ObamaCare Reforms Health Care

March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Senate worked in cooperation with President Obama with a vote of 60-39.  All Democrats and 2 Independents voted in favor of the new act, and all Republicans voted against it.  The vote passed 219-212.

The PPACA reform law requires all individuals to maintain minimal essential health insurance coverage.  If citizens do not choose a health plan, they will have to pay a penalty.  The only people that will be expempt from the law are people with contrary religious beliefs or extreme financial hardship, a provision referred to as the “individual mandate”.

The PPACA also reforms certain parts of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, increases insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions, is expected to add 30 million Americans into the insurance paying pool and increases national medical spending while lowering Medicare spending.

A majority of the states have filed actions in federal court challenging the constitutionality of PPACA for government interference into a persons freedom.  As of January 2012, two of four federal appellate courts have upheld it, however, a third declared the law unconstitutional, while a fourth ruled the law prevents the issue from being decided until taxpayers begin paying penalties in 2015. The Supreme Court has scheduled six hours for oral arguments March 26–28, 2012, and will issue its decision by the end of June.

It will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court rules in June, and how this affects persons living abroad.  International health insurance is available with distinguished carriers, affordable premiums, flexibility in coverage and personal agent services.  Whether you are planning a vacation or planning to move abroad, continuous coverage or travelers health insurance is available.  It will be interesting to see how existing plans are affected in the years to come while ObamaCare is refined.

 

 

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Immunizations for Mexico

March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Before travelling to another country, check with your doctor about any necessary immunizations you may need to have updated.  For instance, when you travel to Mexico, it is a good idea to be immunized for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Measles.  These are shots are good for ten years, so if you don’t remember the last time you were immunized, you will want to get a booster shot.

There are a few other shots you may find that you need, so an appointment with your doctor before any trip is a good idea.  Here are a few immunizations to follow up with before travelling:

Hepatitis A:  If you have had this vaccination in the past, be aware that you need a booster every six months.  You can contract Hepatitis A through food or water.  Hepatitis A attacks your liver, and the symptoms are severe diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Hepatitis B:  Hepatitis B is spread by exposure to blood and sexual contact, and the symptoms are similar to Hepatitis A , only worse.  This immunization is not as common.

Typhoid:   Typhoid is spread through water, so if you are travelling to a location that may have unclean water supplies, you will definitely want to let your doctor know.  Typhoid immunizations can be taken orally as well as through a shot.

Malaria: Malaria can be spread through a mosquito’s bite.   Shortly after you are bitten, the parasites travel through the bloodstream to the liver, where they mature and release merozoites and infect red blood cells.  The parasites multiply inside the red blood cells, which then break open within 48 to 72 hours, infecting more red blood cells. The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year after infection. The symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours.

Rabies: Almost any country you visit is going to have Rabies, including the United States, so it’s a good idea to stay current on this one.

Always let your doctor know when you are travelling to a foreign country to be proactive about protecting your health.  Your doctor will know what immunizations will be necessary for the area you are visiting.  Should you need medical assistance abroad, travelers health insurance will cover any emergency care you may need as well as any hotel cancellations or airline ticket penalties.

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When Travelling in a Foreign Country, Ask Locals For References

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When travelling to a foreign country, it’s a good idea to ask locals for recommended regional hospitals and doctor’s names, especially if you plan on visiting for an extended amount of time.  There are a few other questions to ask the locals as well to make sure you have the information you need in case of an emergency while in a foreign land.

Once you find out the name of the local hospital, ask for the name of a doctor that speaks English.  If you aren’t able to get the name of an English speaking doctor, write down important personal information the doctor will need to treat you, such as any medications you are currently taking, any medications you may be allergic to, the name and contact information of your travelers health insurance, and your own family emergency contact information.  Keep this list in your purse, and make sure you have it on you at all times.  Giving an extra copy to the hotel concierge, or grounds keeper of the property you are staying at is not a bad idea either.

International health insurance agencies may already have a list of English speaking doctors in the area you will be visiting, so check with them first.

In case of a dental emergency, ask your neighbors, restaurant owners or shop owners for a recommended dentist.  Emergency dental care is covered with travel insurance, so should you have an accident that involves your teeth, you will know where to go in a hurry.

A lot of countries also have pharmacies that sell generic prescription drugs for less, so it’s a good idea to find out where those are located as well.  The price difference between generic and brand names is usually pretty broad, so the savings of shopping generic can save a lot of money.  You may not run out of any medications you need while visiting but if you end up needing a new prescription, it could save a lot by knowing where to go to purchase them before you need them.

It’s fun to talk to locals for tips about the area you are visiting.  You will probably end up hearing about local hidden treasures to visit that you never would have had an opportunity to see otherwise as well as great medical advice.  Don’t be afraid to practice your language skills, the information you will get is worth any amount of embarrassment you may experience from your lack of language abilities.

 

 

 

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A Few Safety Tips To Take Before Leaving on Vacation

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you are considering traveling to a foreign country, purchasing travelers health insurance is something to consider, especially if you are traveling with your loved ones or taking an adventure vacation.  Travel insurance will cover any unexpected medical-mishaps that might occur.

No one goes on vacation and expects to have anything happen to them other than a good time and fortunately, most of the time, that is exactly what happens.  However, just in case not everything goes as smoothly as expected, medical travel health insurance will ensure you receive proper medical attention in a foreign country without it costing an arm and a leg.

Before leaving on your vacation, check with your current health insurance company to see if you will be covered in a foreign country.  If your current plan does not cover you in a foreign country, international travel insurance will pay for incidences such as hospital visits and care, as well as possible hotel cancellation fees and associated airline fees.

A few other safety measures to take are to find out the name of the local hospital and where it is located.  A good medical travel policy will be able to help you locate one.

If you don’t speak the language, write down a few phrases such as “My name is, ” “I need help,”  and “I am allergic to…”.   You may also want to make sure that your cell phone has service in the area you are visiting, and if it doesn’t, you can usually purchase an inexpensive local phone with a few minutes on it to make emergency calls.  Find out the phone number of the regional “911″ (for instance, the emergency number in Mexico is “060″), and the telephone number to the hospital as well.

In most cases, your family vacation will go exactly the way you planned it to go and no one will get hurt.  However, taking a few precautionary steps such as purchasing some travel health insurance can give you peace of mind you deserve.

 

 

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