Take Charge of Your Health Care - May 25, 2008

Welcome to the May 25, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. Beginning with next month’s Carnival, this carnival will be hosted at my http://www.healthplansplus.blogspot.com/ blog. This blog has a page rank of 3 on Google and enjoys some exposure.

Here in the United States, the summer season officially begins with Memorial Day which is being celebrated Monday, May 26th. As we gather here in the States for picnics and outdoor activities, let us not forget the sacrifices that are being made all across the world by soldiers of free countries to protect our citizens’ rights. Although I, along with most of my readers, strongly disagree with the situation that was created in Iraq, we must still honor our soldiers for the duty that they carry out on a daily basis to protect our country.

Now that the summer season has begun in the Northern hemisphere, it is especially important to pay attention to health and safety. Protect your food supplies in the summer heat and during outdoor activities, be careful not to expose your skin to excessive sunlight, and give special attention to swimming pool safety. With the emphasis on outdoor activities during these summer months, I have added a new topic: Health and the Environment.

Health Insurance

Vera Lang presents

Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Alternative Medicine posted at Be Safe Insure .com, saying, "Health Savings Accounts allow you to set up a tax-deductible account to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by your health insurance. This article explains how to take full advantage of this. Must read." Editor's note: This is very much in keeping with the consumer driven healthcare trend.

Ben presents

Health Insurance for New College Graduates - Shopping Around for Affordable Coverage posted at Money Smart Life, saying, "Health insurance tips for college graduates." Editor’s note: It’s nice to know that there are affordable alternatives for college students and recent graduates.

Jose DeJesus MD presents

Cash Before Treatment - The Crisis in Medical Care Funding posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, "Dr. Jose DeJesus discusses the unsustainable current arrangement where large payers, including government, insurance, and large employers have negotiated payment rates that do not reflect real healthcare costs. Those who have limited benefit or no health insurance face rates that often reflect distortions created by these large payers, and mandated but unfunded costs. Finally, Dr. DeJesus suggests some alternatives to the current situation."

Health and the Environment

Lavender Farms- Young Living presents

A Better, Healthier Home posted at For the Love of Lavender, saying, "Be smart with your home and its health. A few tips to make a healthier home" Editor’s note: This article has some great tips for a cleaner and healthier home.

Mark Schauss presents

Smog and Premature Death - Science Has Linked Them, The White House Denies It posted at Toxic World Blog - Detoxify and Heal Your Body. Editor’s note: As the author discusses, the Bush White House refuses to acknowledge the science showing the effect of smog on the health of the public. This is true of other countries as well as the almighty dollar is put ahead of the health and welfare of the citizens.

Helene Zemel presents

Stop Smoking in 5 Days with Smoker's Last Chance Home Work Shop posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "The Smoker’s Last Chance Workshop is a 5-day computer and audio program which uses a combination of education, behavior modification, and self-hypnosis to help you stop smoking."

Dental Health

Alex Bo presents

Just Fly Abroad For Cheaper Dental Treatment posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide. Editor’s note: Dental tourism is one solution to the high cost of dental care in the U.S. As the article points, out do extensive research first.

Alex Bo presents

Travel, Save Money And Treat Your Teeth posted at Worldental - world dental treatment guide. Editor’s note: More information about traveling abroad to save money on extensive dental treatment. More and more Americans and Europeans are doing this.

Helene Zemel presents

Dental Plans vs. Dental Insurance posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "When is a dental plan a better choice than dental insurance? With caps on annual allowable expenses, age limits, disallowance of pre-existing conditions, complicated paperwork, waiting periods, and no coverage for cosmetic dentistry or dental implants, a dental plan may be the better choice."

Phil B. presents

Brush then Floss or Floss then Brush? posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "Do you brush your teeth first and then floss, or do you floss and then brush your teeth?" Editor’s note: Some good dental hygiene pointers are given in this blog post.

Alternative Medicine

Webmaster presents

Living with Pancreatitis posted at Alcoholic Pancreatitis. Editor’s note: Thanks for sharing your experience with pancreatitis. This advice will be helpful to any of our readers who suffer from pancreatitis or know someone with this condition.

Niharika presents

50 Tips for Healthier Skin at Any Age posted at RN Central. Editor’s note: Some great advice, especially with the hot summer months just a few weeks away.

Aparna presents

Home Remedies for nose bleed posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Nose bleed is also called as ‘epistaxis’. It occurs more often in summer and especially in young children as a result of spending long hours in the sun, constant nose-picking, nose polyp or any other infection."

Aparna presents

Aspirin for acne-prone skin posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Aspirin is remarkable for your skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties, capability of sloughing off dead skin cells thus preventing the clogging of pores makes it a terrific product in the treatment of acne and other skin inflammations." Editor’s note: The aspirin face mask formulas in this informative blog post will be helpful to acne sufferers.

Tip Diva presents

Top Ten Tips - Stocking And Organizing A Medicine Cabinet posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Everyone should have a medicine cabinet in their homes in case of a sickness or an emergency. Here’s what to do to make sure you’re stocked and prepared" Editor’s note: The tips on keeping the medicine cabinet safe with small children around are especially important.

Mag Herrera presents

Natural Recipe for a Healthy Prostate posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "Sharing a reader's natural recipe for a healthy prostate." Editor’s note: The tomatoes in this recipe are a natural source of lycopene which is beneficial to prostate health.

Consumer Driven Health Care

Shaheen Lakhan presents

Medicine and the Law - Part 2 posted at GNIF Brain Blogger. Editor’s note: Shaheen Lakhan makes the point that physician’s need to know the standard of care in their community, and patient’s have an obligation not to bring frivolous lawsuits against doctors who do exercise this standard of care.

Walter presents

Tired? You May Not Be Getting Enough Sleep posted at Highlight HEALTH, saying, "A good night’s sleep is increasingly losing out to late night television, the internet, video games and other modern day distractions, and our health is taking the toll. According to a recent four state study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70% of adults report not getting enough rest or sleep at least once over the past month; 10% report insufficient rest or sleep every day."

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Exercise your brain in the Cognitive Age posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Key questions on Brain Health that consumers should pay attention to."

Alvaro Fernandez presents

Brain Research Interview Series posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Check out these interviews with leading neuroscientists and psychologists on a variety of topics: brain health, happiness, weight loss, memory..."

Diet & Fitness

FitBuff presents

Waist to Hip Ratio - Men Can't Stomach the Facts posted at FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog, saying, "One of the most accurate measurements is the waist to hip ratio. The WHR is better for tracking your visceral fat (the most dangerous kind that gathers around your stomach). It's very simple (provided you can handle 3rd-grade level math), and all you need is a measuring tape. Here's how to find your number..."

Ellen Landauer presents

Natural Alternative Health CoachingHealth Freedom Coaching: addiction recovery posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "While this article offers solid nutrition information that can help if you or someone you love is recovering from drug or alcohol dependence, there is a wealth of knowledge here for health-oriented people. In my research on substance abuse, I found a lot of parallels between alcohol and drug addiction and sugar addiction. If you simply want to eat less sugar, this article will help."

Ellen Landauer presents

Belly Fat: Causes and Cures posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "More than exercise and diet are covered in this definitive guide to bringing beauty and suppleness to an area of the body that is the focal point of so many peoples' fitness woes and wishes. A simple exercise anyone can do is part of the rich content of this article I so enjoyed writing. Some of the information may surprise you..."

Paul Li presents

Chocolate + Sports = Better memory posted at Lumosity Brain Health, saying, "With the proper diet and daily physical exercises one can improve their brains, especially in older adults."

Dr Martin W. Russell presents

“I Can Make You Thin” by Paul McKenna - A Review posted at Dr Martin W. Russell. Editor’s note: An excellent book review of “I Can Make You Thin” by Paul McKenna with some advice on eating to stay thin.

Fenny presents

latest-beauty-tips.com • View topic - Nutrient that is needed daily by the body. posted at Fenny Lopez, saying, "Protein is a nutrient that is needed daily by the body. These nutrients are essential for health and must be provided in the foods eaten. We are here to give you an idea of the amount of protein you can find in certain foods, check out."

Trevor McKay presents

Gastric Bypass Surgery And The Food Police posted at All About Gastric Surgery, saying, “After receiving a gastric bypass, many patients feel like they are under constant examination when it comes to the food that they eat. A lot of people have reported that their friends and relatives begin monitoring their eating habits more closely than they do themselves. It is for this reason that individuals are also taught skills that allow them to cope with the added pressures that they will undergo after their gastric bypass is over.”

Larry W presents

How celebrity moms lose weight! posted at Fatbliss. Editor’s note: Some good information on getting back to that pre-pregnancy figure is presented in this blog post.

Larry W presents

Healthy foods which aren't healthy posted at Fatbliss. Editor’s note: This blog post exposes the myth that all health foods are created equal.

Sagar presents

50 Healthy Habits to Take Off 50 Pounds In a Year posted at Nursing Degree Guide. Editor’s note: These 50 weight loss tips will be helpful for anyone following a weight loss program.

Joshua Seth presents

Obesity In America posted at Joshua Seth Blog. Editor’s note: Joshua Seth makes the point that so many people are taking prescription drugs today for preventable conditions that could be controlled by taking control of their health care through better health habits and mind control.

Emma Deangela presents

Body Detoxification – Simple Ways To Detoxify Your Body posted at eDetoxify.com, saying, “If you feel that you are easily tired, feeling sluggish, mind completely drained, you may want to consider detoxify your body. Detoxification is about cleansing and getting back your body to your normal state – eliminating impurities from the blood of liver, lungs, kidneys and other vital organs.”

Emma Deangela presents

Delicious and Yummy Detox Recipes to Keep Your Body Healthy posted at eDetoxify.com. Editor’s note: Emma Deangela presents some good recipes that will help you detoxify your body.

Travis presents

All About Creatine posted at Exercise and Diet Tips Bodybuilding Supplements Reviews - Blog by Travis, saying, "Are you one of the misled who believe that Creatine is a steroid-like compound that is bad for you? Find out all of the facts and more here."

Russ presents

Limu - Breakthrough Nutrition is Changing Lives. updated Fri May 16 2008 11:07 am CDT posted at Restoring Your Finances and Your Faith, saying, "Scientists have called the key ingredient, "possibly the most powerful immune supporting nutrient ever discovered"."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival.

Take Charge of Your Health Care - April 22, 2008

Take Charge of Your Health Care - April 22, 2008


Blog Carnival
take charge of your health care

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Welcome to the April 22, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. I enjoyed reading this month’s excellent blog posts.


I will be adding a new category to my blog carnival. This category will on dental health. Good dental health is so important to your overall well being, but good dental care can be hard to find and very costly. I have started this category off with my post on Questions to Ask when searching for a Discount Dental Plan.


In celebration of the 16 years that AmeriPlan has been in the discount dental and health benefits field, our team is offering a choice of a free trip or membership in an online discount shopping mall with rebate checks. See my post below entitled: Discount Dental & Health Plans – A Free Gift for You for more details. You must be a resident of the United States to become a member. Our benefit plans are not available in the states of Vermont, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and in Puerto Rico.


I have been asked to host the First Course of the Soup to Nuts Progressive Dinner Carnival on my carnival hosted on April 30, 2008 at http://www.healthplansplus.blogspot.com/. There is still some time to submit posts to the carnival. Just visit blogcarnival.com and look for the A Soup to Nuts Carnival. You can also go directly to the Carnival submission form by entering the following URL: http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_3164.html .


save money on health care

Deb Serani presents At-Home DNA Test For Bipolar Disorder posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post looks at the breaking news of at-home genetic testing for Bipolar Disorder."

Tola Seng presents The Inside Tips on How to Save Money On Your Prescriptions posted at Rx4Life.info - Empowering Healthy Living. Editor’s note: Excellent and thorough article on how to save money on medications. The author gives many good tips on how to save money on your prescriptions.

Sonja Stewart presents Infertility…The Low Cost Way Parenting Squad posted at Parenting Squad, saying, "Counting every penny to keep up with infertility bills? Here are tricks and tips they don't want you to know about that can drastically cut your expenses." Editor’s Note: No family should be denied access to fertility treatments due to a lack of finances. This advice should help many families.

Heather Johnson presents Save Money. Live Better? 10 Effects of Wal-Mart Clinics on Healthcare posted at The Nursing Site Blog. Editor’s Note: These low cost Wal-Mart Clinics are a step in the right direction in saving consumers money on health care costs. This will be especially helpful to those who are uninsured or underinsured who might neglect doctor visits.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Lowering Prescription Drug Costs posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, "Physicians are primarily concerned with the health and well-being of their patients, and most of them will choose the medicine that will do the job effectively, with minimal side effects, at a price that the patient can afford." Editor’s note: I hope that our Congresspeople read this informative blog post.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Secured Medical Loans Within Employment Benefits posted at eloanex.com, saying, “Employment benefits are the indelible feature of corporative culture of any self-respecting company. They may comprise from 1/3 to the half of the salaries.”


health insurance

Helene Zemel presents Discount Dental and Health Plans - A Free Gift for You posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "If you are uninsured or underinsured, AmeriPlan's discount dental and health plans can help you save money on your healthcare. Now you can receive a free gift when you sign up for one of our benefit plans."

Deb Serani presents Is The Right To Privacy Gone? posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post highlights the loss of privacy in health care."


dental care

Helene Zemel presents Finding an Affordable Dental Plan - Questions to Ask posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Seven out of 10 Americans do not have dental insurance. A discount dental plan may be an affordable alternative. Here are some questions to ask when searching for an affordable dental plan."


alternative medicine

Tiffany Washko presents Natural Remedies for ADD and ADHD posted at Natural Family Living Blog. Editor’s note: This is a very informative and thorough post on alternative and safe treatments for ADD and ADHD.

Ellen Landauer presents Dandelion: Herbal Liver Cleanse, Better Digestion, and More! posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Naturally increase your happiness and health by getting nutrient-rich food right from nature, while being out in the sun and fresh air. Dandelion leaves and buds can be made into delicious dishes while supporting good health of liver, gallbladder and kidneys."

Ellen Landauer presents The Best Probiotic in the World! posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Did you know that truly potent probiotics (beneficial bacteria for digestive system) helps build strong bones by increasing absorption of calcium and other minerals? Not only that, they can even help fight depression!"

Niharika presents Green Health: 30 Environmentally Friendly (and effective) Alternatives to Traditional Medicines and Procedures posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory, saying, “there are a number of alternative medicines and natural treatments which are both effective and green-friendly.”

Aparna presents Healing powers of French clay and cosmetic benefits of clay posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Clay therapy is held in high esteem in alternative medicinal systems like naturopathy and Ayurveda.For long, clay and mud packs have been used to cool the body. Naturopaths insist that clay has a wonderful and unique property of absorbing toxins from the body. According to them, the significance of clay or mud as an external therapeutic agent rivals that of water itself."

Susan presents Medical Marijuana Vending Machines posted at Medical Marijuana. Editor’s note: This is certainly an interesting but controversial idea. Marijuana for medical purposes probably has fewer side effects than many of the so-called legal in all 50 states pain relief medications.

Joe Lasiter presents Find Painful Menstruation Relief posted at Natural Pain Relief, saying, "Adding a vitamin B complex supplement to your daily vitamin can help with menstrual problems. Evening Primrose Oil, taken as a supplement, is said to be very beneficial to those who endure menstrual pain, etc. as well."

James Chambers presents Sweating Problems Treatment Advice posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Some good information on excessive sweating is presented in this blog post.

James Chambers presents Excessive Sweating Advice and Treatments posted at Hyperhidrosis, saying, “Excessive sweating is a medical problem - this sometimes sounds strange, but the irony is that for the person who is suffering from it - it is a real problem and there seems less or no solution for this!.”


consumer driven health care

Tip Diva presents Tip Diva Top Ten Tips - Dealing With A Medical Diagnosis posted at Tip Diva, saying, "Getting any medical diagnosis, regardless of the seriousness, can be a frightening experience. Unfortunately, you can’t change the diagnosis, but you can take charge, and here’s how." Editor’s note: Excellent advice for patients to follow. By getting a second or even a third opinion and by asking lots of questions, you will educate yourself about your illness and know that you have chosen the best treatment course available.

Health Chaos presents Here we go again; more drugs posted at Health Chaos. Editor’s note: The author presents an interesting critique on drug advertisements in newspapers and on television. I have personally noticed that the so-called normal levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose are constantly being reduced to make more of us patients who have to take expensive prescription drugs to stay healthy.

James presents Are Drugs Killing You? posted at FOODMATTERS. Editor’s Note: The fact that modern medicine is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. is a scary notion. There is so much unnecessary surgery done, prescription errors are very prevalent, and the side effects of drugs can be very debilitating. This drug will help your rheumatoid arthritis, but it might give you a life threatening infection or lymphoma (a cancer). Scary. Even scarier is the dosing of healthy children with Ritalin and other psychotropic medications just to control school behavior.

Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Health and Alzheimer's Prevention posted at SharpBrains: Your Window into the Brain Fitness Revolution, saying, "Can something be done to improve brain health and reduce Alzheimer's risk? much, it seems...starting with one's job."


diet & fitness

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Illustrated Kundalini Yoga Poses & Exercises E-Book posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "A free online book of the most important and beneficial Kundalini Yoga Poses and Exercises."

Marc and Angel Hack Life presents 5 Reasons Why Weight Loss Products Keep You Fat posted at Marc and Angel, saying, "Next time you’re tempted by the latest and greatest weight loss craze, ponder these 5 reasons why it’s almost certainly far from great."

Roger Baillargeon presents The Book Reviewer Fan Club posted at The Book Reviewer Fan Club. Editor’s Note: If you eat out at restaurants or fast food places or buy a lot of frozen foods, you will want to read this book review entitles: Eat This not That by David Zinczenko.

Mike Remer presents A Great Weight Reducing Secret My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: Some good substitutes for salt are presented in this short blog post.

James Brausch presents This Week Is Meat Only posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s Note: A swap diet definitely keeps a diet plan from getting boring. You actually have something to look forward to each week.

James Brausch presents Calcium + Niacin For Weight Loss? posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: It will be interesting to follow the results of James Brausch’s experiments with different diets and weight loss supplements.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Low Carb Dieting For Beginners posted at Ways To Become & Stay Slim. Editor’s note: Some good advice for those wishing to follow a low carb diet.

Alex M presents Find Out About The Dangers Associated With Dieting posted at Ways To Become & Stay Slim, saying, “ Dieting should have a sensible basis otherwise it may do nothing but undermine and ruin your health.”

Joshua Seth presents Aspartame Dangers posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, "In my weight loss hypnosis sessions I repeatedly implant the suggestion to “make healthy food choices”, but how are you supposed to know what’s healthy when deadly poisons are labeled as sugar-free “diet food”?"

Alvaro Fernandez presents Relaxing for your Brain’s Sake posted at SharpBrains, saying, "On the importance of stress management for brain health, by Gregory Kellett"

Mark Schauss presents Links to Help Inform You About How To Achieve Victory Over Our Toxic World posted at Toxic World Blog - Detoxify and Heal Your Body. Editors Note: Some excellent links on the subject are presented in this post.

Ellen Landauer presents Natural Alternative Health CoachingHealth Freedom Coaching: probiotics posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Did you know that probiotics (beneficial bacteria for the digestive system) can do more than just helping digestion? They can help assimilate protein and minerals to build better muscle and bones, and even help you feel happier!"

George L Smyth presents One Minute How-To - How To Keep From Sneezing posted at George L Smyth, saying, "George L Smyth offers a handful of tips that could help keep you from sneezing."

Astrid Lee presents Alkaline Foods That Will Help You Restore Alkalinity To Your Body posted at World Healing, saying, "What does it mean to have an acidic system? Acid causes oxidation which in turn causes decay. Disturbances related to excess acidity are: weakening of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, and bones. Acid has also been linked to problems with digestion such as: leaky gut syndrome, IBS, Ulcers. It has been linked to Candida and many types of allergies. Chronic Fatigue is just one of the many symptoms of excess acid. This article sets out what to eat to shift the balance for good!"


miscellaneous topics

Alex Blackwell presents Seven Practical Personal Development Strategies posted at The Next 45 Years, saying, “Sometimes building a solid foundation when we make the decision to walk away from our comfort zones gives us the firm footing we need to go forward – to explore and to live what’s next in our lives.”

Life. Money. Development presents The 7 Attributes of Leadership posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "An excellent presentation of the attributes every leader should have."

George L Smyth presents One Minute How-To - How To Clean A Sponge posted at George L Smyth, saying, "George Smyth explains how you can rid your sponge of 99.9999% of the bacteria in the sponge you wipe on things."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.


Technorati tags: take charge of your health care, blog carnival

Take Charge of Your Health Care - March 23, 2008

take charge of your health care - March 23, 2008

Welcome to the March 23, 2008 edition of take charge of your health care. As you gather with your family this weekend, may I wish all of my readers a happy and healthy holiday. Spring is the season of renewal and hopefully these health tips will help your family stay fit and healthy and also save money on your healthcare.

We get some excellent, high quality submissions to this carnival. I do accept about 80 to 85% of all submissions. If you submitted more than 2 posts, I have chosen your 2 best or most relevant posts. I have also eliminated any posts that are duplicates from the last edition or that are not relevant to healthcare. Please feel free to resubmit any posts that were not included to the next issue of Take Charge of Your Healthcare Carnival.

health insurance

Helene Zemel presents Affordable Dental Plans posted at Affordable Dental Plans, saying, "Good dental care is so important to your family’s good health and well-being. Who can underestimate the importance of a pleasant and attractive smile and the good health benefits that come with that healthy smile? Yet over 7 out of 10 Americans lack affordable dental plans. Discount Dental Plans can provide an affordable alternative to costly dental insurance and offer benefits not provided by insurance policies."

Wenchypoo presents Universal Health Care Blues: Patient Stacking posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. Editor’s note: An interesting perspective on some of the problems with universal health care.

Shaheen Lakhan presents Are Insurance Copayments Unethical? posted at GNIF Brain Blogger, saying, “A large-scale study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patients who are required to pay $10 or more for a mammogram are significantly less likely to have the examination on a biannual basis when compared to individuals whose insurance plans provided complete coverage.”

John Cogan presents State efforts to increase health coverage come with a price--higher income taxes posted at Regulating Health Insurance, saying, "In an effort to increase health insurance coverage, many states have passed laws to increase the maximum age limit for young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies. Whether you are in favor of these coverage mandates or not, there’s one hitch to such laws that isn’t often mentioned: the tax consequences for parents keeping their twentysomething children on the family's employer-based health insurance coverage." Editor’s note: One must weigh this cost versus the probably higher cost of obtaining a separate health insurance policy for the grown child. With the economic downturn, there aren’t a lot of entry level jobs for people fresh out of high school and college which would offer decent benefits.

Raymond presents How To Avoid A Major Cause Of Bankruptcy By Getting Basic Health Insurance Coverage posted at Money Blue Book. Editor’s note: as the author notes, having adequate health insurance can help you avoid bankruptcy provided you can afford health insurance and are not turned down due to pre-existing conditions.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Usual and Customary Charges Artificially Rigged posted at Physician Entrepreneur, saying, “Out of network health insurance claims and claims paid through indemnity based health plans are settled based on a percentage of the “usual and customary” or “reasonable and customary” charges prevailing in the area where the service is performed. Physicians and patients have long felt that these rates were understated, which leaves patients with a much larger share of healthcare costs than they should actually bear.”

save money on health care

Helene Zemel presents Great News! AmeriPlan $25 Business Opportunity Extended to March 31st posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Great News! Our $25 new business promotion has been extended to March 31, 2008. Now you can start your own business as a benefits consultant for just $25." Editor’s note: If you are interested in a home-based business in the health benefits field, there are just a few days remaining to take advantage of this opportunity.

Alex M presents What Everybody Should Know About Secured Medical Loans Within Employment Benefits posted at eloanex.com. Editor’s note: Some good information here on employee benefits.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Discouraging Frivolous Malpractice Lawsuits posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: Frivolous lawsuits are definitely a factor in increasing the cost of healthcare.

alternative medicine

Rickey Henderson presents Aaaargh, Rickey's Back! posted at Riding with Rickey. Editor’s note: Some good advice on sciatica in the comments on this blog.

David Richeson presents Beginning my Detox from Toxic Mercury Dental Amalgam Fillings posted at 360 Degree Success, saying, "Why dental amalgam fillings are so toxic, and how to safely detoxify your body." Editor’s note: Thanks for bringing attention to the dangers of amalgam fillings. Most people do not realize that the silver amalgam used by dentists contain mercury which is highly toxic.

Lovelyn presents Self Massage: Trigger Point Therapy posted at The Art of Balanced Living. Editor’s note: Some excellent information on performing self massage to relieve discomfort at trigger points.

Amy S Quinn presents The Top 50 Alternative Medicine Blogs posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory. Editor’s note: A comprehensive list of alternative medicine blogs.

Deb Serani presents Understanding Research: Antidepressant Data posted at Dr. Deb, saying, "This post looks at how one needs to consider "research" when making healthcare decisions." Editor’s note: Some good information on anti-depressant medications can be found in this blog post.

Lori Jewett presents Yes Virginia - There is a Perimenopause posted at Between Us Girls, saying, "What you should know about perimenopause that your doctor may not be telling you."

Burton Kent presents Legal Drugs Kill Far More People Than Illegal Drugs! Acupuncture Marketing for Clinics posted at Acupuncture Marketing for Clinics, saying, "Discusses how healing can only come from the body's natural healing processes. Attempting to bypass or repress these processes just makes things worse."

Ellen Landauer presents Stress from Electromagnetic Fields: Natural Solutions posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "Stress from electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution is more significant than most people know. Simple tips can help you feel more happy and relaxed at home, and minimize deleterious effects when you are out and about."

Chris presents Tai Chi Ruler: The Cure For a Sore Lower Back posted at Martial Development, saying, "Learn this simple Tai Chi form to cure and prevent back pain. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels."

consumer driven health care

Jose DeJesus MD presents Doctors Get Bonuses for Raising the Bar posted at Physician Entrepreneur. Editor’s note: Dr. DeJesus discusses how some insurance and health management companies are paying a bonus to physician’s who emphasize preventative care.

Rachel Walden presents Tips for Savvy Medical Web Surfing? - A Critique posted at Women's Health News, saying, "This post is my critique, as a medical librarian, of CNN's recent "Tips for Savvy Medical Web Surfing" article. Another's commentary on this article is linked in the post."

Eric Cech presents Essential Oils for Aromatherapy from Synergy Essentials posted at Synergy Essential Oils, Aromatherapy for Professionals and Enthusiasts. Editor’s note: You will find some excellent descriptions and good information on various essential oils on this site.

Pete Quily presents Top 10 Ways to Manage Adult ADHD posted at Adult ADD Strengths. Editor’s note: Very informative article listing various alternatives for dealing with adult ADD.

Aparna presents Correcting a gummy smile posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "A gummy smile is one where the gums outsize the teeth, making your teeth appear shorter and the gums more prominent. Or it could be that the gum line is not symmetrical with the teeth. If you have a gummy smile you may feel self-conscious to smile or laugh freely with others. You need not live with it. So if it’s bothering you, ask your dentist about the corrective techniques."

Aparna presents Sleeping for long hours is not good for health posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming, saying, "Insomnia is by far the most talked about and discussed sleep disorder. Tons of information is available on this topic and countless remedies are suggested by all and sundry to overcome this problem. Comparatively, excessive sleep and its effects on health rarely get so much attention and this issue hardly finds a place in the conversation of laymen."

Charles H. Green presents Who(m) Do You Trust? posted at Trust Matters, saying, "Trust in your doctor isn't just a matter of knowing he's skilled, but in knowing he will listen to you, not just dictate to you."

Raymond presents My Experience With Lasik Eye Surgery - Thoughts About Laser Vision Correction - Is It Worth The Cost and Risks? posted at Money Blue Book. Editor’s note: Very informative post about Lasik eye surgery. This is certainly a viable and safe alternative for people who want freedom from contact lenses or thick eyeglasses.

Silveral presents Celebrity skin care – secret to perfect skin posted at Celebrity News, and Gossip. Editor’s note: Good information on skin care and celebrity skin care products.

diet & fitness

Sagar presents 20 Simple At Your Desk Exercises For Web Workers posted at Online Nursing Degree Directory. Editor’s note: Some great exercises that can be easily performed right at your desk.

Mike Remer presents Celebrating! My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog. Editor’s note: This post will help motivate you to start exercising again.

Mike Remer presents Wish Exercise wasn’t so Hard? My Path To Fitness Blog posted at My Path To Fitness Blog, saying, “When you were a kid, what did you do when you went out to play? Right, you ran around, climbed trees, jumped rope. You were moving and called it ”play.” What physical activities can you add to your life or increase today — or at the very latest tomorrow -and call it play?”

Life. Money. Development. presents Diet Tips for Preventing High Cholesterol Levels posted at Life. Money. Development., saying, "A neat collection of diet tips for keeping cholesterol in recommended levels."

Alex Blackwell presents 45 Tips for a Happier, Simpler and More Productive Life posted at The Next 45 Years, saying, “Every now and then we need a nudge, a little extra help. Life can be challenging and sometimes it can test our resolve.” determination and faith. When Life surprises us with a pop-quiz, it’s good to know where we can find some of the answers.” Editor’s note: 45 tips to help you stay mentally fit and happy.

Anwar Daniels presents Eat Healthier. Try Black Eyed Peas. posted at cannedfitness.com, saying, "A great write up on the benefits of black eyed peas and how they can help you with your goals of living a healthier life."

Joshua Seth presents 10 Reasons Why Weight Loss Diets Fail posted at Joshua Seth Blog, saying, ": "Did you know that over 90% of people actually gain weight within 6 months of dieting! Here are the top 10 reasons why...""

James D. Brausch presents Is Your Keyboard Making You Fat? posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: I have to admit that I am guilty of eating at the computer, but actually the no eating at the computer rule can help you stay fit.

James D. Brausch presents This Week's Supplement: Calcium posted at Weight Loss Dude. Editor’s note: James Brausch reports here on his experience with various supplements and weight loss results.

Kavit Haria presents Easy weight loss by counting your calories posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria. Editor’s note: Some good advice on using calorie counting as a weight loss method.

Kavit Haria presents Top five tips to healthy meal planning posted at Wellness Junction by Kavit Haria, saying: “A common reason many people don’t eat healthy is because “they don’t have the time”. By carefully planning your meal in advance, you set yourself up for a healthy week as well as saving time and money when you go shopping. “

Louis presents Learn To Dance Like The Stars And Lose Weight At The Same Time! posted at "Finally, You Too Can Master Ballroom Dancing Easily From Dancing With The Stars' Louis van Amstel", saying, "Who says losing weight can't be fun?"

The Push Up Coach presents Pros And Cons Of A Personal Trainer posted at The 1000 Push Ups Club, saying, "1000 Push Up Club will help you stay motivated as you do every push up and help you reach your goal - whether it is 50, 100, or 1,000 push ups."

Neelakantha presents 100 Weird Facts About the Human Body posted at Bootstrapper. Editor’s note: Some very interesting facts about the human body posted here. A good read.

Neelakantha presents The Webmaster?s Guide to Better Health ? 101 Tips and Resources posted at WHDb. Editor’s note: Well researched list of resources and articles on various health matters.

Anmol Mehta presents Free Online Yoga Videos Launched posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga, saying, "Free online yoga videos to help you achieve physical, emotional and mental mastery."

Wenchypoo presents The "No-Label Diet" One Year Later posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket. Editor’s note: This diet will help reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol. Good low calorie salad dressing recipe in the comments section.

Ellen Landauer presents Insomnia: Better Sleep Can Be Yours posted at Health Freedom Coaching, saying, "A wealth of sleep-optimizing tips, including the recipe for my special supplement nightcap, diet tips for better sleep, and details on a number of other natural ways to get better sleep."

Randy Powell presents Cardiovascular Health posted at Eating-Veggies.com: Alkaline Diet blog. Editor’s note: Some very good dietary advice that we can all follow.

Miscellaneous

Ariah Fine presents What If We Wiped for Our Great, Great, Great, Great Grandchildren? posted at Trying to Follow. Editor’s note: Sometimes small steps can make a big difference when it comes to conservations. Thoughtful article about conservation.
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James Chambers presents Combat Hyperhidrosis with Botox posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Good information on a possible treatment option for excessive sweating.

James Chambers presents Natural Deodorants Do They Stop Sweating? posted at Hyperhidrosis. Editor’s note: Some good information on natural deodorants that can help if you suffer from hyperhidrosis.

zerg presents Suffering in Mesothelioma posted at Mesothelioma News Blog, saying, "Some information on how to treat and what actions take when somebody suffers from mesothelioma - how to find best lawyer."

Asbestos presents Suffering in Mesothelioma posted at Mesothelioma News Blog, saying, "It is possible to live well with mesothelioma."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of take charge of your health care using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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