Okay, I’m off the soap box.  Today I go back to the re-employment office, where they have an area set up for information on social services available to those in need.  I have avoided asking for additional funds beyond my unemployment checks, but it has been pointed out to me that there may be more available that can help support me as I start and build my business.  Food Stamps?  Me?  Hey, why not?  It would make a difference, especially right now, so I’ll see if I am actually eligible.  And see what else I can apply for.  Will report back as soon as I have some good info.

Last week’s double fisted slam at women’s health may leave a lot of insured women in a lurch about mammograms and other preventative screenings, especially those in the 40-50 year age range.  So suddenly, last week’s suggestion of going to the local Health Department or Planned Parenthood is not as farfetched as I had originally thought.

Of course, affordable health insurance and affordable health care are top topics on many minds right now, both individuals and businesses.  Business Week’s cover story today (11/23/09), for instance, is “Why Wait for Health Reform — 10 Ways to Cut Costs Right Now”.  (Hmm, sounds like a story from I Love a Good Bargain . com!)  Let’s see what they have to say.

1. CRACK DOWN ON FRAUD AND ABUSE

2. DEVELOP A HEALTHY WORKFORCE

3. COORDINATE CARE THROUGH FAMILY DOCTORS

4. MAKE HEALTH A COMMUNITY EFFORT

5. STOP INFECTIONS IN HOSPITALS

6. GET PATIENTS TO TAKE THEIR MEDICINE

7. DISCUSS OPTIONS NEAR THE END OF LIFE

8. USE INSURANCE TO MANAGE CHRONIC DISEASE

9. LET WELL-INFORMED PATIENTS DECIDE

10. APOLOGIZE TO THE PATIENT

You can read the whole story here.  Or read more about how it affects YOU here.

More to come.  Happy Monday!

Affordable Health Care at Ellis Island

I’m not so sure that the word “affordable” applies here to the topic of Health Insurance.  And after yesterday’s news of the new recommendations for mammograms for breast cancer screenings, it’s a point that we all, especially women, need to take seriously, and soon.

The more research I do to find my next health insurance policy options, the more I realize that I don’t know.  There are endless options, and I’ve spoken with close to a dozen agents now, both individuals and those that answer 800 numbers, and overall, I am a) more confused than ever and b)mostly unimpressed by their so called expertise (except for a few.  Read on.) and lack of follow-up skills.

I’ve talked about HSAs, tax-favored savings accounts that are used in conjunction with a health insurance plan to reduce tax burden and help one save for retirement,(not for me), high and low deductibles, co-pays, lifetime caps, and out of pocket maximums.  I’ve almost been turned down, I’m about out of energy, but I have come to some conclusions:

1) The more I shop around, the more confident I am that I have found my best plan.  No surprise there, but it’s not a rule I have followed in the past

2) I’m going to have to pay somewhere in the $200 per month range for the services I need; not bad, as it’s about half of what I am paying now!

At the beginning of this series, I mentioned Cover Florida, the low-cost option for un-, self- or under-employed Florida residents.  It seemed a good option for me right now, lowest cost, guaranteed acceptance (especially important if you have any, and I mean ANY, pre-existing conditions; and who doesn’t?) and even the possibility of national coverage, so I can continue to see some of my long-term doctors in other states. Yet  almost every agent I spoke with brushed it off as something for people who are otherwise uninsurable.  Until Cesar, who I met accidentally at a social event the other night. It was not until we exchanged cards that I learned that he is a health insurance broker.

Cesar was the first and only of all the brokers who, based on my answers to his basic screening questions, offered a few new health care options:

1) Cover Florida, which he thinks might be the perfect option for me at this time (short-term cash-flow crunch).

2) A one-person group option!

3) A group plan though my company, a two-person LLC.

Hail, Cesar!  You may have cut through the nonsense and become my new broker.  Here’s a guy that made me feel that he’s putting me first, not worrying about the meager commission paid on the Cover FL plan, and coming up with an idea that NOT ONE of the others had mentioned.

I’ll let you know the bottom line when he gets back to me with actual numbers.  Also in my next post will be some ideas on how to cope when you have no or not-enough insurance.  Especially when you need to examine your boobies.

Meanwhile, click here to read more about how to take care of yourself at a discount.

illustration:http://www.joefloridainsurance.com/

As I am looking into affordable health insurance, I am suddenly face to face with all kinds of insurance issues.

I paid a monthly premium for about a year to have an extended warrantee on my car.  It never covered one penny of any repairs my car needed.  This week, for the first time, it will actually pay in full, less my $50 deductible, for a replacement window motor.

I’m about to exhaust my unemployment insurance, I just received notice that my home insurer will not cover me after this year, my friends are talking about long-term insurance and I am waiting for receipt of the replacement hard drive for one that broke, one that I actually purchased a warrantee for.

My husband is very anti-insurance industry in general, while I, especially with my computer and iPhone, feel a great sense of comfort that I have that cushion.  Like with anything, though, you and I like to know that we get the best coverage at the best price, the best value for our money.

So let’s get back to affordable health insurance, where the product is not stuff, it us.   Today, after a few minutes with a telephone rep from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, I learned that I was eligible for a plan costing half the amount of my current premium, with no deductible!  This one sounds great.  Let’s see how it develops.

How do YOU feel about insurance?  Necessary evil? Security blanket? Totally ridiculous?  Please post your comments.  What info can we find for you?

P.S. While looking for an illustration for this article, I came upon a site about Florida insurance and the best prices.   I’ll definitely check it out and report back.

P.P.S. This Sunday is the best day of the year for buying costume basics for next Halloween.  Maybe you can try one of the great costumes you saw this year.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I know I’ve mentioned it here before, but I am very very lucky.

Meanwhile..I’ve already been contacted via email by the AARP insurance agent, who sent over a brochure and preliminary proposal for my needs.  Compared to those, the $400 a month I am now paying is smack in the middle of the range.   The deductibles, however, are quite higher — from $1250 to six thousand compared to the $250 on my current plan, which ends in January.

I put a note up on my Facebook page and got about a half-dozen replies, comprised of three personal referrals, a suggestion to visit the Freelancers Union, one to visit SBUA.org  (Small Business United), and one minor rant on the state of the U.S. Healthcare system.

Going through the old email, I find: nothing of any value.

Looking at old snail mail, I find something from AARP. It’s an offer for information on not only health insurance per se, but also dental, vision, prescription and fitness programs.  I will look into this as well. And there’s a Blue Cross/Blue Shield ad in the Sunday paper that says coverage from $5 a day ($150/month; very low).  I’ll call them tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a few special deals for today:

from Daily Candy: Both sweet treat for your smackers and hint of tint for your cheeks, Benefit Pocket Pal is our go-to product. Score one free (reg. $20) with any full-price purchase from Benefit Cosmetic’s online boutique.

Get 15% off orders at OneHanesPlace.com. Enter promo code 611691 at checkout. This offer is valid October 27th through October 30th.

Win free groceries for a year from It Pays To Eat Pasta.  Enter here.

TigerDirect Exclusive Deals, Limited Time Offers, Act Now And Save! Free Shipping on orders over $100.

Great Costumes, Low Prices, Costume SuperCenter — and they’ll guarantee shipment by Halloween if ordered before the 30th (Friday) at 3PM.  Click for great ideas and great prices.

As we approach the Great Pumpkin day, click here for costume ideas.  To read Friends with Money part 1, click here.    To read more about the Health Insurance search, click here.

The state of Florida, where I live, offers something called Cover Florida, although yesterday’s paper reported that the cost savings, while decent, are not as substantial as previously stated, and the level of care can suffer exponentially.  I tried to hang in until the “public option” becomes a real option, but something tells me it’s time to start looking.

Saving money on health care, including insurance, is a topic on almost every American’s mind these days, so it’s something we here at ILAGB are taking more seriously than many of our money-saving categories.  So we embark on a journey for the best, cheapest plan, with access to the best care.

Now, if you have a friend or relative who sells insurance, that’s always a great place to start.  Explain up front, however, nicely, that you’re going to go with the best plan you can find, and that you will keep shopping until you’re confident that you’ve found it.

If you have no personal contacts in the field, ask around for referrals.  I am putting the word out on Facebook as well as here on the blog.  I’m going to search on the internet, first a specific search for the Cover Florida program, and then a general search for “affordable health insurance Florida”.  I’m going to ask my friends.  I’m going to sort through the e- and regular mail for those offers that often show up, which I’ve been saving since I realized that this time would come. And then,  having reached the ripe age of 53, with a little “medical history”,  my first call  is AARP.

AARP Health was excellent.  I was given an overview of the available plans in my area, sent to a website where all the info was available in print, given a price range (rather wide, of course) and before I got off the phone, I received an email confirmation of my request, and a promise that I would be contacted by a local agent with the next few days.  Pretty efficient!

Searching Cover Florida was quick and easy.  #1 is a local agency who had the foresight to buy the domain name.  I’m sticking with the companies, to start.   #2 is the government site, which gave me four companies to call, and a four-page spreadsheet on all the available plans.  I’ll print that out and study it tonight, so I can begin calling in earnest tomorrow.

SO, where were we…oh, yes, simple, natural recipes for all that ails you.  Last post, we spoke about scrubs, bath stuff and the like.  Now, a quick look at natural cures, and then on to the more fun stuff, aromatherapy.  

There are so many categories where natural cures come in that I thought I’d just give you some sites that I like:  try 

www.natural-homeremedies.com

www.home-remedies-for-you.com

www.homemademedicine.com

These sites are full of recipes, great info and lots of interesting bits of trivia, i.e. Did you know that 6 cherries have the same effect of 1 aspirin? Plus cherries are filled with antioxidants!.  (That’s from site #3 above).

And now, breathe deeeeep, relaxxxxxx, and read on about aroma therapy.  Scientists have long known that smell is one of the most powerful, although I think maybe most underrated, of the senses.  Think about the scent of fresh bread as you pass a bakery, or the sizzling scent of pizza.  Even more, though, it’s really funny how a smell can take you back — for me, when I smell patchouli oil, I’m a teenager in the ’70s again!

So, will aromatherapy make you (or me) younger?  Doubtful. But there are a ton of aromatherapy treatments for just about everything else, particularly for moods — pick-me-ups, calm-you-downs,and physical stuff like sleep, sex, even weight loss!  And you don’t need to buy those expensive mixes in the pretty jars.  Make them at home to spend less and know what you’re getting.  Again, easy, cheap and good for you. 

These recipes come from www.gainvitalhealth.com. Although they are selling their own brands of these items, you can and should use what you have on hand, i.e. massage lotion and hair conditioner, before buying more. As for the oils, you may get lucky and find them in the dollar store (I have). Or your local drug store. Or flea market. Or head shop. (Oops, back in the ’70s again.)  Here’s a few recipes:

Healing Spray

• 10 drops of Tea Tree oil
• 10 drops of Lavender oil
• Fill a 1 oz. spray bottle with Mouthwash 
• Spray on sores, infected areas and fungus.

Energy Booster

• 3 drops Orange oil
• 2 drops Wild Rosemary oil
• 1 drop Peppermint oil
• Massage Lotion

Mix oils with Massage Lotion in a 1/2 ounce container. This is a great pick-me-up hand and body lotion. 

Shoo-Fly Insect Repellent Spray  (I can’t wait to try this one!)

• 5 drops Tea Tree oil
• 5 drops Lavender oil
• 5 drops Geranium oil
• 5 drops Cedarwood oil
• a drop of hair conditioner

Mix in a 1 oz. spray or lotion bottle and add distilled water to fill.  Shake well.

Here’s one for Bath Salts from www.essortment.com

In order to create your own aromatherapy bath salts, start with a base recipe, by mixing 3 parts epsom salts, 2 parts sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and 1 part rock crystal salt or sea salt. 

Simply measure out portions in a large bowl and mix with your hands or a large spoon. Then you are ready to add your own scents and colors. If you plan to make several different scented bath salts, you can create the base in bulk and divide the recipe, then add your other ingredients.

If you’d really like to pursue this, I recommend buying a book — “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils” is often mentioned as a guidebook, with all the information you need in one place.  Look for them new or used here at Amazon.

Hey, these would be perfect for an at-home spa day!  Read about that and more I LOVE A GOOD BARGAIN spa ideas here. Now, breathe deep, ahhhhhhhh.

First of all, let’s get the terminology straight. When I lived in NY, a spa was someplace you went to have massages, facials, and if you were really lucky, you might go to Arizona or Utah for a week of exercise and pampering.  

When I moved to Florida, I was truly confused, because down here, a spa is a hot tub. In NY, a hot tub is a hot tub.

But I digress.

In February, while most of the Northern Hemisphere is shoveling snow, I started a very strict diet, with a list of maybe 10 foods that I was allowed to eat.  Since eating a major part of my social life, I decided to stick close to home for the 6 weeks I’d be on the plan, and focus on making myself healthier.  

As a home-based writer, I have the luxury of doing this without having to go to work out of the house.  So, for six weeks, I cooked simple meals, walked on the beach almost daily, spent spare time reading and watching girlie movies and just generally taking care of myself.  I made exercise dates instead of dinner dates with friends.  Armed with a selection of articles from a women’s health and beauty magazines, I tried a bunch of different exercise routines, healthy spa meals, and the most fun part, beauty treatments. I let my hair go grey, started a new skincare regime, (see Drugstore Junkie for more about this) and treated myself to long, warm showers with body scrubbies and smoothers, followed by new body lotions.  

I had my favorite masseur come over for a relaxing, rejuvenating massage, my favorite nail technician for a manicure and pedicure, and, had I not just had one, I would have had a doctor come in for a shot of Botox too. 

I know I’m lucky to have the time to do this, but this is definitely doable by anyone — in a week, a weekend, or even just a day.

First, line up a few good friends to join you.  Get rid of the family for a while, and make sure you’re stocked up on:

1. healthy foods to cook (or go wild and have it catered!)
2. movies and music
3. body brushes, scrubbies, soaps and lotions (see 100 under 100 for shopping tips) and at home facials and peels
4. magazines with “spa weekend” articles
5. ‘good’ wine
6. herbal tea
7. yoga and exercise videos

Get on the phone and find a massage therapist, nail tech and maybe a hairstylist who will come to the house — most are thrilled to have a few people to work on at once. 

Set up a schedule.  Do a morning walk, stretch or yoga class, an at-home facial, and a light lunch and siesta.  Then, a harder exercise class, followed by massages, manicures and other self-pampering treatments  – if you can’t or don’t want to have professionals come to the house, you can help each other . After another healthy meal, take what’s left of the wine, settle in for the evening and watch a good movie.  

Or get in the hot tub.  Oops, I mean the “spa”.