss daily to help prevent periodontal disease. Get assistance with oral hygiene if unable to perform these activities independently.
# See their dentist regularly even if they have no natural teeth and have dentures. Professional care helps to maintain the overall health of the teeth and mouth, and provides for early detection of pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.
# Avoid tobacco. In addition to the general health risks, smokers have seven times the risk of developing periodontal disease compared to non-smokers.
# Limit alcohol. Drinking a high amount of alcoholic beverages is a risk factor for oral and throat cancers. Alcohol and tobacco used together are the primary risk factors.
# Get dental care before having cancer chemotherapy or radiation to the head or neck, which can damage or destroy oral tissues, and result in severe irritation of the oral tissues and mouth ulcers, loss of salivary function, tooth decay, and destruction of bone.
# Seek professional care if sudden changes occur in taste and smell.
# Visit their doctor if medications produce a dry mouth. If dry mouth can’t be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco and alcohol.

Long term care report: Women more likely to receive at-home care

2010-04-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

BY SMA Staff
A new study conducted by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance shows that more women receive privately paid-for in-home care than men but that women tend to receive this care later in life than men. Approximately 60 percent of those receiving care were women and more than 80 percent were 75 or older.

"The vast majority of both men and women home care recipients were over age 71 and most received care for three days a week or less," said Jesse Slome, executive director of AALTCI. In regards to the frequency of service, 66 percent of women received private in-home care for three or fewer days per week; forty-nine percent of men received care for three or fewer days. All others received four or more days per week.

The cost of home health care depends on the services required and can vary by location. “The average cost today is about $20 an hour,” said Slome. “Someone needing care three days a week for six hours a day is looking at a cost of between $20,000 and $25,000 annually, which is why increasingly individuals purchase long-term care insurance with a home-care benefit.”

A new study conducted by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance shows that more women receive privately paid-for in-home care than men but that women tend to receive this care later in life than men. Approximately 60 percent of those receiving care were women and more than 80 percent were 75 or older.

"The vast majority of both men and women home care recipients were over age 71 and most received care for three days a week or less," said Jesse Slome, executive director of AALTCI. In regards to the frequency of service, 66 percent of women received private in-home care for three or fewer days per week; forty-nine percent of men received care for three or fewer days. All others received four or more days per week.

The cost of home health care depends on the services required and can vary by location. “The average cost today is about $20 an hour,” said Slome. “Someone needing care three days a week for six hours a day is looking at a cost of between $20,000 and $25,000 annually, which is why increasingly individuals purchase long-term care insurance with a home-care benefit.”

Sebelius Warns Of Health Care Reform Scams

2010-04-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

By ARTHUR D. POSTAL

WASHINGTON--Enactment of the new healthcare reform law has spawned fraud schemes by which individuals are seeking to sell bogus policies through 1-800 numbers and by going door to door, a federal regulator is warning.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tuesday disclosed that she has sent letters to state insurance regulators and prosecutors about the new schemes.

At the same time, Medical Mutual Insurance of Ohio, Cleveland, has sent out an alert urging its customers and the public to beware of scammers who may try to sell phony health insurance policies.

“They may try to tell you that, under the reform law, you will need to buy new health insurance,” said Brien Shanahan, Medical Mutual’s director of legal affairs. “These pitches may come to you in the form of phony e-mails, fraudulent online ads, door-to-door or by way of pushy telemarketers,” Shanahan said.

The scams may promise a variety of bogus benefits, Shanahan said. “They include fake coverage, where you end up making huge payments for a worthless piece of paper with totally worthless benefits. Some may even offer enticements such as ‘medical discount’ cards, which are also worthless.”

In her comments and in the letters to state officials, Sebelius also said she has notified the agency’s aging networks and put its senior Medicare patrol teams on alert.

In addition to their existing responsibilities, the agency’s Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action teams “will also vigorously monitor and crack down on new forms of abuse,” she said.

Sebelius noted in her letter that there will be new insurance options in the near future, including a high-risk pool for those blocked out of insurance policies due to preexisting conditions and new insurance protections that begin in September.

Consumers also should beware of deceptive policies that are time-limited, offer limited benefits, or advertise themselves as required by health insurance reform, she said.

“I urge you to vigorously monitor and prosecute any individuals who attempt to operate or profit from dishonest scams and take advantage of the new law,” she said in her letters to officials.
WASHINGTON--Enactment of the new healthcare reform law has spawned fraud schemes by which individuals are seeking to sell bogus policies through 1-800 numbers and by going door to door, a federal regulator is warning.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tuesday disclosed that she has sent letters to state insurance regulators and prosecutors about the new schemes.

At the same time, Medical Mutual Insurance of Ohio, Cleveland, has sent out an alert urging its customers and the public to beware of scammers who may try to sell phony health insurance policies.

“They may try to tell you that, under the reform law, you will need to buy new health insurance,” said Brien Shanahan, Medical Mutual’s director of legal affairs. “These pitches may come to you in the form of phony e-mails, fraudulent online ads, door-to-door or by way of pushy telemarketers,” Shanahan said.

The scams may promise a variety of bogus benefits, Shanahan said. “They include fake coverage, where you end up making huge payments for a worthless piece of paper with totally worthless benefits. Some may even offer enticements such as ‘medical discount’ cards, which are also worthless.”

In her comments and in the letters to state officials, Sebelius also said she has notified the agency’s aging networks and put its senior Medicare patrol teams on alert.

In addition to their existing responsibilities, the agency’s Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action teams “will also vigorously monitor and crack down on new forms of abuse,” she said.

Sebelius noted in her letter that there will be new insurance options in the near future, including a high-risk pool for those blocked out of insurance policies due to preexisting conditions and new insurance protections that begin in September.

Consumers also should beware of deceptive policies that are time-limited, offer limited benefits, or advertise themselves as required by health insurance reform, she said.

“I urge you to vigorously monitor and prosecute any individuals who attempt to operate or profit from dishonest scams and take advantage of the new law,” she said in her letters to officials.

The Lowdown on Artificial Sweeteners

2010-04-08T03:22:00.000-07:00

By Rosemary Black
Reviewed by QualityHealth's Medical Advisory Board

If you've got Type 2 diabetes, non-nutritive sweeteners can let you have your cake and eat it, too. It's easier than ever these days to satisfy a sweet tooth without spending a lot of calories as ordinary table sugar (or sucrose) has been joined by a staggering array of non-nutritive sweeteners. Some are mainly for sprinkling over cereal or stirring into coffee, while others can be used in baking. All of the sweeteners described here are considered safe to eat in moderation - they've all been approved by the FDA. Some are no-cal and others are low-cal, so be sure to read the labels on sweeteners so you'll know just what you are getting.

To give you some perspective on how many calories and carbs you're saving by using a no sugar or low sugar sweetener, keep in mind that a teaspoon of sugar has four grams of carbohydrates and 16 calories.

Is one non-nutritive sweetener better than another? "They are all safe, so it's really a personal choice," says Beverley Manganelli, RD, CDE, manager of community nutrition at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, New Jersey. "Try a few and learn which you like the taste of."

White House Fires Back On Part D Change

2010-04-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

* By ALLISON BELL

Published 4/1/2010
The Obama administration says employers may be exaggerating the effects of a Medicare Part D drug program subsidy tax change included in the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“I think this has maybe been framed as a lot more than meets the eye,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday during a White House press briefing.

PPACA, the new health system change law based on H.R. 3590, now requires affected employers to deduct the 28% federal retiree drug benefit plan subsidy payments from their health expense deduction.

The government will not tax the subsidy directly, but employers’ tax bills will increase as if they did have to pay taxes on the subsidy, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., New York.

Employers and groups that represent them, such as the American Benefits Council, Washington, say Congress gave employers the subsidy in the first place to keep them from dropping drug benefits and sending retirees to enroll in the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The subsidy saves the Part D program money, the benefits council says.

Accounting rules require publicly traded employers that get the subsidy to include a charge in their first-quarter earnings statements to reflect the effects of the tax change, the council says.

Several companies, including AT&T Inc., Dallas, and Prudential Financial Inc., Newark, N.J., already have announced plans to take Part D-related charges.

Some employers may try to avoid the charge by dropping retiree drug benefits, the council says.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight subcommittee plans to hold a hearing April 21 on the issue.

Gibbs noted at the press briefing that Congress created the 28% subsidy in 2003, when it created the Part D drug program.

“Firms that provided coverage for retirees were given a 28% subsidy in order to continue providing that coverage,” Gibbs said, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “Right? That amount of money was not added to a company’s income. Right? So they got 28% to continue that, and under the previous law—which I think many considered to be a loophole—not only did they not get taxed on that 28%, but then they were able to write off the full amount spent on retiree prescription drug coverage—the money they kick in plus the 28% that taxpayers kick in.”

The PPACA now lets an employer that receives the subsidy write off expenditures on retiree drug benefits just once, rather than not counting it as income as well as being able to write it off, Gibbs said.

“There are several billion dollars in the bill to help on retiree prescription drug benefits,” Gibbs said.

In addition, several studies have shown the health reform should eventually lower the cost of employers’ health insurance premiums, and the stock of AT&T went up on the day it announced its Part D charge, he said.

What are surrender fees?

2010-03-05T19:52:00.001-08:00

If you take money out of an annuity, there may be a penalty called a surrender fee or a withdrawal charge. This fee is higher if you withdraw funds within the first years of an annuity contract. The penalty, however, drops gradually each year. Since immediate annuities are purchased to provide income, they usually can’t be “surrendered” and will therefore not be subjected to a fee.

A typical surrender fee schedule could be:

* 7 percent if you withdraw funds in the first year,
* 6 percent in the second year,
* 5 percent in the third year,
* 4 percent in the fourth year,
* 3 percent in the fifth year,
* 2 percent in the sixth year,
* 1 percent in the seventh year,
* and zero in the eighth year and beyond.

The purpose of the fee is to allow the insurer enough time to recover its expenses, largely commissions, in setting up the annuity contract. It also serves to discourage annuity buyers from using deferred annuities as short-term investments for quick cash.

Some contracts may permit you to pull out a portion of the funds annually, usually up to 10 percent without a surrender charge. If this option is important to you, ask your insurance agent or company representative about this before deciding to invest your money in a specific annuity. Also, ask if there may be any other fees or charges.

How do I pick a life insurance company?

2010-03-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

The annuity business, like the insurance industry itself, is very competitive. There are hundreds of insurers and many different types of products available to you. Before buying an annuity, contact your state insurance department to see whether it offers an annuity buyers guide for your state.

There are four important things to consider:

1. Financial Solidity – Select a company that is likely to be financially sound for many years, by using ratings from independent rating agencies.
2. State insurance department license to do business
Make sure that the insurer you select is licensed to issue annuities in your state. Ask whether the specific type of annuity you are considering is available in your state.
3. Service
Expect excellent customer service. Your insurance company representative should answer your questions promptly and provide useful information that addresses your concerns. This way, you can make a well-informed decision on the annuity that best meets your needs and objectives.
4. Choice of investments and riders
Some insurers offer annuities with an array of investment choices and a large variety of riders. Compare these options. Some options may increase the price of the annuity. Decide on an annuity that best meets your needs.

Why should I consider purchasing an annuity?

2010-03-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

If you are in a saving-money stage of life, a deferred annuity can:

* Help you meet your retirement income goals. Employer-sponsored plans such as a 401(k), 403(b) or Keogh are an important part of planning for retirement. However, contributions to these plans and to IRAs are limited, and they might not add up to enough for the retirement income you need, especially if you started saving for retirement late or had contributions interrupted—perhaps due to job changes and/or family responsibilities. Moreover, your social security and defined-benefit pension (if you have one) may provide less than you need to retire. Remember that the purchasing power of defined-benefit pension income is eroded by inflation.
* Help you diversify your investment portfolio. Investment experts routinely advise that, to get the best return for a given level of risk, you should diversify your investments among a number of asset classes. Fixed annuities, in particular, offer a unique asset class—an investment that is guaranteed not to decrease and that will actually increase at a specified interest rate (and, often, potentially more). The guarantees are supported by the claims-paying ability of the insurer.
* Help you manage your investment portfolio. Investment experts routinely advise that, whenever your investments in various asset classes get too far from the percentage allocations you prefer, you “rebalance” to the original formulation, by shifting funds from the classes that have grown faster to the ones that have grown more slowly. If you do this with mutual funds, you pay capital gains taxes; if you do it in a variable annuity, you don’t pay capital gains taxes. When you eventually withdraw money from the annuity (which could be many years after the rebalancing), you pay tax then at the ordinary income rate.

If you are in a need-income stage of life, an immediate annuity can:

* Help protect you against outliving your assets. Social security pays retirement income for as long as you live, as do defined-benefit pension plans. But the only other source of income available that continues indefinitely is an immediate annuity.
* Help protect your assets from creditors. Generally the most that creditors can access is the payments from an immediate annuity as they’re made, since the money you gave the insurance company now belongs to the company. Some state statutes and court decisions also protect some or all of the payments from those annuities.

Preventive steps could save 100,000 U.S. lives: study

2010-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Increased use of just five preventive services would save more than 100,000 lives every year in the United States, health experts said in a report released on Tuesday. Of the five prevention tips, the biggest impact would come if adults took a low dose of aspirin every day to prevent heart disease, a step that could save 45,000 lives a year.

The report by the Partnership for Prevention, a nonprofit health policy group, also calls for renewed efforts to help smokers quit, more colorectal cancer and breast cancer screening and annual flu shots for people over 50.

"This shows so dramatically the potential impact of prevention," said Dr. Kathleen Toomey of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which helped fund the study along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the WellPoint Foundation.

"These are really very modest, low-cost interventions that have such potentially dramatic impact on improving the health of the public," Toomey said in a telephone interview.

The study underscores the tendency in the United States to treat disease, rather than prevent it.

"Our nation has never truly invested in prevention," Toomey said.

The report uncovered racial disparities in use of preventive care. For example, Hispanic smokers are 55 percent less likely than whites to get help to quit smoking and Asian-Americans are the racial group least likely to take aspirin and get screened for breast and colorectal cancer.

ASPIRIN A DAY

Currently fewer than half of Americans take a low, daily dose of aspirin to prevent heart disease. Boosting aspirin use to 90 percent of adults would save 45,000 lives, the study found.

Bolstering efforts to get smokers to quit would have a similar impact. The study found 42,000 lives could be spared if 90 percent of smokers were advised by doctors to quit and were offered drugs and other services to help. Only 28 percent of smokers get such services now.

Another 14,000 lives would be saved if 90 percent of adults over 50 were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, and some 12,000 lives would be saved if 90 percent of people over 50 got flu shots every year. Only 37 percent of U.S. adults get an annual flu shot.

Regular breast cancer screening for all women over 40 could save another 4,000 lives. Only 67 percent of women have been screened in the past two years, the report found.

"To actually implement this and have the impact of saving 100,000 lives will really require a multi-pronged approach with public health taking the lead," Toomey said.

She said it will be important to educate individuals to take better care of themselves and of loved ones and make sure insurers and employers cover these preventive services.

Quote of the Day

2010-01-18T14:02:00.001-08:00

How do you eat an elephant... one bite at a time.

H1N1 Flu Information

2009-11-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

The basics
As you're most likely aware, H1N1 flu cases have now been identified in all U.S. states and around the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides frequent "situation updates" on its website. For the latest general information about H1N1 flu in the U.S., go to:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
If you are interested in getting an H1N1 flu vaccination, your primary care physician, pharmacist or local health department should be able to tell you where to get the H1N1 vaccine in your area.

Preventing the flu
What can you do to prevent illnesses like the flu?

Avoid close contact with people who are sick: When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
Stay home when you are sick: If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help keep others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose: Use a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Wash your hands: Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Practice other good health habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Information for Humana members
If you are a Humana health plan member, and have questions about your coverage, you may call the toll-free telephone number on the back of your member-identification card.

As necessary, Humana will update the information on this website, to keep its health-plan members and other business partners updated on the H1N1 flu.

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2009-09-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

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Aging of America

2009-09-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Facing the New Retirement Challenge The Aging of America

During the past 100 years, America has witnessed dramatic advances in life expectancy. At the dawn of the 20th century, life expectancies at birth were just 51.5 years for males and 58.3 years for females. By the year 2000, life expectancy at birth had increased to nearly 80 years for males and more than 85 years for females.1 As a result, more than 60% of everyone who has ever lived past age 65 in the history of mankind is alive today.2

Over the next 10 to 20 years, more than 75 million people in the Baby Boom generation will reach retirement age. Thanks to advances in medical technology and health care, they will live far longer than their parents' generation, with some living as much as 20 or 30 years beyond age 65. According to the Administration on Aging, more than half of America's baby boomers will likely live to age 85, and some people could spend up to one third of their life in retirement.

The fact that people are living longer is all around us—we see it every day. However, what many people do not see is the impact of living longer—especially when it comes to financial security in retirement. As people live far beyond retirement age, and as traditional sources of retirement income—company pensions and Social Security—become a smaller portion of our total income, the issue of having financial security in retirement takes on added importance.

The New Retirement Challenge We are now faced with a new retirement challenge: finding a way to ensure that income needs be satisfied. Living a longer life brings new financial concerns, and as retirees turn their attention toward their need for income, even those who have accumulated assets soon learn that converting a nest egg into a secure income is very different from saving for retirement. Issues such as the uncertainty of just how long you will live raises the question of outliving your income. The escalating cost of health care, inflation, government programs, and unexpected events, makes the task all the more difficult. Concerns about safety, taxes, and investment risks and returns quickly arise. It even may appear that true financial security in retirement is an elusive goal.

When facing retirement, at least four critical questions arise:

* Will I have enough money at retirement to meet living expenses?
* What are the chances that I will outlive my savings?
* What will I do if my sources of income turn out to be unreliable?
* How much can I withdraw from my retirement savings each year?

Fortunately, there is a solution: a fixed annuity from a life insurance company.

Finding a Solution Where most people start—and stop—is saving to accumulate a nest egg for the day when there's no longer a regular paycheck. While economists call the savings rate in the U.S. too low, a study published by SRI Consulting Business Intelligence in 2003 shows that individuals set to retire over the next 10 years have accumulated over $4.4 trillion in assets—a significant amount.

Unfortunately for many retirees, accumulating assets alone will not ensure financial security in retirement. And we have learned that we cannot rely on the stock market to rise inexorably and increase our savings so we can retire free of worry.

You could exhaust your income from investments, but a fixed annuity from a life insurance company offers the advantage of a dual, written guarantee. Your monthly annuity income is guaranteed to never be reduced, and because the insurance company, not you, assumes the risk of how long you'll live, a life income option offers you a guaranteed stream of income that you cannot outlive.

A fixed annuity also offers tax benefits. Policy values accumulate tax-deferred, and cash assets from other vehicles, such as an investment portfolio, a home sale, and cash savings, can be placed in a fixed annuity for later withdrawal in the form of income. When you receive annuity income payments, only a portion of each payment—and none of the principal of non-qualified contracts — are subject to income taxes.

Certain types of retirement plans, such as a 401(k) plan, can be rolled over to an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) with no income tax impact until you receive annuity income payments. (Under current law, all payments received will be taxed as ordinary income and any payments received under age 59½, will be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.)

Turning assets you have accumulated into guaranteed annuity income payments may be an ideal way to enjoy a lifetime of security in retirement. What is more, written guarantees, including guarantees to your principal, means a fixed annuity from a life insurance company can be one of the safest and most secure financial products available. It also offers minimum guaranteed interest rates, guaranteed cash values, and with a properly named beneficiary, freedom from the costs and delays of probate.

The more you learn about the features and benefits of a fixed annuity, the more you will see how it offers a solution to meet the new retirement challenge.

1. U.S. life tables for cohorts born in 1900 and 2000 from the 2004 Social Security Trustee's Report

2. Dr. Ken Dychtwald, Age Wave, 2004

"THREE NUMBERS THAT RULE YOUR LIFE"

2009-09-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

The numbers that rule your life aren’t your standard lottery
picks, Social Security number, phone numbers, birthdates,
and anniversaries. Instead, the most important numbers in
your life are your:
• Cholesterol count
• Blood pressure
• Body mass index
1. Cholesterol: You need more
than your “total” number
It used to be that your doctor could say, “Your cholesterol
is 180. Keep up the good work,” and move on to
another topic.
But today, your doctor looks at – and discusses with you –
your entire lipid profile, which is a blood test done at your
doctor’s office after a 9- to 12-hour fast that measures:
• Total cholesterol – Your total cholesterol number should
be below 200 mg/dL.
• HDL cholesterol – HDL is the good cholesterol, so you
want your numbers to be high. Talk to your doctor
about what you can do to lower your risk if your HDL is
less than 50 mg/dL for a woman and below 40 mg/dL
for a man.
• LDL cholesterol – A high LDL level – more than
160 mg/dL – indicates an increased risk of heart
disease. If you have two or more of these risk factors –
high blood pressure, smoking, and a family history of
heart disease – 130 mg/dL is considered high.
• High triglycerides – Triglycerides are a form of fat
associated with heart disease – keep yours below
150 mg/dL.
2. Blood pressure – what you need to know
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of
kidney and heart disease. The good news is, it’s highly
manageable – if you know you have it.
Blood pressure is one of the easiest medical tests you can
get. You can take your blood pressure readings at health
clubs, health fairs, pharmacy kiosks, and at every doctor’s
visit. Your blood pressure may fluctuate during the day
– rising when you get nervous or excited and lowering
after exercise. However, it generally stays consistent. Blood
pressure is given as two numbers: the systolic number on
top and diastolic pressure on the bottom, like this:
120/80 mmHg.
Here’s how your doctor looks at your blood pressure
reading:
• A “normal” blood pressure number is 120/80 – Even
lower than that is good – as long as it’s not too low. If
your numbers are higher than 120/80, you need to make
some lifestyle changes to manage your blood pressure.
• Between 120/80 and 130/89 is considered
“prehypertension” – which means you’re heading for
high blood pressure unless you make some lifestyle
changes to avoid it. If you have diabetes or chronic
kidney disease, 130/80 or higher is considered high
blood pressure for you. In this case, it’s even more
important to monitor and manage your blood pressure.
• If your numbers are 140/90 or higher, you have high
blood pressure – which means your heart works too
hard and you’re at risk for stroke and heart attack.
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so it
can silently cause damage to your heart, blood vessels,
kidneys, and other parts of your body.
3. BMI and weight –
they work together
No one wants to be called obese – especially when you’re
just a little chubby – maybe 10 or 20 pounds over your
desired weight. Even if your weight-loss goal is more
like 50 or 100 pounds, you still don’t want to be labeled
“obese.” But it happens nonetheless.
When you have a body mass index (BMI) calculated,
“overweight” and “obesity” can seem way too close to
“normal.” Here are some things to think about:
• BMI is a number calculated from the ratio of your
weight and height and gives an indication of weight
issues that may lead to health problems. Here’s how
to calculate your BMI: multiply your weight in pounds
by 703; multiply your height (in inches) by your height
(in inches); divide the first number by the second
number to get your BMI. Or – save the math and use
a BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi.
• A BMI over 30 is considered obese; between 26 and
29, overweight; 25 to 18.5, normal; and under 18.5,
underweight.
• People with a BMI of 30 or higher are more likely to
develop high blood pressure and have high cholesterol.
• If you’re carrying fat around the abdomen, you’re
setting yourself up for diabetes. A good waist
circumference is:
– Less than 40 inches for a man
– Less than 35 inches for a woman
Improve your numbers with these lifestyle changes
Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet For high blood pressure: Eating a lot of salt – which causes
your body to retain fluid – can increase your high blood
pressure and put an added burden on your heart. So
throw away your saltshaker and learn to read food labels.
There’s a lot of salt – also called sodium – in canned goods,
cheese, dried fruits, and – sometimes – even medications.
For high cholesterol: Saturated fat and cholesterol are the
worst culprits in your diet, making your blood cholesterol
level increase. It’s important to reduce the amount of
saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet to lower your
blood cholesterol levels.
Exercise
For high blood pressure: A sedentary lifestyle makes it
easier to become overweight and increases the chance of
high blood pressure. If you’re overweight, one hour a day
of aerobic exercise can lower your blood pressure.
For high cholesterol: Regular physical activity (at least 30
minutes a day) can help raise HDL and lower LDL and
triglycerides, especially if you’re overweight and have a
large waist measurement: 40-plus inches for men and 35-
plus inches for women.
Maintain a proper weight
For high blood pressure: People with a BMI of 30 or higher
are more likely to develop high blood pressure. A low calorie
diet can be effective in reducing or maintaining a
proper weight.
For high cholesterol: If you’re overweight, losing weight
can help lower your LDL and total cholesterol levels, raise
your HDL, and lower your triglyceride levels.
Don’t smoke
For high blood pressure: Smoking temporarily raises
blood pressure and increases your risk of heart disease.
Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the
process of hardening of the arteries. It takes only a year
of being off tobacco to reduce your risk of having a
heart attack.
For high cholesterol: Smoking increases a person’s
risk for high cholesterol – especially low HDL and high
triglycerides. It contributes to blood clots and hardening
of the arteries. Even passive smoke can lower HDL.
Much of this damage can be reversed after a person quits smoking.
Take medication if prescribed
Your doctor may prescribe a medication that you need
to take every day exactly as prescribed. Changing the
dosage or discontinuing the medication without your
doctor’s permission is dangerous. Take your medicine
exactly as prescribed.
Additional changes you can make:
• Control your stress – Even though stress levels are
hard to measure, stress has been identified as a major
contributor to high blood pressure.
• Limit your alcohol – Regular and heavy use of alcohol
can increase your blood pressure dramatically.
• Avoid decongestants – Watch for decongestants in
certain cold and flu medications. They reportedly can
increase your blood pressure and interfere with other
medications.
• Increase your awareness of symptoms – Since every
second counts in a heart attack or stroke situation, know
the symptoms of both. If you experience any, call 9-1-1
immediately.
• Work closely with your doctor – Have your blood
pressure and cholesterol checked often by your doctor,
who’s your advocate for helping you to manage both of
these conditions. Keep appointments with your doctor and
follow his or her advice.

H1N1 Flu Information

2009-09-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Basics

According to the CDC, human cases of H1N1 Flu have been identified in the U.S. and internationally. The CDC's investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of H1N1 Flu is ongoing.

Among the most useful information on the CDC website is a list of actions you can take to prevent illnesses like the flu:

* Avoid close contact with people who are sick: When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
* Stay home when you are sick: If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
* Cover your mouth and nose: Use a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
* Clean your hands: Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
* Practice other good health habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Attention Seniors

2009-09-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) starts soon. Information will be coming out in October for the Plans available in 2010.

Is Long Term Care right for me?

2009-08-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

Generally, financial planners recommend considering long-term
care insurance if you own assets of at least $75,000 (this does
not include your home or car); have annual retirement income
of at least $25,000 to $35,000 for an individual or $35,000 to
$50,000 for a couple; or are able to pay premiums without
financial difficulty, even if premiums increase over time.
Long-term care insurance is probably not for you if these
factors do not apply to you.
Long-term care insurance can be expensive, depending upon
your age when you buy the policy, coverage amounts and the
benefits you choose. As an example, according to America’s
Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the average annual premium
paid for a long-term care policy in 2005 was $1,973. This represents
a comprehensive policy (covering both facility care and
at-home care) that provides, on average, 5.5 years of benefits
with a daily benefit amount of $143. In 2005, just over 70% of
all policies sold in the market also included some form of automatic
inflation protection.

Understand Long Term Care Insurance

2009-08-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

Deciding to buy a long-term care insurance policy is an
important decision. These policies can help pay for many types
of long-term care, but they are not for everyone. Compare
the costs and benefits of policies from different insurance
companies when shopping. If you decide to buy, make sure you
buy from a reliable company that is licensed by your state to sell
long-term care insurance.
What does it cover?
Long-term care insurance policies may cover nursing home
stays, community services such as adult day care, in-home care,
or a combination of these services. Most policies also cover costs
for an assisted living facility. You can choose the type of coverage
that is appropriate for you.
You can also choose how much coverage you want from the
long-term care policy. Policies pay for a maximum amount of
costs for each day of care. You can also decide how long you
will want the coverage to pay for your care. For example, your
policy may cover $50 of in-home care per day for a period of
three years. To help you determine the daily benefit amount
that is right for you, find out the costs of long-term care in your
local area.
A policy covering three to five years is the most cost-effective
option for most people. However, if you are concerned about
care for Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, you may
want to consider more comprehensive coverage.

Health Insurance

2009-08-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

Interested in quotes or more information about Health insurance. Check out our website from Assurant Health. The link is located in the upper left hand corner.

2009-08-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

Cold and flu are two types of illnesses caused by viruses
that get into the nose, throat, and lungs. But colds and flu
are caused by different viruses. It is important to remember
that antibiotics will not cure either a cold or the fl u.
The flu bug is usually worse than the common cold. The
fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough that
come with flu are more intense than anything connected
with the cold.
Eight ways to tell if it’s cold ... or flu
Colds are generally centered around the nose, whereas the
flu is characterized by “all-over” events. People with colds
have a runny or stuffy nose, or maybe a cough and that’s
about it. Colds don’t usually lead to any other serious
health problems, but the flu – short for influenza – can be
more serious or even deadly. Here are some ways to tell
the difference:
1. Fever – May occur with a cold but is generally milder
than the fevers associated with the flu. Adults often
have low-grade fevers of 100°F to 102°F. Children
with the flu may have higher temperatures that last
three to four days.
2. Headache – Don’t expect one when you have a cold,
but they often come with the flu.
3. General aches and pains – With a cold, they’re mild.
With the flu, the aches and pains can be severe.
4. Tired and weak feeling – Sometimes a cold will make
you feel “washed out” for a few days. People with
the flu often have that feeling for two or three weeks.
5. Extreme exhaustion – It’s rare with a cold, but when
the fl u starts, it usually hits you like a ton of bricks.
6. Stuffy nose and sneezing – Both cold and fl u can
cause you to be all stopped up.
7. Sore throat – It’s more common with a cold but
sometimes comes with the flu.
8. Chest discomfort and cough – Expect a hacking
cough with a cold. When you have the flu, the
coughing is more severe.
Flu shots
There is still no cure for the common cold, but a flu
vaccine can often protect you from infl uenza. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends an annual flu vaccine for anyone
wanting to reduce the risk of getting the flu, but it is
especially important for those who are at high risk for
complications from the flu:
• People aged 50 years and older
• Residents of nursing homes or long-term
care facilities
• All children and adults ages 6 months to 19
• Women who will be pregnant during flu season
• Adults and children ages 6 months and older with
conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart or kidney
disease, or weakened immune systems
• People with a condition that makes it hard to
breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease,
spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve
or muscle disorders
Also, people who live with or care for those at high risk
for complications, such as healthcare workers, household
contacts, and out-of-home caregivers (including those
who care for children younger than 6 months old
since they are too young to be vaccinated), should get
vaccinated annually.
Prevention methods
These additional tips can help stop the spread of cold
and flu viruses:
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
• Avoid close contact with others who have a cold
or the flu.
• Don’t cover your sneezes and coughs with your bare
hands. Use a tissue and throw it away.
• Keep your hands away from your face. Touching your
face can spread viruses to your nose, eyes, or mouth.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water flushes out your system.
• Get enough rest. Colds and flu hit you hard if you’re
run down.
• Don’t smoke. Heavy smokers get more colds, and the
colds tend to be more severe.
• Get fresh air. Cold outside temperatures don’t
cause colds or the flu. Instead, during cold months,
people stay indoors where more germs are spread
in dry rooms.
Talk to your doctor about a
pneumococcal vaccine
Pneumococcal diseases can lead to illnesses such as
pneumonia. Those 65 and older, smokers 19-64, and
those 2-64 with a chronic medical or immune condition
are at highest risk.
Visit the Condition Centers
For more information, talk to your doctor
visit the Flu and Pneumonia Condition Center.
Bottom line
With an ounce of prevention and a little luck, you might
dodge common viruses this season. But if you get the
latest bug that’s going around, a careful look at the
symptoms can usually tell you if it’s a cold or the flu.
Source: www.cdc.gov

Five Dental and Vision Must Do's

2009-08-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

Healthy teeth and gums – and good eye care – are vitally
important to your overall good health. Have regular
checkups to prevent a host of problems, and follow these
common-sense dental and vision care “must-dos.”

#1–Practice good hygiene
Good personal hygiene can help you avoid infections caused
by viruses and bacteria. Gum inflammation results from
food particles decaying between teeth. Common eye
infections include “pinkeye” or conjunctivitis, and
blepharitis, an infection of the eyelids with redness,
itchiness, and crusty scales.
To avoid gum inflammation:
• Brush twice a day to remove plaque, which leads
to tooth decay and gum disease. Also, brush after
consuming sugary drinks or snacks. If you wear braces,
brush especially well, because braces can lead to cavities.
• Floss daily to prevent cavities, gum disease, and
bad breath.
To avoid eye infections:
• Wash your hands often and thoroughly before and after
touching your eyes or face or using eye medication. If
you have an eyelid infection, wash your face often.
• Don’t rub your eyes because germs on your fingers can
deliver bacteria directly to your eyes.
• Keep it to yourself by not sharing eye makeup, eye
medicine, contact lens containers or solutions, towels,
linens or pillows. Remove eye makeup before bedtime.
•
Don’t use makeup or contacts while you have an eye
infection because you can contaminate them and
reinfect yourself. Throw away contaminated makeup
and clean contacts thoroughly.

#2–Be proactive about protection
Teeth and mouth injuries commonly occur from falls
and sports mishaps and most often include the front
teeth, tongue, lips, and inner cheeks. Eye injuries are
also common and can be either minor or result in
permanent loss of eyesight.
To protect your teeth from injury:
• Wear protective gear when playing sports and include
mouth guards and face cages.
• Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle.
• Avoid chewing ice and popcorn kernels, which can
chip or break your teeth.
• Avoid tongue and lip piercings, which can chip and
damage teeth.
To protect your eyes from injury:
• Check your home for obstacles that may cause a fall,
like a throw rug or toys on the floor.
Wear protective eye gear for sports and work- or
hobby-related activities, such as when you use power
tools, hammers, chemicals, or welding tools. Eye
protection is also required for playing racquetball
and in tanning booths.
• Pay attention to your surroundings because eye injuries
can result from an eye poke from a finger, a tree branch,
a fist, a baseball, sharp objects, falls, or flying objects.
Don’t ever look directly into the sun, and avoid looking
• at the brightly lit beach, water, or snow-covered areas
where the sun can reflect into your eyes. Wear good-
quality sunglasses outdoors.

#3–Rely on the experts
See your doctor or dentist whenever a problem occurs.
To check your teeth:
• See your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
Meanwhile, watch for changes in your mouth, gums,
or on your tongue – such as spots, cuts, swellings, or
growths.
• See your dentist often if you’re a smoker, because
you’re at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
Certain health conditions also require more frequent
consultations with your dentist.
To check your vision:
• Have your children’s eyes screened. Several conditions
can threaten a child’s vision if not tested and treated
properly. School nurses are often the first to spot these
problems.
• Get an annual eye exam. Early diagnosis of changes in
the eye can prevent vision loss because of injury, aging,
diabetes and other health conditions, smoking, drinking,
and prolonged sun exposure.
• Get an annual diabetes retinopathy exam if you have
Diabetes complications can result in damage
diabetes.
to the retinal blood vessels, which – if undetected and
left untreated – can lead to blindness. But an annual
retinopathy exam and early treatment can eliminate the
risk of blindness almost entirely.
#4–Eat right
Good nutrition is one of the best preventions for dental and
vision problems.
To protect your tooth enamel:
• Avoid or limit sports drinks because they can stain,
soften, and erode your teeth. If you do drink a sports
drink, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your
teeth to allow softened enamel to get hard again.
• Avoid or limit sugary, sour, and starchy treats. Some
dentists suggest these snacks are like soaking your teeth
in battery acid. Both adults and children are vulnerable
to softening and eroding teeth enamel with common
snacks, including:
> Sugary and sticky treats – like cookies, cakes,
ice cream, dried fruits, and raisins.
> Acidic, low-pH foods – like sour and sticky
candies, soft drinks, and fruit juices.
To minimize the effect of the snacks, eat them with other
foods or chew xylitol-containing or Recaldent-containing
gum (like Ice Breakers, Ice Cubes, Trident, or Orbit). Better
yet, brush after snacking.
To protect your vision:
• Practice lifelong good nutrition because it can help keep
your eyes healthy. The National Eye Institute says your
eyesight can benefit from many of the nutrients found in
vegetables and fruits.
Eat right to avoid or control diabetes, which can lead
• to diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. But, experts say
that diabetics who control their blood sugar levels can
prevent or slow down the onset of diabetic retinopathy.
Eat right to keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in
•
check. Studies show that both elevated blood pressure
and cholesterol can increase the risk of vision loss.
Controlling these will help your overall health as well
as protect your vision.
#5–Don’t smoke
Quitting smoking can have many good effects on your
health – including protection for your teeth, gums,
mouth, and eyes.
To protect your teeth, gums, and soft tissue
• Quit smoking to reduce your risk of gum disease, bad
breath, tooth discoloration, oral cancer and a host of
other cancers.
To protect your eyesight:
• Quit smoking to decrease your risk of developing these
eye diseases:
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic retinopathy if you’re diabetic
Bottom line
A host of vision and dental problems are often prevented
with these common-sense must-dos. Take care of your eyes
and your teeth – and you’ll be happier and healthier.
Sources:
• Prevent Blindness America – www.preventblindness.org
• The National Eye Institute – www.nei.nih.gov
GCA0590HH 08/09

What can I do to promote a healthy pregnancy?

2009-08-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

Once you're pregnant, regular checkups are key. Your health professional will want to monitor your baby's growth and watch for problems that can only be detected by checking your blood pressure, urine, and blood regularly.

Anything you do that harms your body harms your fetus. Take special care to avoid tobacco smoke, alcohol and drugs, chemicals, radiation (as from X-rays), and sources of infection. Keep your body temperature from getting too high [over 100.4°F (38°C)] by treating any fevers with acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and avoiding exercise or activity that overheats you. Also avoid high-temperature hot tubs and saunas.

Take extra-good care of yourself while you're pregnant. Everything healthy you do for your body benefits your growing fetus. Rest when you need it, eat well, and exercise regularly.

Choosing a doctor

2009-08-03T19:16:00.002-07:00

When you look for a doctor, consider these factors:

Experience treating your particular condition
Special training for the procedure
Quality ratings
Awards and recognition

Choosing a hospital

2009-08-03T19:16:00.001-07:00

When you evaluate hospitals, think about:

Experience treating your particular condition
Outcomes of similar procedures
Use of technology
Nursing quality and staffing
Type of hospital – teaching hospital, community hospital, etc.

Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities

2009-07-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

A Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity (MYGA) is a contract between you and an insurance company where you agree to pay a premium(s) and in return the insurance company provides you a guaranteed interest rate for a specific period of time that you choose. Most Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities provide you with a minimum one year guaranteed interest rate option along with multiple year rate options.

Usually at the end of your rate guaranteed period, you have the option to renew annually, renew for another period, or take income. There are many choices when purchasing a multi-year guarantee annuity.

Multi-year guarantee annuities may help ensure that you have made a great choice if you want to know what you are going to earn from one year to the next.

Universal Life Insurance

2009-07-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

Universal life insurance is a flexible-premium life insurance policy that accumulates account value. The flexibility of a universal life insurance policy allows you to change the amount of insurance as your needs for insurance change. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz^®) offers innovative universal life products designed to fit your insurance needs.

Benefits of our universal life insurance products include:

Guaranteed no-lapse death benefit protection up to age 120
Flexible premium payments
Affordable income and estate protection
Optional long-term care accelerated benefit rider is available at an additional cost

Benefits of an Annuity

2009-07-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Annuities have always been a desirable retirement vehicle. With the ever-present fear of outliving their money, retirees have turned to annuities because of their promise to provide “an income that you cannot outlive. The ability to facilitate the scientific liquidation of capital is the principal purpose of the annuity. However, annuities have many other benefits than just providing an income for life.

Why buy a non qualified annuity?

2009-07-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

Four reasons are offered for most nonqualified annuity purchases. Those reasons are for a supplemental retirement income; to provide funds, if needed, to purchase care following the onset of a serious illness; to provide a safe investment haven in the event other investments perform poorly; and for an income to a survivor, e.g., a widow or widower. 2
A Gallup survey, reported in a June 4, 2001 National Underwriter article,
underscores these purchase motivations. According to the National Underwriter article, eight in ten annuity owners interviewed identified three principal motivators leading to their nonqualified annuity purchase: to use the annuity income as a financial cushion if the owner or spouse lived beyond their life expectancy; to avoid being dependent on children; and to ensure a retirement income. It is interesting to note that, while retirement income was an important motivator for many nonqualified annuity buyers, few annuity owners used the annuity funds. Instead, 90 percent of the annuity buyers responding still owned the first annuity they had bought, and only 30 percent of annuity owners had withdrawn funds from the annuities they owned. Many annuity owners fear depleting their funds and becoming dependent. For that reason, many people beyond retirement age try to live entirely on their investment income or interest from their savings and avoid invading principal.

2
Marcella DeSimone, “Who’s Buying Non-Qualified Annuities?” National Underwriter, June 4, 2001.

What is Long Term Care?

2009-07-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Unless a person dies extremely suddenly, they will experience some form of Long Term Care. In years past, the phrase Long Term Care made people think of depressing “nursing homes” or care by a family member in a private home. The term, Long Term Care, describes various services that help people with chronic medical conditions. These conditions require assistance to overcome physical or mental limitations that keep them dependent on others. People suffering from physical or cognitive disabilities may use a vary Long Term Care services. The need for those services could be a result of a prolonged illness or from typical end-of-life situations. Services range from Home Health Care to Skilled Nursing Care. Home Health Care covers a person’s needs for help with activities of daily living (ADL), including assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, eating, and using the bathroom. Other areas of support would include management of medicines, monitoring health condition, cooking, and cleaning at the person’s home. Custodial Care typically covers activities of daily living in a structured facility setting. The most intensive form of care is Skilled Nursing Care which provides full medical care on a full time basis. A person receives this type of care until they can be moved to a more independent stage of care, or to Hospice, which is an end of life care system.
While Medicare, Medicaid and Veteran Benefits provide some financial assistance, effective Long Term Care can be financially daunting to a person facing the prospect of beginning to use these services. In most cases, the person in need of Long Term Care is not the person making the decisions. Instead it is a family member or family friend who is typically an adult child with financial priorities of their own. Decisions would include the type of services needed, and the type of facility the person in need of care will be placed. In many cases, the type and level of care provided is dictated by the financial abilities of the older individual.
A person who has developed a well thought out financial plan to provide for Long Term Care services ensures they have the most options available to them at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

Why buy an annuity?

2009-07-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

Annuities offer their owners the opportunity to systematically liquidate a principal sum or save
money for a long-term objective. For many annuity buyers, that objective is to provide income during retirement. Annuities provide owners with a number of advantages; principal among them is their tax treatment. By purchasing and investing in an annuity, a contract owner can avoid current income taxation of earnings. By avoiding current income taxation, earnings that might have been used to pay current income taxes can be invested to produce additional income.

What is Indemnity plan

2009-07-13T17:55:00.001-07:00

An indemnity plan, also called a traditional health insurance plan, gives you the freedom to choose any doctor or hospital for your care. And since an indemnity plan isn't associated with any network, you won't pay any penalty for choosing a particular doctor or hospital. Premiums for an indemnity plan are higher than PPO plans.

What is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

2009-07-13T17:54:00.001-07:00

A PPO is a large group of doctors and hospitals who've agreed to provide their services to our customers at a discounted rate. Buy a PPO plan to reduce your premium and out-of-pocket costs.

What is a Coinsurance?

2009-07-08T18:15:00.001-07:00

Coinsurance is the percentage of covered expense you are responsible for after you meet your deductible. For example, you can choose 20% coinsurance of $5,000 (which equals $1,000). That means you'll pay 20% and we pay 80% of the first $5,000 (which equals $4,000) of covered expenses. After that, we pay 100% of covered charges for the remainder of the year, up to the policy maximum.

What is a Deductible?

2009-07-08T18:14:00.001-07:00

A deductible is the amount you pay each calendar year before health insurance benefits are paid for covered medical expenses.

HSA Benefits & Features:

2009-07-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

Get greater control over your health care dollars. You withdraw your funds when you need them.
Your funds cover expenses that apply toward your deductible.
Your funds also cover qualified medical expenses that your health plan doesn't cover including non-prescription drugs.
Your funds cover long-term care insurance.
You'll get tax advantages* on contributions, interest and qualified withdrawals.
Your HSA is easy to manage - all online.
Your HSA acts as a retirement income supplement. At age 65, accumulated funds can be withdrawn for non-qualified expenses or medical expenses not covered by Medicare. Funds for non-qualified expenses are subject to income tax.

*Assurant Health and its legal entities are not engaged in rendering tax, investment or legal advice. Federal and state tax regulations are subject to change. If tax, investment or legal advice is required, seek the services of a licensed professional. Informtion comes for Assurant Health website.

What is an HSA

2009-07-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

What is an HSA? It's an innovative and practical savings account for your medical bills that you can set up with Assurant Health. You won't pay tax on the funds you deposit or the interest you make. Use your funds to pay for your qualified medical expenses, or start a nest egg for retirement. Your money stays yours. Since your balance rolls over each year, "use it or lose it" doesn't apply.

How much life insurance do I need?

2009-07-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

The answer isn't really how much life insurance you need ... it's how much investment capital your family will need at the time of your death. Their need for capital, on a gross basis, is really a function of two variables:

How much will be needed at death to meet immediate obligations (such as mortgage or other debts)?
How much future income is needed to sustain the household?

To determine how much, if any, life insurance you need, start by gathering all your personal financial information and estimating what your family will need after you're gone. Include ongoing expenses (such as day care, tuition, or retirement) and immediate expenses at the time of death like medical bills, burial costs, and estate taxes. Your family also may need funds to help them readjust: perhaps to finance a move, or pay expenses while job hunting.

The Life Needs Analysis Calculator helps you make a preliminary assessment of your family's financial needs once you have passed away, estimating for you the amount of life insurance you will need to cover the expenses that your family will not be able to pay by themselves.

There are dangers associated with underestimating the amount of life insurance you'll need. If you have inadequate life insurance, your survivors may be unable to maintain their current standard of living. In more extreme cases, your family may find it difficult to cover your funeral and other expenses that may arise as a result of your death.

Exercise every day? You’ve got to be kidding!

2009-07-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, got a minute? Probably not. If you’re like most
people, you’re busy taking care of work stuff, house stuff,
family stuff. Who has the time or energy to exercise? And
government experts recommend 30 to 90 minutes of
exercise a day! Who has time for that?
You do. Just sneak it into your daily routine.
Do you really need to exercise every day?
Here’s what the government recommendation really says:
everyone needs exercise every day, and some people need
more than 30 minutes of it. Do you need 30 minutes, 60
minutes, or 90 minutes? It all depends on what you’re trying
to achieve:
• If you want to reduce your risk for disease, aim for 30
minutes of moderate-intensity exercise – like walking or
stretching – on most days of the week. In other words,
30 minutes may not be enough to help you lose weight,
but it’s enough to reduce your risk of high blood
pressure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Some studies even
show that exercise reduces the risk of cancer – and it
isn’t related to weight.
• If you’re trying to prevent the gradual accumulation
of excess weight, aim for about 60 minutes of activity.
Moderate activity is fine, but vigorous exercise – like
jogging or aerobics – makes more of an impact on
your weight.
• If you’re trying to sustain weight loss, aim for 60 to
90 minutes of physical activity a day. In other words,
keeping weight off takes more effort than preventing
weight gain in the first place. If you’re not physically
active now, and you want to begin an exercise program,
start slow.
Breaking it up is easy to do
Sometimes it’s hard to find a block of time to exercise. Try
doing mini-workouts instead. Accumulated time is what’s
important – so whether you do one 60-minute workout,
three 20-minute workouts, or six 10-minute workouts, it
all adds up the same. Recent research shows that as little
as three 10-minute workouts daily may help reduce artery clogging
fats in the bloodstream.* The study’s authors
suggest that short bouts of exercise may keep your body’s
fat-burning rate elevated throughout the day.
Fitting fitness into your everyday routine
You may have heard the usual ways to fit in more activity
– things like parking the car farther away and taking the
stairs. Here are other ways to be more active in the course
of your day:
• Avoid drive-bys. Park your car and walk to the
mailbox instead of picking up the mail as you pull
into the driveway.
• When you’re watching TV, jog in place, lift hand
weights, or get on the floor and stretch.
• While you’re in the kitchen, do lunges, leg lifts, and
other standing exercises.
• Turn housework into exercise. Turn on some music
and make the most of every scrub and reach.
• Walk several blocks away to pick up lunch at
new places.
• Get off the bus one stop earlier.
• Do yard work like mowing, digging, and raking leaves.
Fun ways to get more exercise
Fitness doesn’t have to be boring. You can get fit and have
fun at the same time:
• Walk the neighborhood to get gardening ideas.
• Walk through the mall. Window shopping counts
as exercise!
• Play hopscotch with your kids or grand kids.
• Walk your dog or toss a Frisbee in the park.
• Meet friends for a walk instead of talking on
the phone.
• Take a dance class with a friend.
• Have a family hula hoop contest. Practice
makes perfect!
• Dance around the house.
Bottom line:
It’s official: everyone needs exercise. But do you need 30,
60, or 90 minutes a day? It all depends on what you’re
trying to achieve. And if exercise doesn’t fit into your
schedule, just take it 10 minutes at a time.
*Sources:
• “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005,” a
70-page report at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
dga2005/document
• “How Much Physical Activity Is Needed?”
www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/physical_activity_
amount.html
• ”Single Sessions of Intermittent and Continuous
Exercise and Postprandial Lipemia.” Med. Sci. Sports
Exerc., Vol. 36, No. 8, pp. 1364-1371, 2004

What can I do to promote a healthy pregnancy?

2009-07-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

Anything you do that harms your body harms your fetus. Take special care to avoid tobacco smoke, alcohol and drugs, chemicals, radiation (as from X-rays), and sources of infection. Keep your body temperature from getting too high [over 100.4° (38°)] by treating any fevers with acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and avoiding exercise or activity that overheats you. Also avoid high-temperature hot tubs and saunas.

Take extra-good care of yourself while you're pregnant. Everything healthy you do for your body benefits your growing fetus. Rest when you need it, eat well, and exercise regularly.

Your Living Will

2009-07-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Every year thousands of families quietly face life altering decisions. A family member becomes critically ill (perhaps even placed on life support) and unable to make his or her own medical decisions, then someone must make those decisions. Who should decide? What should they do?

One of the most high profile stories about a family facing these decisions was Terri Schiavo and her family. You may recall, Schiavo was diagnosed with a terminal and irreversible condition, relying on life support machines to keep her alive. Her family could not agree on how to handle her condition, and ultimately the case was taken to court. This was a tragic situation for Terri and her family. However, going to court could have been avoided had Terri prepared a living will.

It is possible to spare your loved ones the agony. You can tell your family what your wishes are in advance with a simple legal document. It’s not something any of us like to think about, but should you become critically ill, this document allows you to make your own decisions about care rather than placing that burden on a loved one.

What is a Living Will? It has different names in different states. In some, it is called an Advanced Medical Directive or other similar names. In short, it is a document that allows you to indicate in writing what care you wish to receive if you have or develop a terminal condition, or if you fall into a persistent vegetative state and cannot make decisions. Every state allows such a document. It is a simple document to prepare and execute, but it can be vitally important to you and your family.

Don't Skip Breakfast

2009-07-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

Mom always said to eat your breakfast. And, as they say,
Mom knows best.
The traditional morning meal may be the most neglected
one. And the trend is only growing. According to the
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, American
adults who skip breakfast increased from 14 to 25 percent
between 1965 and 1991.
It’s hardly any wonder then that the number of obese
American adults also has grown, increasing from 23
percent in 1994 to 31 percent in 2000, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Studies show that people who skip breakfast have
increased risk of struggling with a weight problem. The
body uses calories from early in the day more effectively
than those consumed late in the day. Eating a good
breakfast generally improves your overall diet.
People who skip breakfast are more likely to snack
throughout the day.
According to the food and nutrition experts at the
American Dietetic Association, the nation’s largest
organization of food and nutrition professionals, eating
soon after you wake up not only helps you manage
weight, it provides energy, leading to better concentration
and problem-solving throughout the day.
Breakfast refuels the body after eight to 12 hours without
food. It replenishes glucose levels – also known as blood
sugar – which are essential for the brain and are the body’s
main energy source. Blood glucose also helps prepare your
muscles for the day’s physical activity.
Some contend that by eating breakfast, you’ll have hunger
pains throughout the day. Although true in some cases,
the choice of food often plays a part in that discomfort.
Foods high in sugar – even fruit sugar – raise blood sugar
levels quickly and trigger hunger and drowsiness a few
hours later.
Try to blend proteins and carbohydrates at breakfast.
Hearty carbohydrates will give that boost of energy to
jumpstart your day. A mix of protein generates the staying
power to keep your body going strong until lunch.
Cereal – the healthy kind, not the sugary stuff –
represents one of the quickest and most versatile meals
for the morning rush. Milk and cereal can offer the right
combination of protein and carbohydrates to start
your day.
Start the day moving in the right direction. Eat your
breakfast and enjoy the benefits long endorsed by
Dr. Mom.
Sources:
• “ The Importance of Breakfast” –
http://bellybytes.com/articles/breakfast2.shtml
• “ The Importance of Breakfast: Fuel Up and Start the
Day Right” –
http://adksportsfitness.com/back_issues/august2001/articles/nutrition.html
• “Breakfast Importance: Start Your Day Right” –
http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/nuggets/breakfast.php
• “A breakfast of meat and eggs or nothing at all linked
to extra weight” –
http://universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/5630

For Parents, It’s Simply a Must Have

2009-07-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

Disability Insurance

Diapers. Toys. School bags. Soccer games. Graduation caps. Car keys. No matter what stage in life they're in, kids need a lot of things. Without an income, you wouldn't have the ability to provide such things for your children, let alone maintain the standard of living your family has grown accustomed to. That’s why your income is one of your most valuable assets. The loss of income can mean a drastic change in lifestyle. With a paycheck, how would you provide for your children? A disability insurance plan can help ensure your children won’t ever have to worry.

Disability Insurance

2009-07-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you depend on your income, and your income alone, you have a lot riding at stake. Your income is your most valuable asset. If you couldn't work, what would you do? Your paycheck would stop, but your bills wouldn't. It's up to you to earn a living to provide yourself with a place to live and the things you need everyday. Don't learn that lesson the hard way, protect yourself with disability insurance.

Facing the New Retirement Challenge The Aging of America

2009-07-01T19:10:00.001-07:00

During the past 100 years, America has witnessed dramatic advances in life expectancy. At the dawn of the 20th century, life expectancies at birth were just 51.5 years for males and 58.3 years for females. By the year 2000, life expectancy at birth had increased to nearly 80 years for males and more than 85 years for females.¹ As a result, more than 60% of everyone who has ever lived past age 65 in the history of mankind is alive today.²

Over the next 10 to 20 years, more than 75 million people in the Baby Boom generation will reach retirement age. Thanks to advances in medical technology and healthcare, they will live far longer than their parents' generation, with some living as much as 20 or 30 years beyond age 65. According to the Administration on Aging, more than half of America's baby boomers will likely live to age 85, and some people could spend up to one third of their life in retirement.

The fact that people are living longer is all around us—we see it every day. However, what many people do not see is the impact of living longer—especially when it comes to financial security in retirement. As people live far beyond retirement age, and as traditional sources of retirement income—company pensions and Social Security—become a smaller portion of our total income, the issue of having financial security in retirement takes on added importance.

¹. U.S. life tables for cohorts born in 1900 and 2000 from the 2004 Social Security Trustee's Report

². Dr. Ken Dychtwald, Age Wave, 2004

Do I need Long Term Care

2009-07-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

The older you get, the more likely your chances are of requiring some type of long term care assistance. Forty (40) percent of people currently receiving long term care are adults 18-64 years old ¹. Today, people are living longer and care is becoming more expensive - with consumers often using their entire nest egg to pay for care.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz^®) offers long term care insurance products to help you protect the wealth you have worked hard to accumulate. Consider protecting the assets you have built. Long term care insurance can help you do that by helping to pay for the care you need, instead of having to use your - or your families' - savings.

¹ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, http://www.lontermcare.gov, April 17, 2007.

Why do I need a Health Care Budet

2009-06-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Thinking about a budget may seem unpleasant, especially if you're like most people – you don't have a lot of extra money at the end of each month. When money is tight, having a budget might seem unnecessary – or downright scary! But think of it this way: the whole point of a budget is to take care of things you have to pay for, like housing and transportation, so you have money left for the things you really want.

In the past few years, the cost of health care has been rising much faster than the cost of food, cars, and even gasoline. And employers are requiring employees to pick up more of the cost. If you're already feeling the squeeze, take a look at what health care could do to your family budget in just five years…

That's why getting a realistic estimate of your health care expenses can help you keep the entire family budget in line – and maybe even give you some ideas on how to reduce your health care costs.

Proposal to Cover All Americans

2009-06-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

More than 40 million uninsured Americans will have access to affordable health insurance coverage under a new comprehensive set of targeted policy proposals released by AHIP. The plan would expand eligibility for public programs, enable all consumers to purchase health insurance with pre-tax dollars, provide financial assistance to help working families afford coverage, and encourage states to develop and implement access proposals. For more information on this topic.

Fixed Index Annuities

2009-06-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIAs) are unique products that offer the guarantees of fixed annuities combined with the opportunity to earn interest based on changes in an external market index – without directly participating in the market.

Your money will not be affected by market index losses, and will only benefit from increases in a market index.

FIAs can be an important financial tool that provides earning potential while keeping principal safe from market fluctuation. These products offer a range of features that may include:

Bonuses
Various crediting methods
Allocation options to earn potential indexed interest

We continue to develop new and innovative fixed-index annuities that provide the guarantees of a fixed annuity with the potential for indexed interest.

Please understand that bonus annuities may carry higher fees and charges than annuities without the bonus feature.

Question

2009-06-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

If you have a question you would like answered either on this site or personally please email. If you don't want it published on this site please indicate. I will not use names just just your question.

Popular ADHD medication now available in generic form

2009-06-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

Adderall XR® is now available in generic form. Adderall XR is a stimulant used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The generic, dextroamphetamine/amphetamine XR, is available in the following strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 25mg, and 30mg.