PPO Insurance and Plans - How Deductibles Work

Simply put, PPO means you can go see anyone within that company's network, without needing a referral. So if you are looking to see if your doctor is in a particular network, you should ask your agent before you buy health insurance.

Now before you buy a health Insurance plan, an incredibly important question you MUST ask BEFORE you buy is how does the deductible work? This is such a neglected question, but very important to understand.

With Health Insurance, a Deductible (the first stage) is the amount of money that you pay out of your pocket before you move into the 2nd stage. So in the first stage, pay attention to the details of how much you'll pay for small procedures if you only pay parts of your deductible in a year, but not the entire deductible.

Now if you have met your Deductible, you'll move into the"Co-Insurance" stage. In this 2nd Co-Insurance stage, you and your insurance company will 'co-insure" meaning, you and your insurance company will share the burden of the bill. You will generally pay the lesser percentage, and the insurance company will pay the larger portion.

Then the 3rd and final stage of insurance is "Maximum Out Of Pocket." This is the most you'll have to pay in a calendar year.

What happens before the deductible is met is where company's can vastly differ. For example, if you have a $5,000 expense from an Emergency Room, and you have a $5,000 deductible, and you haven't yet "met your deductible," how much would you expect to pay? Is the insurance company going to share with you a negotiated rate? If they do, get specific, how much of a discounted rate will they will give you? Dig deeper, get your straight forward answer. Is it a percentage? Is it a range?

For Example:

* Scenario 1 - $5,000 Emergency Room Kidney Stones Bill, Deductible $5000, your out of pocket $2,000

* Scenario 2 - $5,000 Emergency Room Kidney Stones Bill, Deductible $5000, your out of pocket $5,000

Always ask how many deductibles you must meet each year. This can vastly differ within different company's and different plans. Are you a single individual or family? Ask how many total deductibles there are per calendar year... per person and per family.

Deductibles usually range from $500 - $10,000 in private insurance plans. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium, and conversely the higher the premium, the lower the deductible.

The rationale behind this is that if the Insured person is willing to pay a little more each month in their premium, the insurance company can reduce their deductible, but if the client would prefer to have a low premium and take on a little higher risk with total money out of pocket, they exchange that risk for a lower premium.

If you have ppo insurance with Co-Pays, generally you'll pay a "Co-Pay" at the Dr's office, without having to worry about a deductible, however, you MUST ask questions when shopping for health coverage. Some "Co-Pays" are after the deductible has been met, for example, if your plan says an Emergency Room "copay" of $100, is this before or after the deductible?

So to sum up deductibles, it is the amount of money that comes out of your pocket before the insurance company will begin to split the bill with you (co-insurance). Again, ask questions. BEFORE you've met your deductible, are you getting a network discounted rate, and if you are, WHAT IS IT?

Care After Pregnancy - A Must For Every Mother

Taking proper care after pregnancy can never be overemphasized. In the postpartum period, which begins immediately after delivery and ends with your body getting back to your pre-pregnancy state, mothers go through a plethora of emotions, adjustments, responsibilities, etc. In the hectic pace of new life, they even forget to take proper care of themselves.

The first most priority of every new mother after the pregnancy period is over should be to take good post pregnancy care of her self. Therefore, for the first six to eight weeks, you should focus on taking complete rest, eating a balanced diet, and getting others to help you out with the newborn baby.

Rest

A child usually wakes up after every three hours and needs to be fed, changed, and comforted. This means that it would be a while till you get your uninterrupted eight hours' sleep. Meanwhile, you will have to catch sleep whenever you can. It is best to sleep when your child is sleeping. Have your child near you during night so that you do not have any problem feeding him/her.

Nutrition

During pregnancy, your body will go through lots of changes. Therefore, your first priority should be to allow your body to heal. Taking a proper balanced and nutritious diet will help a lot in taking care after pregnancy. Your diet should consist of whole grain foods, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, milk and milk products, lean meat, lentils, beans, and of course plenty of water. Avoid taking caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, and sugars. Read a good book on nutrition after pregnancy to get an idea about what and how much to eat. You can even talk to your doctor about proper post pregnancy diet for you.

Helping Hands

A new baby is a lot of work and one can never be too prepared for the task ahead. So if it is possible have someone to help you around with household chores so that you and your partner can focus on the baby. You can depend on friends, family members, or paid caretaker providers for the task. With lesser pressure on you, your chances of fast recovery increase.

Taking care after pregnancy also means making all efforts to look good after pregnancy. So first of all you will have to lose all or almost all of your weight gain during pregnancy. This means your going on an exercising program. Do light exercises initially. As your body recovers you can take up strenuous exercises. Talk to your doctor or a fitness trainer about the best exercise regime for your body.

One can never actually completely prepare for motherhood, but reading books, checking out websites related to pregnancy, etc. will give an idea as to what to expect. This knowledge will help you in taking proper care after pregnancy of your body and also of your child- the most precious person for you.

How Does PGD Testing for Gender Selection Work?

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD as it is known for short, is used for the identification of genetic defects in embryos that are created using in vitro fertilization or other forms of assisted reproductive technologies. The procedure may also be used for gender selection purposes as well. The specialist performing the procedure will examine the genetic makeup of the embryos created to check for genetic defects as well as the couple's desired gender.

The procedure works by first extracting several eggs from the mother; the father will provide the sperm necessary to create embryos. The sperm is used to fertilize the eggs in a laboratory and after about three days, several embryos will have developed. The specialist will then screen and examine the genetic makeup of the embryos. They will screen for genetic disorders or defects as well as the gender of the embryo.

The specialist will take healthy embryos with the desired gender and implant them in the mother's uterus. The embryos may then implant in the uterine wall and develop with birth taking place as it normally would had conception occurred naturally. Couples may choose to freeze additional healthy embryos for future use.

Individuals considering gender selection should understand that there are ethical concerns regarding the procedure, especially when it is used not to avoid a genetic disorder, but for social or emotional reasons. Interested individuals should consult a specialist regarding the procedure to discuss it in greater detail. Questions regarding ethical concerns may come up during a consultation as the couple considers whether the procedure is right for them.

Reports indicate that with this procedure, there is about a 98% chance the embryo will not carry a genetic defect, while there is about a 99% chance the embryo will be of the desired gender. Risks involved with PGD include false positive or false negative test results. Chromosomal inconsistencies from cell to cell may be present, meaning the cell used for biopsy may not be representative of the other cells in the embryo.

The price tag on PGD may be quite high and it is not covered by many insurance companies. The procedure may raise the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by about $3,500, although this may vary. Individuals should discuss costs with the specialist at the specific infertility clinic at which they choose to receive treatment or undergo testing. It is imperative that you use compare the service and care after the procedure is done.

Types of Exercise to Help You Lose Weight After Pregnancy

One of the most common concerns is whether women are allowed to do exercise after birth. Not only are they allowed but also they are encouraged to exercise to help you lose weight after pregnancy. After all, your muscles did get stale, so you need to get them back in shape.

Here are some of the most popular and effective exercise for weight loss after pregnancy.

You can start with simple walk. This will be sufficient for the beginning. In addition, you will need to move onto faster walking. But the main reason you start light is so you joints can get use to the new weight and the walk. Many women start to exercise few weeks after they have their baby, and they suffer a lot in pain.

Later, one of the great things that you can do is swimming. Of course if you have an access to a pool or water. It works wonders with you entire body as it work on all of your muscles.

In addition, many new moms have discovered the ultimate solution is yoga practice. It is a great exercise that is together combined with relaxation, which all the moms need.

Now if you do not have an access to the outdoors, or cannot seem to find any time, or for those that prefer to practice at home there are some great elliptical trainers as well as treadmills!

However, the biggest excuse for not starting to exercise in the early months after your child is born, is the time. Many women will wonder how they can find any spare time for their daily training, but the point is that they don't have to do it at once. Take some time to recuperate, to recover your strength back. Usually this period will last up to four month after birth. It is crucial that you spend these month taking care of your baby, since that is when your child needs you the most.

But here are some tips to finding time to exercise. Number one, you can always ask one of your friends to baby-sit, your sister, neighbor, best friend, anyone. Create a back up crew. If you have friends who are already moms or some who are to be moms in the future, ask of them to help you and when they require the similar favor, do the same for them.

Pregnancy Foods - Eat Right to Help You Avoid Fatigue

It is a well-known fact that we are what we eat. This is particularly true in the case of pregnancy foods. During pregnancy, a good diet is essential to ensure the well-being of your baby and to ensure optimum energy levels. However, if you inquire from most women, you will find that generally a chronic kind of fatigue sets in during the first or even the third trimester of their pregnancy. They feel sapped out and just feel like sleeping the entire day for no apparent reason.

Pregnancy means that you are nursing a growing life inside you. Your body has to take care of the wellbeing of the baby as well as sustain itself too. If you do not eat the right pregnancy foods, your body will try to sustain the baby at the cost of its own well-being. That is the natural law. Your heart rate increases, your metabolism rate increases to process food and nutrients faster for the baby. Obviously your body is hard at work during pregnancy which is the basic cause of your tiredness. However, a slight tweaking of your eating habits can help in preventing this onset of fatigue and tiredness.

People would often tell you to eat for two. However, you do not need to really gorge on huge portion sizes because that will just give you more digestive troubles. The idea is to eat frequently and eat small. If you eat heavy meals, most of your energy will be utilized in digesting the pregnancy foods, which will leave you with little or no energy and cause fatigue. Splitting your three meals of the day into six small meals can help you to satisfy your hunger, keep a check on your weight, and have optimum energy levels.

Morning sickness is a common occurrence amongst most moms. Due to this, the majority of pregnant women skip breakfast in the morning and prefer just coffee and toast. Coffee and toast are not the right kind of pregnancy foods since they will mask your hunger and prevent the assimilation of the right nutrients. The word "breakfast" means breaking your fast after about six hours of eating nothing. If you skip on breakfast, you will suffer from low energy levels and your blood sugar levels will dip which can cause problems for your baby. If you do not like to eat much in the morning, you can try a banana and some of your favourite cereal. It will assist you in keeping fit and maintaining high energy levels.

It is the same in the case with lunch. Do not skip lunch since you will then be tempted to gorge on a huge dinner. This will lead to all sorts of stomach problems in the night that will prevent a good night's sleep and leave you tossing and turning. Your lunch should have a balanced combination of all nutrients.

Choosing the right pregnancy foods is essential to ensure you and your baby's health. Pregnancy nutrition plays a vital role in making your baby a winner in his life!

Safe & Effective Pregnancy Massage

Benefits:

Massaging a woman from 13 weeks onwards during her pregnancy is a fantastic way to keep a mum-to-be relaxed and comfortable as her growing body accommodates the new weight. The main benefits of regular safe and effective mama massages are:

• Relief of pain


• Improved circulation for mother and baby


• Improved immune system for mother and baby


• Better sleep


• A more relaxed attitude towards giving birth, and thus better birth outcomes


• Better bonding between mother and baby


• Improved chances of carry the baby to full-term


• A healthier and calmer baby of good weight


• Improved skin condition


• Relief of headaches and possibly nausea

Extras you will need:

A firm, steady, thick pillow for the leg plus a towel to cover

A thin cushion or towel for under the belly

An two towels or sheets for draping

A pillow to hold on to

Positioning:

A pregnant woman should NEVER lie on her stomach. This is partially for insurance reasons, but also because the weight of the uterus will pull the ligaments on the mothers' sacrum (lower back) and cause back ache (not what we're trying to do!)

Do not massage any woman who is less than 12 weeks pregnant due to the increase risk of miscarriage. This is through nothing you would have done, but for insurance reasons stay safe. A woman who has lost her baby following a massage is more likely to accuse and sue you and cause bad relations than someone who had a sore muscle from a strong massage.

It is possible to have a pregnant woman of 13-22 weeks lying on her back with a cushion under her right hip/ buttock, but any pregnant woman who is more than 22 weeks should not lie on her back for more than 3 minutes. She may be propped up to a seated position if you need to work on her front. Lying on her back, the weight of the uterus, after 22 weeks, is too much pressure for the vena cava (main vein running up the right side of the spine) and will cause breathlessness in the mother and nutrient and oxygen restrictions to the baby.

You will find it easier and generally safer to always massage a pregnant woman in the side lying position, asking her to turn over half way through so you can massage both sides effectively.

When lying on her side, the pregnant woman should have her knee and foot on a firm and steady cushion that is high enough for her hip to be at a right angle so her leg is not pulling on her hip and lower back. Make sure the foot is supported as this creates more comfort for the mother.

If her belly is feeling like it is pulling while lying on her side, the mother-to-be will need a small cushion or towel under her belly. Let her put the cushion there so she can make herself comfortable. Any woman who is more than 22 weeks pregnant will need the belly cushion even if they initially feel comfortable... 1 hour on a couch can change things.

Ask your pregnant lady to lie on the couch with her back as close to the edge as she can... this makes it more comfortable for you to massage her so you don't have to over reach. Make sure that the cushions under her legs are close enough to her so her back and hips are not twisting.

Once you have made sure her leg is comfortable and the blankets are neatly in place you can then give your mother-to-be a pillow to hold on to like a teddy bear so as she doesn't put any pressure on her growing, tender breasts.

You will need two towels to drape your pregnant client. Make sure one towel covers the legs and is tucked neatly into the lady's undies, pulling them down far enough so you can work on the hips. And drape another towel over her back so it falls across the front and back of the woman. Ask her if she's comfortable with a blanket over her as many pregnant ladies get over heated. Ask her if she'd like her feet covered or uncovered.

Make sure your pregnant client has a pillow under their head that is not too high or too low...their neck should be in line with their spine. If the pillow is too low for her she is likely to put a hand under her head, so you'll know if she needs extra support.

Whether a pregnant woman has a large belly or not, always use side lying when giving a mama massage.

Pressure:

You can use as much pressure as your client wants when working on the back of a pregnant lady. The lower back and sacrum is often very sore and stiff because of bad posture so working as strong as the client likes is good to help release tight muscles. The shoulders and neck are also sore spots for pregnant women and can be massaged as strong or light as your client requires.

The only place on a pregnant body that you must NOT massage is the inside of the legs. A pregnant woman has 40% more blood in her body which is thicker and prone to clotting. This is a great design feature for giving birth in case of hemorrhaging. Normally the clots will disintegrate naturally, but if you use pressure on the inner thigh and calves, or any shaking/percussion moves on the leg you may accidentally move a clot which could cause thrombosis (dangerous restriction on blood flow) and cause problems for mother and baby.

You can safely massage a pregnant woman's feet with as much pressure as she is comfortable with. Massaging the feet has a different intention and effect than reflexology, so is not dangerous to the mother or baby. Reflexology can safely be given to a pregnant woman from 13 weeks onwards, so long as you stay away from the reproductive area and the pituitary gland as both of these can stimulate a miscarriage or premature labour.

If your client has water retention (puffy) hands and or feet, make sure you use very light pressure on these areas.

Some women really like their belly's being touched when their pregnant, while others hate it. Ask the mother before the start of the massage if she would like her belly touched. If she would like it to be massaged, only use gentle pressure with the flat of your hand (no pushing or poking with fingers)

Precautions:

• No massage before 13 weeks (unless you've had specific training)


• No massaging the inner leg


• No shaking moves on the legs


• No massage for any pregnant lady who is bleeding


• Always ask if there has been any complications, nausea, bleeding and if all their scans and tests have come back good.

Always ask the client to tell you if there are any sore/painful spots... never make the massage so strong it's painful. The baby gets the same as the mum, so if she's in pain the baby will be also. There's a difference between a strong massage that feels good and a strong massage that is painful but the client thinks it's doing good.

Conclusion

Pregnant women deserve to be massaged... so don't be shy! If in doubt about massaging your pregnant client, don't do it. Seek medical or other specialist health professional advice.

Effective Ways to Induce Labor - Maternity Acupressure

Pregnant women undergoing a stressful period in their life either due to their pregnancy or because of other circumstances which unfortunately coincided with their pregnancy, often end up having false labor or not experiencing labor at all even when they have already reached their due dates or have gone past their due dates. This is a common problem which is experienced by many pregnant women today. The good news is there are tried and tested effective ways to induce labor and start giving birth to the little one inside that womb!

There are more ways than one to effectively induce labor. Thanks to maternity acupressure, a very old method designed by the Chinese which is similar to the principle of acupuncture, there is a healing method which stimulates a range of pressure points in different key parts of the body to induce labor for pregnant women who are having a hard time starting labor on their own. The practice of maternity acupressure has long been done to aid migraine headaches and relieve labor pains in pregnant women as well. Aside from labor pains, maternity acupressure can also stimulate the normal circulation in those key points to induce natural and faster labor during the last few weeks before a woman is about to give birth.

The key points on which maternity acupressure should be exercised would be on the three main areas: the Hoku, or the large intestine, the Chih-yin, or the bladder, and the San-yin-chiao, or the spleen. These three areas in the body are usually connected to the different hormones and fluids which normally induce labor during the last weeks of pregnancy. The Hoku pressure point can be found in the webbing between the hand's thumb and index finger. Applying acupressure on this pressure point can stimulate natural contractions and also relieve migraine headaches related to pregnancy. The Chih-yin is situated on the corner of the smallest toe nail on either the left or right foot. By applying acupressure on this point, it can also help soothe labor pains and make the body feel more relaxed. The San-yin-chiao is located on either sides of the tibia, which is the front part of the leg, near the ankle bone. By applying maternity acupressure on this pressure point, this is known to induce labor more effectively and stimulate the release of hormones responsible for inducing labor naturally.

Massaging different key areas in the body can also support maternity acupressure. It is said that by massaging and applying pressure to buttock points can also stimulate the bowels, thus stimulating the contractions in a pregnant woman's uterus. Belly massaging techniques can also help by applying the right amount of pressure on the belly and performing massages using the index finger and doing circular motion along the belly or the buttocks. This can gradually induce labor and are one of the easiest ways to induce labor naturally.

Aside from massaging key areas in the body, pregnant women should also refrain from getting into stressful situations, and avoid thinking of unhappy thoughts which can ruin their mood or cause them to be anxious. Husbands should play a vital role in making sure that their pregnant wives receive a lot of attention and care during their pregnancy and to also spend a lot of relaxation time together. The husbands should consider the pregnancy as a partnership and not just something that the wife should be going through by herself.