Blue Shield of California - Explanations For PPO and HMO and a Brief Look at 3 of Their Health Plans

Blue Shield of California is a health insurance company that was established in 1938 by the California Medical Association. Based out of San Francisco California, the company services over 3.2 million members and is contracted with nearly 59,000 and 350 hospitals across the state.

With Blue Shield of California you have a couple different styles of coverage to choose from. More than likely you have heard the terms PPO and HMO thrown around. What do these terms mean?

PPO

A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) gives you the availability to choose from a much larger network or doctors, specialists and hospitals. By visiting a contracted PPO provider with Blue Shield of California you will receive a negotiated fee rate for covered services. It is always important to make sure the doctor, specialist or hospital you choose is contracted with the company before you receive care. If you happen to pick an out-of-network provider then you may be subject to higher cost for service.

HMO

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a smaller organization of healthcare providers that have contracted with an insurance company to offer services at fixed rates. You will be required to choose one doctor (primary care physician) who will be responsible for providing all aspects of your healthcare. Blue Shield has 2 different HMO plan options available in California on the individual and family plans network. You can expect HMO doctors that are contracted with Blue Shield to offer fewer providers than with the PPO plans. Generally you must get a referral from your primary care physician in order to receive care from a specialist.

Let's take a look at some of the more popular plans that are currently being offered in 2009.

PPO Savings Plan 4000

This plan is great for a health young male who doesn't require many office visits per year. This plan doesn't include maternity, however we do recommend it to females who don't want maternity coverage or are past child bearing years. With most health plans you must satisfy a deductible and then pay a co-insurance percentage. With the PPO 4000 you are covered at 100% after meeting the calendar year deductible! You also have the availability of a physical exam, once a year for a co-payment of $35. If you are someone looking for affordable catastrophic coverage, this plan is highly recommended.

PPO Balance Plans 2500, 1700 and 1000

With the balance plans you have a good balance of deductible, office visit co-pays, prescription drugs, and a decent monthly premium. Each deductible option (2500, 1700 and 1000) comes with first dollar office visit co-pay of $30. There is also $10 co-pay for generic drugs and $35 co-pay for brand drugs ($500 brand name deductible and $2500 brand maximum benefit per year). If you happen to be the type of person that visits a doctor more frequently than once per year, and needs prescription drug coverage, take a look at the balance plans!

Access HMO

The Access HMO with Blue Shield of California is one of the better benefit plans on the market, however the monthly premium tends to be to unaffordable for most. After you satisfy a $2000 deductible you will have a $250 co-pay for impatient and outpatient hospital stays until you satisfy a total of $3000 in out-of-pocket expense (deductible included). Office visit co-pays are $20 before deductible; you will pay a $10 generic drug co-pay and a $35 brand name co-pay after a $200 brand name drug deductible. Remember, this HMO plan will have a smaller network of providers compared to the PPO options. Make sure to verify that all providers you use are a contracted physician or hospital with Blue Shield before receiving care.

Pregnancy Diet Plan - What Should I Eat to Help My Baby Develop

A Pregnancy Diet Plan is one of the first things that should cross your mind as you look at the meter and see a positive reading on your pregnancy test.

Only a women that has been pregnant before knows the feelings of joy that you feel as you see the results of your pregnancy test are positive. You gently rub your stomach as you hope that the precious child you carry inside you will be able to know you are there.

You are going to experience 9 months that are going to be an exciting time in yours and your baby's life. You will have a life inside of you that grows as each day goes by. As they move around inside you, you will feel them.

Your baby will start out as an egg and sperm and turn into a bundle of joy that you will not be able to resist kissing over and over. It really is a miraculous process. Now is the time for you to realize you are taking care of another life inside you and it is vital that you eat properly.

Your first trimester can be most difficult as far as nutrition is concerned because of morning sickness and food cravings. Believe it or not there are some women that do not experience much movement during pregnancy and therefore do not have much morning sickness. These women will have a better opportunity to eat with nutrition in mind from the very start.

Eating nutritious meals will lay a solid foundation for healthy growth for your baby You can not live on junk food and expect your baby to have the nutrition necessary to help with the development of organs and even bones. Nutrition is critical to brain development not candy bars.

You and your new baby need vitamins and calcium to ensure that you achieve proper development. If you want your baby to be healthy and able to handle solid foods after birth then eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is important.

Did you know that a part of your diet will get into your baby's amniotic fluid through the placenta? This means your baby could taste what you are eating. Your baby will swallow this amniotic fluid and the flavors you eat will be picked up by your baby as their taste buds have developed enough to taste.

Physicians are under the assumption that women who eat fruits and vegetables during pregnancy will give birth to babies that will not be picky eaters later. By eating fruits and vegetables during pregnancy you are laying the foundation for your child to always eat properly.

Physicians are also convinced that women that drink lots of milk during their pregnancy will have babies that are easily weaned from formula or breast milk. That is an important benefit but a more important benefit is the calcium you will provide for your babies bone development. Most physicians agree you should consume at least one 8 ounce glass of fat free milk a day.

Even though you won't see your baby's teeth for a few months, the calcium you take in by drinking milk during pregnancy is critical to the development of not only bones but teeth also.

The purpose of this writing is not to convince you that you can not ever have anything sweet and you must live on fruits and vegetables. You are going to have cravings and there is nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while. You just need to remember that moderation is a key component.

You should never use pregnancy as an excuse to go on a nine month eating binge. If you look at it like that you will find you and your baby will pay the price. Become a responsible parent and adopt a pregnancy diet plan.

A Look at the Different Types of Depression

When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don't realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.

Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren't so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don't believe the symptoms are severe enough.

Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don't believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don't usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can't remember a time when they weren't depressed.

Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.

Major Depression (also known as clinical or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.

Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.

People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this 'mania' state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their 'mania' phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don't suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.

Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren't so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.

Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don't allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive states.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) that affects between 3% and 8% of women. Symptoms of depression appear around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.

Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.

As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.

Constipation During Pregnancy - Finally There's Help

Pregnancy is a time for great joy, hope, and dreams. However, if you are pregnant, unfortunately chances are you have been or will be constipated. Constipation is a common problem in pregnancy. Therefore, if you suffer from constipation during pregnancy, you are not alone. More than half of all pregnant women admit to having trouble with bowel movements on and off throughout their pregnancy. 

Why do so many pregnant women risk to be constipated? What causes constipation during pregnancy? In general, there are many causes of constipation: worry, anxiety, minimal physical exercise, and a low-fiber diet may cause constipation. Whatever causes they are, the fact that pregnant women are easy to have constipation is not good news. If you are constipated during pregnancy, looking for remedies are really good for you and good for baby. Here are a few things that you can do to help preventconstipation from occurring or treat it if you are already experiencing it: 

First and foremost, eat high-fiber foods such as cereals, whole-grain breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Add a couple of tablespoons of unprocessed wheat bran (available at health food stores) to your cereal in the morning and follow it with a glass of water.

Secondly, drink plenty of water, as much water as you like, at least six to eight glasses a day. Because if there is not enough liquid in the diet, the process of digestion will slow down, the intestine can't do its job. A good supplement can be tea, a little coffee or a glass of fruit juice every day, especially prune juice, can also be helpful.

Thirdly, do exercise regularly. Exercise can gently stimulate the bowel, which leads to improved digestion. During pregnancy, walking or swimming for about 20 to 30 minutes, riding on a stationary bike, and yoga three times a week will help digestion. It will also enhance general well being and fitness in preparation for the actual delivery.

Preventing and Relieving Prenatal and Postnatal Depression

Let me first say that I am not a doctor, and that this articles aim is to give you practical suggestions of things you can do to prevent and relieve prenatal and postnatal depression. There really are many things that are right in front of us on a daily basis that can help with this mental state.

It has been scientifically proven that certain activities do effect the chemistry of our brains, our moods and sense of well being. On the surface people only think of the joy of being pregnant; after all we are bringing life into the world; What could be more joyous than that? However, at least lately, woman are finally able to openly recognize some of the not so positive mental and physical aspects of pregnancy.

Post & Prenatal Depression Educational Solution:

Go deeper. What do I mean? Being aware of the way you feel, and not just acting the way you feel is a great start. There are so many great books that will help you get to the point where you begin to do things, physical and mental to direct your own mind and body condition for the result that you desire. One awesome book that is a Oprah book club selection is Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth. If you get just a little of the concepts in this book, you will be better off for it.

Meditation and Yoga battle prenatal and postnatal Depression:

Yes meditation, this stuff is real, I am telling you. It has been proven over and over again to calm and still the mind. You can even meditate on a positive phrase geared toward a specific result. If you think it will be too weird at first, a good way to get into it is through yoga. This form of exercise puts heavy emphasis on deep breathing and this automatically calms the mind.

If you are too hyper to use calming type exercises to get a flood of endorphins running through your body, then find another form of exercise that is more your pace. The point here is that physical activity will improve the way you feel by releasing more and more endorphins or feel good brain chemicals.

Again, these are just suggestion. Exercise has a magical quality that seems to have a positive effect on everything from disease prevention to well, pre and postnatal depression. Ask your doctor before doing anything, but the solution to preventing and relieving prenatal and postnatal depression may be right before you. Oh, you will also look better and recover from baby faster; not bad huh.

Postpartum Depression - What You Must Know Before Giving Birth

Every new mother has to worry about postpartum depression. This is actually something that you should start thinking about long before you give birth to your new baby. This allows you to completely understand what causes this form of depression so you know how to deal with it once it sets in. The following tips will help you deal with depression after giving birth, whether you have already given birth or are still waiting for that big day.

Depression is Blind

It doesn't matter whether this is your first baby or your tenth. It doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank or who you are married to. It doesn't even matter where you live or how much sunshine you receive on a daily basis. Postpartum depression is largely a hormonal thing that can happen to literally any woman.

When you become pregnant hormones surge in order to develop and support the growing foetus. You may be well aware of the mood swings and crying spells that this can bring on during pregnancy, but what you may not realize is that those high hormone levels must normalize after giving birth. This can take some time and may lead to depression in the meantime.

So, remember that depression is blind. Don't lead yourself to believe that it can't happen to you, because it can!

Depression has no Rules

There is no definite period of time by which postpartum depression will pass. For some women it will last a very short period of time while for others it lingers on for months. In some more critical cases, depression can last for a year or more. There may be other circumstances of life that cause it to last for those extended periods of time, or in some cases it is simply a matter of difficulty normalizing the hormones after the birth.

There are also no rules predicting what you will feel while suffering from postpartum depression. For some women it is minor emotional irritation while for others it is an extreme condition that could interfere with the baby/mother bonding experience. You may feel different from someone else, but that doesn't mean your condition is any more or less important than theirs.

Postpartum depression is an individual experience, so don't compare yourself to other women and assume you are okay or worse off. There are no rules to how you should feel!

When to Get Help

Every woman must know when it is time to seek help for postpartum depression. It is best to arm yourself with this knowledge prior to having the baby because it is difficult to recognize the signs of depression once you are living through it. The more you know about the issue prior to giving birth, the more likely you are to know when you need help and when you are okay.

The time to seek help for postpartum depression is the moment you start to suspect you may be suffering from it. Once you notice any symptoms or start feeling like you aren't bouncing back to your pre-pregnancy emotional state, it doesn't hurt to bring it up to friends, relatives, your spouse, or a doctor.

Those who love you should always be aware of how you are feeling so they can help you recover. Never try to hide feelings of sorrow or desperation!

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?