Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

If you live in New Jersey and commute to work, your destination impacts the amount of disability insurance you may have. New Jersey temporary disability insurance covers private workers in the state. Know what your coverage level is before getting sick, hurt, or becoming pregnant.

Two people sitting on a train may have very different levels of coverage depending upon which stop they take to reach their work destination. Many New Jersey commuters are traveling cross state lines to go to work, and many do not are commuting to government jobs: federal, state, county, city, and municipal positions. The one thing all these commuters share in common is they are not mandated to participate in the NJ temporary insurance program.

Commuters with NY Disability

Commuters who cross the Hudson River to work in are covered by the New York plan. The New Jersey mandate applies to workers in the state, rather than residents, as does the NY plan. The NY plan caps benefits at $170 per week, far less than the NJ plan which caps income replacement at $561 per week.

NJ Residents Who May Not Have Coverage

Commuters traveling to government jobs may or may not have coverage. The New Jersey mandate applies to private workers only - government workers are exempt from the mandate, but each government entity is allowed to participate if they choose. If your government employer elected not to participate as many do not, you won't have any disability insurance coverage should you happen to become sick or hurt.

NJ Commuters with No Disability Coverage

Those residents crossing the Delaware River are in the worst position of all. Because the NJ mandate applies to people who work in the state, residents commuting to Pennsylvania or Delaware have no state disability coverage options at all. Both Delaware and Pennsylvania do not have state mandated disability insurance of any kind. Even if your employer wanted to participate, there is no state program to join. Workers in these states must rely on a company sponsored plan via a private insurer.

Regardless of where to commute to, you should consider buying supplemental short-term disability before getting sick, hurt, or becoming pregnant. At a $561 weekly cap many workers will find that it does not provide adequate coverage. This gap is even more profound for those with a $170 weekly cap and for those with no coverage at all.

Many people do not realize what would happen if they become disabled and lose their ability to work. Statistics show that approximately 43 percent of individuals between the ages 35 and 65 will become disabled for 90 days or more. If you lose your ability to work and make a living, disability insurance will help you pay your bills, save for retirement, and make your mortgage loan payments. This type of coverage will replace up to 60 percent of your gross income in case you become disabled. Supplemental plans will cover 70 to 80 percent of your salary.

This type of insurance is specifically designed for working men and women. Since accidents and illnesses occur when you expect the least, collecting disability benefits will help you maintain your standard of living and pay for ongoing expenses. Studies have shown that over 30 million Americans between the ages of 21 and 64 are unable to work because of a long-term illness or injury. In order to receive disability benefits, you need to be a benefit-eligible employee or have a disabling condition that qualifies for benefits.

Long term insurance provides coverage for catastrophic illness or injury. This type of policy kicks in once your short-term disability plan runs out. Insurance companies offer policies that vary in the length of payout. Some of these insurance plans will pay out for up to 10 years, while others will pay out benefits until age 65.

As its name suggests, short term disability insurance offers coverage for a limited period of time. The average duration of benefits is six months. The number of weeks you are eligible for disability benefits depends in how many years you worked for your current employer. Hawaii, Rhode Island, California, New York, and New Jersey require employers to provide short-term disability insurance. Short term policies usually have waiting periods ranging from 0 to 14 days. If you purchase long term disability insurance, you will have to wait 30 to 720 days before receiving any benefits. Long term coverage is typically more expensive that short term disability insurance because it covers extended health care at home, assisted-living facilities, or nursing homes.

If you are self employed, consider buying an individual plan. Many companies provide disability insurance online. All you need to do is to search for a well established insurance website and then complete a brief form with relevant details such as your age, gender, health condition, occupation, and income. Based on the information provided, you will receive disability insurance quotes from several companies. After choosing three to five quotes, compare them side-by-side. Select a policy that offers comprehensive coverage at reasonable rates. Keep in mind that many insurance providers offer discounts of up to 40 percent for buying coverage through their websites.

Saunas are known even from the high antiquity as establishments for carrying out many public health and treatment procedures. Many different types of saunas were developing through the centuries in many countries, but all of them were intended for one major purpose - purification and health improvement of the human body and its organs. Each of such saunas had its advantages and beneficial factors for the entire health system.

As now we're living in the modern world so we expect that sauna will bring some modern and advanced technologies for our own needs. And thus, here we have an infrared saunas developed by Japanese scientists to meet all our requirements to be able to perfect our health.
Well, the advantages infrared saunas provide women are enormous. They say that "Sauna steams, sauna heals, sauna will correct everything".

For many nations sauna was and still is the place where children were born and where old people died. The custom of ancient women to give birth in the sauna is still actual nowadays. An infrared sauna, especially your own infrared sauna, is a sterile room from the bacteriological point of view . Sauna has perfect conditions for giving birth in it: there are a lot of warm water, beneficial air temperature not only for birthing mother, but for the new born as well.

In case during the whole period of pregnancy the woman correctly followed all the rules of infrared sauna use, the act of delivery is happening significantly easier and in the matter of time the whole period is shorter. Pregnant women suffering from varicose veins of lower limbs, who have had infrared sauna session during pregnancy period, notice the reduction of this disorder, that is connected with the hypersthenia of the vascular system, and what also helps to reduce tendency to collapse. Birthing mother experience less pains that happens due to the increased elasticity of ligamentous apparatus, reduction of muscles strains, the beneficial influence of infrared sauna over the vegetative nervous system. Nursing women have increased lactation activity.

NotaBene!!! Be sure to consult with your gynecologist before using infrared sauna while pregnancy, in your particular case. Contra Indications: Avoid using any saunas and any procedures in case of abnormal pregnancy!

If you want to know more about "Pregnancy and Infrared sauna" visit the site "http://www.wccomfort.com/" here you can find detailed information about infrared saunas.

Payroll management requires specially trained people to handle the work. If currently available data can be relied upon, it is a field that is expected to grow by almost thirty percent in the next five years. Such growth gives rise to a number of career opportunities. There is a constant requirement of qualified personnel in companies that cater to the back office needs of various small and midsize enterprises by offering payroll management services.

They require competitive individuals who are able to maintain professional business relationships. Customer service and problem resolution are part of the job. Other desirable attributes are excellent soft skills in phone etiquette, presentation and networking skills together with qualifications in accounting, payroll fundamentals, management and support systems.

Employment Levels

There are managers, supervisors and clerks working at their respective levels in payroll management. They work as a team and execute payroll management functions to ensure that employees receive their paycheck at the right time. They ensure compliance under the various provisions of the law in force, relating to taxes, insurance, sick pay and maternity pay.

The duties and responsibilities involved in payroll management are to key in and process a company's payrolls and employee changes. Preparation of weekly reports for production stats, and change of status forms are made on a regular basis. It is not an easy task, taking into account the different levels of employees having different pay.

Required Qualifications

Payroll administration skills for lower level employment can be acquired through a combination of on-the-job-experience and informal training. Most employers prefer a high school diploma. Computer skills are highly desirable. People with a professional certification have a much greater chance of employment and a higher salary.
Training Courses

The American Payroll Association provides comprehensive training through a three-course instructor led learning series. This training program is offered at colleges and universities all over USA with a certificate awarded on completion.

The first course, called Primary Payroll Skills, covers those needing detailed basic knowledge of preparing payrolls and related calculating and applications. The second course titled Essential Payroll Skills provides advanced training on federal payroll law and regulatory compliance. The course on Advanced Payroll Skills is for those who wish to gain advanced knowledge and application skills on payrolls, essential for functioning at supervisory or managerial positions. Completion of these courses provides a proper foundation for successfully clearing the FPC or CPP, which are certification examinations in payroll management.

Certifications

The American Payroll Association provides professional certification credentials in payroll management. The certification is valuable because it helps the individual demonstrate their payroll expertise and get promotions in order to advance in their careers.
For payroll beginners, the certification credential is the Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC). For FPC, you are required to have thorough knowledge of terminology and concepts related to payrolls. The other related knowledge areas would relate to accounting principles, classification of pay and customer service.
For those who have managed to gain some experience in payroll administration, there is the advanced certification credential called Certified Payroll Professional (CPP). The examination for this covers different employee categories, statutory benefits and implications related to taxation. The examinee would also require an in depth understanding of penal provisions for non-compliance of statutory obligations and errors related thereto. Questions about management and support systems for payrolls are also given.
Earnings

At lower levels, the average annual earnings of payroll clerks per 2004 statistics were between $28,000-$32,000. For professionals engaged in supervisory/managerial positions, the salaries are much higher.

Health Insurance/Medical Insurance is one of the most important products in the non-life insurance sector. A health insurance policy covers the risk of incurring medical expenses by an individual. It covers and individual and his family against any financial constraints arising from medical emergency. In case of unforeseen expenditures in the form of sudden hospitalization, illness or accident, medical insurance takes care of the hospitalization expenses, medicines, doctor's fees, nursing charges, oxygen, blood and almost all other costs involved during hospitalization. A hospitalization would mean that the person has to be admitted in the hospital for at least 24 hours. In addition to this health insurance also covers day-care procedures like X-ray, Chemotherapy and other tests, which do not require being admitted in a hospital.

Medical Insurance needs to be purchased only after analyzing the requirements of the individual and/or the family. There are many factors that need to be considered before purchasing a health insurance policy. Details like complete policy benefits, the network of hospitals covered by the insurance company, availability of cashless benefit, provision of accidental cover, critical illness cover, etc. need to be reviewed by the buyer. He/she should discuss the same with family and then chose the right health insurance policy.

Pre-existing diseases - Certain things like pre-existing diseases and maternity coverage are only covered after a certain waiting period of 3 to 4 years and hence should be carefully considered. If a person switches on to some other company then the accumulated benefits cannot be transferred. Therefore staying continuously insured with the same insurance company becomes important as far as medical insurance is concerned so that these benefits can also be availed.

Claim process - Most importantly, the claim payment history and procedure of the insurance company needs to be easy and efficient. No one would prefer to follow up with the insurance company to process claim in tough times of illness / injury or even during recovery phase.

Thus all such factors are important while purchasing medical insurance as it comes handy when your loved ones are at the hospital and you do not wish to fret about the expenses at that time. Rather you would spend your time taking care of yourself and family. Though, cashless facility is an important factor to be considered while purchasing a health insurance policy, it is definitely not the ONLY criterion that needs to be considered.

As one of South Africa's leading medical aid schemes Momentum Health's primary wellness programme, Multiply, will not only guarantee South Africans optimal health as its sole benefit, but will also let them receive more than 30 other benefits. This is apart from the massive HealthReturns (up to R5 400) that they may earn as an incentive for signing up.

Multiply, understands the importance of providing the best health benefits at an affordable price to each and every client in South Africa. Hence, they only work with the best providers to give you the best in fitness and overall wellness.

Of course, when Momentum says optimal health benefits, they mean that they only partner with the best in travel, leisure, shopping and health. More than 30 providers in these categories can offer you great discounts upon becoming a member of Momentum's wellness programme, Multiply. Here's a closer look at some of the great benefits that these affiliates may offer you.

Activity

Planet Fitness: This fitness club offers edgy fitness equipment and tailored programs to help you achieve the body and mindset that you would love to have. Be a member of Multiply and get discounted membership rates here. Depending on the type of membership, you might even get to use the gym for free!

Virgin Active: After paying a minimal activation fee, you can enjoy discounted membership rates at this fitness center with state of the art fitness equipment and facilities.

Wellness Coaching Network: Of course, how can you possibly know what will work best for your health without knowing your overall health condition first? Being in the wellness industry for 15 years, the Wellness Coaching Network can give you discounted assessment fees once you sign up for Multiply.

Travel

Mango: Depending on your Multiply membership type, you can enjoy 20-50% discount on domestic flights with Mango which covers trips from Johannesburg and Durban, Durban and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Bloemfontein and Cape Town.

Low Cost Domestic Airline: Should you have any travel destinations not covered by Mango, you can also enjoy the same discount benefits with Low Cost Domestic Airline.

Virgin Atlantic: If you're up for international travels to Europe or the North Atlantic, then you can enjoy a 15-40% discount on international flight airfare at Virgin Atlantic upon signing up for Multiply.

Protea Hotels: Multiply members can maximize their stay in their destination through enjoying 25-45% discount rates at 3-5 star hotels, lodges and country houses from Protea.

Shopping

Canon: Capturing and sharing moments has never been this affordable! Be a multiply member and enjoy 10-40% discounts on selected Canon products.

Bushnell Sports Optics: Noted for its tagline - "A Better Way of Seeing the World", Bushnell has been in the Optics industry for more than 50 years. With its continuous innovation and established credentials, who's to say that you won't enjoy its 10-40% discount rate on selected products like binoculars, range finders and sports eyewear?

NuMetro: If you are quite the movie buff, then you will enjoy the discounted rates at Nu Metro simply by showing their Multiply membership card at the ticket counter.

These are simply some of the wonderful benefits that you can enjoy upon choosing to work with Multiply. Among other affiliates include Virgin Life Care, Health 24 and Money Sense for your assessment needs, as well as Momentous Baby and Preggi Bellies Training for Two for those who have maternity needs.

Maximize your medical aid health benefits and enjoy these great discounts at the same time; sign up for your membership and take a step closer to attaining your optimal health condition.

In 47 states, drivers are required, at minimum, to carry a compulsory auto liability policy. The rules and potential penalties vary by state. Homeowners insurance is not required by law. However, if you finance your home through a mortgage lender, the lender usually requires homeowners insurance. Five states require employees in the private sector to purchase short term disability insurance. Should this requirement be expanded?

The purpose of compulsory auto insurance policies is to protect the public from the high costs of injuries and property damage resulting from vehicular accidents. Most states establish a minimally acceptable level of coverage to guarantee medical and property costs will be met. The states put these requirements in place because it realizes many consumers will choose to roll the dice. They will opt out of coverage to save money, only to leave them exposed in the event of an accident.

State Insurance Mandates

Should more states require workers to purchase short term disability insurance as they require auto insurance, or as lenders require home owners insurance? Break down the reasons behind these rules to reveal arguments for and against.

With auto insurance there are often multi-car accidents. Often the accident results from an error on the part of one driver: speeding, running lights, driving while impaired. A requirement for all drivers to have coverage protects the innocent parties in accidents: passengers, and drivers operating safely.

In the home owners insurance market the lender requires coverage in order to protect their interests. If a homeowner puts makes a 20% down payment, the lender has a much greater exposure to loss than the homeowner in the event of a catastrophic loss; hence the requirement for coverage.

Paid Maternity Leave

Paid maternity leave gets plenty of negative attention in the U.S. Many European countries have laws mandating maternity leave pay and job protection benefits. Meanwhile the U.S. has no federal maternity pay law, but does provide unpaid job protected leave via the Family Medical Leave Act. Five states have mandated short term disability coverage, which creates six to eight weeks of partial income replacement for maternity leave.

Mandated short term disability insurance protects workers who miss work due to accident or illness. Pregnancy is the leading cause of short term disabilities - despite the fact that only half the population is biologically capable of delivering a baby. Working women of child bearing age clearly benefit from these mandates the most; they gain maternity pay and income security in case of complications.

Should more states join the fray and require workers to buy coverage so that more women can have maternity pay? Unlike the Auto Insurance example, an uninsured mother does not harm any innocent parties. And unlike the Homeowners Insurance example, she does not jeopardize a lender's interests.

Give Working Women the Choice

But her ability to cover expenses during her maternity leave may be greatly impaired if combined with an extended leave before and/or after delivery because of complications. A mandate in all fifty states would help avoid these difficult circumstances.

Or we could do a better job of letting employers know how voluntary short term disability can be offered at work, and purchased by employees to cover illnesses, accidents, and pregnancies as well. The option exists today. Women should know about the value, and ask their employer to provide them the option to pay for coverage themselves, and enroll before getting pregnant.

Unemployment figures are not encouraging these days. If the current financial woes are not corrected soon, experts predict more job losses on the horizon. You can read other articles on how US jobs will be affected. My concern is that many more families may lose their health benefits when they lose their jobs.

Of course, most of us have heard of COBRA laws. This law provides for the continuation of a group health plan for several months after a job loss. However, not all companies fall under the COBRA laws, so not every employee is protected. In addition, covered employees will probably find out that their premium will be much more expensive. This is because the company does not have to contribute to the plan any longer, and the ex-employee will be responsible for the entire amount. I have talked to many people who lost their jobs, and they were shocked to see just how much their company had paid for their health insurance. It would not be unusual for an employee contribution to jump from a few hundred dollars a month to over a thousand dollars a month.

Another option is to look at individual health insurance plans. For healthy people, especially fairly young people, premiums can be more affordable than group rates. This is because the companies are usually allowed to cherry pick their customers, and so they only have to take people who are healthy. That way, they can keep the rates low. Some minor health conditions may cause a higher premium, while major health conditions can result in declines though.

So I would always advise a person with health issues to try to keep their group coverage if they can. However, I would advise a healthy family, especially one in their 30s or 40s, to compare individual health insurance rates. An exception to that would be a case where the mother of the family may become pregnant, or already is pregnant. Many individual health insurance plans do not include maternity coverage unless the pregnancy causes complications. In general, pregnant women will be covered better under a group health plan. In some states, individual health insurance companies will decline any family with a pregnant family member.

Now some states do have other protections for lower income families, or families with a pregnant females. It is worth looking into these plans if other options are not available or not affordable. Even though these plans are for lower income families, in some cases the income range goes into middle income. For instance, one state's children's health insurance program does cover pregnant mothers too.

Of course, another option is to try to find any job that offers health insurance, even if it is not the perfect job. In the best case, unemployed people would want to use their time to find a better job that suits their skills and personality. However, if you have a health problem that requires health insurance, it may be best to go out and get coverage by working in a lower paying job that includes a good group health plan. I think it is too bad that this is the case, but it may be reality for some people.

With all of the different options that we have for health insurance companies and coverage in Utah, not many people know about HumanaOne and what plans they offer. So, we are going to go over what sets them apart, things you may not have known and see if they might be a good fit for you. 

Did you know that Humana is one of the largest health insurance providers as well as one of the largest publicly traded healthcare companies in the country?
 
Did you know that they have one of the largest healthcare networks in Utah?
 
Did you know that none of their plans cover maternity? 

Did you know that they offered a very good dental plan?
 
Did you know that they have some of the most affordable plans while also having superior coverage in Utah?
 
Did you know that they offer unlimited prescription coverage on some of their plans? (Unlike other carriers and plans that will limit the amount of prescription dollars they will cover each year)
 
Did you know that because they have a national network, if you travel out of Utah, you will be able to find in-network doctors and facilities? 

Did you know that many doctors that are in the IHC network will also be in the HumanaOne network?
 
Did you know that by using a local independent health insurance agent that is in Utah, and by making sure that he appointed with all of the main carriers here, that he will be able to show you how HumanaOne compares to them? He will be able to show you what is good and bad about their plans and see if it is a good fit for you, your family or your small business. The best part is that you get their expert advice for free! 

So when you are looking into health insurance in Utah, make sure you educate yourself on your options and see if HumanaOne might be a fit for you.

Before considering any type of job the first thing a person considers is how much it is going to pay them and if it will be enough to realistically support their lifestyle. There are several high paying IT positions that are available and pay very well. In order to figure up the salary for information technology related positions one must consider a few different factors.

The ever growing demand for information technicians, one would assume the salary would increase. Often this is not the case as it's now a popular career choice for young people. Many technologically literate people are cropping up straight out of college which has the opposite affect on the median salary.

There are still several great paying jobs available and if someone knows just what to look for, they can cash in on this informational craze. The best thing a person can do is acquire a specific skill that will set them apart from the rest of the people who are qualified to do the same position. By standing apart with a specific skill, a person automatically increases their chances of getting the job just by being unique and hopefully indispensable.

Location is also a big factor in figuring up how much a job will pay. One job in one part of the world may pay an entirely different median amount than the exact same job in another part. It's been reported that Washington DC is currently the highest paying city when it comes to IT positions. It is closely followed by New York and Boston.

Lower paying areas include Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, and Dallas. It's important to figure in the cost of living when comparing it to the salary to be earned. Another thing to consider are the benefits that come in addition to the pay. Insurance packages and retirement plans are important to have along with maternity and or paternity leave for those who plan on having children.

For a comprehensive management position, one can expect to make around seventy thousand dollars at entry level. This is a high demand job and involves a lot of generalized duties. Typically an IT manager will over see the entire functionality of the business and their entire technology department. There are many duties associated with this job and good knowledge of several different specialized area will be required. With the option of advancement up the career ladder, a top out salary is around one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

More specialized positions have different starting pays. An IT Vendor Relationship Manager will handle the business associations with computer and network providers. They will earn anywhere from $80,000 to $140,000 a year. Another popular position is the Information Technology Director. They will handle all the aspects of handling the computer networks and policies within a company. This position may pay anywhere from $115,000 to $205,000.

It's clear to see that people who choose an IT job must be well qualified and educated in all aspects of IT and it's inner workings. Only the highest trained professionals will garner top dollar pay. With such a high salary for information technology jobs, the competition is increasing and more and more people graduate college seeing only the highest paying positions. For some it may be better to seek employment with a smaller corporation and gain valuable experience before tackling the big businesses.

Girls in Southeast Asia have learnt in their early women life from grandmother wisdom that they do not engage in any activity, distorting their regular period. Menstrual disorder should be treated immediately, otherwise, it may cause a wide range of women diseases, such as infertility, according to Traditional Chinese medicine. Damp wind is considered as a condition of excessive fluids accumulated in the body's organs and tissues, after a prolonged period of time of eating cool and cold foods or/and engaging in activity that requires to be presented in a damp-cool environment. Under extreme conditions, it causes rebellion Qi attacking the lower part of the body, including reproductive organs and joints.

1. Wei ling xian (Clematis recta)
Wei ling xian has been used in improving the circulation of the clematis meridian by expelling the wind-damp caused by blockage of the channels, after a prolonged period of fluids accumulating in the women's lower part of the body, thus relieving menstrual cramps and pain.

2. Qin jiao (Bitter root or macrophylla root)
Qin Jiao has been used in strengthening the meridian gallbladder-liver-stomach by improving the stomach's food digestion and smoothing the qi absorption of the spleen, thus decreasing the rebellion qi flow of the lung and liver causes of menstrual disorder, such as menstrual cramps and pain.

3. Du huo (European angelica and garden angelica)

It has been used in smoothing the qi flow of the kidney-bladder meridian by strengthening and smoothening the kidney qi, improving the functions of the kidney in fluid distribution and blood flow to the reproductive organs, thereby lessening the risk of development of damp wind, disturbing the lower parts of the women's body.

4. Mu gua (Stephania root )
Mu gua has been used in TCM in improving the function of the meridian liver-spleen, thereby smoothening the qi flow to the spleen and liver, resulting in reducing dis-harmonization of the stomach and spleen in food absorption.

5. Fang ji
Fang ji has been used in treating the meridian bladder-spleen-kidney blockage. By smoothening the qi flow of the spleen and kidney and increasing the bladder function in urinary secretion, the herb decreases the risk of dampness accumulation in the lower part of the body. It also helps to expel the wind from the body, thus reducing the damp wind causes of abdominal distention.

A catastrophic or major medical insurance plan is a deductible and comparatively cheaper form of health insurance with an element of speculation to it. A deductible is the amount you pay out of your pocket for medical expenses before the insurer pays the balance. For instance, if your deductible is $5,000 and the hospital bill is $12,000, the insurance company will pay only $7,000. The general rule is the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. When you opt for this plan, you're gambling that you will not face major medical problems in the near future.

It is a calculated risk. According to one survey, the annual medical expenses of 90% of the U.S. population are less than $2000; for 73%of the population, it is below $500.

Two groups that normally opt for catastrophic health insurance are young people in their twenties who are confident of their health condition, and older men between fifty and sixty-five who are still waiting for Medicare eligibility.

Catastrophic health insurance coverage is only meant to protect against major hospital charges and not routine medical expenses. It normally does not cover maternity care, doctor's visits and prescription drugs. Certain pre-existing medical conditions and cases involving mental health and substance abuse are usually excluded from the coverage. A catastrophic health insurance policy can be purchased as an individual plan or as part of a group plan. In fact, there appears to be a trend among employers to encourage employees to opt for this type of medical cover. The maximum lifetime limit could be as high as $3 million.

Rates vary according to where you live and your age. In certain states, the saving on premiums could be two-thirds. For example, a 21 year old, non-smoking female may pay as little as $30 per month as a premium.

It is advisable to seek professional guidance from insurance companies and/or agents and compare quotes before making a decision.

A lot of people incur medical costs during the year, but do they know they can receive medical tax deduction benefits from this? If they did they would be able to save huge amounts of money when it comes to medical expenses. As long as the cost is more than 7.5 percent of their gross income they can begin to qualify for tax reduction.

Of course as with other deductions there are a few rules and such in regard to the medical tax reductions that can be used. One was already mentioned in regards to 7.5 percent of the gross income. To fully take advantage of this you should count every medical expense of those listed on your tax return. This includes any dependents such as children. This even allows you to calculate and include amounts spent on anyone who may have died during that year, to get the full advantage of the tax reduction. Even dental bills are included under the header of medical tax deduction benefits.

Including the cost of transportation can even be considered part of tax deduction entitlement. This means if you calculate your cents-per-mile according to the Internal Revenue Service website in regards to your transportation for any medical treatments you can save money. Other things that can be included in tax reduction include long term care insurance (depending on your age), uninsured treatments (eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.) and even some weight loss programs can all be included in the reduction benefits.

Special needs can also be included under these benefits. This includes wheelchairs, crutches, and the like. If your doctor tells you, you need to add a ramp or widen doors on your house to accommodate a wheelchair the cost of this can be included in your tax benefits. These may only be partially deductible.

There are several other things that can be deducted as well. These can include anything from drug rehabilitation to nursing homes to prescriptions to ambulance service. If you keep careful records you can deduct anything related to medical use and save money. That is except for a few exceptions that include, cosmetic surgery, gymnasium payments, hair transplants and electrolysis, bottled water, dancing lessons, teeth whitening, maternity clothes and diaper services which cannot be included in the benefits.

Once again if you keep careful records of your bills and receipts you can take the most advantage from this tax deduction. With the high cost of most medical treatment, who wouldn't benefit from the tax deduction benefits that are available?

The health insurance marketplace is certainly challenging, but count your lucky stars that at least you have choices. To that end, this article is going to explore the pros and cons of group health insurance.

Group Health Insurance Pros

• Group health premiums are subsidized by the employer. Generally, an employer must contribute at least 50% of the "employee only" premium. As such, if you are the employee, you can likely get a richer health plan for less premium than you would pay in the individual health marketplace. However, the cost to add your dependents to the employer's plan, may be cost prohibitive. In this case, and assuming that your dependents can qualify, then you may want to put them on an individual health plan.


• Group health premiums for large families are the same as for small families; whereas in the individual market, you pay a separate premium for every family member. So, if you have a large family, you may be able to get a better deal by adding them to your employer's plan. As with any insurance change though, don't make any changes without consulting with an experienced insurance advisor in your state.


• Group health insurance in most states is guaranteed issue - meaning that you can't be turned down because of pre-existing health conditions. This is a real blessing if you or a family member has a medical condition that prevents you from qualifying for a individual plan. But, this is a double-edged sword. While being guaranteed issue is a huge benefit for those with pre-existing medical conditions, it does come at a price. This one feature alone accounts for most of the disparity between group and individual insurance premiums. Yes, that is right - in most states, individual health premiums are almost always less expensive than group health premiums.


• Most group plans cover maternity. So, if you are planning on having more children, you should definitely consider hopping on to a group plan. While you can add a "maternity rider" to individual plans, these riders tend to be expensive, restrictive, and otherwise provide less value than the coverage you can get in a group health plan. That being said, if you are considering having more children, we recommend that you contact a health insurance advisor in your state for advice about what is best for your family. The right answer is different for each unique family.


• Economies of scale can benefit employees of large employers. It is true that the larger the group, the larger the risk pool is in which to share the risk which CAN result in lower premiums than are available in the individual health market. However, the guaranteed issue "issue" CAN wreak havoc on this type of plan. For example, a large employer with good benefits tends to retain employees for long periods of time. Eventually, the average age of the group starts to creep up and so do premiums. In addition, people with large medical needs (expensive medical conditions) tend to be attracted to large plans because they are guaranteed issue with good coverage. And so, over time, not only is the group's average age increasing, but the group is also attracting employees with large expected health costs. This is the dilemma that we see with large health plans like the U.S. auto-makers and even government plans. Eventually, those with lots of medical needs begin to outnumber those with little or no needs and so premiums are driven higher and higher.

Group Health Insurance Cons

• Group health insurance can be more expensive than individual health insurance. ln fact, if you don't factor in the employer's contribution towards premiums, then individual plans are almost always more affordable than group plans. However, as we discussed earlier, not every one can qualify for an individual plan.


• What happens if your employment is terminated (by you or your employer)? Yes, you will likely have some benefit continuation rights (through COBRA or state continuation programs), but these benefits can be very expensive and the term limited. So, eventually, you either have to secure another job with benefits, an individual health plan (assuming you are insurable), or possibly join a government health insurance program for the uninsured (if you are not insurable). Let me emphasize, that you should NEVER be without some form of major medical health insurance. Being without this insurance puts you and your family in serious financial jeopardy. In fact, a recent Harvard University study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses.繒 To the same point, every 30 seconds in the United States, someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem. Don't let this happen to you.


• Group health insurance premiums are rising faster than individual health insurance premiums. Why? Because most group plans are guaranteed issue and since they accept "all comers", they tend to attract those with high medical costs. On the other hand, most individual health insurance plans are medically underwritten. This means that the insurance company can say "no thanks" to any application that it deems to not be in its interest. Put yourself in their shoes - would sign a contract to provide $30,000 in annual benefits to someone that was only going to pay $3,000 in premiums (for a net loss of $27,000) if you didn't have to? Hmm...let me me think about that one. The answer is a resounding "NO!". Because of this underwriting process for individual health insurance, insurance companies can control their risk and more effectively manage their profitability, resulting in more stable prices.

As you can see, there is no clear cut answer as to which type of insurance is the best. The answer depends on a number of factors and is different for every unique situation. The best advice I can give you as you consider your health insurance options -- get good advice from an experienced health insurance advisor.

Paying for any type of medical treatment can be separated into three basic options.

o Healthcare plans usually offered by your employer or professional organization.

o From your own savings or other private arrangement such as a bank loan.

o Grants and other programs offered by some patient advocacy groups and clinics.

Unfortunately, with many healthcare plans limiting coverage the second option is often the only option for many couples wanting to conceive their own child. Couples will pull funds from many sources to cover out of pocket expenses in treating their infertility as well as attempt to gain coverage through their health insurance coverage. The most common out of pocket solutions are cash reserves, home equity lines of credit, secured or unsecured loans, and retirement savings plans. Section 125( c) medical savings plans, employer sponsored savings plans, are a type of hybrid of these two funding sources.

Even though flexible medical spending accounts are limited in what types of treatments the account can be used to pay for and amount of money that can pass through them in a single year, they are excellent venues to pay for some medical expenses. Health savings accounts have two big benefits.

o Pre tax dollars set aside

o Non taxable withdraws

Even though these are many slightly different programs which your employer may offer the idea behind them is basically the same. Employees can set aside a limited amount of pre tax dollars from their paychecks into a savings account, and then use those funds to reimburse yourself once you have paid out of pocket for medical care. Each plan has limitations on the amount that you can set aside, what constitutes a reimbursable medical expense, and the time frame (usually these need to be used annually).

The IRS has defined what is allowed to be reimbursed from these accounts, and some to most fertility treatments do qualify. Exactly what is allowed for reimbursement depends upon the type of account. The rules for these accounts and eligibility are complex and should be discussed with your Human Resources or Benefits department. Speak with your Financial Advisor or Accountant to make sure you understand all of the possible tax implications of using the health care flexible spending account.

Of all of the ways to personally fund infertility treatment Section 125 ( c) plans offer the most benefits with the least restrictions and penalties. Why dip into your cash reserve and risk your financial well being, or whittle away at your retirement when other options have not been exhausted. Ask your Infertility Consultant to point you to a financial expert if you don't already have one. Often just reducing the stress that finances put on infertility treatment can help increase your chances of success.

In January, 2010 the Federal Government extended? Employment Insurance benefits to self employed individuals/small business owners.? The following represents some of the key details:

* You will not be able to claim weekly income replacement benefits in the event that you become unemployed, however you will be entitled to the following benefits (these are the same benefits available to Canadians who are employed):

Maternity benefits up to 15 weeks parental benefits up to 35 weeks sickness benefits up to 15 weeks compassionate care benefits up to 6 weeks

* You will need to wait for one year from the time of registration and payment of premiums before initiating any claims

* For 2010 the rate of EI premiums is 1.73% (1.36% in Quebec) upto a maximum of $43,200 i.e. maximum premiums payable are $747.36 (Quebec = $587.52)

* The benefit is calculated at 55% of the insured (earnings) amount. The maximum weekly benefit is $457, which is subject to reduction if there are earnings from other sources.

* Once you have received benefits, you can not opt out of the program; you will have to pay premiums for as long as you earn self employment income. Prior to receiving benefits you can apply to terminate the agreement.

* In order to make a claim, you will need to have earned a minimum of $6,000 (and paid premiums) in the previous calendar year.

You can register online with Service Canada with a Service Canada Account

Opting into the plan is probably most beneficial if you are planning to start a family, and you anticipate a significant reduction or cessation of your self employment income. If you do not intend to take advantage of the maternity and parental benefits, it may not be worth initiating coverage since you cannot opt out of the plan once you have started to receive benefits. Alternatives include contributing to a private health and disability insurance plan or simply setting up a savings account earmarked for rainy days.

So you are considering having a baby at 40 plus years of age, Or you have just found out that you are expecting. In this short article I will share with you the differences of being pregnant latter in life from my experience. I had my first born son at the ripe old age of 18 years. I found apart from morning sickness for the first trimester It was a breeze. My following 2 children arrived while I was in my twenties. They were also a breeze with just morning sickness again for the first trimester. Then when I was in my thirties I conceived again to my great delight.

Now this pregnancy was different from my previous ones. I started to bleed at 6 weeks but was very lucky as I did not miscarry. Again at 12 weeks the bleeding started. Again it settled and all was well. I found that as the pregnancy developed I found that I was getting increasingly tired, But as my doctor pointed out I was caring for a large family so of course it was quite normal. So to overcome that I started on a really good tonic. It made the world of difference. After that I sailed through the pregnancy. Then again we were blessed. Only this time I was 44 years old. We was so excited when the home pregnancy kit tested positive. I was feeling on top of the world all day. Then I landed back on earth with a thud as reality set in. I was no longer a spring chicken. How was my body going to cope? How was I going to survive the late night feeds? These were just a few of the many questions that crossed my mind. I was also concerned how our older children going to take the news. Well the older children took the news great. They would tell people that I was tired of waiting for grand children so decided to have another baby. I found again in the first trimester I had morning sickness. I did start bleeding at 12 weeks but thankfully I did not lose the baby. I tried to eat the best I could. I also took my daily vitamin supplements but I found that I was very tired through out the pregnancy. I went into labour 8 days early. Doctors normally say the more children you have given birth to the quicker the labour. In this case it was not true. I was in labour for 18 hours. But it was all worth it as we had a healthy boy who now 3 years old.

Now the pros from my experience.

We were in a better financial position than we were in our teens and twenties. As a result we felt that there was no pressure. We have a lot more patience.

The cons from my experiences.

I tired out much quicker than I did when I was younger. I did not have the stamina like I did when I was younger to chase after a toddler. I was worried that I would be mistaken for Grandma. It has not happened yet.

All I can say to anyone wanting to or are having a baby latter in life. Go for it.

A new pregnancy if full of excitement and anticipation; you look forward to that bouncing new baby and holding it in your arms. Many couples choose to wait until the second trimester to break the news to family and friends. There is a realization that the first few months of pregnancy can be risky. If a couple loses their baby during this time, they prefer to mourn privately.

A common problem is first trimester spotting or bleeding. Approximately one quarter of women who deliver healthy babies experience some spotting early in her pregnancy. However bleeding may be an indicator of a pending miscarriage, and sometimes a doctor may suggest bed rest to improve the chances of a successful delivery and healthy mother.

First Trimester Bed Rest

Bed rest for a couple of days is tolerable for most women - and their finances. But sometimes the bed rest can extend for weeks or months. If mom's income is needed to help make ends meet financially, the loss of income places an unneeded, unwanted, and unhealthy strain on an already difficult situation. Adding stress on top of first trimester bleeding can't be good for mom or her baby. Bed rest should relieve stress, not add to it.

Sometimes a family just can't afford having mom miss extra time from work. Rather than taking the bed rest she her doctor suggests, she returns to work hoping for the best. What a horrible dilemma that many women face: choosing between the health of her baby, and financial ruin. There must be a better way.

Short Term Disability for Bed Rest

Short term disability insurance is vital in situations like these. It replaces mom's income during the time she misses work for her pregnancy, whether it's during the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, or on her maternity leave. The income replacement allows mom to rest comfortable at home without worrying about how to pay the bills, rushing back to work too soon, or ignoring doctor orders.

The most amazing aspect of short term disability coverage is the incentives to sign up before getting pregnant. First, in order to cover any pregnancy, the policy must begin before getting pregnant. Second, there is an opportunity to buy insurance for a planned event: her normal labor and delivery.

By buying insurance that covers a planned event you can beat the insurance company at its own game. Short term disability pays a six week benefit for normal vaginal delivery and an eight week benefit for a normal c-section delivery - less the elimination period. The projected benefit for normal delivery is two to three times the average annual premium.

Short Term Disability Creates Maternity Income

This means that women planning a pregnancy can use short term disability insurance to create maternity leave income. And at no additional premium cost comes the added security of knowing that you are also covered if your doctor orders bed rest during your first trimester, or any other time during your pregnancy.

Do yourself and your future pregnancy a huge favor. Purchase short term disability insurance before getting pregnant.

Many couples face paying for their in vitro fertilization treatments out-of-pocket. Health insurance plans that cover in vitro fertilization procedures are uncommon and hard to find. So many couples look hard at various financing options: loans, savings, and cutting costs. Supplemental insurance offers the safest alternative and provides the best return.

When looking at ways to pay your IVF costs you can dip into savings, take a loan, and begin cutting costs. Supplemental insurance complements each alternative.

IVF Depletes Savings

An average in vitro fertilization cycle costs between $10,000 and $15,000. Couples who have built up a nest egg and have enough cash readily available are on the safest ground. But IVF does not work every time. A couple can quickly exhaust savings just trying to get pregnant.

Loans are Hard to Repay

Most families are living check to check and have little in savings, but they may have equity in their home, or they may qualify for financing. A loan allows a couple to have the upfront cash needed to begin their treatments. But IVF often does work, which means increased expenses for feeding, clothing and raising a newborn coupled with lost income from mom during her maternity leave. Repaying a loan under these conditions is very hard - especially for a couple finding it hard to save already.

Saving Money Takes Time

Other couples look to save money over time rather than take on debt just before losing income and increasing costs. Many of these couples may have married later in life and are rapidly approaching an age where child bearing in no longer realistic or safe. They may not have the luxury of time to save up, and today's interest rates are very small.

Supplemental insurance provides a safety net that helps in all three scenarios. It pays cash benefits directly to the insured when they deliver their baby. Plus, it may pay additional benefits in case of pregnancy complications, and multiple births that are born premature.

Couples with savings can be more aggressive with their nest eggs, those taking out loans can solve their income dilemma, and older couples can start more quickly with financing knowing that their downside it now covered. Rather than getting a measly 5% return on your money, supplemental insurance can return 300% for normal delivery - when the timing is right.

Whether you are looking for a comprehensive affordable Kentucky Health Plan to provide complete individual or family coverage or a short term affordable package of basic benefits, there is an affordable Kentucky individual health insurance plan available to meet your needs. The two biggest providers of coverage in the Bluegrass are Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana also called Humana One which offers several different options.

Anthem has one of the largest provider networks in Kentucky and offers discounts to customers who stay within the network to obtain healthcare. Anthem offers three basic types of coverage with a number of options under each of those umbrella plans. There is Anthem Lumenos HSA, Anthem SmartSense, and Anthem Premier. Premier offers the highest level of benefits for a wide variety of services. Anthem says this plan is best for "families or individuals looking for richer benefits." The Premier plan offers the most benefits before the deductible of any of the other plans. It also provides richer coverage for preventive care and prescription drugs.

If the Premier plan is too expensive or doesn't make sense for your families needs, SmartSense may work better. This Anthem plan offers more affordable premiums but still covers essential medical services plus wellness visits. However, SmartSense does not cover maternity benefits or many brand name drugs. Another affordable option from Anthem is Lumenos HAS. This plan offers traditional benefits coupled with a Health Savings Account to cover expenses that are not covered by the plan. Because of the HSA feature, deductibles under the Lumenos plan start much higher and begin at $1500 per individual.

Humana also offers three basic coverage plans in Kentucky: HumanaOne Portrait, HumanaOne Monogram and HumanaOne Autograph. Monogram provides the most basic coverage at the lowest premium. This plan provides protection from unforeseen medical emergencies but includes a high deductible to keep down the cost. The HumanaOne Autograph plan gives you more options of balancing the cost of the premium and coverage. It also includes up to 6 covered in-network office visits pre year. The plan with the most complete coverage and best benefits is HumanaOne Portrait. This has the highest premiums and will mirror the insurance coverage provided by most big employers.