We moved and we are Back in the Debate - Two Priorities for Real Health Reform

Excuse the long absence from the blogosphere. We have been focusing on launching our direct to consumer service and growing our b2b business, as well. www.bWell-informed.com is available to the public to find affordable health insurance (for instance an alternative to often expensive COBRA policies), after learning about it effectively on line.

Since my last blog entry, we have moved from New York City to Cleveland, Ohio. The main purpose is operational cost savings and increased access to b2b and b2c users of bWell-informed Health Plan Forecaster. Headquarter in Cleveand, we also have access to the health and medical capital of the world (Cleveland Clinic, MedicalMart, etc.), and all the associated by products that enrich the business community for companies like bWell-informed.

I had the pleasure of attending, early last week, a health reform discussion at the Intercontinental Hotel, adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic. The most profound statement of the morning Summit sponsored by The Fedeli Group and Ernst and Young, was made by Dr. Delos (Toby) Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. He said that any legislation we pass federally is simply cost shifting. Dr. Cosgrove proceeded to say if we don't reduce the obesity of Americans and enable providers to be more integrated and organized, no legislation will replace these accomplishments.

So, it's more about the organization of the suppliers and the wellness of the demanders of health care. These thoughts speak to a real marketplace. It is time that we create the conditions necessary for reform like this that sustains not only our health, but our economy.

Mental health parity legislation a civil rights victory, but price concerns remain

by Elena Skoura, Graduate Intern, bWell-informed

Congress passed a great victory for civil rights on October 3, 2008?the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act. Named after the deceased Democratic Minnesota senator and the retiring New Mexico Republican senator, the law (HR 1424) requires group health plans of 51 or more employees to cover mental illnesses to the same extent as physical diseases. It is considered a fundamental step towards eliminating the stigma and prejudice the 113 million Americans suffering from mental illness have faced.

The new legislation, which goes into effect for most health plans on January 1, 2010, will extend mental health services to 82 million Americans who live in states that have not already passed mental health parity legislation.

This legislation requires health insurance companies to charge the same deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket expenses for mental health treatments that they do for physical conditions. Plans are not obliged to offer mental health coverage or cover every mental health condition?but for what they do cover, the costs must be equivalent.

To address concerns that small businesses would find it hard to afford mental health coverage for their employees and might choose to eliminate it altogether, the legislation applies only to group health plans with more than 50 workers. However, small businesses may still be required to offer mental health parity if required by the laws of the state in which they operate.

While MHPA also doesn?t apply to insurance coverage in the individual/non-employment based market, the victory may ultimately impact consumers in the individual market as well. Legislative changes in group health plans often "trickle down" to other types of coverage. If the legislative changes were to apply to individual coverage, consumers could see prices rise considerably to cover the new levels of coverage. To keep plans affordable, some insurers might opt not to offer any mental health coverage at all.

While price remains a concern, the new legislation encourages hope that in the future, human welfare will be approached in a open-minded way. Mental illness should be acknowledged and treated with respect and concern, following the ancient Greek saying: ?You shall have a healthy mind in a healthy body??and vice versa.

For private Medicare insurers, the honeymoon is over

by Mary Hobson, CMO, bWell-informed

Way back in 1982, Congress fell in love with the idea of allowing private insurers to offer competitive HMO products as an alternative to traditional fee-for-service Medicare options. Seen through rose colored glasses, the marketplace was the cure for all Medicare?s woes. Through the magic of competition, private insurers would provide greater choice, reduced cost, and better quality service.

The legislative body was still in love with the idea in 1997, when it expanded the products private insurers could offer to Medicare eligible to include preferred provider organizations (PPOs), provider-sponsored organizations (PSOs), and private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans. And the love-fest showed no signs of abating even as late as 2004, when the Medicare Modernization act passed, raising payment rates to private providers.

Today, however, with an incoming Democratic regime, the Hill?s long-term romance with ?free market? Medicare could be at an end. Helping the ?breakup? along? A recent report issued by the respected health policy journal Health Affairs which indicates that taxpayers are actually paying more to subsidize private Medicare plans. Says Marsha Gold, senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research who authored the report:

?Clearly, the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) has expanded choice and the private-sector role. But it also has added to Medicare's complexity and costs and has created potential inequities, without apparent improvements in quality.?

While legislators? ardor is likely to cool substantially, Medicare customers are still flocking to the plans in droves. Today, one in three Medicare beneficiaries with Part D now gets their coverage from private third party providers. Almost a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries, more than 10 million people, are enrolled in private plans.

Ironically enough, the extra funding these plans receive--according to the report, they are paid 12 percent more on average--is one of the biggest reasons for their popularity. The added value averages more than $1,100 a year per patient, and some of that money goes to provide extra benefits like reduced cost-sharing or reduced premiums for add-on benefits like vision and dental care. A large percentage, however, goes to insurance company profits.

And while some Medicare recipients enjoy a few additional benefits, the overpayments have resulted in an overall rise in Medicare?s costs?with taxpayers and traditional Medicare plan beneficiaries picking up the tab.

2009 looks to be a year in which Congress takes a stand, with support from the White House. On the campaign trail, President-elect Barack Obama called for eliminating the excessive subsidies and paying private plans only what it would cost to treat the same patients under traditional Medicare. Whatever happens, it?s clear that additional monitoring, oversight, and accountability will mean the honeymoon is over for private Medicare insurers.

To download the PDF version of Marsha Gold's report, "Medicare's Private Plans: A Report Card On Medicare Advantage", click here.

Healthcare's Influence on Bailout Mania

by Phil Micali, CEO, bWell-informed

This week we saw the CEOs of the Big 3 automakers embarrass themselves with their tin cups in hand on Capitol Hill after flying into Washington on expensive private jets.

The American automakers have two major problems: they don't make competitive products, at least in the US market, and they have let too much health insurance coverage instill negative behaviors in their workers and associated families. Management and unions of the Big 3 have done well to provide health insurance coverage to attract loyal workers, however they have jeopardized our entire economy by allowing that coverage to foster unhealthy personal habits of the same workers and other beneficiaries. Costs have escalated more than any other service or product in our economy. Companies and individuals have lost their competitiveness because of it. Bailout mania is scaring the living daylights out of experts and the common folk. Our sorry state of health coverage and cost of health care is to blame.

Those unhealthy habits may explain why the automakers do not produce cars that consumers demand, like greener cars, smaller cars, longer lasting cars, cars that offer more value. So here we are again on this blog tying health movement with the green movement. It's a virtuous circle (a good one) when green industries and products grow, which produce a healthier environment and people within. A healthier workforce is more likely to produce greener industries and products. Few would argue that this is what makes sense for improving our daily lives and longterm prospects as a person, a family, a nation, and a global community.

With Citigroup announcing 53,000 job cuts this week, and more to come, it is clear lots of people will be looking to learn about something they often take for granted - health insurance. Not only will they become more sensitive to the premium to get health insurance, they will soon learn that in order to afford the premium and the protection against catastrophic, the costs of what they have been demanding in the way of illness care would be better spent on an ounces of prevention.

Health insurance for people that have it needs to be rightsized. For those that don't have it, coverage needs to be provided, either through personal means of paying the premium or eligible private or public programs subsidizing it.

More than any $700 billion dollar bailout, or what is yet to be decided in early December on an additional automaker bailout, universal coverage and prudent spending within and focus on prevention will leave the word bailout less iterated in our daily lexicon.

Once the income?s gone: health insurance options after a layoff

by Elena Skoura, Graduate Intern, bWell-informed

?My husband's just lost his job and with it our health care benefits.?

In challenging times like these, quotes like the above are becoming increasingly common. But even if they?re not unusual, each and everyone hide a personal or family drama for those who find themselves out of work. One of the biggest causes of drama after a job loss is the uncertainty of losing health care coverage for the employee and his/her family.

The decisions that the newly unemployed must face are not easy emotionally or financially. Those lucky enough to have a coverage option through a family member or spouse still have to act quickly?the terminated employee must apply for insurance through their family member?s insurance within a month of losing the old coverage or the option may no longer be available.

Less frequently, unemployed individuals may find insurance through a trade group or even their church. But such alternatives are usually much more expensive, even though the coverage may be substantially less. Individual policies usually do not include coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The most attractive alternative for many recently laid-off workers is often COBRA. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a policy that extends the same group health benefits to former employees for up to 18 months after a layoff. Businesses with over 20 employees must offer a COBRA option; for smaller businesses, state laws may provide similar options.

To be eligible for COBRA, the individual must have been enrolled in the employer?s health plan, which must continue to be active for current employees. An unemployed individual can apply for COBRA once he or she has experienced a ?qualifying event? resulting in the loss of health care coverage?including voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than misconduct or reduction in the number of hours of employment.

If the individual needs to extend his 18-month COBRA coverage for a longer period of time, he must prove that he has become disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA and send the plan a letter from the Social Security confirming this fact.

COBRA can be a good alternative, especially for those undergoing a medical treatment. However, it can also be very expensive. While employed, the individual typically has to pay only a fraction of their health insurance premium costs, with the employer picking up the rest. Under COBRA, they must pay the entire premium, which can be hundreds per month for an individual, and even thousands for a family.

The options for health coverage after a layoff are few and unappealing. That is probably the main reason why, out of the 2 million people who lose their job every month, 90% average at least a month without any health coverage.

Even though the short term financial implications can be grave, the longer-term threat posed by the possibility of experiencing an expensive health complication when uninsured is worse. And the health implications from lack of health care may be the worst of all.

The bWell-informed Health Plan Forecaster has been designed to help individuals find affordable and appropriate health insurance coverage, whether they?re facing a job loss or simply do not have coverage available through their employer. Visit www.bwell-informed.com today for more information!

bWell-informed interviewed at Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco

bWell International was excited to be a sponsor of the Health 2.0 conference in San Francisco this past October 22-23. CEO Philip Micali and CMO Mary Hobson attended the event, and were thrilled to engage with healthcare and tech industry leaders from around the country. Featured action-packed demos of new services and tools, the Health 2.0 conference was a powerful look at how new technologies are transforming the healthcare industry.

Phil Micali was interviewed by ICYou producer Rebecca Fox on the ground at Health 2.0:


The next Health 2.0 conference is being held in Boston April 22-23 and will be a joint conference with the Center for Information Therapy. The theme will be "The Great Debates on the Next Generation of U.S. Healthcare." We hope to see you there!

CEO Philip Micali appears on Fox Business News

bWell-informed.com CEO Philip Micali appeared on Fox Business News in two segments this morning. He discussed the cutting edge bWell-informed Health Plan Forecasting tool, as well as provided important insights on the state of health care coverage in today's unstable financial environment and heated political climate.

Click to watch the videos below:

bWell International Launches New Online Health Plan Forecaster

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- bWell-informed(TM) Health Plan Forecaster, a free health insurance comparison resource for individuals, goes live today at www.bwell-informed.com. The tool allows a user to project costs associated with his or her unique health risks and select the most appropriate health plan option based on those risks.

Based on the award-winning software application previously available only to employers, the bWell-informed(TM) Health Plan Forecaster is the first and only tool that allows individual consumers to truly make the connection between physical wellbeing and financial wellbeing. The tool includes robust education about a wide range of plan types, a built-in online Health Risk Assessment, as well as tax status and risk tolerance assessments. With the data entered in these assessments, users can explore plan suitability, examine financial scenarios associated with predicted healthcare usage, and compare health insurance options based on their projected health risks.

Once they've compared their options, users can purchase a plan directly through eHealthInsurance.com, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. More than one million policy lives have been insured nationwide through eHealthInsurance, which brings together thousands of health plans from more than 180 health insurance companies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The bWell-informed Health Plan Forecaster is ideal for consumers such as college students, the self-employed or unemployed, those coming off COBRA insurance and/or retirees. And with the start of open enrollment season, the tool is also a boon for consumers who find themselves hit with additional cost sharing from their employers.

"We created bWell-informed to help Americans take control and instill confidence when buying health insurance," said bWell CEO and Founding Principal Philip Micali. "We're in a time of great change, with individuals demanding more information and more control. Finding the right health care coverage consists of balancing personal wellbeing and the family budget -- and we're proud to have created a tool that helps consumers do that."

With the bWell-informed(TM) Health Plan Forecaster, individuals and families can:

• Prepare by learning about many commonly-available health insurance options that are available to individuals.
• Safely share information about themselves and their family members, including information about health risks and financial factors.
• Compare plans based on the data entered, and examine various financial scenarios associated with predicted health care usage.
• Get answers to questions about the health plan options.
• Get quotes for health insurance plans.

About bWell-informed (http://www.bwell-informed.com)

bWell-informed empowers individuals with healthcare resources and tools that help them better manage both health and medical costs. bWell-informed is the flagship product of bWell International (http://www.bwell-inc.com). Founded in 2004, bWell International is a health benefits education and consulting company. The company's interactive tools and guidance help clarify health benefits and boost employee confidence in the complex decision-making process surrounding health plan selection and health risk management.

SOURCE bWell International

Green is the Color of Wellness

by Radhika Ramesh, graduate intern, bWell International

What is the color of wellness? I say Green. Because green symbolizes the natural world. Because green stands for fertility, growth and prosperity. Because it also stands for money. Because green is the color of life.

And the Earth is rather brown-grey at the moment. Sooty fumes and emissions from our cigarettes, vehicles, factories, satellites, and airplanes, together with chemicals, aerosols and particulate matter have resulted in large scale pollution, ozone depletion and global warming. Even if you don't believe Al Gore, it is hard to miss the tell-tale signs of trouble: declining biodiversity, devastating floods in Malaysia, earthquakes in China, landslides in Pakistan, droughts in Kenya and wildfires in Portugal. The symptoms of a very sick Earth. An Earth that is neither well nor green.

Sometime in the mid-twentieth century, the growing awareness that human beings were wrecking the environment and the recognition of the magnitude and implications of this damage led to the modern environmental movement and the race to restore order to our ecosystem. Thus, Greening of the Earth is about more than just a pretty, green landscape. Greening is renewal and revitalization. Greening is a call for a well Earth. It is also a necessity for well Earthlings.

In his book, Beyond the Land Ethic (1999), J. Baird Callicott, who taught the world's first course in environmental ethics, asserts that the Wellness movement in America is ancillary to the environmental movement. How else could it be? World War II left behind a legacy of new generation pesticides, heavy duty combustion engines, the miracle of atomic fusion and a booming cigarette demand that blanketed America in a heavy, grey smog. While the Environmental movement sprang up to attempt to undo the damage done to the Earth, the Wellness movement arose to try to undo the damage done to people. For how can we be healthy if the Earth is miserable?

The National Wellness Institute, one of the oldest wellness organizations in the United States, has developed the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness that emphasizes the social and environmental aspects of wellness, in addition to the physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and occupational dimensions. The interrelatedness of these different dimensions is apparent. How can you be emotionally well if your career is not satisfying? How can you expand your intellectual curiosity if you have a nagging pain in your stomach all the time? How can you feel happy and content when you are constantly under attack by fumes from vehicles, cigarettes and burning tires? How can you be disease-free if your neighborhood is built on a toxic dump? How can you be healthy if the Earth is not? How can Greenness and Wellness be any different? How can America be the health capital of the world if it is also not the environmental capital?

The United States is the highest consumer of fossil-fuel energy in the world. The combustion of fossil-fuels, which are a non-renewable energy source, is known to result in ecologically destructive outcomes. A report outlined by the National Research Council (NRC) notes that each year, 76 million gallons of petroleum seep into North America's oceans. Apart from large scale oil-spills and accidents in transport, human caused releases from cars, trucks, personal watercraft, urban street runoff, improper disposal of petroleum products and other sources contribute to the oil in our oceans. The damage to our ecosystem is often irreparable. Furthermore, a study by the University of Cincinnati shows that more than 30% of American public schools are within 400 meters of major highways and thus in close proximity to environmental pollutants and susceptible to respiratory diseases. But there is more. A report from the American Lung Association claims that around 137 million Americans breathe unhealthy amounts of smog. While the Earth chokes, so do we.

Over the past decade or so, the definition of wellness has changed from the narrow concept of absence of pain to being proactive about health and prevention. The modern wellness movement has taught us that the absence of illness is hardly a health goal and empowered us to take charge of our health and lifestyle. As the connection between individual well-being and environmental context becomes clearer, we need to be proactive about our planet as well, and act when we still have the time.

Awareness of this direct correlation between the social milieu and the ecological milieu also brings with it an understanding of the importance of preserving the beauty and balance of nature and of building a living space in harmony with our environment. We are but one of the many components of this ecosystem which need to function co-operatively to co-exist. We need to respect the earth's limits and think in terms of sustainable products and systems. Because a healthy earth means a healthy us.

Because Wellness is Green.

What? America doesn't have the 'best' health system? Read on.

An August 12 New York Times editorial highlights the imperfections of the American healthcare system. It is becoming clear that the United States certainly doesn?t have the ?world?s best medical care.? Our healthcare system could, in fact, be considered one of the worst when looking at things such as the percentage of people who are covered by insurance and the survival rate for certain diseases and conditions.

The editorial discusses insurance coverage and says that 45 million Americans simply do not have health insurance. This is a problem. Because of the high cost of care people without health insurance are unable to receive routine checkups and are therefore unable to be screened for diseases that could be treated if caught early. Because of this, many Americans are forced to wait until they are in the late stages of a disease (cancer, for example) before they go for treatment, because they can?t afford it otherwise. The problem is that the treatment for late-stage cancer is much more expensive than preventative care, or treatment for the disease in the early stages. As a result, the disease ends up costing the patient, and the system, much more than it should. This is part of the reason why healthcare in this country is so expensive and why so many millions of American?s can?t afford healthcare coverage.

Policy Change

The healthcare and insurance system in America needs fundamental change, not incremental change, and the 2008 presidential candidates are stepping up to the plate and offering their plans for change. All of the candidates agree that something needs to be done to combat the rising cost of healthcare and the growing number of uninsured Americans. Many candidates even support a government-run universal healthcare program which would ensure that all Americans have access to affordable coverage. Other candidates, like Mike Huckabee, do not support universal coverage through the government, but instead want to focus on preventative care and driving down the cost of insurance within the private sector.

In the wake of Michael Moore?s ?Sicko,? the term ?universal healthcare? instantly excites people and Huckabee almost seems radical in saying that we do not need a government-run universal healthcare program. But, in reality, Huckabee might have the right idea. As discussed above, and in previous posts, preventative care and a system that values health care, not just sick care, would greatly reduce cost and force Americans to become more proactive about their health.

While no one would disagree that every American needs to have access to affordable healthcare, the argument becomes whether or not the healthcare system should remain private, or if it should become public, and run by the government. And honestly, do we really want the government running our healthcare system anyway?

Record Keeping Technology

The same editorial addresses the issue of the way medical records are kept in the United States. Astonishingly, despite the sophistication of technology in our country most of our medical records are still kept with pen and paper. But, Google and Microsoft both recognize the need for change, and are looking to fill the void in electronic medical record keeping. It makes sense that consumers want to take control of their own medical records and decide who gets to see them and what they get to see. This fits well with the consumer driven healthcare revolution, and will allow consumers to fully take charge of their health and wellness.

Gupta of CNN: Using Cable Reach for Good Health Messages

We all know we need to take care of ourselves when we are sick. But, what about taking care of ourselves when we aren?t sick? With healthcare costs spiraling out of control, taking charge of your wellness is one of the easiest things you can do to save money and regain a sense of power in relation to your health.

In Dr. Sanjay Gupta's CNN blog, Miriam Falco talks about the need for preventative medicine and what we can do to help keep ourselves healthy. Her recommendations, which come from the Partnership for Prevention group, include getting screened for colon cancer and getting a yearly flu shot. She also says ?less than half of Americans who should be taking aspirin daily to prevent heart disease do so. If that number went up to 90 percent, 45,000 additional lives would be saved ? at a cost of pennies a day.?

Preventing Chronic Disease

According to a study by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, ?40 percent of the candidates on the waitlist for organ transplantation [in 2004] . . . had a primary diagnosis of a preventable chronic condition.? These ?preventable chronic conditions? included Type 2 Diabetes, hepatitis, emphysema and cirrhosis. The point is that 40 percent of people who were sick enough to need an organ transplant could have prevented it.

And preventing these diseases does not have to include numerous yearly visits to the doctor?s office or expensive medical testing. There are many things that we can do that do not require any medical attention whatsoever. If you are exercising and eating right you are more likely to have a healthy body weight, which reduces your risk for diabetes and other chronic conditions. If you quit smoking you will significantly reduce your risk for developing lung cancer. If you put on sunscreen before you head out the door each morning you will be protecting your body from the harmful rays that can cause skin cancer; the list is endless.

Other things include drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, exercising regularly and eating healthy foods. I know you?ve heard these things a thousand times, but the truth is that small changes do make a big difference. If you start drinking more water each day your body will feel more hydrated and you will have more energy throughout the day. With your newfound energy you will be more motivated to be active and exercise, and once you start exercising you will be more likely to make healthy eating choices. It really is like a domino effect.

It is simple: the healthier you are the less money you have to spend on healthcare. So why not skip that soda you were about to open, and grab a glass of ice water instead? Remember, the little things count too!

Response to Dick Feagler op-ed, Cleveland PD

(Note to readers: See Feagler's article here.)

Dear Mr. Feagler -- if you ever want to experience what 'free' health
care is like, I encourage you to come to Hungary for your next operation
or medical visit for a pre-existing condition, like diabetes. Bring
Hillary.

I am a native of Cleveland and have lived in Budapest since 1991.
That's long enough to be able to tell you that I would never wish the
Hungarian, 'free', socialized healthcare system on my worst enemy -- or
on you. Come, have your gall bladder taken out at St. John's hospital
in Budapest. You will only have to share your room with 12 other people
with various illnesses, including folks in the last stages of cancer who
are literally screaming with pain. 'Morphine, you asked? What
morphine, Mr. Feagler. Didn't you know our morphine quota ran out two
months ago? He'll be gone soon, anyway...' Oops, there are only 11 of
you in the room now. I didn't notice that two people had passed away
earlier today -- and no one else seems to have noticed either -- despite
the fact that there are no curtains between beds and everyone is exposed
to everyone else, whether you're dying or just trying to maneuver the
bed pan to the right place.

BTW, when you do come to Budapest for that operation, don't forget to
bring dishes, utensils, towels, toilet paper, juice, crackers, etc.,
because none of those are provided at the hospital. And, since the
meals are a bit on the 'lite' side, (a roll with butter for breakfast, a
bowl of soup for lunch, and a slice of mystery meat for dinner), you'll
want to make sure that a friend or relative brings you real meals a
couple times a day so that you can keep up your strength during the
recuperation period. We all know how important a healthy immune system
is after an operation, especially with that nasty staph infection
problem they can't seem to shake off at St. John's.

After a day or two in the hospital, it's always nice to take a hot
shower. The bathrooms and toilets, circa 1898, are down the hall --
sorry about the line. I realize there are no doors on the stalls, no
seats on the toilets or toilet paper, but remember when I told you you'd
have to bring that? No handles on the water taps? Sorry. 'Must be
those damn gypsies again, stealing anything they can get money for down
at the junkyard...'

Oh, and then there's the medication. Budapest hospitals don't always
have what you need on hand during and following the operation. So
you'll want to make sure you get everything on the list they hand you a
couple days before the operation. (I hope you have a friend who owns a
pharmacy or know someone who does...)

A visit to the maternity ward reveals 13 women in one room: some are in
full labor (again, no curtains); some are nursing their newborns for the
first time, while still others have just had an abortion or their third
miscarriage in as many years. Life, death, and the murder of innocents
play out in the same space, for all to witness and process.

After having given birth to my only child in Budapest in 1999, my
husband and I promised ourselves that we would never subject ourselves
or our newborn to 'free' health care. Ever. Not having many options,
we did what anyone who had experienced both the American and Hungarian
healthcare systems would have done: we joined the AMERICAN Clinic in
Budapest, now known as FirstMed Centers. It's not 'free', Mr. Feagler,
but as we all know, you get what you pay for.

Julianna Gulden
Budapest, Hungary

Doing the Math for Smokers

Smoking and Wealth

As if tar-coated lungs and yellow teeth are not enough to convince smokers to quit, a new study shows the negative effects that smoking can have on your wealth.

The Ohio State University study shows that the net worth of a typical non-smoker is about twice that of a heavy smoker (smokes 2 packs per day, or more). Also, the net worth of a non-smoker is about 50% more than that of a light smoker (smokes less than one pack per day). It also shows that for each year an adult smokes their net worth decreases by about $410.

Obviously, a smoker spends money on their habit, which could certainly contribute to the lower net worth. The study shows that a typical smoker in the United States spends over $700 per year on tobacco products. Using that number, if a person smokes regularly for 20 years, they will spend over $14,000 on cigarettes.

That is $14,000 that a non-smoker would be able to spend in a different way, or put into savings.

While the study admits that causation between heavy smoking and a lower net worth can?t be proved, the correlation between the two is undeniable.

Smoking and Youth

In today?s society, smoking is quickly becoming more and more socially unacceptable. Many states have implemented laws that forbid smoking in public places and some workplaces have also implemented non-smoking policies.

It is also becoming difficult for young people to justify why they start smoking since the health dangers that come along with smoking are very well known. It has also recently been shown that young people are likely to become addicted to cigarettes more quickly than previously thought.

The new study, which was published July 2007 in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, says that within two days of inhaling their first cigarette, some youths can crave nicotine. More specifically, about half of young smokers in the study felt cravings for nicotine when they were smoking only seven cigarettes per month.

This challenges the thought many young people have that they can smoke casually and socially in their youth and then quit before they become addicted.

It also makes it even more important for parents to communicate with their children about the dangers of smoking and the harmful addiction that comes with it.

Time to Quit

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health; the surgeon general tells us so. But we now know that smoking can also be bad for your bank account. If a heavy smoker quits smoking they can save about $700 per year. So what are you waiting for?

The above studies can be found online at:

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/13/4/370

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/153/9/935

Health Insurance for All Children.....A must!

In another battle between private and public healthcare coverage in America, democrats in the House of Representatives have called on a plan that would make changes to the Medicare program as well as increase insurance coverage for children from low to middle-income families.

According to the Associated Press, the legislation would implement a federal tax increase of 61-cents on each pack of cigarettes, and the revenue would be used to help finance health insurance for children from families whose yearly financial income prohibits them from receiving traditional Medicare coverage, but still can?t afford to purchase a health insurance plan.

The plan is a follow-up of the Children?s Health Insurance Program, which expires on Sept. 30, and according to the AP lawmakers in both the House and the Senate support an increase in federal spending for children?s health insurance, with the House supporting a steeper increase.

The bill, which would also restructure the way Medicare dollars are spent, once again brings up the debate between private and public health insurance in America. Ideally, all children should have health insurance coverage, but in the United States that is certainly not a reality.

The Problem

According to a study done by the National Coalition on Health Care, 8.3 million children in the US were uninsured in 2005 (about 11.2 percent of all US children).

The same study also reported that ?nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.?

This highlights the fact that, with health insurance costs on the rise, it is not just low-income families that struggle to pay for health insurance; middle-income families are also struggling. This legislation appears to target these struggling middle-class families, in an attempt to make sure more US children are covered, which is a step in the right direction.

The Solution

The bill highlights the thin line between free-market health insurance, which is currently failing to meet the needs of the American population, and a government-run universal healthcare system, which would be inadequate, at best.

Government run universal healthcare is not the answer for America, a country that thrives on a free market economy and frowns upon the socialistic concepts that government sponsored universal healthcare demands. Universal healthcare delivered through private insurance option, is, however, what American needs.

In addition, Americans need to begin making better decisions regarding health and wellness. If we could learn to take better care of ourselves our insurance costs would go down immediately. Simply consuming healthy foods and participating in physical activity greatly reduces the risk of developing many chronic illnesses, which in turn helps reduce healthcare cost.

Another idea is to ?bargain shop? for health care treatment. With new consumer directed healthcare choices, we are able to choose the doctors that provide the best quality of service for the most reasonable price. Demanding quality of service from our doctors and refusing to overpay for services can drastically affect market prices for healthcare.

Demanding that our leaders take wellness and healthcare efforts seriously is also very important. Research the different 2008 presidential candidates, and make sure your vote goes to someone committed to solving the healthcare crisis in America.

While these solutions do require time and effort, it is a small price to pay for more affordable healthcare. Taking these steps could ensure the fundamental idea that every child, and every person for that matter, deserves access to affordable health insurance coverage.

Who is Sicko? Really now!

Just when it feels like the healthcare debate is just beginning to heat up, Michael Moore?s ?Sicko? adds fuel to the fire by speaking to a general population that more and more is concerned with the rising cost of medical expenses and health insurance in America. When area Americans going to be concerned about the health status they possess, which drives costs?

Moore?s film explores the downfalls of the American for-profit healthcare system and speaks volumes about the emotional and often tragic consequences that go along what that system. His interviews with the families and victims of tragedies due to inability to pay for medical expenses or the denial of insurance coverage are touching, saddening and ultimately frustrating.

Moore also shows the so-called perfection of healthcare systems in countries that offer universal coverage for their citizens. What he fails to show, however, are the downfalls that can come with this type of universal coverage.

While there is no doubt that something needs to be done about the healthcare system in our country, Moore?s suggestion that a universal healthcare system, like they have in the UK or Canada, would solve all our problems is short-sighted and altogether misinformed. He fails to address the problems that are present in these systems such as long waiting periods for care, the inability to choose your physician and the high taxes associated with having ?free? healthcare. He also ignores the fact that in some countries where universal coverage is available, people choose not to use it. For example, in the UK approximately 12 % of people have chosen private health insurance in lieu of using the National Health System. This points to the fact that even in the ?perfection? of universal healthcare, there are still problems.

Moore also does not address the simple fact that the quality of care in the US is often far superior to the quality of care received in other countries. Because of the privatized healthcare system in America, the medical research and development that occurs here far surpasses the development that occurs in other countries. So while there are certainly downfalls in the way the American system treats healthcare there are also benefits, such as a higher quality of care and higher rate of development.

While it would be hard to disagree with the idea that everyone deserves access to quality medical care, moving to a universal healthcare system in the United States would not be as perfect as Moore would like us to think. His utopian presentation of a world in which prescription drugs are cheap, doctors visits are free and overall care is up to US standards is enticing, although not quite realistic. I support a universal coverage system in America, where those who want to improve their basic benefit package can buy supplemental health insurance on the free open market, just like they would be able to do for the basic coverage package.

If Moore?s goal was to get the attention of the public he certainly succeeded. If his goal, however, was to accurately portray the downfalls of the US healthcare system and suggest a realistic alternative, he failed miserably. But, Moore?s polarized and oversimplified view has gotten peoples? attention. As the old adage goes, ?there is no such thing as bad publicity.? Publicity for the healthcare debate, in this case. If ?Sicko? has done only one thing it has been to raise awareness and fuel the debate about the problems within the healthcare system, which can only be the first step toward any real change.