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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Tough Times Ahead For Baby Boomers And Long Term Care

By Janet Fisher

In a very few years America's baby boomers are going to reach the age of retirement and this means that they have to start worrying about getting suitable long term care. It is however sad to note that the healthcare of this segment of American society is not assured and so they are going to face with some very serious issues when they do actually retire.

Baby boomers refer to Americans whose date of births fall in the period starting from 1946 and which ends in 1964. This was a period in American history that saw maximum number of births that was never seen prior to this period and which has also not been noticed since that time. At present, almost a third of all Americans are considered as being baby boomers and they are now looking to find the right kind of long term care for their needs in the immediate future.

As they form a large chunk of the American population it is not hard to figure out that their care (long term and short term) is going to pose a major challenge to the American healthcare industry.

A very interesting aspect to the way that these people are currently living is that a great number of them are actually employed as nurses. At the same time, when these nurses retire there won't be enough new ones to take up the slack and this means that when the boomers retire there won't be enough nurses to take care of them and the shortfall is going to continue well into the future.

So, upon retiring a new set of circumstances will arise and since there won't be sufficient numbers of nurses to provide care for them there is going to be big gap between demand for healthcare and supply of proper healthcare.

This in turn points to the fact that providing healthcare is going to be a serious issue that is already causing great disquiet among those who are in charge of providing healthcare. Even though these custodians of our healthcare have expended a lot of effort the future as far as proper healthcare goes does not seem too rosy.

Even in spite of offering higher salaries to get more nurses, it seems that such dollops are not working and the reason for this is that most people that consider nursing as their profession do not like the fact that their workload will be too high. This is why high salaries are not wooing people in the way that they should.

The only hope for baby boomers is that unless new technologies are developed that make long term care less people oriented life for these people is going to be very tough indeed. - 23211

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Long Term Care And Things Everyone Should Know

By Bob Dill

No one intends to get hurt, and everyone expects to get old. But with the growing number of elderly people, and with the relevance of long term care changing constantly, it is very important to know what might be in your future. How prepared are you? And what do you need to know before the worst case scenario happens?

It's a terrible thing to one day be a self sufficient adult and the next find yourself relying on the kindnesses and help of others to do very simple things. Long term care is about just that, helping people who are no longer able to help themselves in some of the smallest ways possible. It includes a variety of services for those who are disabled and those who are elderly, and these services can be of a medical nature or not. Dressing, bathing and using the bathroom are things many people take for granted.

Many people try not to think about the worst case scenario or what will happen to them when they get old. However, these people also wrongly think that the government will take care of them and cover all of their costs. Even in the most progressive European countries, this simply isn't the case, and care for the elderly or permanently disabled falls on volunteers or if someone is fortunate, relatives willing to take the time to help.

In the United States, Medicaid eligibility is dependent on a person's resources and income. Medicare does not cover custodial or unskilled care provided by family or friends. Many Nordic countries now have programs in place to provide some sort of financial compensation to those who tend to the elderly or disabled, even if they are relatives. Some of these programs even include pensions. However, North American countries don't have this luxury just yet.

Twelve million Americans require long term care. Five million of these people are of an adult age that is typically a part of the workforce. It's not something people typically plan for, though they have no challenge insuring their homes, their cars, their lives. It isn't hard to prepare for the future and ensure that should long term care become important, it's available.

One of the first things to know is that the sooner a person begins to provide for future long term care insurance, the better. In their fifties, most people are still fit enough to pass a medical if one is necessary. Premium costs are also lower and this is pretty important, as a typical stay in a long term facility is $150 a day. Another thing to know is that once you are locked in on a plan, should your health change, your premiums won't. A third thing to bear in mind when planning future long term care is that there is typically an elimination period. For the first sixty or ninety days of care, the policy will not be there. It doesn't kick in until after this period. Be prepared financially to bear that burden until the policy comes into play.

The population of the elderly is growing substantially. But with this growth comes a larger amount of information available to help people prepare for the worst case scenario. No one wants to get sick or become so aged that they can't take care of simple daily tasks themselves. However, it is a possibility, and one that can be planned for appropriately if you know what to expect if it happens to you. - 23211

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How Health Care Fraud Affects You

By Adriana Noton

People always look for ways to get something for nothing. This may be even truer in cases of health care fraud. This affects each and every person in the United States in a number of ways. If you know of anyone committing any type of health care fraud then you should report them to the proper authorities right away. Help protect your family and everyone in America by helping to wipe out this type of fraud. A criminal attorney in Fort Lauderdale or even a criminal lawyer may be needed.

Fraud within the health care system raises insurance prices. For every claim insurance companies pay that are fraudulent we pay higher premiums. It may not be fair but this is exactly what happens. The premiums are raised so that companies can recuperate money that has been paid out to those who shouldn't have received it to begin with.

Health care fraud within the government has an even bigger affect. Not only do your tax dollars pay for this but it means that care may be taken away from those who deserve it and are in desperate need. Imagine children not being able to receive care they need because an adult is getting free care simply because they don't want to work.

This type of fraud also leads to stricter policies and regulations. Medicine that is needed may not be available to some people because a select few abuse it. Pain medicine is the most widely regulated due to people with addictions. This in turn means that some people may suffer in pain due to not being able to get the proper medications.

Of course it isn't just individuals who commit fraud. Doctors and hospitals are involved as well. Some may submit bills for services they didn't provide. Some doctors and hospitals have even gone as far as to create ghost patients. Often times this could be as simple as performing procedures that are not necessary.

Some of these types of fraud are very hard to prove. Unnecessary procedures, for instance, may be the hardest to prove. What one doctor considerers unnecessary another can argue is perfectly legitimate. Unless you have access to the doctor's records and know exactly what his orders were then there may be know way of knowing if fraud was committed.

Health care fraud also occurs through medical identity theft. This occurs when a person uses another persons insurance to receive health care service. This may occur because the person is uninsured or simply doesn't want to use their own insurance. This could even be so the person can receive narcotics without using their own name.

Fraud is a growing problem in our society. It hurts every honest person in one way or another. Because of fraud it is very possible that some of the programs we rely on could be discontinued. If these programs are taken away it could cost innocent lives.

If you know anyone who is guilty of health care fraud then there are places you can report it to. You never even have to give your name. Help stop fraud and you can help make help insure health care is available for all who need it most.

Fraud within the health care system raises insurance prices. For every claim insurance companies pay that are fraudulent we pay higher premiums. It may not be fair but this is exactly what happens. The premiums are raised so that companies can recuperate money that has been paid out to those who shouldn't have received it to begin with.

Health care fraud within the government has an even bigger affect. Not only do your tax dollars pay for this but it means that care may be taken away from those who deserve it and are in desperate need. Imagine children not being able to receive care they need because an adult is getting free care simply because they don't want to work.

This type of fraud also leads to stricter policies and regulations. Medicine that is needed may not be available to some people because a select few abuse it. Pain medicine is the most widely regulated due to people with addictions. This in turn means that some people may suffer in pain due to not being able to get the proper medications.

Of course it isn't just individuals who commit fraud. Doctors and hospitals are involved as well. Some may submit bills for services they didn't provide. Some doctors and hospitals have even gone as far as to create ghost patients. Often times this could be as simple as performing procedures that are not necessary.

Some of these types of fraud are very hard to prove. Unnecessary procedures, for instance, may be the hardest to prove. What one doctor considerers unnecessary another can argue is perfectly legitimate. Unless you have access to the doctor's records and know exactly what his orders were then there may be know way of knowing if fraud was committed.

Health care fraud also occurs through medical identity theft. This occurs when a person uses another persons insurance to receive health care service. This may occur because the person is uninsured or simply doesn't want to use their own insurance. This could even be so the person can receive narcotics without using their own name.

Fraud is a growing problem in our society. It hurts every honest person in one way or another. Because of fraud it is very possible that some of the programs we rely on could be discontinued. If these programs are taken away it could cost innocent lives.

If you know anyone who is guilty of health care fraud then there are places you can report it to. You never even have to give your name. Help stop fraud and you can help make help insure health care is available for all who need it most. - 23211

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Easiest Way To Get Online Insurance

By Graham McKenzie

Trying to get price quotes for insurance offline is a pain in the neck. A person would probably be on the phone for literally hours reciting the information to that life or home insurance company trying to get the cheapest available. The whole process just wastes time and depends on perseverance just to make you continue to call agent after agent.

Fortunately, today's advanced technology offers a much simpler, hassle-free way of getting contents insurance, car insurance, life insurance, pet insurance, buildings insurance and life assurance quotes. It's as easy as you turning on a computer, and surfing the Internet to find tons of insurance companies that help you get the quotes you need, as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Getting insurance quotes online is simple! Just recently over the past few years companies have become serious about presenting themselves online. Insurance companies were the ones that really saw an opportunity in the internet. The internet is where you will find all sorts of insurance companies ranging from big and famous automotive companies, to small and not very well known life insurance companies. All of them are trying to stay competitive in the industry by offering services over the internet.

Even better, most of the companies have direct links to forms that give you instant quotes, making things simple and quick. The great thing about it is that insurance companies can give you reasonable quotes immediately after receiving the form. They can even get you set up with the application so you can instantly apply for the insurance.

The most convenient places online to get instant insurance quotes are most of the time not directly on the insurance company's site. It's a much better idea to search other insurance specialist sites and portals where you can receive quotes from multiple companies at once. These sites offer the consumer many pluses.

To begin with, these sites show you results for possibly hundreds of insurance companies and it is much faster than going from site to site to get the same information. Another benefit to using this method of getting insurance quotes online is that a lot of these portals let you gather quotes instantaneously just by using one quotes application! You don't have to go to each and every insurance agent and put in the information required to get your Internet quotes, you just put in that info one time, thus saving hoards of time!

Sure it all sounds convenient, but what about the price' They must be more expensive since the quotes aren't received directly from the agent's webpage. Actually, you will find that to be incorrect. These Specialist sites take care of all of the advertising and administration involved so they save the companies a great deal. So, if you do decide to go through these Specialist portal sites, you can rest assured that you will more than likely receive the same prices you would receive by going directly to the agent's website. - 23211

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Preparing For Long Term Care Must Start Now

By Bob Dill

Long term care is used by both the elderly and those who are disabled in some way that prevents them from taking care of themselves. It's not an eventuality people expect and ever so many don't include it in their existing insurance policies. But knowing that you could relieve the burden on friends and family, wouldn't you take that opportunity if you could?

Becoming dependent on others can happen suddenly or gradually. Many healthy people take for granted the simple ability to dress one's self, to bathe alone, to go to the bathroom on their own. However, these are the sorts of things that one relies on long term care for, along with medical procedures and other forms of care.

Even in the best countries, the government is not prepared to handle the growing population of people who require long-term care. Even in areas of the world considered more progressive when it comes to health care, like Europe, the burden of caring for the elderly or disabled is shouldered by younger family members or dear friends.

Different medical programs in the United States cover long-term care in different ways. Medicaid requires eligibility, meaning that a person's finances and other resources are taken into consideration before their long term care will be covered. Medicare itself does not cover what is called custodial care, nor does it cover care provided by non-medical skilled personnel. However, at least in this respect several Nordic countries are ahead of the U. S. By providing long-term care givers with some sort of financial recompense as well as pension plans where appropriate. Family and friends in these countries can expect compensation for their noble efforts in caring for others.

Of the twelve million Americans who are in the long term care system, five million are work-aged adults no longer able to care for themselves. Not everyone experiencing long-term care is elderly, though that is obviously the vast majority. Most people are caught unprepared by a worst case scenario, and long term care is the furthest thing from their minds. But while insuring your house, your car, your life, why not consider insurance to cover future long term care, should it become relevant?

Three things should be kept in mind when considering long term care insurance. One is that the sooner you start planning for it, the better. Older adults are healthy enough to pass any required medical exams, and yearly premiums will be lower than if they start planning later. A second thing to consider is that the annual premiums will not rise should a later health condition arise. They will be locked in. The third thing to keep in mind when considering this type of insurance is that there is an elimination period just before your policy starts to cover your long term care. For sixty to ninety days, depending on the policy, you will not be covered and someone will need to pay for the stay, which can be up to or more than $150 a day.

The number of elderly people is growing. This is natural, given how many different ways there are of prolonging someone's life. However, the population of people in long term care is also growing. Consider planning for the future, for both the best possibilities and the worst. Putting the right amount of money into the right type of insurance will not bring about the worst case scenario any sooner, and it's so much better to be safe than sorry. - 23211

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