Taking Care of Past Due Medical Bills

Thanks to the decline of the economy, a lot of people are finding that they have a stack of past due medical bills. The stack gets larger and larger every month, and they don't know how they are going to manage to pay them.

Here are some steps that you can take to deal with unpaid medical bills.

Look at Your Budget

The first thing that you want to do is take a look at your budget. If you don't have one yet, make one up. List all your expenses and your income for each month to figure out where your money is going.

Get the Bottom Line

Go through your past due medical bills and make a list of what you owe. If you don't have your latest copy, call the number that is on one of your older bills and find out what your current total is.

Negotiate

Talk to the offices and hospitals that you owe money, and see if they would be willing to come down on the amount that you owe. If you have the cash available, let them know that you will pay them right now if they are willing to lower the amount that you owe.

Ask About Payment Plan

If negotiating isn't possible, ask them if you can make payments each month. If they suggest a figure, make sure that it's something that you will be able to do. Chances are that you will be able to come up with an agreement that will work for the two of you. All you have to do is make sure that you are polite and that you remain calm throughout the talk. This is going to increase your chances of the billing staff listening to you.

The times are tough for everyone, but that doesn't mean that people will be unreasonable. If you come up with a plan and you show that you have done your homework, you are going to show that you are serious about waning to take care of your past due medical bills and squaring everything away. Be educated, be prepared, and be polite. These three things are what will help you to plead your case to your debtors and get your bills taken care of before they ruin your credit.

There are many different reasons that people seek help for past due medical bills. No matter what you decide, the important thing is that you know that you have options. If you're in too deep and want help with past due medical bills, contact us today and see what we can do for you. You shouldn't have to feel helpless in a situation like this.

Company Profiles - Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical care is a producer of dialysis equipment and offering services in this field of (chronic) kidney failure. The best known of these kidney supportive functions is hemodialysis which became routine in the 1960s.

According to information on their side, Fresenius Medical Care is the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,770,000 individuals worldwide. In 2007 170000 patients were treated where the next competitor (Davita) treated "only" 107000 patients.

Vision.
After three decades of experience in dialysis the vision is to remain the global leader in this area: "Creating a future worth living. For people. Worldwide. Every day."

Management Board.
The management board is chaired by Dr. Ben J. Lipps (68) since 1999 has worked in the field of dialysis for more than 35 years and has a degree in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Led the research team at DOW Chemical that developed the first commercial hollow-fiber artificial kidney at the end of the 1960s.

Other members of the board specialize in: Finance, regional management (Asia-Pacific as well as Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa) and Medical Care Services North America, Renal Therapy Group North America and Law and Compliance.

Company history.
In 1912 Dr. Eduard Fresenius commences production of pharmaceuticals. The legacy of Fresenius goes back as long as the 18th century when the Fresenius family assumes ownership of the Foundation (1462) of the Hirsch Pharmacy in Frankfurt.

In 1966 the company extends activities to sales of dialysis machines and dialyzers. Fresenius Medical Care is founded as a merger of Fresenius Worldwide Dialysis and National Medical Care. The company got listed on the Frankfurt SE and the New York SE. In 2006 the Renal Care Group, Inc is acquired. In 2007 FMC produced its 500 millionth dialyzer.

The production plants are distributed over the world, both the two most important plants are Ogden (Utah, US) and St. Wendel (Germany).

A simple human resources statement: "Many companies want the best people. We want the right people" (1)

Quality and innovation.
An interesting chapter in the annual report gives some insight behind quality and innovation. "The real challenge is to maintain our very high standards regarding quality while continuously ramping up production figures," says Matt Wybrow (2), who is in charge of quality management in Ogden.

The "filter" is the bottleneck in incrementing the production. [In layman's terms, the dialysis process is essentially done by filtering the blood in a way that the water is separated from the blood, which is possible due to a lower pressure in the dialysis equipment, and channeled to a separate machine (the dialysis equipment). Together with the water are the residuals that have to be cleaned. A too wide filter will make that the blood leaves the body too which will harm the process. So the challenge is to keep the blood in the body and only the water filtered. This is done by "pores in a fiber wall":] The pores in the fiber wall can be made a bit wider. However, there is an upper limit to pore size. If they are too wide vital proteins will leave the patient's blood.

A new production process "Nano-Controlled Spinning (NCS)" enables FMC to make modern polysulfone fiber. This involves spinning nozzles that mix two different polymers, one impermeable to water, the other permeable - and the two polymers are spun together to create a product with just the right size of pore... the fiber is given a wave shape so that dialysis fluid can flow along and between them even when they are bundled closely together inside the dialyzer.

Another measure to increase the production is to change the organizational (quality) process: from trial-and-error to Lean six Sigma. "... we would increase production output and wait to see what the statistics department would tell us about our quality. That simply took too long and caused too much waste." With Lean Six Sigma it is possible to cross departmental borders and hierarchy lines but ... "the real innovation was ... the cultural change: this is both a top-down and a bottom-up process." (2)

The problem of how to more involve employees (and raise job satisfaction) is solved by ensuring that they feel valued which involved training and improvements on communication. On this last the production process - in the operation area - is changed so that more information is made available, which helped making people more committed to the process.

What You Need to Know Before Scheduling Overseas Medical Care in the Growing Medical Tourism Market

The popularity of medical tourism is increasing exponentially as people seek lower prices for medical procedures. With the increase rates of insurance premiums in the US as well as companies scaling back on group/employer based insurance, more Americans are looking at other options. By next year (2010), the number of Americans leaving the country for international health care is projected to reach six million - a 700% jump since 2007 according to Deloitte research.

Sources for medical tourism information

So who can give you good advice and where you might go for overseas medical care?

Your first source will be your own friends and family members. It is amazing how quickly you can find someone who has done medical tourism. A colleague's daughter flew to India for knee surgery, and she paid a fraction of what it would have cost her in the States. Just ask around and eventually you will find someone who has done this.

A second source is the Medical Tourism Association (MTA). They will work with you to find hospitals, understand legal issues in aftercare, and to find a partner who will help put it all together. MTA has recently created a certification program specifically for the US insurance industry to inform agents and employers and advisers so that they would know that these companies meet a very strict standard.

Interesting data on medical tourism

What types of medical tourism are most common?

In a recent survey by MTA, the breakdown is as follows:

Spine: 2%

Cosmetic: 12%

Orthopedic: 22%

Weight Loss: 31%

Other: 33%

To the question, "Did you have health insurance when you traveled for care?" 41.5% said yes and 58.5% said no.

To the question, "Would you recommend international medical travel?" 92.7% responded Yes, 7.3% responded Maybe, and not one person said they would not recommend it.

Procedure surgery cost based in US dollars:

Here is a cost comparison for common medical treatment. By just looking at the differences in costs, you will quickly understand the allure of medical tourism.

Heart bypass: US 130k / India 9.3k / Thailand 11k / Singapore 16.5k / Costa Rica 24k / South Korea 34.2k / New Zealand 31k

Heart-valve replacement: US 160k / India 9k / Thailand 10k / Singapore 12.5k / Costa Rica 15k / South Korea 29.5k / New Zealand 29k

Hysterectomy: US 20k / India 6k / Thailand 4.5k / Singapore 6k / Costa Rica 4k / South Korea 12.7k / New Zealand 9.9k

Knee replacement: US 40k / India 8.5k / Thailand 10k / Singapore 11k / Costa Rica 11.1k / South Korea 24k / New Zealand 15k

Important considerations before you travel

1. Consult your local physician about your plans

2. Check the foreign hospital's accreditation

3. Research the doctor treating you

4. Review hospital data

5. Avoid communication barriers by making sure doctors and hospital staff members speak English or have access to translators

6. Use a medical-tourism company

7. Travel with a companion -- a must in any cross cultural situation because you will need someone to help with paperwork, making travel arrangements, buying things you need, etc.

8. Do not rush it - take your time doing research.

More helpful resources:

American Medical Association: This agency released guidelines on medical travel last year (2008).

Medical Tourism Association: This non-profit organization vets medical tourism companies, offers tips for patients, works with internationally based hospitals, and monitors industry trends at http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com

Joint Commission International: This independent agency has accredited and certified health-care organizations in 33 countries, using US standards of care at http://www.jointcommissioninternational.org

The Benefits of Having Centralized and Linked Medical Care

The field of medicine and way medicine is practiced has changed significantly in the recent years. Previously the only option available to patients was to see their primary care doctor and then get referrals. Then the patient would go to another doctor, a specialist, and then from that point be referred to either other doctors or treatment providers and then back to their primary care doctor. This way of medical practice can be stressful for the patient who ends up doing a significant amount of coordination between the various medical providers they are getting treated by. The new way of medical care and practice is coordinated and centralized. Medical providers of general practice and specialties are now combined in one location and with one provider.

This type of healthcare treatment is commonly referred to as community healthcare. Momence Illinois healthcare is an example of a community healthcare provider. Patients being treated at a community healthcare center can expect to have treatment by one doctor that is related to and in conjunction with other medical providers. If the patient needs to go to a specialist then the patient will find it easy to get their care coordinated between all the doctors at a community healthcare center.

This type of care at Peotone healthcare is convenient for patients. Treatment at a community healthcare center also means that the patients records are all contained in the same location and accessible by all the different treatment provides the patients sees so long as they are all a part of the community healthcare system. This can be better for the patient who doesn't have to repeat their medical history time and time again with every doctor they see.

Community healthcare centers like Peotone Illinois healthcare also are typically coordinated with a hospital. This means that the patients have access to all the doctors and specialist at the hospital and the community healthcare center. The patient can easily walk into the hospital and feel comfortable knowing these doctors practice similarly to the community healthcare doctors. It is always stressful to go to the hospital but stress can be reduced when you know the doctors at the hospital already have your prior records and can easily get a hold of your other medical doctors.

If you are looking into seeking treatment at a community healthcare center then you should look at Riverside Medical Center. There are many different locations available and the treatment is tremendous. You should try going to Momence Illinois healthcare, Peotone healthcare, or Peotone Illinois healthcare to get some great treatment.

In-Home Non-Medical Care - FAQ's

Through the years of working with adult children and aging parents I have found that one of the barriers to starting services is due to a misunderstanding about non-medical in-home care. Some of the frequently asked questions are:

Is there any state oversight/regulations for non-medical in-home agencies?
At this time the state of Wisconsin has NO requirements for these agencies. Because of this it is important for the customer to be very cautious and ask the right questions when talking with an agency. Although franchise agencies may cost a little more, franchises are regulated by the corporate office and must maintain certain levels of protection for the clients.

Is the person coming into my home insured and bonded?
MOST agencies will provide some level of insurance but are not required to. The consumer can ask to see the provider's certificate of insurance. The certificate will show levels of coverage and policy coverage dates. If you are requesting transportation services, the policy should also have a separate rider for non-owned autos.

How much should I expect to pay?
The latest Genworth Insurance study shows the Wisconsin state average for non-medical care is $18/hour. One has to balance the cost with the desire to remain at home. There may come a time when the cost exceeds other levels of care that are available.

How will I know the people coming into the home are trustworthy?
A reputable agency will do various background checks on their potential employees. This will include criminal and civil charges. If transportation services are included the agency should be requesting a copy of the employees insurance, driving record, and a copy of their drivers license. Agencies providing services for the Department of Health and Human Services are required to perform additional background checks.

Will I have to sign a contract?
Not all agencies require a contract. Contracts are generally created to benefit the agency, not the consumer. If you chose to sign a contract, study the contract very closely and read the details. Most require cancellation notices, termination notices or they will charge even if services are not provided. It is recommended to ask for a blank copy of the contract to review. It is appropriate to request 24 hours to look over the contract before signing.

Do providers have a minimum hour requirement?
Yes, but they all vary. Many times people are forced into signing for more hours than the actually need. This is a good questions to ask at the intial contact with the agency.

What happens if I don't like the person doing the work?
Call the provider immediately and ask for a new person. You have the right as a consumer to be comfortable with the workers coming into your home.

Should I wait until I need someone or plan ahead?
I recommend planning for the day when you will need services. In most cases it's not IF services will be needed, but WHEN they will be needed. Gathering information and talking with providers will keep you from making a bad decision when a crisis happens.

About the Author: Denis L Ashauer, Certified Senior Advisor and President of Home Helpers. Home Helpers is the leading provider for in-home non-medical care. Visit Home Helpers at http://www.homehelpers.cc and visit our blog site at http://homecareexpert.blogspot.com/ to receive caregiving tips for family members caring for loved ones.

Medical Care in Peru

Medical

Medical care in Peru at private clinics is fine, you'll have nothing to worry about if you need to go to the hospital. Clinics and hospitals are clean and have modern equipment. Often doctors have studied in foreign countries and have come back to Peru to work. You can always check and see if your doctor is qualified by going to the Colegio Medico del Peru. Then on the left go to Servicios and Conoce su medico. Doctors must be registered with the CMP in order to legally practise medicine in Peru.

Vaccinations

You are not required to have any vaccinations unless you go to the jungle, where Yellow Fever is required. However, some countries require you to have vaccinations to enter their country if you are coming from Peru, for example, Australia requires you to have Yellow Fever even if you haven't visited the jungle.

Some recommended vaccinations to have are Hepatitis, Tetanus-Diptheria, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever. Malaria can be contracted in the jungle, however, the medicine take to prevent it can produce similar symptoms as the actual disease.

Medicines

Many medicines, including birth control, are cheaply available over-the-counter. Medical insurance is around 200 soles a month.

Anti-Conception Medicine

Condoms are readily available here, so please use them. Good brands are Durex and Piel. As far as pills go, Yasmin (About 45 soles) is an international brand. AIDS, HIV and STDs are big problems here. Abortions are illegal, however, you can get them illegally, though I wouldn't recommend it for safety reasons. The morning after pill is available at some pharmacies.

Clinics

The following have English speaking doctors on staff.

Clinica Anglo Americana, Clinica Javier Prado, Maison de Sante, Clinica San Borja, Clinica San Felipe, Clinica Tezza, Clinica Santa Isabel

Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked (mainly teaching English) in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.

COBRA Medical Care Insurance Vs Individual OR Family Medical Care Insurance

While C.O.B.R.A. insurance can be a good option for many families and individuals, people too often take the COBRA option when it isn't the best option. If compared to individual and/or family medical care Insurance, COBRA can be pricey, it can conclude too early and it can put someone else in control of your policy.

- C.O.B.R.A. is often too costly

- C.O.B.R.A. is s short-term solution

- COBRA is under someone else's control

COBRA is often too costly

The COBRA law gives you the right to be covered by a group Insurance policy. One of the biggest misconceptions former employees have about health coverage is that group assurance policies are less costly than family and/or individual healthcare coverage policies that you can acquire on your own. Although this is sometimes true, it isn't usually. In a lot of states, medical care assurance costs more when bought through an employer.

This is because of the cost of governmental mandates that apply to group medical care insurance policies that don't apply to private medical insurance policies. A company offering a group assurance policy may have to offer a policy to anyone regardless of their medical history. assurance companies cannot drop an insured person from their individual or family health care coverage plan just because their medicalcare has worsened since they applied, but they won't accept unhealthy applicants. This can mean that the insurance company's costs are much higher for their group Insurance policies than for their family or individual medical coverage policies.

You may be offered the group Insurance policy that you had before your job ended and/or if your company has made changes in the policies they offer to their current employees, it may be a different health policy.

COBRA is a short-term solution

In most situations, COBRA can be kept for a maximum of 18 months, however in certain scenarios, this time period can be extended to 36 months. This can mean that your coverage can be over when you need it the most. A good private health care Insurance policy can cover you until you reach the age of 65.

You may be healthy enough to qualify for a long-term medical assurance policy when your employment ends but not 18 months later. If you develop a condition and/or have trauma that prevents you from buying a policy at the end of your C.O.B.R.A. eligibility

COBRA is under someone else's control

When you mail in your C.O.B.R.A. payments, you don't send them directly to your insurer. While this happens rarely, sometimes a former employer will keepmoney and never pay the insurance company.

If your company changes the plans that are offered to their current employees, they may also change the plans available to those eligible for healthcare Insurance because they have taken the C.O.B.R.A. option. This may mean that your policy may not cover you as well as it used to. You may suddenly be in the position of having a pricey plan that no longer covers you well.

Situations where COBRA is better than private healthcare Insurance:

When C.O.B.R.A. is much less pricey than a individual assurance plan

A individual or family health care insurance plan isn't available to you

You are assured a health care assurance plan before your COBRA eligibility ends.

There are scenarios where COBRA might be a better option than a private medical care Insurance policy. If you are not able to acquire a health policy on your own at a good price and you find that your C.O.B.R.A. offer is reasonable C.O.B.R.A. may be your best options. This of course is also true if you aren't able to purchase a C.O.B.R.A. policy because of a pre-existing condition. Another situation when COBRA may be a good option is if you will be eligible for Medicare and/or some other medical plan before your COBRA eligibility will end.

Why You Need a Nurse Telephone Triage Service

When you made the decision to hire an answering service, then you already took a big step toward giving your customers the quality of business that will make them want to stay loyal to your business. However, you can take a step farther and provide your patients an even better service when your office is not open to help them by choosing a nurse telephone triage service.

A medical call center offers the service of fielding calls. They can provide trained operators to answer patient calls when your office is closed and then direct them to emergency help or take a message and deliver it to you quickly. In addition to this valuable service, you may wish to include a triage nurse call service, which can provide medical advice to your customers.

A triage nurse is someone who is especially trained to assess patients' health questions and concerns while on the phone. These people will be able to provide your patients with medical help to an extent and recognize when the patients need emergency medical care or further medical help.

Why would you need to enlist a nurse telephone triage service? There are many reasons, but the main one being the best interest of the patients. When patients can call in at any hour and get their medical questions answered, they will be getting the service they need.

In addition, you will be allowing your patients to find even more reasons to be confident in their medical professional. You cannot be there all the time if they need you. You have to take personal time for yourself and your family. Although a medical answering service can take calls and messages, a nurse telephone triage service can actually assess the problem.

Your patients will rest much easier knowing that they can get medical help from their doctor when they call, even after hours.

Finally, when you work with a quality medical call center, they can provide the extended triage nurse service as a part of your plan. In fact, a quality call center will carefully filter your patients' calls to make sure that the ones that actually go to the triage nurse are ones that honestly need their help. This way, you can save money.

When you choose this type if set up, you can count on your call center to get messages to you in a timely manner. Then, you can trust that they will send your patient to a nurse telephone triage service when needed.

A Brief Overview of State and Private Medical Care in the UK

Some kind of medical services is can be sought in every nation in the world. The standard of care essentially depends on what location you find yourself in. This care can range from the very best to very simple. This piece looks at both private medical care and state-funded provision in Great Britain. Overwhelmingly, the NHS is the main care provider.

The majority of medical services in Britain are provided by the NHS. This service is paid for through taxation and is cost free at delivery point. While this medical care is widely thought of as good, waiting times can at times be significant for some operations and procedures.

One criticism of the state NHS is that some medications are not cost effective because to their pricing. Those who would benefit from private medical care might not to have this issue. They also get to enjoy faster service and more private surroundings or rooms.

Having said that, the NHS still remains extremely widely used - and it is considered generally that private medical care is only utilised as a 'top up' to what many people see as a dependable, and egalitarian system of medical care. A & E (or Accident and Emergency) and hospital care is free at the point of delivery, but some citizens (for the main part working people) are required to pay for prescriptions. People who are in full time education, and those of retirement age and other ones on benefits relating to incapacity get prescriptions for free.

The majority of the Britain's private medical care is offered to the general population by BUPA (British United Provident Association). In 2008 the group acquired the Cromwell Hospital in the middle of London - creating its principle medical facility in the country's capital city, which many say is indicative of their aspirations.

There are also various other private medical care hospitals available across the nation, be it in Leicester, Glasgow, London or Birmingham. This sort of care is frequently thought to need medical insurance, but in reality lots of hospitals provide the possibility of one-off payments for single procedure. As has been well documented, private health care can lower or indeed get rid of the need to wait for operations.

In situations where individual people are waiting for procedures which have a substantial waiting list on the National Health Service, private health care can be an option - the big reason for selecting it is frequently the pain involved in the ailment remaining without treatment.

Whatever the kind of health insurance a patient has - medical services in Britain are good, catering for all pockets and all needs. Whether you are in the ninety-two percent of people who use the always-present NHS, or 1 of the eight percent who decide to top up their options with a faster private scheme, quality medical care is available for everyone.

Finding a Medical Care Plan - What to Look For and What to Avoid

There are certain things you should look for and certain things you should avoid when searching for a medical care plan for yourself or your family. Here are the most important:

Look for:

• A financial solid insurance company. You can check the financial ratings at Standard & Poors website, or AM Best.
• A company that is reliable and pays their claims without hassle. Call your states insurance department, or ask someone that has had experience with claims from this company.
• An insurer with a large network of doctors and hospitals you can use with the plan.
• A company with an upstanding Better Business Bureau record. Make sure there aren't excessive complaints. Also make sure that any complaints have been properly resolved.
• A medical care plan with a sufficient lifetime and annual maximum benefit. (this is the most a plan will pay toward your medical costs in one year, or in your lifetime)
• A company that has a track record of low and consistent annual rate increases. Consistent = predictable.

Avoid:

• Plans that only cover one surgery if you need two or more because of the same medical event.
• Plans with low outpatient, inpatient, and other benefit limits.
• Insurance companies that claim to have lower prices than everyone else, but better, or similar benefits.
• Companies that are being investigated or watched by your state insurance department.
• Insurers that offer to return some or all of your premium to you in a number of years.

Knowing what to look for and what to avoid will ensure that you or your family have a stable and reliable medical care plan.

Individual Health Care Plans - Finding an Individual Medical Plan to Fit Your Budget

When it comes to insurance, individual health care plans can be expensive depending on the options that you want. The most affordable health plans will be found through a group plan that is offered by most employers, but not everyone can take advantage of this. If you are self-employed or unemployed, you will have to use other alternatives for insurance coverage.

Insurance is something that I dislike. You pay for years and may never use it, but just trying being without it and needing it. I would rather pay into the plan for years and not use it than not have it and need it. When it comes to your health, all you need is one accident or catastrophic illness and you will be facing a medical bill in excess of $10,000 and in many cases it will actually be a lot higher than that.

Individual health insurance is actually quite easy to get and comes in a variety of prices and plans. It is just a matter of searching through the available plans and finding the one that best fits your needs, both medically and budget wise. Most websites enable you to both compare the available plans and apply from the same page.

You will find there is no shortage of private insurance plans. Insurance is something that should not be taken lightly. You should be covered at all times. If you are getting ready to purchase COBRA, you may want to take the time to get a free quote for a private plan. You may be surprised at how competitive these private insurance plans can be. Take some time to find out what is available and then get the protection that you need.

Three Reasons You Need a Home Medical Alert Button

Seniors and disabled adults can live with so much more security and safety by using all the components of a fully functional home medical alert button. In addition to helping out when someone falls and cannot reach the telephone, there are many other life enhancing functions to these handy little buttons.

1. Home alert buttons can be used to order diabetic supplies and equipment. Diabetics need supplies to check and maintain their blood sugar on a daily basis. Many diabetics check their blood sugar four or more times a day and inject insulin twice a day or more, as well as take oral medications. It's easy to understand that diabetic supplies are extremely important- and they can be used up quickly. Remembering to order diabetic supplies in a timely manner can be difficult - especially if someone needs to go out to the pharmacy to do it. With a medical alert button, seniors can order their diabetic supplies at the touch of a button. Call center personnel will take the order and make sure all necessary supplies are delivered on time.
2. Respiratory care equipment is another common health need for seniors. From oxygen concentrators, tanks and portable units to CPAPs to nebulizers, respiratory equipment can be brought out directly to a patient's home, offering convenience and availability for every need. A home medical alert button can provide immediate contact with respiratory service providers, so seniors in need of these services will know they never need to worry about equipment malfunctions, prescription changes or respiratory supply needs again.
3. Home medical care can be contacted through medical alert buttons. When a family member has a decline in health or a sudden illness, home medical care may become necessary in the blink of an eye. Trying to access the appropriate agencies and coordinate care schedules can be overwhelming. Home medical alert buttons access call centers with fully educated staff that can connect you to the appropriate home medical care providers for the situation. This convenience can help to relieve much of the stress involved in needing to find home medical care for a loved one.

An alert button can be a life-changing connection for a senior citizen. In addition to providing a connection to resources like diabetic supplies, respiratory care equipment and home medical care, they can also be an immediate connection to emergency medical care in the event of a fall or sudden illness. Seniors can live a full life with renewed independence by having this constant source of help at the press of a button. Family members can rest easy knowing that if their loved ones should need help in an emergency, it is available to them through an easy to use, one- touch alert button.

Universal Health Care - What Losing a Home to Medical Bills Has Taught Me

I represent one of those armies of the 46 million uninsured the media tosses around as a statistic. In short order I had cancer. Our business crumbled. We lost a home. The health insurance evaporated. Following this, I got divorced. I was left with an army of creditors, five children and a series of chronic health conditions. Having been married for 14 years and chiefly a stay at home mom, without a degree, did not market me for the workplace. I've been without insurance for nearly a decade. I don't just hear the statistics, I live them.

Lest you think mine is an isolated, tragic story, may I remind you that 71 percent of the bankruptcies following cancer patients in a recent study were those with insurance? The average insured bankrupt individual had 19K plus in out of pocket, deductibles and patient cost. Contrast that to the average uninsured with around 26K in expense. It's still a chunk of change to toss at medical bills, along with premiums-money that many Americans do not have as expendable cash.

Imagine if you had the misfortune to have a chronic condition or one that lingered over a few years of co-payments and deductibles? Cancer patients, once in remission, typically require scans to track health issues for extended periods of time. In fiscal terms, it's likely you may meet your co-pay and out of pocket for several years to come in that scenario. Toss unemployment in the mix, and you've created a volatile fiscal event for most families. Less than seven percent of all unemployed can afford to COBRA their insurance. Many of the chronically ill become too sick to work, thus losing their jobs and their insurance.

What's the solution? I remember sitting in the hospital crying all over a nurse, regarding the rising costs we were faced with during treatment. Her response was to pat my knee, and comment, "Don't worry, you can still file bankruptcy." I suppose she meant it to comfort me. However, living with the repercussions of unaffordable insurance, negative credit and raising children is not a comfortable life. Likewise for the third of under or uninsured, who've lives have significantly been altered by medical costs, I suspect it's not a comforting thought for them as well.

You and I see these costs in reflected in second mortgages to leverage money for medical bills, bankruptcies which put a fiscal drain back into health care system of 34 billion, and nearly a trillion already being spent by the federal government. For those who state that affordable care is a daunting task, the premiums I've been quoted over the years were up to a half of my income. Current premiums, several years after cancer, now represent a fifth to a sixth of my income. How many of you, upon reading this can live on a half of your income and raise a family? Or would enjoy giving up a sixth of your income, while paying current obligations?

80 percent of uninsured work full-time. These millions are breadwinners, small business owners and those employed at companies struggling with economics too grave to provide insurance for workers. Roughly a third of all small companies do not provide medical benefits. It's become a vicious cycle. Medical costs have soared. In response, businesses have limited or dropped coverage for employees, who in turn frequently file bankruptcy or become delinquent on bills. For each person who's filed medical bankruptcy, we've lost a consumer to feed the economy and gained a negative asset on the health system.

In my own case, I've never had both credit and income in this decade to be enough of a consumer to buy property. At 44, it's likely I may never, given my continual medical bills bleeding me dry like perennial fiscal leeches. I've lost both a home in the past and the possibility of one in the future.

Hospitals blame rising costs on 34 billion annually in bad debt. Consumers blame hospitals for soaring prices of treatment, etc. Millions more due to economics, will be adding to future health care drain.

I am certain others, like me, healed at the hands of American medicine are grateful beyond words for health. However, I pose this question- is there another option to provide medical care without so critical a cost?

It's time to evaluate other possibilities.

I've published a book about my experiences in the health care system. Upon researching it, these statistics I've shared with you stand out, as evidence of a system in crisis. We can choose to allow this to continue on as it has- like a definition of insanity, attempting to produce different results while applying the same methods. Or we can move forward and seek a new alternative.

As an industrial safety and health professional, I've worked with OSHA compliance for five years in a wide variety of settings for a five year period. I am a federally authorized trainer for safety related industrial needs and a CPR instructor. A career published writer, I am the author of "No Room in the Inn," an ebook chronicling my decade as one of those uninsured masses mentioned above, available on Mobipocket and Amazon. I am an advocate for women and work with finance for credit challenged females in my blogsite. My work with career counseling also involves resume building and job coaching. Please feel free to contact me with any assistance in professional writing, job coaching or resume development. Comments, likewise are always welcome.

Air Ambulance Company - Medical Care

The following points below are the standards needed for the qualifications:

1. Aircraft and flight crews

The main point of the air ambulance is the aerial transportation, the pilot, and the crew. In the United States, Commission on Air Medical Transportation System (CAMTS) has given accreditation to air ambulance companies, just to make sure if they have fit the requirements needed. Although CAMTS accreditation is voluntary, there are some nations that include this accreditation as a requirement for the medical company.

2. Medical staff

Although it is not compulsory, but an air ambulance medical company is expected to have Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, flight nurses, a respiratory therapist, and in some cases are physician; but in critical cases they are obligated to have a physician and nurse.

3. Medical equipment

The aircraft used for an air ambulance is specially designed for life supporting activity. So, there are a few differences in the interior of the aircraft. There's a lot of advance medical equipment on board to support the air ambulance crew for doing their job.

The main service is transporting patient from one location to another location as fast and safe as possible, but there are other services provided by the medical company, such as providing basic medical transportation, exclusive medical transportation, and other services.

If you want to take air ambulance service, you can get in touch with their customer service, by calling them or visiting their website online. Then select the services you need and match your budget, or if you didn't know what kind of services you need, just ask them what service they would recommend. After that, they will ask you for further information such as the name of the patient, his/her age, the current location of the patient, and the name of the destination; and then the medical company will handle other necessary arrangements, also they will monitor the flight process until the patient successfully transported.

So, when our life or the lives of our beloved ones are threatened, and we're really in need of a secure and fast transportation to save ourselves or our beloved ones, there are medical compa

How to Get Quick and Efficient Emergency Medical Care

If you have to go to an hospital emergency room (ER) you will likely have to wait a period of time before you see a doctor. The ERs are always busy, even during the night.

It helps to know how the system works so you will be properly prepared. You want to see a nurse and a medical doctor as soon as possible.

You are usually greeted by a triage nurse who will assess the priority of your medical need. This person will provide a visual cursory exam and then ask several questions. It is in your best interest to have your medical history prepared. This will make sure it is complete and accurate.

So, before you endure a medical emergency write your medical history on an index card (or any good paper). Be sure to include all allergies and conditions you have. List all previous illnesses (but not minor colds, cuts and such) You may want to put this card in a special place so you can easily find it or tell someone where it is. Perhaps your wallet would be the best place to put this information.

Your nurse will be asking such questions as the time of onset of the condition and all medications you are taking at time. This is not the time to draw conclusions about your condition, assumin you are not a physician. Do not selectively omit any information, even if you think it is too minor to mention. If your situation involves breathing or bleeding, tell the nurse about that first because life threatening conditions are given first priority in the emergency room.

Since the hospital will naturally want to know how you are going to pay for the ER care, be sure to put your health insurance policy number on the back of the medical card. Include your date of birth, Social Security number, your employer's address and phone number.

If you arrive at a hospital by ambulance, you are usually given high priority. They will, at least, wheel you into an ER room where you will wait for care. If you think your condition needs very fast care, be sure to call an ambulance. When you get to the hospital you are automatically considered a patient of the hospital. This is not so if YOU walk in through the main door without an official escort.