Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

Can you pay your bills for sixteen weeks on $561 per week, before taxes? This is an important question to ask yourself if you work in New Jersey, and you are planning a pregnancy. New Jersey has some of the richest state mandated disability benefit programs for pregnancy and maternity leave. You are covered for four weeks before your delivery, and at least six weeks after you give birth. Plus, you get an additional six weeks to bond with your baby.

But not every couple can afford to miss almost four months of work with a significant pay cut. The NJ benefit represents a 50% pay cut for a woman making $58,000 per year. You can close the gap by purchasing supplemental short term disability insurance before getting pregnant.

NJ Temporary Disability Insurance

The New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance program mandates that people who work in the state for a private employer must be covered. The program replaces up to two thirds of your income, or $561 per week whichever is less.

For normal pregnancy, benefits are payable for up to four weeks prior to delivery and six weeks after delivery. You may additional benefits if your doctor certifies you are unable to work due to complications, Caesarian delivery, or because of a simultaneous disability.

New Jersey Paid Family Leave

The NJ Paid Family Leave provides an extension of the temporary disability benefits for up to an additional six weeks for you to bond with your newborn baby. It can be taken once your doctor certifies that you are able to return to work after your delivery.

Add the two together, and you get at least sixteen weeks of benefits. Your benefits may last longer if you experience complications, c-section delivery, or a sickness and/or injury.

So, back to our original question; can you afford to miss sixteen weeks with at least a one third pay cut or more? If your income is $43,758 per year or less, you get the one third pay cut. If your income is above that figure, you hit the $561 per week cap, and your pay cut will be much bigger.

Supplemental Short Term Disability

Purchase supplemental short term disability insurance before getting pregnant. Your benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium you pay, creating additional maternity leave income. Use this extra income to fill the hole in NJ's temporary disability program. Give yourself a bigger financial cushion so that you can enjoy each of your sixteen weeks away from work, without worrying about how to pay your bills.

You may experience also experience complications, or delivery by c-section. This means you will be away from work for more than sixteen weeks. In addition, you may have some unexpected medical bills. Your supplemental short term disability insurance will cover these events as well, helping you feel more secure. If you experience a difficult pregnancy, the last thing you want is financial stress.

All of the above make purchasing supplemental short term disability a smart thing to do. Get started before getting pregnant.

Anyone, anywhere, at any time can be prone to a life-threatening situation due to a hazard. It is extremely likely that with such a critical situation, will come monetary problems too. This is where insurance plans come into play.

Health insurance is extremely important for every person to shield themselves from hazards that can be extremely costly. Similarly, it is very important for each pregnant woman to get maternity insurance to secure her and her baby's life.

A good number of pregnant women avoid medical checkups due to the lack of finances. However, if they are insured, they can easily visit their gynecologists for regular checkups without losing a single penny from their pockets.

It is important for each pregnant woman to get a maternity card to avail great benefits. Some are mentioned below:

1. Regular Checkups
Pregnant women can visit the doctor regularly for a checkup when required.

2. The Hospital Stay
With the maternity card, you can get to stay at the hospital at extremely reduced prices. This makes your stay at the hospital easy and stress-free.

3. Checkups for your Baby
Once your baby arrives, you can get free checkups for him or her too. In addition, if there are any medical problems, the maternity card can be a blessing.

4. Prescription Medicines
Medicines and drugs cost a heavy amount without a prescription. If you are insured and have a maternity card, you can get prescription drugs at discounted prices and sometimes even free of cost.

5. Round the Clock Counseling
Women with maternity health insurance can get round the clock counseling during and after their pregnancy in case they need help with managing their activities and health with the baby.

6. Prenatal Vitamins
Your doctor can advise you the right prenatal vitamins during your pregnancy. This is great because you cannot be sure which one to take yourself since there may be health hazards attached to it.

7. Ultrasound
Usually, getting an ultra sound without insurance can be extremely painful for finances. However, with maternity health insurance, you get full maternity coverage. You can get a free sonogram during pregnancy to check on the movement of your baby and his or her growth.

Getting insurance during pregnancy has many more benefits for the entire family, especially for the mother-to-be. The mother does not get any nightmares when she needs to go for an ultrasound or get prescription medicines. Thanks to health insurance for pregnant women, the expectancy period becomes less stressful.

Having a baby can be an exciting time, but what happens if you're looking forward to the hospital / doctor bills, and you realize that you don't have insurance that is going to cover this. What many people find out is that just because you have insurance, it doesn't mean that you're going to be covered. Most insurance companies are going to put waiting periods on their plans. This will prevent you from getting pregnant, adding yourself and then taking yourself off.

What to do if you don't have insurance:

Check with the state - If you're below a certain income level, you will find that you may qualify for some sort of state aid. You will want to take with your state's health department to see what they can do for you. Again, you will have to meet certain requirements, in order to get approved for programs such as these.

Do cash discounts - If you don't have insurance, that's okay, but it's highly recommend you get it in the future, as it will save you $1,000s. What you will find out is that once your bills are all said and done, you can usually get a discount if you pay by cash, or a credit card over the phone.

Looking at the cost of a baby delivery:

What you're going to find out is that there are a few factors that you're going to have to consider, and I will talk about them below. Each one will heavily influence your final price.

How are you going to deliver? Is this going to be a vaginal birth, or will it be a cesarean section? If you choose to have the c-section, you're going to pay 2-3 times more, but of course, you can't help it if the doctor needs to do it at the hospital itself.

NICU - If your child has complications at birth, and you find your baby in the NICU, this can be awfully expensive without insurance. You will pay anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 a day, just to have your child there.

In the end, a natural delivery is going to cost around $8,000 - $15,000 if you have no complications. A c-section will cost around $11,000 to $25,000. Again, if your baby has complications, the bill can reach six figures in no time flat. Every bill will be different, but you will find that if you talk with a hospital, they will be able to help you with whatever pricing questions you may have.

Self employed benefits for maternity leave sounds like an oxymoron. How can a self employed person pay themselves for not working during maternity leave? Short term disability insurance can be used to create maternity leave income for self employed women planning a pregnancy. But you have to know when to start coverage, where to find the right policy, and a no longer secret tip in order to qualify.

Short Term Disability Insurance pays a benefit for your normal labor and delivery. The benefit you receive may greatly exceed the premium you pay, helping you to create maternity leave income. In addition, your policy may pay additional benefits in case of pregnancy complications, postpartum disorders, accidents, and illnesses. Buying short term disability insurance is one of the smartest moves any woman can make before getting pregnant.

When to Start

Your policy needs to begin before getting pregnant in order to qualify for the maternity leave benefit. Most policies contain nine month exclusion for normal delivery. Since many pregnancies do not go full term, start your policy several months before conception. That way if you deliver early, your normal delivery will fall comfortably outside the exclusion period. Your benefit will still greatly exceed your premium paid. Why jeopardize a sure thing?

You have to buy the right type of short term disability insurance, and this is the quandary faced by most self employed women. Short term disability programs sold direct to individuals do not provide the normal maternity leave benefit described above. Insurers realize that women planning a pregnancy will be eager to buy such policies, and that they will lose a significant sum on almost every policy sold to women in this life stage. So insurers only sell short term disability insurance with pregnancy benefits through groups. And that sums up the self-employed woman's dilemma: she does not qualify because she is not part of a group. She is a one person act.

Where to Find the Right Policy

A self-employed woman can obtain disability insurance sold only to groups by leveraging her affiliation with a larger entity. A significant portion of self-employed women are therapists: physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, etc. Many therapists work as independent contractors, or 1099 employees. They are paid by an agency, or other entity based upon the number of patients they treat, and the hour billed the patient.

The No Longer Secret Tip

Certain insurers will sell short term disability policies with pregnancy and maternity leave benefits to 1099 workers. If the agency agrees to take withhold money from contractor checks, and make the benefit available to all W2 and 1099 employees, then the insurer will be happy to issue policies to all qualified self employed workers.

Now self employed women who are planning a pregnancy can purchase short term disability insurance before getting pregnant, get coverage for pregnancy and maternity leave, and enjoy her time bonding with her baby, without worrying about how to pay her bills. Plus, she gets extra protection in case of complications, accidents and illnesses. All she has to do is ask her agency to take the money from her check, and send it to the insurer.

Humana is generally known for the group plans and broad coverage offered by employers. However, those who would like an individual or family plan can still get Humana insurance through Humana One. There are a variety of plans available, each of which are designed to meet the needs of individuals who do not receive health insurance through their employers. Options may be limited depending on the state, however. All plans are guaranteed to keep the same rate for the first twelve months and can be customized to meet individual needs.

Those who purchase Humana insurance through Humana One will be able to participate in their Choice Care Network of medical providers, hospitals, and pharmacies. Humana One is a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), meaning that participating doctors and medical services have contracted with Humana to provide their services at a set rate. Preferred Provider Networks differ from Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in that they are much less restrictive and do not require referrals.

If you wish to purchase Humana insurance through Humana One, there are several options from which to choose. Humana offers four types of plans, depending on your location. These include Copay plans, Health Savings Account plans, 100% after deductible plans, and short term medical plans. Copay plans will require a copay for in-network doctor's visits, and cover preventive exams and treatment. This type of plan is most similar to employer coverage. 100% after deductible plans will require you to pay the full deductible amount before receiving coverage; however, once you have paid the deductible all eligible treatments are completely covered.

This plan will allow you to choose from a variety of deductible amounts. Those who choose a Health Savings Account plan have the option of putting money into a Health Savings Account (HSA). Finally, if you are temporarily without insurance coverage, you might want to look at Humana One's Short Term Medical plans.

Any health insurer will have both advantages and disadvantages; Humana insurance is no exception. Although Humana has one of the largest medical networks, not all services are covered. One glaring exception is maternity coverage, which may not be available in every state. However, Humana's newest plans offer those without current insurance coverage the ability to customize their coverage. Most customers seem to be happy with the variety of plans available as well as the coverage they receive. If you do not have health insurance through your employer, check out Humana One.

Humana is on of the best carriers in the healthcare marketplace, if you need assistance in locating coverage from Human, please visit our website at http://www.health-insurance-buyer.com and leave your contact info so we can help you review some options.

Bringing a child into your life is a very important decision and only the couple can decide when the time is right for them to have the baby. Having a baby changes your life - as they say, your newborn becomes the centre of your universe. Like every responsible and caring parent, you'd want to give your baby the best and look after his or her needs. Clearly, it's a huge responsibility on your shoulders and many couples struggle with the pressures they have to cope when they have a new baby at home.

At times like these, you need to think about your future and start planning your finances way in advance so that you have some respite on that front. There are many who believe that financial planning for the newborn should start during the pregnancy itself and many couples have used this mantra to good effect.

Remember, financial planning for couples with a newborn is not as daunting as it might seem. There are a few simple tips that you can follow to ensure that you won't have to struggle with financial resources when bringing up your child. These will also help you get on with your own life without any major compromises.

Tips for Financial Planning For Couples with a Newborn

• The importance of saving early on cannot be stressed more! In fact, one would be better off by starting to save during planning for the baby's arrival. You can open a back account or start a fund that will look after all the emergency needs that you might have to deal with in the near future.


• You will need to start thinking about the medical expenses you are likely to incur too. Medical bills will have to be met not only during the pregnancy but for the first few years of your child's life as well. You will need to start including these expenses into the budget as well, so that you are not caught in a tight spot all of a sudden.


• This is the time you will need to look at your health insurance policy carefully as well. Some insurance policies will have certain clauses and terms that could be troublesome for you in the coming months. Hence sort out all the issues you might have with your policy in advance.


• Taking maternity leave during your pregnancy and for a few months afterwards is your right. But if you want to stay at home for the first few years of your child's life, you can consider options where you can work from home and ensure that you can maintain the lifestyle you are used to so far.


• In a bid to give their baby everything they can, many parents tend to go overboard when shopping for things. However, as they say, you always need less than you might think, for your baby. Making the most of baby stuff you get from your friends and family members will also help you save costs.


• Talk to relatives and friends who have had a child to understand what to expect in terms of medical expenses and other financial aspects during the first few years after your child's arrival.

Armed with information, research, planning and savings, you will be able to enjoy your little bundle of joy, without the hassle of having to worry about your finances!

Compression hose and stockings are technological innovations that improve circulation for pregnant women, diabetics, the elderly, and anyone in need of some support to keep the blood properly flowing.

The heart pumps approximately 100,000 heartbeats per day in order to send 6 quarts of blood through 100,000 miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries. However gravity, age, a slowed heart, or other health problems can cause blood to pool in the legs and lower feet. This leads to swelling and fatigue, or event to potentially more serious problems like blood clots.

Compression socks, such as Jobst support socks or varicose veins stockings, are made from a super-strong elastic material that fits very tightly at the feet and less tightly up by the knee. This change in pressure keeps the calf muscles constantly squeezed and stimulated, sending blood back to the heart and reducing swelling and the potential for forming clots. The socks in fact act as very strong synthetic calf muscles. Graduated pressure in the sock is the primary mechanism for increasing what's known as the body's "arterial pressure" and push blood back toward the heart.

The socks are made from a high-friction material that grips securely around the leg. Long compression stockings can sometimes bunch and buckle, but this can be addressed with a maternity belt or garter.

Compression stockings must be custom made so that the pressure from the sock is appropriately adjusted to individual needs. A physician or pharmacist first takes measurements at the top of the ankle, around the largest part of the calf, and just above the knee. Custom tailoring for compression socks does up the cost, although insurance will often cover compression socks and stockings.

If prescribed, compression socks are worn from waking through bedtime. The socks should be removed at night when the legs are elevated.

In fact, the benefits of compression socks can also be gained by keeping the lower limbs properly elevated. However, a tightly wound Ace bandage or other wrapping is no substitute for good compression hose. The pressure from the bandage is uneven and may actually aggravate pain and swelling.

There are many benefits to compression socks besides improved circulation. They also ease pain, provide comfort, and prevent swelling in legs and feet. The most firm socks are prescribed to patients with severe lymph edema, which causes major swelling and fluid retention in the legs and feet.

Compression socks were originally only prescribed to those with poor circulation but now many others find them helpful, such as passengers on long airplane rides or people with jobs that require them to stand in one place for many hours may also wear these socks. Compression socks are also used to speed post-surgical recovery for edema, venous ulcers, phlebitis, varicose veins, spider veins, and deep vein thrombosis. Others who might benefit from compression socks include obese individuals, those who have had a previous blood clot, those who have had a stroke, and those who are bed ridden. Compression socks are also used by athletes to increase their endurance, reduce lactic acid build-up, reduce cramping, and boost overall performance.

Are you looking for individual medical insurance coverage? If you are, you need to know that typically health insurance maternity coverage is not included automatically. If you are in the age range where you may need maternity coverage at some point in the future, you need to make sure that if you are getting an individual health insurance plan that you have a maternity rider attached to the plan. Many people assume that maternity benefits are automatic and they find out after it is too late to get it.

On an individual plan, if you are already pregnant at the time, you will more than likely have to wait until you have had your baby before you can get health insurance coverage. Most of the individual plans have a waiting period before they will cover a pregnancy also. You have to have the maternity rider in place, and then you may not have a pregnancy covered for the first 6 to 12 months.

The cost of most normal pregnancies is around $2500.00 including everything. If is when you get into cesarean section births and other complications with the mother and/or baby that the costs of maternity medical treatments can get into the thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you plan to have children in the future it is worth getting the extra health insurance maternity coverage just in case you happen to be one of the people who runs into a problem.

The rider necessary to add the coverage to an individual policy will add more to the premium you have to pay, but it will be worth it. No one knows how their pregnancy will go. The added premium is not going to be that much more. When you do not need the maternity coverage anymore, you can drop this coverage and lower your monthly premium.

Autoimmune disease and maternity leave pay share much in common. Autoimmunity is the leading cause of more than 100 chronic illnesses. These illnesses strike women 75% of the time. And of course pregnancy strikes women 100% of the time. For women who work and rely on their incomes, both conditions can cause a major disruption in family finances when worked is missed.

Autoimmune disease is the fourth leading cause of disability among women. There are approximately 30 million women living in the U.S. who may suffer from degenerate diseases such as arthritis, graves disease, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Pregnancy a Disability

Somewhat surprising for many people, pregnancy is the leading cause of disability among women. Even during a perfectly healthy pregnancy, the average recovery period after vaginal delivery is six-week, and eight weeks for a c-section delivery. Twenty five percent of pregnancies will experience one or more complications, requiring mom to miss time from work prior to delivery. After childbirth postpartum disorders such as bleeding and depression are quite common.

So what does this all have to do with maternity leave pay? Short term disability insurance is the common thread. When bought before conception, short term disability insurance will cover mom's maternity leave for a perfectly healthy pregnancy. It replaces up to two-thirds of income. It pays a six-week benefit for vaginal birth, and an eight week benefit for c-section delivery, less the elimination period. Plus, complications of pregnancy will be handled the same as any other covered sickness.

Autoimmunity Flairs Periodically

Autoimmune disease is unplanned. Nobody wants to spend a lifetime dealing with a chronic debilitating disease. But the impact to quality of life can't be avoided. And lost income may occur anytime the disease flairs. Many of these chronic conditions result in short periods of pain and discomfort, followed by periods of remission - allowing work and income to resume.

Pregnancy is often planned. Couples try to get pregnant. Many couples spend thousands of dollars trying to conceive. Short term disability insurance pays a benefit for normal pregnancy that may greatly exceed the premium paid in advance of childbirth. It allows women to purchase coverage that creates maternity leave pay. Disabilities resulting from an autoimmune disorder will also be covered at no additional cost.

Short Term Disability Fits Best

Because of the intermittent nature of flareups from chronic disorders, short term disability is a far better fit than long term disability or social security disability. If your condition flares and you miss three weeks of work, your short term disability policy will replace your income for two weeks if you have a one week elimination period. Long term disability and social security disability pay nothing. The elimination period for these programs is far too long.

Neither creates maternity leave income. Again the elimination period is far too long to cover most pregnancies. In a normal pregnancy, mom is able to return to work within six to eight weeks. Most long term plans have a three month elimination period. Social security begins paying after six months. Short term disability creates maternity income, and protects women in case of autoimmune disease.

"Pregnancy and Flying" is one of the major concerns of moms-to-be who love traveling. Is it really safe to fly while you're pregnant? In general, flying is almost always completely safe during pregnancy so there's no need for you to change your travel plans unless your health care provider tells you so. If you have a healthy pregnancy, you shouldn't have to worry about being in a flight. However, the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) recommends women not to fly anymore after their 36th week. The airline company usually sets its own flight restrictions and sometimes different rules apply for domestic and international flights.

Different airlines have varying policies regarding pregnancy and flying. Singapore Airlines and Virgin Blue can accept pregnant women up to their 35th week. If pregnancy is up to limiting dates, you should have a certificate of fitness for travel from your doctor. If one month has elapsed between booking and departure date, you need a new doctor's certificate. It must be issued no more than three days outside your departure date. Other airlines will not allow you to travel if you are just 30 days before your delivery date. Others are not too strict that they still let pregnant women to fly as long as your due date is not less than 7 days away. This is normally for domestic flights.

Make sure you talk to your ticket agent regarding pregnancy and flying and what certain rules apply to the airlines you choose. Don't forget to consider your due date when you choose the date that you will come back.

If you are having any sort of complications with your pregnancy, it is not advisable for you to travel. Women who have poorly controlled diabetes, sickle cell disease, placental abnormalities, hypertension are at risk for premature labor. Your doctor should be able to tell you whether it's perfectly safe for you to travel or not.

Businesses struggling in the current economic climate are seeking new ways to improve the bottom line, and group medical insurance is proving to be a beneficial tool for creating better business. From tax incentives to employee retention, offering group health insurance to employees can provide a win-win situation for both employer and employee.

Also known as an employer-sponsored health plan, group medical insurance is on the chopping block for many businesses that are trying to cut costs and keep their companies afloat. Because most Americans receives family health insurance coverage through an employer-sponsored group plan, the elimination of these health plans could result in major financial struggles for working Americans.

However, business owners who chose to keep a group medical insurance plan as part of their employee benefits package are discovering that it improves not only employee moral but also the bottom line. They are more likely to attract the best workers and are able to decrease employee turnover rates. As for improving business finances, group medical insurance plans pave the way for tax incentives.

Business owners who contribute to employee premiums or share costs with employees, can typically deduct 100% of premiums paid. In addition, it is possible to reduce payroll taxes when the medical insurance coverage is part of a total compensation package.

Having quality employees is vital to a good business, and providing group medical insurance is vital to obtaining and maintaining quality employees. Even if the business budget is tight, it is still possible to find an affordable medical insurance package that keeps employees happy, protected and performing well to benefit your business.

As an employer, you select a group health insurance plan and invite your employees to enroll. Typically, employers cover at least 50% of each employee's monthly premium, and can also contribute to dependent premiums. The remainder is paid for by the employee. If you want to provide health insurance benefits and you're able to contribute toward employee premiums, group health insurance is the way to go.

Compare all of the plans that are available to you before making your decision on which plan to go with. All of the top insurance companies in your area should offer you a good selection of plans. To compare plans from different insurance companies visit a website that can offer side-by-side comparisons and plan price quotes. Be sure to check that sites rating with a service such as the Better Business Bureau.

Planning a family is a thrilling and exciting time for any young couple. Choosing the perfect name, designing the nursery, and shopping for baby clothes are just a few of the things that a couple in the early stages of building a family must go through. But have you thought about maternity health insurance? If you are planning a pregnancy in the near future then you will need all-important healthcare coverage that comes with a maternity health insurance policy.

You can find the most competitive insurance quotes for pregnant women in your area by comparing prices from several different insurance providers. You choose the company that you want based on pricing and coverage.

NOTE: Keep in mind that most insurance companies do not offer maternity coverage to mothers who have already begun their pregnancy.

When shopping for your the policy, make sure that it includes the following coverage:

-Doctor's visits
-Hospital stays
-Ultrasound and sonogram exams
-Tests and lab work
-Vitamins and medicine for prenatal care
-Delivery (oftentimes the most costly aspect of a pregnancy)
-Options for coverage of any complications that can arise such as C-sections and premature birth)
-Anesthesia
-Check-ups for the newborn

Maternity Health Insurance Crucial To A Successful Delivery

Either that or some kind of healthcare coverage is necessary for a happy and healthy baby boy or girl. If you are already pregnant and need coverage then look into the numerous options of government and state funded agencies designed to help expectant mothers get the healthcare coverage they're entitled to. But if you are planning a pregnancy then talk to an insurance agent about customizing your insurance policy today.

When you become self-employed, your business becomes your responsibility and its failure or success rests with you. When you've been used to being an employee, the mental shift in becoming a business owner can be therefore be quite overwhelming. As well as bringing in fee-paying work, you have to also be the managing director, the marketing director, the administrator, the IT expert, the graphic designer and the person who makes the coffee. One way to lessen the load is to learn how to outsource.

You probably started a business because you're good at offering a service or a product or you spotted a gap in the market. You probably didn't start a business because you have a burning desire to spend hours doing paperwork! Why not free up your precious time so you can spend it actually making some money, by delegating the everyday running of your business to a trusted assistant?

You won't have to worry about providing a desk, or any office equipment, or training or even tea or coffee! Unlike office-based secretaries or temporary workers, virtual assistants work from their own well-equipped home offices. If using technology isn't your strong point, there's no need to worry: a good VA will be up to speed on the latest equipment and software, and how best to use it. You won't have to worry about, bureaucratic red tape and employment law issues. Nor will you have to pay your assistant's National Insurance contributions, sick pay, holiday pay or maternity pay. Even if you only want a one-off project completed, most VAs will be able to work ad-hoc hours and charge you accordingly - there's no need to get tied into a monthly retainer contract if you only want a few hours of office support.

Not sure whether a virtual assistant would be able to help you? VAs provide a plethora of services, many of which are included in the list below:

Typing and transcription

Word processing

Creating and formatting

Excel spreadsheets

Desktop publishing

Scanning documents

Diary management

Making and receiving calls

Making and receiving telephone and internet bookings

Mail merges and mail-shots

Database management

Content creation and management

Copywriting and copyediting

Proof reading and editing

Email marketing and newsletter creation

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Blogging

Article writing

Website design and management

Social media management

Book keeping and accounting

Online marketing

Setting up and maintaining affiliate schemes

When you find a VA who's a good 'fit' for your business, you will be able to have the same person working with you on different projects and who gets to know their business as well as you do. Your virtual assistant has a vested interest in helping you become successful: the more work you get, the more work your VA gets!

If you work in a sedentary occupation and are young and healthy, insurance and especially disability insurance is probably not at the top of your list of things to investigate. Would you be able to pay your bills should you be out of work for 90 days? Most people look at the odds of something happening to them and discount themselves as part of the statistics but at least 30% of people 35-65 suffer a disability lasting 90 days. It could be broken bones from any number of accidents or a problem pregnancy or any of many possibilities.

Disability Insurance was created with the intention of replacing approximately 45-60% of your gross income tax free should you become sick or ill enough that it prevents you from working and earning a living in your occupation. Most Disability insurance is geared toward white collar occupations. Blue/Gray collar disability insurance is available through some insurance carriers. If you are a fireman, policeman or a roofer or any the other occupations considered blue collar you will need to do more research for basic information beyond this site.

Different insurance companies offer disability insurance policies but they are not the same. Do not assume they are and go for the lowest cost. Do not buy the cheapest disability insurance policy you find. Doing this would lower your odds of getting paid a monthly benefit and the benefits could be significantly lower than what you would receive from a better contract. If you are in the initial stages of investigation of such policies know that they are not easy to shop and just compare prices, you need to compare the following to truly get what you need.

Disability insurance policies have a definition of total disability written in the policy. You should understand this before you buy. There are three basic types of policies.

* Own Occupation - "Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation." If you are not severely disabled and you can do work in some other occupation you will still be considered totally disabled in your own occupation but you will not be penalized while on claim for working in another occupation.

* Modified own occupation (Income Replacement Insurance) - This is the most common definition in the industry today. "Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation, and are NOT engaged in any other occupation." In other words if you go back to work in some other capacity you will be penalized during a claim. The insurance company MAY offset your monthly benefit check.

* Gainful Occupation - This is the common definition for a policy written for an employer sponsored group.

"Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation, or any occupation for which you are deemed qualified." This definition leaves the determination of your disability up to the insurance company. It is not clear what would happen should you become disabled. Avoid this type of policy if you are buying disability insurance on your own. If you receive it through your employer look into supplementing it with a better policy.

Renewability is another aspect that you should understand when buying a disability policy. Review the following three types available.

* Non-Cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable - Guarantees that after purchasing this policy they will not change your premium schedule, your monthly benefits or your policy benefits to age 65 or whatever age you agreed to. Even if your income goes down later in life and you become totally disabled the insurance company will pay you the total disability benefit you originally placed in force. Even if you changed jobs from a white collar to a more risky occupation later on. As long as you kept your policy in force they can not change anything. This is the best and really only way to go. Make sure the exact words "Non-Cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable" are written into the policy.

* Guaranteed Renewable - This guarantees that they will probably not change anything about the policy, but they can. They can change the policy year, occupation class and the premium with approval from the state. Be very careful of this type of policy.

* Conditionally Renewable - You get no guarantees with this type of policy. Different companies may offer you different conditions for you to renew each year and these conditions may be very hard to meet. Avoid this completely.

Many disability claims involve a residual claim. This means a person can still perform the duties of their occupation but they have a loss of income of at least 20% or they have suffered what is called a loss of time and duties. On a loss of time and duties claim they normally stop paying a residual claim once you are back at work full time. But, your income may not be back to what it was before you were disabled. A residual provision based on loss of income would appear to protect you for an unlimited amount of recovery time. The loss of time and duties portion of a policy may have a recovery benefit portion but may only pay out for a limited time. A person may be residually disabled longer than totally disabled.

Presumptive disability protects against drastic disabilities that occur. Presumptive disability varies. This covers for loss of sight, hearing, speech, and limbs. This coverage is built into most contracts but not all. The wording maybe different and they use words like, Total, Irrecoverable and Permanent. An irrecoverable loss or disability is permanent and that is what they will pay on. Total loss means if you have a total loss and it is permanent it covers you. Total loss also covers broken bones and temporary loses of sight, hearing, and speech etc. Make sure you understand their meaning.

Recurrent disability is where you recover from one disability and then another one pops up. There is what the insurance industry calls an "elimination period". The time you wait between the onset of a disability and when you are eligible to collect benefits. Most policies are for 90 days. Recurrent disabilities should have no elimination period. Look for a policy that has at least a 12 month recurrent clause in case some new problem shows up. Make sure your elimination period can be satisfied with either a total disability or a residual. Policies that have an elimination period just for total disability or with just consecutive days of disability are not good.

Be sure to find out how long disability benefits will be paid. This benefit period is from the time you are eligible to collect benefits while on a claim and when you go back to work or if you are permanently disabled it would pay the claim until the "To Age 65" or whatever the age or time frame stated on your insurance policy. To age 65 is the most popular and most disabilities last a little over 3 years.

There are optional riders you can add to a base policy for additional protection. They may include a Cost of Living Adjustment, Automatic increase rider and other options. There are also exclusions that your insurance agent should discuss with you.

For more information and tips please visit www.WatchYourWealth.com

When setting up a business, it is important to know what records and accounts you need to keep from the very beginning. Starting up any business and dealing with the practicalities makes for a busy time, but neglecting your records can be costly and time-consuming. In the long run, staying on top of your records will ultimately help you to: keep track of your finances and cash flow; avoid penalties; hold accurate information about your business; plan for your business' future.

The records you need to keep will depend on the type and size of your business, however all businesses must follow basic bookkeeping procedures.

All businesses

All businesses need to keep track of two areas: incomings and outgoings. For incomings, you will need to keep hold of any accounting records, till rolls, paying-in slips, sales invoices and bank statements acquired. Important outgoings records will be: receipts, cheque book records, purchase invoices and bank or credit card statements. These are basic essentials which any business must take care to record properly and keep safe.

Limited companies

If you are a starting up as a limited company (i.e not a sole trade), there are further records to keep. All limited companies must keep the following: dividend allocations and payments; articles of association; details of company share ownership.

Any company which is registered limited must also complete and return a number of documents each year. These include: Company Tax Return (with form CT600); statutory accounts; Corporation Tax; return to Companies House; a signed set of accounts to Companies House.

Depending on the nature of your company, there are number of other records which you may have, such as a register of members or directors.

Employers

All businesses employing workers will need to organise their documentation relating to employee payment. This is very important as it ensures that you are paying the right amount to your employees and allows you to keep track of these expenses. You are required by law to keep the following PAYE records: payments to employees; National Insurance, Tax and Student Loan payment deductions from wages; benefits and expenses paid to employees; statutory payments (sick or maternity leave).

VAT

All VAT registered businesses are required by law to keep the following records for at least 6 years: VAT sales and purchase invoices; a VAT account; all export and import documents.

VAT registered business will need to complete and return a VAT return form every quarter (4 times a year). This will include details of the following: what you owe or are owed by HMRC; what you have paid any supplier; what you have charged any customers.

Whatever kind of business you are setting up, getting to grips early on with your records can ensure that your first year of trade runs as smoothly as possible. With modern computing and accessible data programmes, it is easier than ever to produce a bookkeeping system which works for you and your business.

What does a health insurance policy not cover i.e exclude?

The moment of truth in an insurance policy is at the time when a claim arises. One of the most common reasons for a health insurance claim not being paid by an insurance company is when they say that the particular disease is not covered by the policy and is an "exclusion". It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the policyholder and can sometimes put the policyholder in great financial difficulty. Thus, it is very important to know in detail about the exclusions in a health insurance policy before purchasing it. In our opinion, it is a far more important variable than price. A policy might be 10% cheaper than a competitor's policy but might have many more exclusion clauses-in such a case, the policy with the lesser number of exclusion clauses would be the better choice for the policyholder.

In this article, we deal with some of the common exclusion clauses in a health insurance policy. Of late, we are seeing some innovation in this area with the new companies not excluding certain ailments which had traditionally been within the exclusions area

1. Maternity: In most cases, maternity and maternity related expenses are not covered in an individual or family floater health insurance policy. Maternity is typically covered in a group policy. In certain cases, we are seeing maternity being covered after 5 years into the policy.


2. Diseases or illness contracted within the first 30 days of the policy. The insurance company does this to safeguard itself against customers buying a policy immediately after a disease has been detected


3. Cataract, Prostrate, Hernia, Piles, fistula, gout, rheumatism, kidney stones, tonsils and sinus related disorders, congenital disorders, drug addictions, non allopathic/alternate treatments, self inflicted injuries, hysterectomy, fertility related treatments, etc are normally not covered under a health insurance policy. Dental treatment and cosmetic surgery is also typically excluded. Contact lenses cost is also not covered. HIV/AIDS is excluded, which has been a subject of great debate and criticism in the last few weeks. Some insurance companies do not cover treatment incurred outside the country, so you should check once before buying the policy


4. Pre existing diseases are not covered in a health insurance policy. Preexisting means a disease that you have had prior to joining a health insurance policy. The policyholder may or may not have been aware of the pre-existing disease. Further complications which arise due to the preexisting disease are also not covered. For example, renal problems which arise due to a person having diabetes at the start of the policy would not be covered. This can sometimes lead to a lot of confusion and heartburn. Someone gets admitted for a kidney related treatment, and the insurance company turns down the claim saying the kidney problem has arisen because the patient had diabetes, and rejects the claim. It can get a little grey here as medical science cannot sometimes clearly pinpoint the root cause of a particular disease outbreak. In most cases, preexisting diseases are covered after 3 or 4 consecutive policy years. This is the single biggest reason why one should buy a health insurance policy at a young age, and continue with the same insurer. Because if you shift to a new insurer, you lose your previous credit and a disease that was being covered by the old insurer might be treated as a pre-existing disease by the new insurer. We have noticed that insurance companies start facing more claims from the health insurance customers from their 4th or 5th policy year, as pre existing begins to get covered and the profitability of the portfolio goes down


5. Most policies do not cover day care, but a few like Max Bupa cover daycare, although the premium is higher in this case


6. War related health insurance claims are mostly excluded from the policy coverage


7. Abortion related health expenses are not covered in a health insurance policy

Pl do note that with competition heating up, some of the exclusions mentioned above will begin to get covered by a company or two so that it can be used as a selling point. Thus, the lists mentioned above are subject to change. The moot point here is that 10 minutes spent to read the exclusions list of the policy you are considering to buy could save you a lot of headache buyer. Be an informed buyer- there will be no else to blame but yourself.

HRM strives to achieve organizational goals and the goals of employees through effective personnel programs policies and procedures. Successful performances of the personnel function can greatly enhance the bottom line of any organization. The personnel practitioners however are challenged more today than at any time in the history by a changing and more demanding labor force that has high expectation about the work place. At the same time, rapidly advancing technologies and outside influences are changing the nature of our jobs. It is thus more critical and more difficult to maintain a work environment that motivates and satisfies Human Resources.
 
Edward flippo states: "personnel management is the planning, organizing, directing and controlling of the procurement, development compensation, integration, maintenance and separation of human resources to the end that individual, organizational and societal objectives are accomplished."
 
According to Wayne. F. Cascio "Compensation which includes direct cash payment, indirect payments in the form of employee benefits and incentives to motivate employees to strive for higher levels of productivity is a critical component of the employment relationship. Compensation affected by forces as diverse as labor market factors. Collective bargaining, government legislation and top management philosophy regarding pay and benefits"     

Compensation may be defined as money received for the performance of work plus many kind of benefits and services that organizations provide their employee.

Compensation is recompense, reward, wage or salary given by an organization to persons or a group of persons in return to a work done, services rendered, or a contribution made towards the accomplishment of organizational goals. Wage, dearness allowance, bonus and other allowance are examples of monetary compensation, while good accommodation, children education, transport facilities, subsidized ration of essential commodities, etc. come under non-monetary compensation. In short, wage paid to collar workers or salaries paid to white collar employee can be classified as compensation.

A good compensation package is a good motivator. Hence, the primary responsibility of the HR manager is to ensure that the company's employees are well paid.

OBJECTIVES OF COMPENSATION:

To attract capable applicants. To retain current employee so that they don't quit. The employee is motivated for better performance. Reward desired behavior. To ensure equity. To control cost.Facilitate easy understanding by all i.e. employee operating manager and HR personnel

BASIC COMPENSATION
 
WAGE:
The remuneration paid, for the service of labour in production, periodically to an employee/worker. Wages means any economic compensation paid by the employer under some contract to his workers for the services rendered by them. Usually refer to the hourly rate paid to such groups as production and maintenance employees' wages include family allowance, relief, pay, financial support etc.

SALARY:
Salary is influenced by the size of a company by the specific industry, and in part by the contribution of the incumbent to the process of decision-making. Salary refers to the weekly or monthly rates paid to clerical, administrative and professional employees. Salary is determined by mutual agreement between the individual and the employer.

INCENTIVE:
An incentive scheme is a plan or programs to motivate industries or group performance. An incentive program is most frequently built on monetary, but may also include a variety of non- monetary rewards or prizes.

DETERMINATS
The effective use of incentives depends on three variables. They are:
1. The individual.
2. The work situation.
3. The incentive plan.

Factors influencing compensation:
1. Organization's capacity to pay
2. Prevailing pay and benefits in the industry:
3. Compensation in the industry and availability of special competent personnel
4. Flexibility, i.e. kind of competencies and abilities in managers:
5. Performance/productivity/responsibilities of individual.
6. Organization philosophy such as to be leader or pay prevailing rates.
7. Qualifications and relevant experience.
8. Stability of employment and advancement opportunities.  
 
"Compensation literally means to counterbalance to offset, and to make up for. It implies an exchange. Compensation translates into different meaning among countries and even overtime".

Society View:
According to G.T Milkovich and bloom "perception of compensation differ within countries as well. Some in society may see pay difference as a measure of justice.
 
Stockholder View:
To stockholder, executive's pay is of special interest. In united state stock option are commonly believed to tie pay of executives to the financing performance of the company.
 
Employees:
Employee may see compensation as an exchange of service rendered or as a reward for a job well done. Compensation to some reflects the value for their personal skills and abilities, or the return for the education training they have acquired. The pay individual receive for the work they perform is usually the major source of personal income and financial security and hence a vital determinants of an individual economic and social well being.
 
Managers:
Managers also have a stake in compensation: it directly influences their success in two ways. First it is a major expense competitive pressure both internationally and domestically, forces managers to consider the affordability of their compensation decisions. Studies show that many enterprises labor costs account for more than 50% of total costs. Among some industries, such as service or public employment, this figure is even higher.

In addition to treating pay as an expense, a manager also treats compensation as a possible influence on employee work attitude and behavior and their organization performance. The way the people are paid affects the quality of their work, their focus on customer needs, and their willingness to be flexible and learn new skills, to suggest innovation and improvement, and even their interest in union or legal action against their employer. 
 
FORMS OF PAY

Total compensation includes pay received directly as cash (e.g., base wage, merit increases, incentives, and cost of living adjustment) or indirectly through benefits and services (e.g., pensions, health insurance, paid time off). Programs that distribute compensation to employees can be designed in an unlimited number of ways, and a single employer typically uses more than one program. The major categories of compensation include base wage, merit pay, short and long term incentives, and employee benefits and services.

Base wage
Base wage is the basic cash compensation that an employer pays for the work performed. Base wage tends to reflect the value of the work or skills and generally ignores difference attributable to individual employees. Some pay systems set base wage as a function of the skill or education an employee possesses; this is common for engineers and scientists. Periodic adjustments to base wages may be made on the basis of change in the overall cost of living or inflation, changes in what other employers are paying for the same work, or changes in experience/ performance/ skills of employees.

Incentives
Incentives also tie pay directly to performance. Sometimes referred to as variable compensation, incentives may be long or short term, and can be tied to the performance of an individual employee, a team of employees, combination of individuals, team of employees, a total business unit, or some combination of individuals, teamed unit. Performance objectives may be defined as cost savings, volume produced, quality standards met, revenues, return on investments or increased profits; the possibilities are endless.   

Long-term incentives are intended to focus employee efforts on multi year result. Top managers or professionals are often offered stock ownership or bonuses to focus on long-term organizational objectives such return on investments, market share, return on net assets and the like. Coca-Cola grants shares of stock to selected "key contributors" who make outstanding contribution to the firm's success. Microsoft, Pepsi, Wal Mart and Proctor & Gamble offer stock options to all their employees. These companies believe that having a stake in the company supports a culture of ownership. Employees will behave like owners. 

Incentives and merit pay differs. Although both may influence performance, incentives do so by offering pay to influence future behavior. Merit on the other hand, recognizes outstanding past performance. The distinction is a matter of timing. Incentives systems are offered prior to the actual performance; merit pay on the other hand, typically is not communicated beforehand. 

The national commission on labor makes the following recommendation with respect to incentives:

(a) The application of incentives schemes has usually to be selected and restricted to industries and occupations where it is possible to measure on an agreed basis, the output of workers or a group of concerned workers and maintain a substantial amount of control over its quality.

(b) Incentive schemes have to embrace as many employees of an enterprise as possible and need not be limited only to operative or direct workers.

(c) A careful selection of occupations should be made for launching incentives scheme with the help of work-study teams commanding the confidence of both the employer and employees. The incentive scheme is required to be simple so that the workers are able to understand its full implications. The employers need to ensure that external factors such as non-availability of raw material and components, transport difficulties and accumulation of stock do not exert an unfavorable impact on incentive schemes.
 
(d)   Production has to be organized in such a way, which does not provide incentive wage on one day, and unemployment on the other day- there should be a provision of the fullback wage as a safeguard against it.

(e)    According to Subramaniam, there are several prerequisites to the effective installation and operation of payment system:

a.) It should be developed and introduced with the involvement of the workers concerned in a harmonious climate of industrial relations.
b) Work-study precedes the installation of incentive programs.
c) The wage structure should be rationalized on the basis of job evaluation before devising an incentive plan.
d) The objective to be accomplished through incentives should be defined and accordingly, an attempt should be made to select a scheme, which is most suitable to accomplish them.

BENEFITS & SERVICES

The fringe benefit systems purported to develop a climate for healthy employer-employee relationship, minimize excessive labor turnover costs and provide a feeling of individual security against hazards and problems of life with a view to eventually enhancing employee loyalty to the company and improving productivity.

M.Chandra lucidly describes fringe benefits provided by the employers to their employees under the statutory provision or on a voluntary basis. The social services provided under the factories Act, 1948, in the manufacturing industries include canteen, rest shelters, cr癡che , storage or lockers, sitting arrangement, bathing and washing facilities and appointment of welfare officers, etc. other benefits include festival, year-end profit sharing, attendance and production bonuses, protective equipment's, free supply of food items on concessional rates. Social security system provides benefits such as provident fund, employees state insurance (ESI) scheme, retrenchment compensation, employment injury compensation, maternity benefits, gratuity, pension, dependent allowance and contribution toward pension and gratuity claims.

In addition, other facilities enjoyed by the workers include medical and health care, restaurants, cooperative credit societies and consumer stores, company housing, house rent allowance. Recreational and cultural services, clubs, cash assistance. Some employers also provide education, transport facilities and conveyance allowance.

Laxmi Narain points that fringe benefits are an integral part of the reward system in the public sector undertaking and relate to management motivation similar to basic compensation.

Many women have asked about whether there is such a thing as unemployment insurance for maternity leave. In order to get the details, it is best to discuss what unemployment insurance fund is first. When a worker becomes unemployed or is not able to secure a job because of illness or maternity leave, he can avail of the financial aid offered by the unemployment insurance fund, or UIF for short. It can also cover the dependents of the contributing worker if he has passed away. If an employee, excluding public servants, works for over 24 hours within each month, he or she is required to contribute to the UIF. The worker is required to pay 1 percent of his or her salary each month, and the employer will contribute an additional 1 percent. The employer is accountable for the salary deduction which is channelled to the worker's contribution to the fund.

Furthermore, it is the employer's obligation to ensure that all of his or her employees have officially signed up with the UIF, whether they are natives or foreigners of the area. When a worker who contributes to the UIF loses his or her job or is unable to work, he can claim their benefits from the fund. It covers for Unemployment, Maternity, Adoption, Illness, and Death.

A) Unemployment Benefits

If you have been retrenched or dismissed from the job or if your contract has expired, then you as a contributing member can avail of the benefits. However, if you have resigned of your own accord then you are exempted from the coverage.

B) Maternity Benefits

If you are pregnant and have to take a maternity leave, then the UIF can cover for you. You can avail of maternity leave whenever you want from 4 weeks before you are expecting and you can choose not to go back to work for six weeks after you have given birth.

C) Adoption Benefits

UIF can be applied to one who adopt a child whoever are not exceed two years old, and he or she must take a leave to take care of him or her. However, only one of the parents who are adopting will be able to apply for coverage.

D) Illness Benefits

If you are unable to work due to illness for two weeks, then you can be covered with the UIF starting from the date which you have been off of your job.

E) Death Benefits

If a contributing worker has died, the spouse or the child of minor age can be covered with the unemployment insurance fund.

The UIF will cover a percentage of the salary that the contributing worker earned while they were with the fund. The biggest number that can be claimed would be 58 percent of what the worker's daily income. A worker who has been a UIF contributor for over four years can claim coverage to a maximum of 238 days. For those who have been contributors for less than that time, he or she can claim one day every six days that they worked while they were UIF contributors. The unemployment insurance for maternity leave allows the woman to claim to a maximum of 121 days. If you gave used up the coverage but still unable to secure a job or are ill, then there you may apply to get an extension of the UIF benefits. Make sure to prepare for all of the paperwork and other requirements before you apply to claim the benefits from the unemployment insurance for maternity leave, unemployment, illness, adoption or death.

The last thing you want to worry about when you go into labor, is trying to figure out what items you need to put in your hospital bag and trying to hunt them down before dashing to the hospital. Ideally you should have your hospital bag packed and waiting by the door by at least 2 weeks before your due date. That way, when the time is right, you can grab your bag and go without any last minute delays or worries.

It is useful to have 2 bags for yourself: one for labor and one for your hospital stay afterwards including your baby item essentials. It is also helpful to have your labor partner pack a bag in advance for themselves and some helpful labor items.

Labor Bag for you:

- Your Birth Plan, if you have one.

- Maternity Bathrobe. This is particularly useful for early stages of labor as you may need to walk around the hospital to progress labor. After the baby you will also need some sort of cover up to a nightgown, particularly if it's the hospital excuse for a nightgown, when you need to walk the corridors.
- Slippers and socks
- A clean nursing top or front-opening nursing nightgown if you prefer to bring your own
- Drinks and snacks and breath mints
- A straw, which will make sipping liquids easier.
- Toiletries (hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, facial cream)
- Lip moisturizer
- Massage oils or lotions
- Eyeglasses (if needed)
- Cell phone and list of important numbers
- Magazines, music, word puzzles. Fun light reading to pass the time. Don't bring heavy involved reading or work from the office! You are looking for fun and mindless distraction to pass the time. Remember, you will be productive enough in a few hours to make up for any unproductive activities during your labor waiting period!
- Maternity pads (nighttime sanitary pads), and spare maternity underwear.
- Nursing bras. If you plan to wear a bra during labor, it is helpful to have a nursing bra on already if you plan to nurse your baby. Usually you will be allowed to nurse right away after birth. Make sure you wear a very comfortable fitting nursing bra, not one with underwires.

For Labor Partner:
Watch with a second hand to time contractions
- Camera/video camera if you want it and film/tape if needed
- Snacks, reading material
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste..)
- Change of clothes, particularly if they will be staying with you at the hospital for several days after the baby.
- Cell phone/phone card
- List of important numbers
- Dollar Bills for vending machine
- Water Spray/Mister for gentle cool-downs during labor.
- Tennis balls for back massage

Hospital Bag for your Postpartum Use:
Front opening nursing nightie
- Comfy clothes to wear for leaving the hospital. Remember you are not going to be able to wear non-maternity clothes a few days after having your baby! So bring comfortable maternity clothing or transitional clothing. Also, if you have a C-section, the last thing you will want is any pressure on your tummy. A comfortable cotton elastic waistband that fits below the belly or that is designed to fold down bellow the belly for comfort is best.
- Easy fitting footwear
- Change of underwear and maternity pads for heavy bleeding after birth
- Nursing Bras (at least 2). Make sure these are easy fitting nursing bras that do not have underwire. Wear a nursing bra with plenty of room and stretch as you breasts may increase up to a cup in size when you milk comes in.
- Personal music player and headphones
- Magazines and easy reading material. You will be too tired for any heavy reading!

Hospital Bag for Baby:

Last but certainly not least you will want to pack a few things for the new baby:

-Properly installed infant car seat. This is a must if you want to take your baby home with you! Make sure you have your car seat professionally installed several weeks before you go to the hospital. Any fire station can install your car seat for you. An alarming number of car seats are not properly installed by parents.
- Newborn diapers
- Infant hat
- Receiving blankets
- Newborn sleeper or outfits
- Socks/booties

If you have all of these essentials ready to go in advance, you can have peace of mind that you are well prepared when the time comes to have your baby!

"You will never be able to have a baby, if you get pregnant it will kill you", thus were the words of doom uttered from my shoots straight surgeon. I looked to my left hand and pushed the button, the button to my morphine drip. The morphine that I thought could shut her up. Push the button and the horror of what my surgeon just said to me would be reduced to Never, Never land. What the hell was she thinking? What the hell was she saying? Where the hell am I?

The answers to my desperate questions came in multiple conversations with my mother, my boyfriend, my doctor. I had just lost my baby. How can you lose a baby that you never held? How can you rectify the dreams you had yesterday with the realities of now? Instead of planning for a baby shower, I would be bed ridden for weeks, and heartbroken with nightmares of a beautiful baby girl crying. To this day, I believe my baby was a girl. Although, I will never really know the truth of this little one's sex.

About a month prior to my hand on the morphine drip, I was in love, happy and using birth control. The first sign that something was amiss was the sudden, intense pain in my stomach. Bam, it would hit me, and for about ten minutes or so, I thought I was dying. Now, keep in mind I am prone to hypochondriac symptoms, thus the remarks of impending death. However, the pain would leave, and I would go about my merry way. Then my period started, so any worries of being pregnant vanished.

Nevertheless, the pain did not. It got so bad that one night I called my mother and explained to her what I was going through, she said to call 911. Therefore, like any dutiful daughter, I called. When the paramedics came, I was painless. My predicament, how to explain to these two men that I was not crying wolf, that I had most certainly been in sever pain. I could not explain why it was no longer ripping me apart. Forward to my ER visit, once escorted by the two doubtful paramedics, right into the arms of a very doubtful P.A. I kid you not, he said to me after I explained where the pain was, that "there is nothing there that would cause that kind of pain". So once, I got my pat on the head, and a request for my insurance card, off I was back to my oblivion of what was actually going on in my body.

The next day I bought a home pregnancy test. I sat on my toilet and read the instructions. Peed, and waited. "Oh my God, it's pink, the line is pink", I screamed. I was alone, and sat there, and let the news reverberate throughout my circulatory system. I was going to have a baby. I had to tell my love, tell him we were going to have a baby. I called him at work (I could not wait...not the most opportune time) but what can I say, I was a new expectant mother. He was quite surprised, because we used birth control, but said I will be home as soon as possible. Therefore, that night we sat stunned, planned, and accepted. The next day I went to Planned Parenthood (to this day, I do not know why I did this; I had medical insurance and a doctor). I took the urine test, and it came out negative. I asked the technician, was she sure that I was not pregnant; she said there was no doubt I was not. O.k., forward to the next morning, my period started. Therefore, that was that. No baby.

A week later, I was at work, stopped at a convenience store, walked in and the pain hit me so hard, I crashed to the floor. The proprietor of the store rushed to me, and got me into a chair. He asked if he should call 911. I said no, that I would be o.k. I got in my truck, put her in reverse, and the pain hit again, I ran right into the yellow pole. The yellow pole that is there to prevent people from backing into the house next door. Thank goodness for that yellow pole. "That's it", I said to myself. I went to a friend's house, she called my OB/GYN, made an emergency appointment for me, and then I went home to suffer until the appointment. I called my boyfriend and said that I was in trouble and could he meet me at the doctor's office.

After my doctor gave me a pregnancy test and it came out negative, she sat down to give me the "talk". It could be a sexually transmitted disease, such as Chlamydia. I remember thinking to myself, what the hell has my boyfriend been doing, or better yet, who? I know, not nice. Not nice to come to such quick judgment of the man that I loved. However, I knew that I had just been with him. Then the strangest thing happened, and my world imploded within ten or fifteen minutes. My doctor came back with that same pregnancy test and said it was positive. She then went on to explain that I would need to get to the hospital as quickly as possible for an ultrasound. My boyfriend picked me up and took me to the waiting room at the hospital that was ripe with happy, glowing pregnant woman. We sat there. I remember feeling nothing. I suppose I was numb and scared. I did not know at that moment what was wrong with me.

Forward to me laying on the table and the ultrasound technician is rubbing the hand held device on my stomach looking for the cause of all this trouble. Next thing I know she is screaming for assistance. That is where I black out. That is when my world changed, my first real experience with severe loss. My tube has ruptured and I was being rushed to emergency surgery. I remember waking up for a moment being rushed on a stretcher with my boyfriend at my side saying that he loved me and that everything was going to be o.k.

No, everything was not o.k. I woke up to the words I mentioned at the beginning of this article. I was twenty-two years old and barren. Better yet, not barren but I would be responsible for killing myself if I got pregnant again. The story goes like this; I was pregnant with an ectopic pregnancy and had been bleeding internally for over two weeks. My surgeon said that I was lucky to be alive. That if I would not have called her that day, I would have been dead that night. See, here is the real kicker; part of me did die that night. I lost my child, and the dreams I had of her for one precious day. One day where I planned her life, her clothes, her nursery, her smile, her little digits.

Now, many years have passed since I lost my baby. I have not had any children. Perhaps out of fear that it will kill me. I have since educated myself on what a cauterized fallopian tube is, and that many women have had successful pregnancies with just one tube. However, the words still ring in my ears and in my heart. I suppose it may not make sense to most people, but I also feel as if I would be betraying my baby by moving on, and having children.

For those who have experienced a situation like mine, I am sure you know what it is like not to be able to have a funeral for your lost child. I think finding closure when it comes to an ectopic pregnancy is the most difficult pill to swallow. It is imperative to find a way to come to grips with this type of loss. I suggest finding a way to have your idea of a funeral anyway. Thanks to my mother, we had a small ceremony to help me with moving on. Since this, I have lost my mother as well. One thing that I find comfort in, is knowing that my baby is with her grandmother. I am not the most spiritual of women, yet I believe this with all of my heart.