Healthcare


DON’T WORRY ABOUT WORRYING AND TAKE THE STRAIN OUT OF STRESS

DON’T WORRY ABOUT WORRYING AND TAKE THE STRAIN OUT OF STRESS

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE Stress is not technically a disease. It is the body’s automatic response to a perceived external threat or unexpected change. The response may be physical, emotional, or cognitive, but our early ancestors’ only survival option was...
WE NEED TO TALK…ABOUT NICOTINE

WE NEED TO TALK…ABOUT NICOTINE

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHAT DOES IT DO? IS NICOTINE ALL BAD? DOES NICOTINE DESERVE ITS REPUTATION? WHICH IS SAFER, VAPES OR ZYN? Nicotine, where does it come from? Nicotine is an alkaloid that occurs naturally in the tobacco plant. The plant was originally found...
TELEHEALTH, THE DOCTOR IN YOUR POCKET

TELEHEALTH, THE DOCTOR IN YOUR POCKET

Perhaps you may be reading this on your laptop, tablet, or iPhone; WHY? Did someone suggest it? Your doctor? Your pharmacist? A healthcare provider? Your health insurance adviser? A friend? Or just a lucky chance? Whatever the reason, when reading this article about...
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEASLES

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEASLES

Is measles dangerous? How contagious is measles? How common is measles in the United States? What can you do to protect your children? The brief answers to these questions are: – Is measles dangerous? YES How contagious is measles?  VERY How common is...
The Role of Dopamine: Deficiency, Symptoms, and Natural Treatments

The Role of Dopamine: Deficiency, Symptoms, and Natural Treatments

The function of dopamine.  What is dopamine deficiency and what are the causes? What are the symptoms of dopamine deficiency? Is there a cure? Is there a natural way to treat dopamine deficiency? Most neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s...
GET THE BEST VALUE FROM YOUR ER VISITS

GET THE BEST VALUE FROM YOUR ER VISITS

Why are ER visits so expensive? What can you do to lessen the number of visits to the ER? How can you keep costs down? Are there alternatives? Why are ER visits so expensive? The word EMERGENCY says it all! Emergency Rooms are designed to manage emergencies, and from...
“I’M SINGING IN THE RAIN And I feel happy again.”

“I’M SINGING IN THE RAIN And I feel happy again.”

An antidote to depression Researchers (American Medical Association) estimate that one in six Americans take antidepressants, of whom more than a quarter are long-term users. Antidepressants are the most prescribed medication in the USA. Anxiety in certain...
LIFE EXPECTANCY FALLS AGAIN

LIFE EXPECTANCY FALLS AGAIN

The terms ‘mortality rate’ and ‘life expectancy’ are often used interchangeably but have entirely different meanings. Mortality rates refer to the number of deaths in a specific ‘population’ related to a particular causation(s). The ‘population’ may consist of a whole...
Some tips to improve your sleep quality without medication

Some tips to improve your sleep quality without medication

There are so many words that describe our need for sleep we could use this page to list them all.  But two stand out: Tiredness and Fatigue.  We tell someone we feel tired or fatigued, and we feel the need to sleep.  Sleep is the nature’s response to...
VIRGINIA GOES SOLO

VIRGINIA GOES SOLO

By Open Enrollment in 2023, Virginia will have its “own” Health Insurance Exchange (marketplace).  Although every state must have an exchange, most (33) run their marketplace on a federally-run I.T. platform. The other 17 states run on independent platforms of their...
IS MEDICARE ENOUGH TO…?

IS MEDICARE ENOUGH TO…?

Provide me with the insurance coverage I need to secure my future well-being. You may be approaching 65 and eligible to sign up for Medicare for the first time.  You may be reconsidering your plan(s) for next year, intending to reduce your out-of-pocket costs or...
MEDICAID EXPANSION AND YOU

MEDICAID EXPANSION AND YOU

To understand Medicaid expansion, we have to go back to the days before 1965 when Medicaid was introduced. Until then, the care of older adults, the terminally ill, people with chronic illnesses, and those who could not afford health insurance was in the hands of...
New Baby Could Mean New Health Coverage Options

New Baby Could Mean New Health Coverage Options

Bringing a new bundle of joy into the world is an exhilarating and life-changing experience. From those tiny fingers to that adorable button nose, your newborn baby captures your heart in an instant. But amidst all the excitement and wonder, it’s important to...
5 Tips to Help You Pick the Right Health Insurance Plan

5 Tips to Help You Pick the Right Health Insurance Plan

Are you ready to dive into the world of health insurance? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Navigating through the sea of options can be overwhelming, but fear not – we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with 5 tips to...
Explore Insurance Options for the Self-Employed

Explore Insurance Options for the Self-Employed

Are you a self-employed entrepreneur, with 0 to 3+ employees, wondering how health insurance coverage works? Do you have the same advantages and cost benefits? Are you wondering how you can explore your options and eligibility requirements? This article discusses what...
Health Insurance Options for Same-Sex Marriages

Health Insurance Options for Same-Sex Marriages

Due to the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, same-sex married couples qualify for the same benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as heterosexual couples in all 50 states. But despite that fact, many same-sex partners remain...
ICHRA vs. Group Insurance: Which is Best?

ICHRA vs. Group Insurance: Which is Best?

Prioritize your employees It’s essential to constantly explore what is best for your company and employees on a yearly basis as health insurance options change each year. It may seem best to keep offering the same group health insurance that you offered last...
ACA Subsidies Lower the Cost of Monthly Premiums

ACA Subsidies Lower the Cost of Monthly Premiums

Accessible, Affordable, and Attainable One of the key achievements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was the introduction of health insurance subsidies. For health insurance bought on the Marketplace, Obamacare subsidies lower the cost of monthly premiums for ACA...
The ACA ‘Family Glitch’ – Who Does it Impact?

The ACA ‘Family Glitch’ – Who Does it Impact?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) led to the establishment of the Health Insurance Marketplace where anyone could buy their own health insurance plan. The tax credits created by the ACA meant that Obamacare could be an affordable way to get coverage if you didn’t have...
How Insurance Tech Saves You Time

How Insurance Tech Saves You Time

What Can Insurance Technology Do for You? Consumers turn to digital technology for improved convenience and streamlined processes. New marketplace technology, such as the  TrueCoverage app, is specifically designed for the insurance industry and can: Save you time by...
‘A’ is for Asthma

‘A’ is for Asthma

Asthma is one of the most undiagnosed and undertreated medical conditions. It occurs most commonly in children. About twenty-six million Americans suffer from asthma-and about six million of these are under eighteen. It is also the primary reason children miss school...
ACA Insurance & COBRA Plans: How They Work

ACA Insurance & COBRA Plans: How They Work

Understanding COBRA Under certain circumstances, such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, workers and their families can continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for a limited period of time if they lose their health benefits under the...
Everything you need to know about The Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

Everything you need to know about The Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

FPL (Federal Poverty Level) by Paul T. Montgomery In addition to Marketplace health insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP coverage, Federal Poverty Levels determine eligibility for specific federal programs and benefits. FPL (Federal Poverty Level) A modified adjusted gross...
Understanding the Difference Between Captive and Independent Agents

Understanding the Difference Between Captive and Independent Agents

When considering a career as a health insurance agent or broker, you must decide whether to become an independent or a captive agent. Both have their advantages. Agents in captivity It is possible that you know someone who works for State Farm, Geico, or Allstate as a...
Guidance for the Rising Cost of Health Plans

Guidance for the Rising Cost of Health Plans

Cost is a significant part of the health insurance selection process, and you can provide tremendous value to clients who may be new to the experience or recently experienced life changes. They could be uncertain about the influencing factors of cost, unaware of their...
What You Need to Know about the Health Insurance Marketplace

What You Need to Know about the Health Insurance Marketplace

Do you need health insurance? Especially if this is your first time applying for insurance on HealthCare.gov, here’s what you need to know. 2023 Open Enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15, 2023. Health coverage can begin on January 1, 2023 if you enroll...
Qualifying for Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Qualifying for Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Coverage under Medicaid and CHIP Many Americans have access to free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), including some low-income people, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people...
ENDOMETRIOSIS Shh!  We don’t talk about it

ENDOMETRIOSIS Shh!  We don’t talk about it

Over six million women in the USA live with the chronic, complex diagnosis condition endometriosis.  Yet this life-changing condition attracts little attention.  Your interest in the article is likely sparked by the need to UNDERSTAND the cause of symptoms...
What is the deadline for clients to enroll in health insurance?

What is the deadline for clients to enroll in health insurance?

Here are some important dates to keep in mind November 1, 2022 First day to enroll, re-enroll, or change a 2023 health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace®. Coverage can begin on January 1, 2023. December 15, 2022 January 1, 2023 is the last day to enroll or...
Know about Autism and where to look for advice

Know about Autism and where to look for advice

What is Autism? The chances are that if you are reading this article, you are already acquainted with the condition from direct family experience or indirectly from colleagues or friends.  You will seek information to help you as a potential carer or to support...
Insurance Plans’ 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHBs)

Insurance Plans’ 10 Essential Health Benefits (EHBs)

These are the 10 Essential Health Benefit Categories: An ambulatory patient service is outpatient care you receive without being admitted to a hospital. Services for emergencies. Hospitalization (such as surgery and overnight stays) Maternity, newborn, and pregnancy...
How does a health insurance deductible work?

How does a health insurance deductible work?

The need for health insurance cannot be overstated If you want to remain healthy and safe, you need the right, affordable health insurance. This will ensure that you get both routine and critical medical care at the right time. Though health insurance substantially...
Is Mental Health Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?

Is Mental Health Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?

According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated one out of five U.S. adults experience a mental health issue every year. However, many of those afflicted do not seek help for their problems due to a litany of reasons, such as the stigma...
How much do Affordable Care Act health insurance plans cost?

How much do Affordable Care Act health insurance plans cost?

Do you want health insurance, but not sure how much it will cost? The cost of health coverage may be more affordable than you think, whether you buy it through your employer or the Marketplace. Quality healthcare coverage is within reach and affordable if you’re...
Affordable Health Coverage Options for the Unemployed

Affordable Health Coverage Options for the Unemployed

As an unemployed person, you may be able to get an affordable health insurance plan through the TrueCoverage.com insurance marketplace, with savings based on income and household size. Connected to Healthcare.gov marketplace, you can now find out if you qualify for...
How to Find ACA Health Coverage for Retirees

How to Find ACA Health Coverage for Retirees

Retired persons may be able to get an affordable health insurance plan through the TrueCoverage.com insurance marketplace. Connected to Healthcare.gov marketplace, you can now find out if you qualify for private plans and low-cost ACA plan coverage. Plans for retirees...
FENTANYL – THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

FENTANYL – THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Background Fentanyl is a synthetic drug, a narcotic of the opioid group, designed in the late 1950s. It is used to treat severe pain, e.g., during surgery as an anesthetic, after surgery for acute (short-term) pain relief, or to ease end-of-life discomfort (chronic...
Insights into Dementia – What you need to know

Insights into Dementia – What you need to know

What is Dementia? Dementia is most often associated with forgetfulness.  A loss of neurons is a significant cause of forgetfulness.  As Shakespeare might have said,  ‘Some people are born forgetful,  some develop forgetfulness,  some...
What you need to know about glaucoma

What you need to know about glaucoma

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA? The term ‘glaucoma’ covers several conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve. Why is it so important? The optic nerve carries the visual information captured by your eyes to your brain. If the optic nerve is damaged, it sends...
Have we conquered HIV/AIDS?

Have we conquered HIV/AIDS?

We hear and read so little now about HIV/AIDS that you might think this life-threatening virus has been conquered.  Like all viral diseases, once they have established themselves in the human population, they or their mutations will continue to threaten...
Documentation of Special Enrollment

Documentation of Special Enrollment

Special Enrollment Health Coverage Application Your clients may be asked to provide documents to confirm that they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if they qualify due to a life event. These documents must be submitted before coverage begins. Special Enrollment...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and what are the symptoms? As the name implies, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, commonly called COPD, covers a group of progressive lung conditions. These conditions include the more familiar terms chronic...
Can you confidently say, “I don’t suffer from diabetes”

Can you confidently say, “I don’t suffer from diabetes”

I don’t suffer from diabetes The chances are that you’re right; you do not have and will not suffer from diabetes. Don’t take more risks than you need. There are ways to reduce the possibility of the risk of this debilitating condition. In 2019 37.3 million Americans...
Cholesterol, Friend, or Foe?

Cholesterol, Friend, or Foe?

Your body makes cholesterol naturally. Cholesterol is essential to cell production, certain hormones, vitamin D, and your digestive system. So cholesterol is vital to our existence. At the proper levels, it is your friend. High cholesterol levels are your enemy. What...
How can I make the pain go away?

How can I make the pain go away?

If you are reading this article, you are probably concerned, either for yourself or a loved one, about the impact that chronic or acute pain has. Pain can have a life-changing effect on your way of life. Pain can affect your sleep, appetite, energy levels, and ability...
The Seasonal Flu Jab – your questions answered

The Seasonal Flu Jab – your questions answered

Perhaps you are hesitating about the need to keep your own and your loved one’s flu defenses up to date. We spell out the vaccination program’s why, when, and who. Is getting a flu jab more critical this season? According to the Centers for Disease Control...
The Importance of Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Importance of Breastfeeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Across the generations, there have been reasons to find alternatives to the biological imperative to breastfeed. Modern science has provided ever safer options for mothers for whom breastfeeding is not medically possible or who choose not to do so. The first and most...
What are Non-Pharmaceutical Drug Treatments for ADHD?

What are Non-Pharmaceutical Drug Treatments for ADHD?

Yes, there are non-pharmaceutical approaches to supporting those living with ADHD-affected loved ones and minimizing their dependence on pharmaceutical drug intervention and the risk of side effects. We spoke recently on what to do if you suspect your child has ADHD,...
What Should I Do if I Think my Kid has ADHD?

What Should I Do if I Think my Kid has ADHD?

So just what is ADHD anyway? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control regular and sustained attention as well as hyperactivity in some cases. ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood and...
Do I have “Long COVID-19?”

Do I have “Long COVID-19?”

The term “Long COVID” has been frequently spoken about in the news media as of late. If you still feel like you are recovering from lingering symptoms from a prolonged past COVID-19 infection, your symptoms may be due to a case of Long or Post COVID-19. The World...
What Does it Cost to have a Baby in a Hospital?

What Does it Cost to have a Baby in a Hospital?

Nearly 4 million women in the United States will give birth annually and in 2020 alone, approximately one in nine U.S. women of childbearing age was uninsured. If you are insured, the cost of having a baby will require you to first meet your insurance’s deductible,...
Does Insurance Cover Abortions?

Does Insurance Cover Abortions?

Due to the recent leak of a draft supreme court ruling with the potential to overturn Roe V. Wade, many Americans have questions regarding current and future abortion protections in the United States. One such common question is whether insurance even covers the cost...
Will my Health Insurance Cover Therapy?

Will my Health Insurance Cover Therapy?

According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated one out of five U.S. adults experience a mental health issue every year. However, many of those afflicted do not seek help for their problems due to a litany of reasons, such as the stigma...
Millions at Risk to Lose Health Insurance as Pandemic Ends

Millions at Risk to Lose Health Insurance as Pandemic Ends

A recent CNN.com article detailed the recent successes of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as the approaching risk of losing coverage for many of those success stories due to the end of the pandemic’s national public health emergency. Under the current...
Moving? What a Change in Residence Means for Your Health Insurance

Moving? What a Change in Residence Means for Your Health Insurance

While the 2022 Open Enrollment window for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ended at the beginning of the year, don’t fret if you haven’t gotten cheap health insurance coverage! We are currently in the Special Enrollment Period (SEP), which allows certain triggering...
Do I Need & am I eligible for a Second Covid-19 Booster Shot?

Do I Need & am I eligible for a Second Covid-19 Booster Shot?

Even if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, your immunity to COVID reduces over time. Booster shots are needed to maintain your resistance to infection and reduce the chances of the more severe consequences that might lead to hospitalization. The word “viral”...
Am I or Someone I Love, an Alcoholic?

Am I or Someone I Love, an Alcoholic?

Most people in America consume alcohol periodically, more than 85 percent in fact. Occasional use of alcohol is not necessarily harmful. Some doctors claim that small quantities of alcohol add to the beneficial effect of a good diet in reducing the incidence of heart...
What is Alopecia? (Hair Loss)

What is Alopecia? (Hair Loss)

For many, the pop-culture debate regarding the slap heard round the world at this weekend’s Academy Awards ceremony has resulted in more questions than answers. Today we will get down to the root of one of those questions; just what is alopecia anyway? Alopecia is the...
Understanding Developmental Disabilities in Children

Understanding Developmental Disabilities in Children

Anyone considering starting a family, expecting a child currently, or just watching their current children grow will at some point worry about any possible developmental disabilities present in their child. But just what are developmental disabilities? This is...
Kidney Health During Kidney Month

Kidney Health During Kidney Month

March is National Kidney Month, but one should be aware of kidney disease year-round. But just what is chronic kidney disease? Thirty-seven million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at risk to join them, so the problem is more common...
COVID-19 and Your Pets w/ Infographic

COVID-19 and Your Pets w/ Infographic

A recent article and infographic posted by PetNewsDaily detailed the risk to household pets from COVID-19; we share the infographic at the bottom of this article. Cats, in particular, are vulnerable to COVID-19, so both pets and their owners should be sure to avoid...
Thyroid Disease Awareness

Thyroid Disease Awareness

Did you know that approximately 20 million Americans are affected by some type of thyroid disease? But just what is the thyroid, and why does it matter? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck just above your collarbone, wrapped around your...
Stay Heart Healthy for American Heart Month

Stay Heart Healthy for American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month. But just what is the difference between a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and how are they affected by conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure? Stoke and cardiac arrest (also known as a heart attack) are acute...
Five Things You Can Get Free From the U.S. Federal Government

Five Things You Can Get Free From the U.S. Federal Government

We all pay taxes, and we all resent it. So often, it seems like we get nothing tangible in return. Still, there are many things you can get free of charge from the federal government, here are just a few: 1) Cell Phone – Recognizing that cells phones are essential for...
How to Find Affordable Health Insurance Coverage for Young Adults

How to Find Affordable Health Insurance Coverage for Young Adults

If you are currently a young adult, you probably do not remember a time before the inception of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes called Obamacare. Back then, insurance companies did not have to continue covering you through your college-age years. But one of...
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