Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care.

More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Or it may include assistance with cooking, cleaning, other housekeeping jobs, and monitoring one’s daily regimen of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

At this point, it is important to understand the difference between home health care and home care services. Although they sound the same (and home health care may include some home care services), home health care is more medically oriented. While home care typically includes chore and housecleaning services, home health care usually involves helping seniors recover from an illness or injury. That is why the people who provide home health care are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides. Most work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments that are licensed by the state.

How Do I Make Sure That Home Health Care Is Quality Care?
As with any important purchase, it is always a good idea to talk with friends, neighbors, and your local area agency on aging to learn more about the home health care agencies in your community.
In looking for a home health care agency, the following 20 questions can be used to help guide your search:

How long has the agency been serving this community? Does the agency have any printed brochures describing the services it offers and how much they cost? If so, get one. Is the agency an approved Medicare provider? Is the quality of care certified by a national accrediting body such as the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations? Does the agency have a current license to practice (if required in the state where you live)? Does the agency offer seniors a “Patients’ Bill of Rights” that describes the rights and responsibilities of both the agency and the senior being cared for? Does the agency write a plan of care for the patient (with input from the patient, his or her doctor and family), and update the plan as necessary? Does the care plan outline the patient’s course of treatment, describing the specific tasks to be performed by each caregiver? How closely do supervisors oversee care to ensure quality? Will agency caregivers keep family members informed about the kind of care their loved one is getting? Are agency staff members available around the clock, seven days a week, if necessary? Does the agency have a nursing supervisor available to provide on-call assistance 24 hours a day? How does the agency ensure patient confidentiality? How are agency caregivers hired and trained? What is the procedure for resolving problems when they occur, and who can I call with questions or complaints? How does the agency handle billing? Is there a sliding fee schedule based on ability to pay, and is financial assistance available to pay for services? Will the agency provide a list of references for its caregivers? Who does the agency call if the home health care worker cannot come when scheduled? What type of employee screening is done?

When purchasing home health care directly from an individual provider (instead of through an agency), it is even more important to screen the person thoroughly. This should include an interview with the home health caregiver to make sure that he or she is qualified for the job. You should request references. Also, prepare for the interview by making a list if any special needs the senior might have. For example, you would want to note whether the elderly patient needs help getting into or out of a wheelchair. Clearly, if this is the case, the home health caregiver must be able to provide that assistance. The screening process will go easier if you have a better idea of what you are looking for first.

Another thing to remember is that it always helps to look ahead, anticipate changing needs, and have a backup plan for special situations. Since every employee occasionally needs time off (or a vacation), it is unrealistic to assume that one home health care worker will always be around to provide care. Seniors or family members who hire home health workers directly may want to consider interviewing a second part-time or on-call person who can be available when the primary caregiver cannot be. Calling an agency for temporary respite care also may help to solve this problem (see the Respite Care fact sheet for more information about these services).

In any event, whether you arrange for home health care through an agency or hire an independent home health care aide on an individual basis, it helps to spend some time preparing for the person who will be doing the work. Ideally, you could spend a day with him or her, before the job formally begins, to discuss what will be involved in the daily routine. If nothing else, tell the home health care provider (both verbally and in writing) the following things that he or she should know about the senior:

Illnesses/injuries, and signs of an emergency medical situation Likes and dislikes Medications, and how and when they should be taken Need for dentures, eyeglasses, canes, walkers, etc. Possible behavior problems and how best to deal with them Problems getting around (in or out of a wheelchair, for example, or trouble walking) Special diets or nutritional needs Therapeutic exercises.

In addition, you should give the home health care provider more information about:

Clothing the senior may need (if/when it gets too hot or too cold) How you can be contacted (and who else should be contacted in an emergency) How to find and use medical supplies and medications When to lock up the apartment/house and where to find the keys Where to find food, cooking utensils, and serving items Where to find cleaning supplies Where to find light bulbs and flash lights, and where the fuse box is located (in case of a power failure) Where to find the washer, dryer, and other household appliances (as well as instructions for how to use them).

A WORD OF CAUTION . . .
Although most states require that home health care agencies perform criminal background checks on their workers and carefully screen job applicants for these positions, the actual regulations will vary depending on where you live. Therefore, before contacting a home health care agency, you may want to call your local area agency on aging or department of public health to learn what laws apply in your state.

HOW CAN I PAY FOR HOME HEALTH CARE?
The cost of home health care varies across states and within states. In addition, costs will fluctuate depending on the type of health care professional required. Home care services can be paid for directly by the patient and his or her family members, or through a variety of public and private sources. Sources for home health care funding include Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Veterans’ Administration, and private insurance.

Medicare is the largest single payer of home care services. The Medicare program will pay for home health care if all of the following conditions are met:

The patient must be homebound and under a doctor’s care; The patient must need skilled nursing care, or occupational, physical, or speech therapy, on at least an intermittent basis (that is, regularly but not continuously) The services provided must be under a doctor’s supervision and performed as part of a home health care plan written specifically for that patient The patient must be eligible for the Medicare program and the services ordered must be “medically reasonable and necessary” The home health care agency providing the services must be certified by the Medicare program.

To get help with your Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048 for the speech and hearing impaired) or look on the Internet at http://www.medicare.gov.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HOME HEALTH CARE?
There are several national organizations that can provide additional consumer information about home health care services. These include the following:

The National Association for Home Care, which can be reached at 202-547-7424 or by visiting its website at www.nahc.org. The postal address is: 228 7th St., SE; Washington, DC 20003. The Visiting Nurse Associations of America, which can be reached at 617-737-3200 or by visiting its website at http://www.vnaa.org. The postal addresses are: 99 Summer St., Suite 1700; Boston, MA 02110.

To find out more about home health care programs where you live, you will want to contact your local aging information and assistance provider or area agency on aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or http://www.eldercare.gov  can help connect you to these agencies.

Case Study

WHEN IS HOME HEALTH CARE APPROPRIATE?
Because it is not always clear to the average person when an ailing senior needs home health care and when he or she needs nursing home care, it is usually best to consult a medical professional for advice. The following case study describes one situation in which home health care proved to be the right choice.
Francis is 84 years old and recently had a stroke. She was hospitalized briefly and then discharged to continue recovering at home. To enable her to return home, her doctor called a home health care agency, and the agency gave Francis a complete home health care plan for six weeks. Since the doctor ordered the home care for Francis, Medicare paid for it.

For the first week after Francis went home, a nurse visited her every day. The nurse met with Francis’s family to discuss her special dietary needs and to arrange for exercise therapy to help Francis regain her strength. Once that was done, the nurse visited Francis twice a week to check on how well she was recovering. The home health care agency also sent a homemaker, a personal care attendant, and a physical therapist to visit Francis several times during the week. The homemaker would do the shopping and cook light meals. The personal care attendant would help Francis bathe, get dressed, and walk. The physical therapist would keep Francis moving and see to it that she got some exercise to aid in her recovery.

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Rightly it is said that when the child is born it comes with all those values that parents possess. Of course, it is only parents’ duty to make your child learn healthy habits. Child should keep on learning new moral values which are needed and important in their life.

Firstly, practicing healthy habits improve their own skills and development.

Primary duty for every child is to take personal care of them then of others. Knowing basic health hygiene factor is going to be beneficial in their very own life not to others. From the begging teach your child healthy practices. Making your child aware of various diseases and sickness helps to take preventive steps against if any symptoms seen.

At the initial stage deals with routine affairs in a healthy way. Teach your children to wash their hands nicely after playing. Washing with warm water and a doctor’s soap is enough to keep your hands germs free. It is strictly advisable to wash hands properly between fingers after playing with any pets or an animal. These are some healthy hygiene tips keep your child away from bacterial infection and other problems. Try to keep yourself clean and healthy and rest assured for everything. Practicing healthy habits right from childhood, helps your child to follow easily even at later stage. To make your child understand in a better way keep on experimenting in different ways. Small children games and even showing such gestures works a lot on your baby. Do remember your baby should not feel a burden to learn these healthy habits from beginning itself. Please do not compel your child in any way if he/she reacts in it very badly. Know your baby very well. Always take care of their mood, wish rather than just spoiling their childhood days by forcing them to practice health hygiene.

Almost every child keeps them engaged in playful activities. Like educational baby toys, wooden toys, electronic baby toys, clay toys or simple dolls are often seen in hands of small kids. These toys help a lot to encourage your child to gain social values or moral values. Try to teach them with innovative ideas and in creative ways so that they can easily grasp. Bathing games will encourages them to keep themselves clean and learn body parts.

Toddlers should learn good oral hygiene early as well. Brush your teeth regularly and in a nice way so that your tooth does not decay and gums are free from germs. Take proper diet of green vegetables and other nutritious food. Healthy habits will lead to good health so always keep in mind besides practicing all these steps, a simple way would be to keep you clean because health hygiene has its own significance.

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Most people delay buying a long term care health insurance because they think that it is too early to buy this insurance or they think they may never want a long term care health insurance. But unfortunately it is seen that many people at their post retirement stage struggle hard to meet their medical bills and often they are forced to shell out all their savings in the treatment. Therefore without delay buy a long term care health insurance for yourself and your family.

Long term care is a variety of services that include medical and non-medical care to people who have chronic diseases or even disability. The diseases may include diabetes, asthma etc which requires constant care and caution. The care may vary from normal health care at home to hospital treatment.

In earlier times, family members lived within close proximity and could care for elderly or ill parents in their homes. The situation has changed much now. Families are scattered around the world. This can cause a real dilemma when the parents are in poor health and live in another city or state. A long term care health insurance policy can provide the in-home care needed. The adult children can have peace of mind that their elderly parents are taken care of.

Apart from that, if after retirement you want to remain independent without being a liability on your sons or daughters, a long term health insurance policy is a must for you. It provides for both in-home care and treatments in hospitals and nursing homes. In-home care may include health care (nursing services), household help (homemaker services), and personal care (companion or caretaker services). A long term care insurance policy pays for all these facilities.

The cost of health care and treatment is no longer cheap. Along with the advancement in technology, the expenditure of medical treatments is also on a rise. This cost can even be higher if you need constant and on-going treatment for your chronic ailments. Most often your normal health insurance policy will not cover the costs of long term treatments. So buying a long term health insurance policy is very important.

Before buying a long term care health insurance policy you need to evaluate all the quotes that are available in the market. There are some insurance companies that cover only one disease. You should be beware of such companies. For this you should read and re-read the policy documents provided by the insurance companies. Today all the companies that provide long term health insurance policy have online facilities. This has helped the people to search for the quotes to a large extent. In the comforts of your home you can sit in front of your computer and browse and gather all the information.

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It is pretty well known that different people get different results with the same skin care products. This can be caused by variations in body chemistry, but more often than not it’s because everyone applies skin care products differently.   

Of course, if a particular product doesn’t give you the results you expect, it doesn’t always mean you are applying the product incorrectly. Unfortunately, many products just don’t work as advertised, no matter what you do! To top that off, some products may work for some people but not for others even when used properly. Nevertheless, when a product doesn’t work, it may often be due to incorrect application.   

Products like skin creams, gels. or lotions are a mixture of chemicals that have a biological action, applied topically to the skin. So the effectiveness depends on whether the active ingredients work, and whether they are absorbed properly into your skin. Your skin’s temperature, hydration, environment and other factors will influence your skin’s ability to absorb the active ingredients in a product. To be sure that you get optimal effectiveness of you skin care products:

    Cleanse skin before applying any products. The best time to apply is right after you come out of a warm shower or bath because not only is your skin clean, but it is also moist and warm, so it will absorb whatever you apply much better. Do not wash with hot water because excessive heat accelerates aging. Water should be comfortably warm but not hot. However, if you plan to apply anything oily that blocks the pores, splash cool water on yourself to close pores. Just pat dry with a towel. Also, use a charcoal shower filter to prevent exposure to the chlorine in the water. You probably drink bottled or filtered water – but you can absorb more chlorine through your skin during a shower than you would get from an 8 oz. glass of water!
     
    When cleansing your skin, don’t use regular soap or shampoo, they’re much too drying. Use a good moisturizing soap, a skin cleanser, or plain warm (not hot) water.
     
    The top layer of skin is mostly made from dry, dead cells. When this layer becomes too thick, either from aging or poor skin care skin, the active ingredients of a skin care product have trouble penetrating. Professional microdermabrasion safely removes that top layer of skin, revealing the healthier, younger-looking skin underneath and allowing skin care products to be better absorbed for greater effectiveness. In addition, microdermabrasion done regularly strengthens the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production, which helps diminish wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and many other blemishes.
     
    Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products. Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After applying, gently massage the products into your skin by tapping the area with your fingers for 30 seconds or so.
     
    When using a professional microdermabrasion product at home, it is important to read the directions and follow them very carefully. Remember, professional microdermabrasion is usually applied with expensive machines and medically-trained professionals. You can save a lot by doing it yourself, but don’t be over-eager to get that 10-years-younger look. Apply the sponges gently the first time – let your skin adjust to the application. Add a little more time and pressure each application, about 2 weeks apart, up to a maximum of 3-5 minutes (depending on the sensitivity of your skin).
     
    If you have sensitive skin or allergies, always test the products you want to use first on a small patch of skin on your underarm (the soft skin on the bottom of your forearm).
     
   
   DO YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?
   

Did you know sensitive skin is very common? More than 40% of people say they have it. Its causes include age, heredity, gender, and racial differences. These questions below can help you find out if your skin may be sensitive. Of course, a trip to your dermatologist is the best way to find out!

    Does your skin get extra dry after you wash it with soap?
    Does your skin get extra oily and break out after you use particular types of moisturizers?
     
     If you answered Yes to one or both of these questions, you may have sensitive skin.
     
    Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel “tight” after coming into direct or indirect contact with perfumes and/or particular shampoos, shaving creams, detergents, dish soaps, hair sprays, cleaning products, or deodorants?
     
     Irritants to sensitive skin include many household and personal products. The fragrances and dyes in just about every household product, and many personal care products, can cause irritation either from direct contact or even from deposits left on your clothes, towels, or bedding. If you have any of the classic signs and symptoms of sensitive skin in Question 3, try to use hypoallergenic products without ingredients known to cause skin reactions.
     
    Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel “tight” after extended exposure to sun, wind, heat, or cold?
     
     Sensitive skin often reacts to extreme weather conditions. In fact, anything in the environment that damages your skin’s natural protective barrier against water evaporation — called sebum — can irritate sensitive skin.
     
    Do you have acne or psoriasis?
     
     People with acne, psoriasis, or skin conditions like eczema often have sensitive skin. These conditions impair immune system functioning and/or destroy the skin’s protective barrier. If you have of these conditions, you may have sensitive skin.

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Many seniors enjoy living in their own home with the freedom to do as they please. While some health problems may limit a senior’s ability to do so, with the right home health care, a senior can enjoy an independent life in the presence of illness or other health conditions. When a senior receives adequate health care, it can keep the senior out of a convalescent or nursing home.

For many seniors, just knowing that they will be allowed to recover at home will put them in better spirits, which is more conducive to faster healing. The goal of home health care is to provide the senior with any necessary treatment as the senior heals from an illness or injury in the home setting. Home health care concerns medical treatments and services would otherwise be done in a hospital or other health care setting. Home health care can include services such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, social services and speech therapy.

A doctor will prescribe home health care when the doctor feels that a patient may recover successfully at home. The doctor may order of services of a nurse, homemaker, physical therapist and a personal care worker as part of the home health care plan. Each of these personnel members would perform different tasks as the senior recovers.

The nurse would administer medications, give the patient dietary tips and would arrange any other treatments or services that are necessary. The homemaker would do the household chores, shopping and preparation of meals. The physical therapist would perform such services that would help the patient get their strength back. The personal care worker would help the patient move around their home, including such tasks as dressing, bathing and walking with the patient. The people who provide home health care services are usually licensed nurses, homemakers, therapists and personal care workers.

Many products can be purchased for the purpose of home health care. Not all the products are related to the patient’s body and instead are used to make the home safer for the patient. Such home health care product and services involves the modification of the outdoor steps, seating, inside walls, bath and shower. A walkway may be built or railings may be placed inside the home. Mobility equipment such as a cane or wheelchair may be required. Any necessary medical equipment may be rented before making a purchase as well.

Home health care services may be performed by a public, private or other organization that is devoted to these services. Home health care workers are checked by most states for criminal backgrounds. Not all states perform a background check. If a state does not perform these checks, it is up to the person hiring the services of a health care worker to make sure that their criminal record is clear.

Home health care is not the same service as home care for seniors. Generally, home care revolves around house cleaning and other chores at the house. Home health care involves medical treatments or those services that are required to help the patient recover.

Home health care allows a senior’s life to go on despite any injury or medical condition. A health problem does not automatically mean that a person has to be cooped up in a health care facility or nursing home. Patients that receive home health care are grateful for the opportunity to avoid the hospital or nursing home.

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You still need to be comfortable even if you are already senile and you are thinking of a home health care service. This idea was incorporated by the senior home care services industry that is why they made some expansions which can enhance a person’s existence while experiencing personalized home care treatment. Before anything else, you have to decide first what service is more to you liking. Would it be the home maker services, personal care, or the companion services?

One kind of a home health care service is that one called the personal care service. This type of service caters to the needs of individuals. Bathing is one of the services offered in this type. Aside from that, this service also makes sure that your loved one will remain mentally and physically healthy even if he or she is already old. They also take time to ask the assistance of health care experts and family members so that they will be able to plan and prepare the meal of persons who are following strict special diets. The second kind of service is what they call as the companion care service. This type revolves around the idea that even old people need the company of other people. Not only will your loved one have a companion who will entertain him with conversations, he will also have one who will run his errands and do his grocery shopping.

The last kind of a home health care service is the home maker service. This type of service shares some similarities with the personal care and the companion type of services. Though this type may include preparation of light meals and performance of light housekeeping tasks, the types of services being offered here are restricted. The service which will be rendered will depend upon the senior citizens possessions or income. Evaluate the different agencies which offer these services in terms of their credibility and capacity to supply responsible care to you, if you are hoping to avail of the services for yourself, or to your loved ones.

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Cancer can come in many forms, It can affect even the smallest bone or muscle inside the human body. According to statistics, the leading cause of death in the majority of the worlds population is lung cancer. It is no surprise that our planets ozone layer is being destroyed by chemicals and pollutants that fill our atmosphere, therefore it is not difficult to understand that whoever is breathing in these pollutants can have their health adversely affected.

Throughout the world, cancer is known to be one of the most deadly diseases ever to have affected the human race. The vast majority of medical researchers all over the world, consider cancer to be a “metabolic disease”. Metabolic diseases are those diseases, which are known to affect the human metabolism. As already said, we know that cancer is considered to be a “metabolic disease” and that has been drawn from the fact that, cancer as a disease affects the human cells in the body.

Cells are microscopic living units in the body, which together form all living organs in the body. At any given time or state, the human body is made up of a billion cells, which together constitute the human organs. Cancer as a disease is considered to be a deadly, just because of the fact that the disease affects the human cells. In cancer, abnormal and unusual cells crop up in the human body and they grow and spread in the human body at an alarming and very fast rate.

Usually, the normal cells divide and grow to a certain level and then they die after a short time, unlike the unusual cells which do not follow the normal rate of growth and division. The cancer cells carry on dividing and continue growing unlike the usual cells. The cancer cells unlike the usual cells do not die and start getting clumped together, which in turn forms a tumor.

Lung cancer is a condition wherein there is uncontrolled growth of cells that are malignant inside a person’s lung. People who are most commonly affected by this health problem are those in the age group of 40 and above. Both sexes are affected but this is much more common in men.

One of the most common causes of lung cancer is smoking. It is precipitated more by a person’s lifestyle. Similar with drinking alcohol, smoking can also be influenced by factors like friends, family, and environment. Although lung cancer can also be acquired because of passive smoking.

Passive smoking. Also known as second-hand smoking, is the one contributing major factor as to why lung cancer is prominent. Passive smoking happens when a person, who is with someone who is actively smoking, inhales the smoke coming from the cigarette. It also occurs when airborne pollutants like asbestos dust are inhaled. Just by inhaling smoke coming out from a vehicle’s muffler, you are prone to having a lung cancer.

True, sources of lung cancer are quite rampant but there is no obvious preventive measure rather than avoiding smoke. If you are a smoker, just stop smoking. That can save you at least 7 minutes of your life and therefore you live at least 7 minutes longer per cigarette.

Obviously, the affected part of the body is the lungs. Therefore, if you are experiencing signs and symptoms which are turning severe and you know that you are an active smoker, then now is the time to make a quick visit to your doctor and ask him about your problem. To help you become more aware, here are the signs and symptoms that a smoker or anyone else can experience and perhaps detect lung cancer.

- severe and permanent cough that produces sputum flecked with blood. Cough, at the beginning, may just be like any other cough but as it advances, the cough becomes more prominent and turns out to be a burden. Your chest will develop a painful and heavy feel.

- wheezing and chest pain. Each time you cough out, there will be a wheezing sound that is also similar with the sound that is produced when a person has asthma. The sound will be heard clearly if placed under a stethoscope.

- unexplained loss of weight.

- persistent cough that lasts for weeks or even months.

Bad news is, lung cancer cannot yet be cured. Although radiotherapy, chemotherapy and occasionally, surgery can sometimes lessen the malignant cells inside the lungs but apart from that, there is still no proven cure but divine intervention. Pain-relievers can also be prescribed to relieve the severe pain that is caused by the disease.

Lung cancer has a chance of being prevented only if people will participate. Proper hygiene and a healthy lifestyle can help you avoid lung cancer. Personal health care of your lungs is as important as taking care of your heart.

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Personal care products help us to improve hair, skin, health and fitness. These items can improve are lives and the way in which we live them. These products have come a long way over the years and definitely make our personal hygiene chores a lot easier.

Hair removal products have always been an interest for both men and women. Women want those smooth silkily legs without having to shave with a razor blade everyday. One of the first hair removal products I can remember was nair. “Who wears short shorts”, commercial ad comes to mind. Nair is a lotion that dissolves the hair.

What sophisticated products do we have today for hair removal? Well for one the electric razors have come a long way. They claim to leave your skin smooth and soft and to give you closest shave ever. I lost track I think we are up to 7 blades now. The ePen is a home electrolysis system which permanently removes unwanted hair. The ePad extra large body pads remove hair quickly and painlessly.

There is also an abundant of products to stop thinning hair. You don’t have to join a hair club for men or go to the doctors and pay for hair transplants when there are so many products you can use right at home. There are special shampoos, conditioners, hair brushes and treatment solutions to try. These products claim you will get thicker, fuller and healthier looking hair.

What products do we have that fight signs of aging? A product called frownies gently re-educates the underlying muscles to give you a more relaxed and natural, appearance to help with the removal of wrinkles and frown lines. There is also numerous skin care lotions, creams, and sprays to apply to your skin. Some of these brand products are Youthful Essence, Sheer Cover, Aloette, NuGlow and this is just a real small sample.

Whether you are looking for the soothing relaxation and tension easing experience of a personal massager, or want to get a great looking tan, there are many great products designed to make this all possible in the comfort of your home. These products help to promote wellness in your life and improve your looks!

We all want to feel and look our best. Looking good can also mean feeling good!

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There is daily coverage of the 2009 Health Care Reform Bill pros and cons. The coverage is incessant and well it should be. This health care plan will change our lives. However, there is a fundamental question that is ignored, what about the Constitution?

Very recently, Speaker of the House Pelosi was asked by CNS News, “… where does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?” Her response was, “Are you serious? Are you serious?” CNS News: “Yes, yes I am.”

Later, Pelosi’s press secretary went on record as saying, “That is not a serious question.” My question: “Asking for Constitutional clarification is not a serious question?”

I have another question just how many of our Senators and Representatives do you think have actually read the Health Reform Act? Yes, I think you are right. Not very many.

Regardless, it seems to me that it is not within Congress’ or President Obama’s authority to dictate to any citizen whether an individual must carry health insurance. How about you? How do you feel about it?

It is like automobile seat belt laws. I know that there is evidence to support the use of seat belts. Still, in my naive way of thinking, I cannot accept being fined for not wearing my seatbelt. There is no evidence that my not wearing a seatbelt will hurt any one else.

So then, this law, the seatbelt law, is a law for my own good. A law passed by those that know better for my own good. Whatever happened to my unalienable rights? I realize that those unalienable rights are not part of the Constitution but they are words on which this nation was founded (The Declaration of Independence).

Some would argue that enacting a Public Health Policy requiring health insurance under penalty of prosecution falls under the Congress’ Constitutional prerogative or right and duty “to promote the general welfare”. I agree.Promoting the general welfare is Congress’ obligation. However, it is not their prerogative, duty or right to dictate the general welfare. Promoting and dictating are two distinct words with completely different meanings.

Any law that would require a citizen to insure himself for his own protection under penalty of prosecution is not promoting. That is dictating. It is enforcement, not a suggestion.

Do not confuse the likes of auto liability insurance, which is an enforced law in most of the country, with a required health insurance mandate.

Liability insurance protects you from the consequences of someone else’s actions. If someone causes harm or damage to you or your property, you have recourse. Liability insurance protects you from someone else’s negligence not your own.

Requiring liability insurance is promoting the general welfare. That mandate protects you from others. Health insurance protects you for you. It does not protect you from someone else.

Requiring me or anyone else to have medical insurance under penalty of prosecution is just plain wrong.

Maybe we should also require mandatory life insurance, so that I can pay those exorbitant funeral costs. What do you think?

There are many events and issues that deserve honest non-partisan review. Tony Perez is the editor of just such a review.

Watch the video related to health care reform bill

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Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) 2,074-page health care bill will increase family health insurance premiums by an average of $3,100 a year, according to new figures released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The CBO says that an average family plan will increase by 28% under the Reid bill – from $11,000 per family to $14,100 per family. In addition, a family of four with an income of $54,000 will pay 17% more of its income for premiums and cost sharing in Reid’s government-run health care legislation.

Reid’s bill will end up costing the American taxpayer $2.5 trillion and leave families with higher health care costs. “Reid’s legislative takeover of health care costs Americans $1.2 billion per page or $6.8 million per word!,” said TVC Executive Director Andrea Lafferty. “And what do we get for it? Socialized medicine and higher health care costs!”

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has posted a simple analysis of Reid’s bill on his web site. Reid’s bill will not only increase health care costs, but result in an estimated loss of 1.6 million jobs and leaves 24 million without health insurance. Reid imposes an $8 billion tax on uninsured Americans and $28 billion in new taxes on employers! Reid also cuts Medicare by $465 billion and cuts $118 from Medicare Advantage.

“Reid’s solution to health care reform is to tax Americans, punish senior citizens, and increase the cost of health care for everyone,” said Lafferty. “This isn’t reform, it’s a recipe for national disaster and the destruction of the finest health care system in the world.”

Rationing Mammograms & Gym Membership

Heritage Foundation expert Brian Darling has recently exposed the fact that Reid’s health care bill will result in the rationing of mammograms for women.

According to Darling, Section 2713 of the bill says that the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will have the force of law in determining what’s in health plans or what’s not covered. Last week, the Task Force gave annual mammograms a “C” rating (not recommended). Right now, insurance companies can ignore the Task Force guideline. Under Reid/ObamaCare, it will have the force of law. A new government bureaucracy (one of 100 new bureaucracies to be created in the Senate bill), will make mammogram health care decisions for women and their physicians.

Under Reid/Obama care, mandated health insurance plans must include “mental health parity,” “behavioral health treatment,” and include “preventive care,” which can include gym memberships. (This is in Section 1302(a) of the bill.)

Marriage Penalty

Reid/ObamaCare punishes married couples. It will inflict a 0.5% payroll tax on married couples making more than $250,000 a year in wages. Co-habiting couples, however, are free to make $200,000 each before being taxed.

Employer Mandates

Reid/Obama Care will impose $28 billion in new taxes on employers that don’t provide government-approved health insurance plans! These new taxes will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for everything.

Abortion Funding

Sen. Reid’s bill will not only cost more for every family, but he has included a provision that is an abortion-funding fee that will pay for abortion on demand with taxpayer dollars. The abortion funding mandate is on page 118 of the bill. It authorizes the federal government to pay for any and all abortions through a government-run program known as the “public option.” Reid’s bill will permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund all abortions, including third trimester and partial-birth abortions! It will subsidize purchase of private plans that cover abortion on demand, too.

“Reid clearly wants American taxpayers to be forced to pay for abortion on demand through his bill. This isn’t health care, it’s the killing of unborn babies,” said Lafferty.

The Louisiana Purchase & Other Bribes

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) is a so-called “moderate” who received a multi-million dollar bribe in the form of cash assistance in Reid’s bill for her vote to support debate on his legislation.

Initially, Reid dropped a $100 million dollar benefit into his bill that benefited only Louisiana. On page 432 of the bill there is a section that increases Medicaid subsidies in states that are recovering from a natural disaster during the past 7 years. That provision only applies to Louisiana! (Landrieu held out for more cash from Reid and has openly boasted that she got $300 million for her state, not just $100 million initially offered.)

Landrieu’s vote was needed by Reid in order to get the 60 votes necessary last Saturday to approve the legislation for debate within the next few weeks.

Other Senators who received deal sweeteners were: Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Evan Bayh (D-IN).

Nelson got Reid to remove a provision stripping health insurers of their anti-trust exemption; and Wyden got Reid to agreed to expand eligibility for health insurance.

In addition, Reid made sure that California, the abortion industry, and big labor got deals for support of his socialist health care bill. The abortion lobby, for example, was encouraged by Reid’s massive abortion funding mechanism in the bill. California was promised $300 million for an increase in Medicare payments to doctors.

According to the Houston Chronicle, in the House-passed version of health care reform, labor unions will receive up to $10 billion in taxpayer-funded bailouts. This $10 billion will be used by unions to pay retiree benefits. The House bill will force home health care workers into unions, too! According to the Chronicle: “Under the proposed public option, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius would wield tremendous discretionary authority to regulate participating health care workers. She and various federal panels, where the unions would have guaranteed seats, would take the lead in recommending health care policy. Thus, labor would have considerable influence over decisions affecting most doctors, nurses and patients.”

These pro-union provisions could be added to Reid’s bill in a conference committee.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your two Senators and urge them to oppose passage of any legislation that nationalizes our health care system!

Watch the video related to health care reform bill

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