ndian Sarees Of The Women

The Indian sarees of the women in India has a history which goes way back during the ancient times. There have been several versions of its beginnings, why women consider wearing it as part of their tradition.

According to one legend, a beautiful woman, Draupadi, is lost to a gamble because of her husband. The enemies of her husband have a desire to embarrass her, so, they pulled on the cloth that has been draped around her body. But no matter how much they keep on pulling, the cloth never seems to end. In a spiritual view of the tale, the men who have won the gambling game stand for whatever that is evil in the world, and they keep on pulling the cloth which stands for eternity. This cloth that they have been trying to unwind is now known as the Indian sarees.

Another legend also states that the Indian sarees originated from the loom of a weaver who likes to dream so much. As he weaves on the loom, he dreams of a woman, the way her tears fall down her face, the way her hair falls down on her shoulders. He imagines her moods as various kinds of colors, and her skin soft to the touch. With these ideas in mind, he keeps on weaving for a long time until the cloth reached a hundred yards. And when he looked at what he has done, he smiled in satisfaction. This tale is among the reasons why women wear Indian sarees, this is to exude the femininity in them.

The earliest version of the Indian sarees has been that of a short cloth. It has been used as a skirt or a veil. During those early times, women have not been wearing a blouse under their Indian sarees, their chest is bare. In other rare areas of India, the women there still do not wear a blouse or choli underneath their Indian sarees.

The reason why Indian sarees do not have stitches in the past is because they are considered as pure. During olden times in India, the needles that are being used are made from bones, and the people considered their traditional clothes as pure so they dared not taint the purity by running bone needles on the cloth.

For the Indian weavers of the Indian sarees, the precise measurement of the saree is 47 inches by 216 inches. Even though the Indian sarees are not tailored, the design of the cloth speaks of sophistication. The print on the Indian sarees follows a specific method of weaving which manifests a rhythm of design.

The design pattern of the Indian sarees depends on the region and culture where the saree is made. The Muslims are known to design their Indian sarees with so much gold. These kinds of sarees are mostly used for ritual traditions. There are also Indian sarees which are made from silk with gold embroiders.

In the past, the women of India have no options for the style of their Indian sarees. But recently, there have been an emerging various styles of sarees which are available not only for Indian women, but also for other women from all over the world who want to try out a different kind of clothing style.

Article: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=160820&ca=Culture

The Best Clothing Styles for Your Body Type

The majority of women do not have the model body type that allows designer clothing to drape over us effortlessly, but we can come pretty close if we make the right choices. This begins by understanding your body type and letting go of those inner demons telling you to be thinner so you'll look better in clothing. How many times have you or a friend said "I refuse to buy any new clothes until I lose ten pounds", or my favorite, "I'll by this smaller size and it will give me incentive to lose weight". Ladies, please stop!

Train your eye to choose clothing that flatters your individual shape, not an idealized form. Get to know your body and its unique measurements. When you learn to balance your proportions and accentuate your assets, you will achieve effortless style and will have the ability to look as good as any fashion magazine model.

BODY TYPE 1: Triangle Often referred to as the "pear", you have narrow and sloped shoulders, and larger hips. Most have a slim torso and rib cage and your waist may be smaller in proportion to your hips. You also have a fuller bottom and legs. This is the most common figure type.

FIT SOLUTIONSThe key is to draw the eye away from your widest hip area. Your best styles will accentuate your neck and slim upper body and minimize your lower half.

Tops: Avoid a short boxy line on top. Your best tops will focus on widening your shoulders. Choose ballet and boat necks, puff sleeves, dolman and batwing sleeves. V-necks and blouses with princess seams that accentuate your waist. Stay away from crop tops and anything that stops at your navel or above - it will cut you in half thus accentuating your lower half!

Dresses: Empire waisted and babydoll styles as well as kimono, dolman and flutter sleeved. Wrap dresses that accentuate your waist and draw attention to your neck and shoulders with a v-neck style.

Skirts: Choose a circle or a-line skirt with a lower waist and minimal waistband. Straight skirts work well worn just above the knee in a fabric that drapes well.

Pants: A straight cut with a bootleg or slight flare is your best bet. Choose a lower waist pant that has a flat front - no pleats or pockets placed across your widest part! High waist pants that are at or above your navel can mold around your hips and butt and give the appearance of bulk. Capris should also have a slight flare at the bottom.

Fabric and Color: Darker colors will recede and make you look smaller, so generally darker bottoms and lighter tops work nicely. Bold, large prints can work well for taller Type 1 women, but stick with smaller prints if you are average to petite.

BODY TYPE 2: Hourglass

You have well proportioned shoulders that are in line with your hips and a waist approximately 10" smaller. Curvy describes you the best and you have a small to average, defined waistline and an average to full bottom and many have of you have great legs.

FIT SOLUTIONSYou can wear any type of clothing that stays in proportion to your height and weight. Find clothing with shape and soft, fluid fabrics to highlight your curves.

Tops: Almost anything goes. Best bets are fitted blouses, halters, wrap tops, and blouson. If you have a fuller bust, avoid breast pockets, pleating or ruffles in that area.

Dresses: Tank and sheath dresses, nipped-waist and bias, wrap, strapless and anything that highlights your curves.

Skirts: Pencil and bias cut skirts look great on your body-type. If you are fuller in the stomach and hips, avoid excess material or horizontal pockets in this area.

Pants: A straight cut with a bootleg or slight flare is your best bet, but you can opt for slimmer styles if your hips and thighs are average to small. Choose a lower waist pant that has a flat front.

Fabric and Color: Experiment with color, prints and texture to see what fits your personality and stature. Choose fabrics that drape well and are not stiff. You want to highlight your curves, not hide them or create a boxy midsection.

BODY TYPE 3: V-Shape

You may describe your figure as boyish or athletic, but you are lucky to have the model type body that looks great in almost every style. Your shoulders are broader than your hips. Your waist is average and less defined and you have narrow hips, a smaller and sometimes flat bottom with slimmer legs.

FIT SOLUTIONS Your narrow hips give you choice and versatility. If your shoulders are very broad, you will want to add volume to your hips for balance and stay away from styles that exaggerate the shoulder area.

Tops: V-necks, U-necks, sleeveless and tanks with wider straps. Avoid tops with a horizontal line or widening effect near the top such as puff sleeves, boat necks, epaulettes, or fussy details.

Dresses: Avoid high waistlines and empire seams or ruffles near the top. Look for details like bold prints, pockets and pleats on the lower half to add fullness and keep it simple on top.

Skirts: Torso skirts with soft pleating, tiers and gathering are your first choice because they add volume and balance your figure. Stay away from any style that gathers at the natural waist or appears to cut you in half, thus exaggerating the upper body.

Pants: Your choice - with narrow hips you can wear them all.

Fabric and Color: Experiment with color, prints and texture to see what fits your personality and stature. Create interest on the bottom half with prints and color and keep the top simple to downplay the shoulder area.

Suitable Indian Bridal Attire For A Short, Dark Complexion Woman

Becoming a bride is on every girls priority list at some point of time in her life. And this priority is just not restricted to any caste, creed, color or religion. Being short and dark complexion women does not really cause any hindrance in terms of becoming a bride. All those girls who feel that they won't look nice in their bridal attire just because they are short should better think again because being short and dark could never effect the looks of the bride.

What matters most is that you pick yourself right type of bridal attire combined with right hairstyle and proper accessories suiting your complexion and height.

Most women, whether Indian or international prefer to wear Indian bridal attire as they are considered most graceful as compared to any other woman attire. However, these days an endless variety in terms of Indian bridal attire is available to us. One can make a fair choice of which attire to wear suiting their personality.

Some girls prefer to go for Indian bridal attires like lehengas while others enjoy wearing a saree or a gown. But in all these cases large-scale preparations are made by near and dear ones. The bride usually follows strict pre bridal make up sessions and then goes for her shopping. But it is advisable for a short dark complexion bride to choose suitable indian bridal attire for themselves with perfect accessories so that they look quite tall and fair on their d-day.

For a dark complexion and short would be bride, it is mandate to know what suits her the best in terms of clothes, color sequence and make up. In case she is unaware about the same, it is sensible that she experiments a few times before her wedding date.

As far as a short and a dark complexioned woman is concerned, it is suggested that she avoids wearing fluorescent colors, clear whites, shades of pink, very light colors and bright yellows. In other words, she should preferably use mid tones of all colors. Shocking fluorescent colors should be avoided at any cost. In addition to this, dark colors like black should not be worn as it would make her look darker. As far as make up is concerned a dark complexion bride should avoid bright make up as it would make her look darker. Indian bridal attires for a dark complexion bride should be neither very dark nor very light coloured. They should be quite with mid tones.

Assuming that the bride is even short in height, she should not wear tight garments. Also semi open necks would give her a better look as in she won't look very plump. Very short or long length would again give her a fat look. Thus, a mediocre length kurta would do justice to her physique. A short bride should prefer to wear some high heels to complement those beautiful Indian bridal attires. But remember they should be equally comfortable in walking. The next big thing that's important for a short bride is her hairstyles. Short brides should always prefer to go for high buns which will make them look taller.

These are just a few things that should be kept in mind while selecting the Indian Bridal Wear for a short and a dark complexioned woman. A bride whether short or dark looks equally beautiful on her d-day as others but what's most important is that your attires, color combinations and accessories should be according to your complexion and physique.

Saree Articles: How to Drape a Saree

Saree, the eternally fashionable and elegant drape from India, has defined Indian womanhood for over 5000 years now. Its charm lies in its simplicity, flowing grace, the endless possibilities it offers. Available in countless interesting fabrics, patterns and colours, this six-yard wonder is the most preferred garment in any woman's wardrobe.



Saree - Always Trendy, Always Appropriate Over the years, the saree has evolved to suit the changing lifestyle and preferences of its wearer. In spite of the growing popularity of western wear, saree still holds its ground firmly. Being the only garment that conceals figure flaws and brings out the best in any woman, saree is equally admired by both wearers and designers. It is considered the most sensuous, stylish and sophisticated attire even today. From Shimmering Silks and Elegant Chiffons to Flowing Crepes and Georgettes, available in vivid colors and embellished with the most intricate embroidery work, saree comes in the most mesmerizing avatars one can imagine. Such wide-ranging variety makes it suitable for all occasions - from weddings to formal functions and official meetings to social get-togethers. Moreover, it looks gorgeous on women of all ages and builds.



Tips for Saree Wearers

Heavier women should wear fabrics like Chiffon, Crepe, Georgette and avoid Organza, Tissue and Cotton. This rule applies vice versa for very thin women who want a fuller look.Large prints and sarees with broad borders make one look shorter. Heavier women should wear straight cut, non-flare petticoats underneath the saree.Cotton sarees should be starched and ironed properly before wearing.For office wear, one should choose cotton sarees in subtle colours and prints. These should be worn with the pallu folded in pleats and pinned on the shoulder.Heavy silk sarees with golden thread work should be wrapped in a saree cover before storing. Always wear sandals before draping the saree.

Endless Draping Possibilities

A saree can be draped in innumerable innovative styles. Few of these styles have originated as regional preferences - Bengali style, Gujarati style, Maharashtrian style, and others like the Airhostess style to suit professional requirements. Rest are purely inventive ways of wearing the same fabric differently. Most popular style of draping a saree is the Nivi drape (reverse style). Here the saree is tied around the waist, close to the navel, with 6-9 pleats tucked into the petticoat at the front and the pallu draped over the left shoulder. One can choose to either pin up the pallu loosely over the left shoulder or try a more professional look with a pleated pallu firmly put in place on the shoulder.Another popular style is the Gujarati drape. It is different from the reverse style, in the way the pallu is draped. Instead of the left shoulder, the pallu is brought to the front over the right shoulder and the left corner of the pallu is tucked near the left hip.Then there is the charming Bengali style where the sari is tucked in at the left side and then stretched back to the right hip from the left shoulder. The pallu is then encircled around the back to come out below the right arm and thrown again on the left shoulder. Interestingly a heavy key is used to keep it in place.

These are just a few of the possibilities in saree draping styles. With a little creativity, it is possible to experiment and create different styles for different occasions.

Insurance Rate Methods

The price of insurance depends ultimately on the risk the insurer is taking on on behalf of the customer. Simply put, this will depend on the chance of the insured event occurring, and the likely cost of the outcome. The way insurers calculate this risk, and quantify the amount of the premium, is through the use of what is known as actuarial science. Using certain probability and statistical mathematical models, the insurance company can predict with a fair degree of accuracy, the approximate cost of future claims.

For example, supposing a someone wishes to insure their $100,000 home against fire. For argument's sake, lets assume that 1 in a 1000 homes in this area burn down every year. This would mean that just to break even, on the mathematical model, the insurance company would have to charge $100 a year for the premium. What the insurance company will in fact do is charge something more than $100, say $120. This extra $20 will cover the overhead costs of the insurance company's operation. It will also cover an amount for profit of the insurance company. The only other way the insurance company generates profits is by investing all the policy premiums it is paid. That way, all the premiums earn interest, or investment returns, while they are in the possession of the insurance company. While this method represents a significant income for the insurance company, the majority of insurance company's funds do actually come from the payment of premiums.

It has been argued that those who pay premiums and do not have to make a claim lose out by effectively wasting their unused premium. In this sense, the insurance industry can not be held to produce any net gain for society, and therefore, the huge profits they generate are unwarranted. Defenders of insurance companies however claim that the peace of mind they offer to all their customers is a significant societal benefit which they provide. Simply knowing that you will be compensated if disaster strikes you is worth something to people, even if the disaster never strikes.

The funds the insurance company holds, from premiums that have not been claimed for payouts, is called its float. Massive profits can be generated from the float alone. While losses are just as possible as gains with all investments, the profits made from insurance company floats, for the five years ending 2003, was $68.4 billion. In the same period, insurance companies paid out $142.3 billion in insurance claims. Some do not believe that the insurance industry will be able to sustain itself for ever on profits generated by the float and so predict large premium rises for the future.

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of car insurance in the UK.

Article Source: ArticleStreet.com

A Guide to Finding the Right Health Insurance Company

There are many people in America today that are in dire need of health insurance for either themselves or for their entire families. This can be for many reasons. Sometimes their employers do not provide health insurance. Other times, the people are self employed. For either of these situations, you must obtain health insurance on your own. It is often hard for people in these situations to determine which health insurance company to go with. If you happen to be one of these people, then please read on for a guide to finding the right health insurance company.

There are various ways to look for a health insurance company. The easiest way is to go online and type "health insurance company" into the search engine. Then press enter. A whole list of health insurance companies and their websites should pop up. Try to select a website that lets you compare health insurance company to health insurance company. You may also call individual health insurance companies, but this tends to be more time consuming. This can be done by finding their numbers in your local yellow pages.

When choosing a health insurance company, first decide on if you want your coverage to be for PPO or for HMO. HMO stands for health maintenance organization. With an HMO, you can only see a limited list of doctors or doctors that are contracted with the HMO health insurance company. PPO stands for preferred provider organization. A PPO plan means you can select to see certain doctors on a list, as well as doctors that are not in the network, but they still accept the type of health insurance.

Next, you need to decide how much coverage you need because this affects the price you with pay monthly to the health insurance company. Some coverage is very limited and does not include emergency room visits, lab work, x-rays, etc. Also, some coverage's have varying deductibles for emergency room visits. Deductibles can vary from $100 to $2500. The cheaper the deductible, the higher your monthly payments are for the health insurance. Also, some coverage's require co pays for doctor visits. The cheaper the co pay, the higher your monthly payment. Lastly, this is the same for prescription drug coverage. You must keep in mind how much you can afford to pay monthly in conjunction with what type of coverage you need.

Hopefully this guide to finding the right health insurance company was helpful to you. There are a lot of important aspects you must consider when selecting a health insurance company. Your health and perhaps your family's health depend on you making the right decision. Utilize this information carefully to help you make a wise decision.

Bob Hett offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning health insurance coverage. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Finding the Right Health Insurance Company

Article Source: ArticleStreet.com

Top 10 Tips to save Home Insurance

As there's no place like home, it makes sense for you to protect it.

A home insurance policy is basically a contract you make with an insurance company. It is a combination of property and liability coverage, which means it, can protect you if you're sued, as well as if you're robbed. The insurance company also agrees to pay for damages resulting from injuries or damage to other people for which you are held legally responsible. In exchange for your premium, the insurance company will pay for financial losses related to your home or your property during the period of the contract.

There are several things to remember about insuring your property.

These tips doesn't involve huge amount of time or effort but if you would follow, it could save your fortune. Better safe than sorry.

1. You need to SHOP AROUND

As Price does not necessarily guarantee quality in the wonderful world of financial products, you need to shop around as the cost savings and quality of cover vary greatly. Also check consumer guides, insurance agents and companies. Quality service may cost a bit more, but it provides added conveniences.

2. Make sure insurance really does cover you

Just because an insurance company has sold you a policy this does not mean you're eligible to claim on it. You can challenge them to confirm in writing that your particular circumstances are covered.

3. Make sure you won't get ripped off by your mortgage company

Mortgage lenders can entice you greatly with cut-price rates as mortgage markets are becoming increasingly competitive. But these home or mortgage payment protection policies will be overpriced and cost you a lot more than necessary.

Increasingly they're charging a fee - often £25 - if you insure elsewhere. This type of penalty is known as a "tie in", unlikely to give you the best value. So it's better to ignore compulsory insurance tie in scams, no matter how urgently you want the mortgage.

4. Security Tips

• Many people let their absences be obvious and/or do not remember to lock doors and windows, both of which are signals to experienced thieves. Remember to lock all doors at night and whenever you go on a vacation.
• Don't let strangers into your home. Similarly report any strangers you notice loitering in your neighborhood with any apparent purpose.
• Install an alarm if the house doesn't have one. As many companies offer discounts if you have installed reliable fire/ burglar alarms or other security systems.

5. Auto Insurance agent

If your auto insurance company offers home insurance, they might provide you with a home insurance discount. Another good idea is to talk to the agent that is writing it up and ask them for the details. Be sure to ask a lot of questions about home insurance quote, since once something happens to your home, this policy cannot be changed to fit what just happened.

6. House can be insured but not your land.

As the land under your house isn't at risk from theft, windstorm, fire and the other perils covered in your home owner's policy. Don't include its value in deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. If you do, you'll pay a higher premium than you should.

7. No to smoking

Many companies offer discounts to non-smokers. That's why some insurers offer to reduce premiums if all the residents in a house don't smoke.

8. Negotiate

Insurance never comes with fixed price. So get on the phone and negotiate. Always try taking it to your existing insurer and a broker by mentioning your best quote. Also beware, opt to pay monthly rather than in a lump sum and it costs more.

9. Inventory

Make an inventory of everything you own in your home and in other buildings on the property. Take either still or video pictures and attach receipts to the inventory when available. Store the inventory and visuals for future records and keep updating the when you make major purchases.

10. More

Ground your television antenna to prevent damage from a lightning strike. Keep your yard tidy and free of debris.

Hope these tips may help you to prevent from situations that lead to a typical claim.

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Life Insurance - Money Saving Top Tips

More and more people are buying life insurance online and the numbers seem to be doubling every two years. The reasons are clear. Prices are lower on the Internet and life insurance is fundamentally a simple insurance product.

Despite the underlying simplicity of life insurance, most web sites channel their online clients through a telephone based help and advice service manned by experienced personnel. They represent your safety net so if a little technical knowledge is called for, help is at hand.

But it's always a good idea to have a few Top Tips in your back pocket when you're shopping online for life insurance. They'll help you ask the right questions and find the best policy.

1. Always have your Life Insurance policy "Written in Trust".

This means that in the event of a claim, the money goes directly and immediately to the person(s) you nominate when you first take the policy out. It also avoids all possibility of your estate having to pay Inheritance Tax on the proceeds of your policy and that could represent a 40% tax saving !

All you have to do is tell the online brokerage organising your policy that you want your policy "Written in Trust" and the names of the people who the life insurance company pay in the event of a claim. They will then sort it all out for you. The extra good news is that this service is invariably free of charge. So it's a win win situation and there aren't many of those around these days !

2. In the early years a Reviewable Life Insurance Policy will be cheaper but a Guaranteed Policy will work out a better buy in the longer term.

With a "Guaranteed Policy" the insurance company guarantees never to increase your policy's premium.

With a "Reviewable Policy" you agree that your insurance company can review the cost of your policy at regular intervals. But don't be kidded – in our experience a "review" is just another word for a price increase. After all, who's ever heard of an insurance company passing up a chance to charge you more! The review intervals are usually between 2 to 5 years but this does vary between insurance companies. You will find the details of the review intervals on the documents sent to you before you accept the insurance – these are called The Key Features Documents.

So, comparing otherwise like for like policies, in the early years the premiums for a "Reviewable Policy" will undoubtedly be lower than the premiums for a "Guaranteed Policy". Thereafter, the premiums for a Reviewable Policy increase eventually catching up with and overtaking, the premium for a "Guaranteed Policy".

In our experience, you can expect the monthly premiums for a Reviewable Policy to exceed those of a Guaranteed policy in about 7 to 10 years and then within the following 10 years, more than double again. If your budget is currently tight then by all means choose a Reviewable Policy - after all your salary may increase in coming years and ease the strain. On the other hand, if the premiums for a Guaranteed Policy are affordable, we think they represent your best buy.

A footnote. Many insurance companies have stopped offering "Guaranteed" rates for standalone critical illness insurance policies. This because they have experienced much higher claim rates than they initially expected. However, you may still find a Guaranteed life insurance policy that also provides critical illness cover. As we have explained, "Guaranteed" rates are especially good value and if you can get a quote for a Guaranteed life policy that includes critical illness cover, you may have a real bargain.

3. Thinking about a Joint Life Insurance Policy?

A Joint Life Insurance policy is usually written on a first death basis. This means that the policy will pay out on the death of the first policyholder, subject to the policy being in force at the time. This leaves the second person uninsured and older. Older people can struggle to get life insurance at an affordable premium, so rather than a Joint Policy consider taking out separate policies now. Overall it will work out a little dearer - but you get twice the cover and double the peace of mind.

4. Taking out a Life Insurance Policy? Now would be an ideal time to include Critical Illness cover.

Are you likely to need Critical Illness Insurance in the future? Yes? Then consider adding it now to the life insurance policy you're arranging. Why? There are three reasons.

Firstly, a Life Insurance policy combined with Critical Illness cover will work out significantly cheaper than buying two separate policies. Secondly, as we have already explained in the footnote to Tip 2, you may be able to buy a combined Life and Critical Illness policy with a guaranteed premium. That could be a real bargain. Finally, premiums for critical illness cover increase rapidly as you get older – so the sooner you take it out, the cheaper it will be.

5. Don't confuse Terminal Illness cover with Critical Illness cover.

There's world of difference between Terminal Illness and Critical Illness cover so it's important to understand the difference.

Terminal Illness cover pays out the insured lump sum if a Medical Doctor diagnoses you with an illness from which the Doctor expects you to die within 12 months. Most good life policies automatically include Terminal Illness cover at no extra cost. It's basically an early, and welcome policy payout.

A Critical Illness policy pays out the insured lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a wide range chronic illness and there is no life expectancy criteria. Indeed, with many of the insured illnesses you could expect to survive for many years. For example: certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, loss of speech, sight or hearing, onset of Parkinsons or Alzheimers disease, third degree burns etc. Say you were an engineer aged 40 and you lost your sight. A Critical Illness policy would pay out immediately and that money could well be vital in helping you and your family through many difficult financial years ahead. If you just had Terminal Illness cover there'd be no chance of a payout.

So as you can see, Critical Illness cover is far more comprehensive than simple Terminal Illness cover and for that reason critical illness cover always costs you extra.

Michael Challiner has 15 years experience in financial services marketing at senior level, the last 5 of which specialised in online marketing. Prior to that he spent 15 years in advertising with two of the world's top advertising agencies, J Walter Thompson and Saatchi & Saatchi. Tel. ++ 1477 535920 http://www.express-life-insurance.co.uk

Article Source: ArticleStreet.com

India Insurance News : Tax benefits only on health cover premium

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority has clarified that only the premium collected for providing health cover in the case of unit-linked health insurance policies will be eligible for tax benefits.

At present, all health insurance products are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Besides, all life insurance products enjoy tax benefits under Section 80C of the I-T Act. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) would be issuing a clarification shortly, said sources close to the development.

Unit-linked insurance products provide a combination of risk and investment, with the investment risk usually borne by the investor.

In a unit-linked health product, a portion of the premium collected accounts for providing the health cover, while the rest is earmarked for market investment.

The regulator has found that in unit-linked health insurance products, almost 80 per cent of such premiums collected are invested in market instruments, whereas only 20 per cent account for the health cover.

In its actuarial evaluation report for 2007, Irda has observed that the proportion of Ulip (unit-linked investment plan) in the total product portfolio has gone up by 65-70 per cent, which ties up the fortunes of insurance companies and investors to the vagaries of the stock market.

In its revised guidelines for Ulips, Irda has made it mandatory for insurance companies to issue the sales document with clarity regarding the benefits of each product as a part of the overall policy document.

This is aimed at providing an idea to policyholders of what instruments they are investing in and what are the risks involved in them. In the document, insurance companies will have to explain the components that actually go towards the life cover and investment.

The health insurance problem is not an insurance problem, it is a health problem

When people start talking about health insurance reform and how to bring health insurance to the American people, they inevitably end up in a ridiculous discussion about how to negotiate the cost of drugs, how to provide drug discounts to senior citizens, or how to engage in a system of managed care that denies medical services to certain groups. It's all a rather useless exercise in shifting paperwork, blame, or money from the pockets of one organization to another. And in the end, it helps no one.

Health insurance reform needs to focus on the health, not the insurance, because you can never solve a problem by shifting paperwork to another party or bu denying services to an ever-expanding group of people. It's similar to the way in which the federal government wants to solve social security: just keep raising the qualification age until it's so high that almost nobody lives that long. How's that for security? "If you live long enough, we'll even pay you back all the money you worked for!"

In the realm of health insurance, we need to start talking about disease prevention. The only way we're going to lower the costs in the long run is if we make our population healthier. And the only way we're going to make people healthier is if we start admitting the truth about the detrimental health effects of prescription drugs, processed foods, junk foods, soft drinks, lack of physical exercise and so on, and then start educating people about how to take control of their health and reduce their risk of ever experiencing chronic disease. That's how you solve the health insurance problem: by making people healthy. What a novel idea, huh?

Right now people are getting all the wrong messages about their health. They are being told that unhealthy foods are good for them. The FDA has approved health claims that mislead consumers into thinking things like sugary oatmeal is good for your heart because it contains oats. It's a ridiculous claim. And yet the legitimate food claims -- like olive oil prevents breast cancer, garlic prevents cancer, raw nuts prevent heart disease -- are not allowed at all. In fact, those are outlawed by the FDA. So today we have a regulatory environment that actually prevents people from learning the truth about foods that could help prevent disease. Thank goodness the FDA is protecting us from all those dangerous health claims!

When was the last time the FDA ever allowed the claim that blueberries reduce LDL cholesterol? You'll never see that claim because the blueberry companies aren't going to engage in the corruption, bribery, and political influence that would normally be required for the FDA to approve something. Blueberries are just blueberries. They are straight from nature. They are healthy. And they actually lower bad cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health regardless of whether or not the FDA allows such a claim.

Getting back to health insurance, you have to remember that the health insurance business is just that – a business. There are a lot of people making money pushing paper, providing unnecessary medical procedures to the public and selling prescription drugs over and over again to people who are undoubtedly suffering from downright fatal side effects from the long-term consumption of such drugs. It's big business and thus there is no real financial incentive for anyone to reform the way health insurance works right now. Let's face it: sick people generate revenues. It doesn't mean there's some evil conspiracy behind it all, it just means that there's no financial incentive to teach people how to be healthy.

Who makes money if people get healthier? Well, nobody does! The only people who benefit from widespread health are the individuals themselves. In fact, billions of dollars in profits would be lost by Big Pharma if the country were suddenly swept up by a wave of health. So don't look for any serious health insurance or health care reform in your lifetime. Nearly every public discussion about these topics is nothing but sleight of hand designed to distract you from the real problem, which is the disease-care industry and food & beverage industries that have no incentive to help people get healthier.

Here's a final question in all of this: Why is it that other countries can provide meaningful, full coverage health insurance for their entire population at the equivalent of about $25/month? Of course, I am referring to Taiwan. A country that provides full service health coverage for only $25/month. And that includes maternity care, dental care, everything! And it's the same $25 whether you're 16 or 60, regardless of your health history. You can't be disqualified as long as you're a Taiwan citizen.

Yet in the United States, some people are being charged $1000 per month for only partial coverage. Why is that? Because health insurance is extremely inefficient. Probably 80-90% of the money that goes into health insurance is falling into the pockets of people who do nothing but push paper around. It's not going to the bottom line services that people really need. And virtually none of it is going to disease prevention education or public advertising campaigns that would inform people about how to take charge of their own health and prevent chronic disease.

So all of this money is just going down a black hole. It's utterly wasted. And today, the money spent on health care comprises a significant portion of G&P. Something like $1 out of every $4 spent in this country is spent on health care. We've also just learned that 50% of all personal bankruptcies in the United States are caused by medical bills. Think about that for a moment: the disease-care industry is bankrupting our families and our nation. Only a fool would think the answer is to introduce a drug discount card or some other such nonsense. That's like tossing a cup of water on a raging house fire.

We don't need to be spending 25% of our G&P on health insurance and health care services. What we should be doing is spending something like 3% of the G&P on disease prevention and education. If we were to do that, within one generation we could slash our health care costs to perhaps 1/20th of what we're spending today. And that would bring a significant enhancement in quality of life for everyone.

If you want to pay off the national debt, take the money you would save from health care and pay down the national debt with it. The quality of life would go up, the debt would go down, and within a generation, we could be a nation of healthy, debt-free individuals, rather than the nation we are now, which is regrettably the most diseased population in the history of the world combined with the greatest national debt ever witnessed in the history of the United States of America.

It took some real short-term thinking to put us in this mess. And it's going to take some tough choices to pull us out of it. Frankly, I'm not sure the politicians and voters have the will to make any tough choices at all. As long as their drugs are paid for by insurance, and as long as Medicare covers Viagra, they're sufficiently sedated to prevent any real cry for reform.

That's part of what prescription drugs really accomplish, by the way: the keep the population doped up in a never-ending state of brain fog from which it is impossible to rally enough people to demand real reform. Think about it: according to a new study published in The Lancet, the Vioxx drug alone seems to have killed as many as 60,000 Americans. Where's the outcry? Where are the demonstrations? The marches on Washington? The declaration of war against Big Pharma? If terrorists killed 60,000 Americans, we'd be bombing yet another nation into dust. If an herb killed 60,000 Americans, the FDA would be screaming about how we have to regulate all herbs to "protect the people!" If a virus killed 60,000 Americans, we'd call it one of the worst outbreaks since the 1918 bird flu outbreak.

But when a prescription drug kills 60,000 people, the FDA is all but silent. The CEO of a drug company warns us not to "overreact." The newspaper headlines dedicate their space to the Michael Jackson trial. The politicians argue about whether cell phones should be banned on the road. And, don't forget, the Superbowl is coming, too! Apparently, there are a lot more important things on the minds of Americans than the fact that 60,000 of their family members, neighbors and loved ones have been killed by just one drug. And hundreds of thousands more are killed each year by other drugs, medical mistakes, failed surgical procedures and the like.

What kind of society has this become anyway? Has this population been so dumbed down, doped up and brainwashed by pharma-funded TV advertisements that it can't see the crimes against humanity taking place right before our very eyes? We get front-page news and priority cable coverage when twelve people die in a train wreck. But when 5,000 times as many people die from a prescription drug, there's no news coverage at all. Silence.

And you know why? Because it all happens quietly. In hospital beds, family rooms, and ambulances. Each victim slips away quietly, and their death certificate gets recorded with the phrase, "natural causes." There's no footage to show on the evening news. No sound bite. No wreckage. No explosion. No guided missiles or embedded war footage. So it isn't newsworthy, apparently.

And, of course, there's the fact that most of the news organizations in this country are beholden to the drug companies for their financial lifeline (advertising). Don't discount the power of half a billion dollars to influence the day's news. What news organization would possibly want to expose the pharmaceutical catastrophe and risk angering their top advertisers?

In looking at what's really happening today, I'm astonished. It's beyond outrage, really. I'm just astonished that people will take this treatment and think of it as normal. Maybe it's the fluoride in the water supply. Maybe it's the brain-busting hydrogenated oils in the foods, or the MSG found throughout every grocery store in the country. Maybe it's all the TV programming. Or maybe you, me, and a handful of other people who read this site have been time-warped into bizarro world where all the laws of sanity have been reversed, and someone put the most insane people of all in charge.

46.6 million Americans now have no health insurance: Uninsured gap widens

New census data shows that although the average American household earned more money last year, an additional 1.3 million citizens became uninsured, pushing the total number of Americans without health insurance to 46.6 million.

The percentage of uninsured in the United States in 2005 -- 15.9 percent -- was the highest since 1998, with poverty rates staying steady at 12.6 percent.

Households with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 were hit the hardest by skyrocketing health insurance costs. 2005 saw the numbers of people with health insurance grow by 1.4 million, but the uninsured ranks also swelled by 1.3 million.

"We're going to continue to see a million-plus added to the (uninsured) rolls every year," says Kathleen Stoll, health policy director for the consumer advocacy group Families USA. Stoll says businesses will find it more and more difficult to offer health coverage to employees as insurance prices continue to rise.

"Skyrocketing health insurance costs threaten to bankrupt our economy," warns Mike Adams, consumer health advocate. "The profiteering prices of prescription drugs, combined with a near-total lack of disease prevention efforts, are creating what I call a 'disease economy' -- an economy that will soon be spending one out of every four dollars to manage diseases that could be prevented for nearly nothing," he says.

Many U.S. workers are forced to go without insurance in spite of health plans offered by employers because deductibles and premiums -- which employees must pay before coverage goes into effect -- are on the rise.

"It's the out-of-pocket costs," says Stoll. "If you add that deductible on top of premiums, it becomes a tough choice."

Though Medicaid has covered growing numbers of uninsured in past years -- particularly children without insurance -- the government-funded health plan did not significantly increase its coverage in 2005, leaving an additional 400,000 children without health insurance.

Most Americans agree smokers should pay more for health insurance

A new survey published this week indicates that most Americans believe smokers and the obese should pay more for health insurance. However, those surveyed were unsure how to assist the millions of citizens who currently have no health insurance.

More than 1,500 people were surveyed for the study, and of that number, 80 percent believe that the health care system in the U.S. needs to be fixed. It is estimated that approximately 46 million Americans currently have no health insurance. The study also indicated that 60 percent of those surveyed indicated favoring higher insurance premiums for smokers while 30 percent favored higher premiums for the obese.

The report stated "When it comes to personal responsibility, consumers increasingly support making people pay more for unhealthy behavior." The survey was released a week after Democrats -- who are generally in favor of more government intervention into the lives of uninsured citizens -- won control of both houses of the U.S. Congress.

The health insurance industry unexpectedly began to support a plan for universal health insurance for American citizens earlier this week. With nearly 16 percent of Americans now uninsured, the rate has been rising for years as prices for prescription drugs and hospital care have escalated.

Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, said that about 20 percent of large employers already give insurance discounts to non-smoking workers, and that this stance is rapidly growing in popularity -- with Darling indicating that it will continue to grow faster.

Darling added that, in regards to obesity, "I think it will be a while before we get to the point where people begin tying a financial discount to something like BMI (body mass index)." When asked about the government's role in a type of universal health insurance, Darling added that "Our view is that it has to be shared responsibility; the government is going to have to pay" with the other half of the responsibility going to taxpayers, according to Darling.

Why Michael Moore's SiCKO is a health care documentary every American must see

America's disastrous health care system is heaving the country head-first into near-certain economic collapse. Just about everybody's either financially strained or going broke due to spiraling health care costs: the people, the employers, state governments and even the federal government. Multinational corporations are fleeing the United States due to health care costs, taking jobs and economic productivity with them. Meanwhile, 50 percent of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are due to medical expenses.

But not everybody's doing badly. The drug companies, surgeons, medical specialists, health insurance companies and private hospitals are making out like bandits, raking in multi-million dollar CEO salaries and -- I'm not making this up -- greater than 500,000% markups on prescription drugs. And while the American people get sicker, the drug companies, insurance companies and many health "care" providers (it's really more like "sick care providers") are rolling in cash. Drug companies are now among the richest corporations in the world, and they got there by inventing fictitious diseases, then selling drugs to people who mostly don't need them. See my CounterThink cartoon, Disease Mongers, Inc. to learn more about this topic.

Meanwhile, the American people are the most diseased people in the world among advanced nations. We spend more on health care than anyone, we pay the highest prices for medications, and we're constantly told that we have the best medical technology in the world. But if our health care system is really so good, why do 50 million Americans have no health insurance? Why are hospitals literally dumping uninsured patients on the street, abandoning the sick to protect profits while our politicians actually negotiate on behalf of Big Pharma to make sure Americans keep paying the highest prices in the world for medications? (Click here to see our CounterThink cartoon on President Bush's price negotiations with drug companies.)

What's wrong with America's health care system?

SiCKO is a must-see documentary

SiCKO creator Michael Moore answers that all-important question in his best documentary yet. Forget whatever criticism you may have heard about SiCKO -- this is a Michael Moore masterpiece: A courageous, impactful and outrageous documentary that exposes the arrogance of modern medicine and the utter failure of America's corporate-controlled sick care system to provide decent health care to the people. Watching this movie will leave you either steaming mad or shedding tears (or both). It reveals the deep-rooted corruption in America's health care system and explains why the whole system was actually designed to deny health care to the American people.

I've been ranting about America's health care failures for years, and as I've consistently stated to the amazement of some, the health care corporations actually have a plan to keep people sick. There's no money in preventing disease, especially in the cancer industry. Click here to read my recent report on the American Cancer Society's refusal to help prevent 77% of all cancers using affordable, scientifically-proven vitamin D supplements.

In SiCKO, what Moore does very effectively is tells this story to a mass audience, weaving together the emotionally-charged stories of American citizens who lost husbands, daughters and other family members to preventable disease, all thanks to intentional, well-planned payment denials by health insurance companies. In one segment in the film, he features archival footage of former President Nixon, who strongly approves of a new 1970's health care concept called the "HMO" where the more patients are denied health care services, the more money the hospitals and health insurance companies rake in!

In contrast to all this, Moore shows us the universal health care systems in countries like Canada, the UK, France and even Cuba... all countries where health care is free to everyone. It's called universal health care (or "socialized medicine"), and it's a system followed by nearly every modern nation in the world... and even some not-so-modern nations. Only America practices medicine in the Dark Ages, tied to a hopelessly corrupt system of financial exploitation and monopoly price controls, where Big Pharma gets richer, the FDA gets more powerful, and the American people get the shaft.

See my CounterThink cartoon, The Disease Economy, for a visual representation of this mess we're in, or read my book Natural Health Solutions and the Conspiracy to Keep You From Knowing About Them to see just how evil and corrupt our modern health care system really is.

Why Moore is being so vicious attacked

Moore, as usual, is being targeted by all sorts of critics who would like nothing better than to see this guy disappear and stop rocking the Good 'ol Boys boat that seems to be floating just fine in America (as long as you're part of the wealthy elite, anyway). For starters, U.S. government officials are investigating Moore for violating travel restrictions to Cuba. And why? Because Moore gathered a dozen Americans who were denied health care in the U.S. and brought them to Cuba where they received free, quality health care in a modern Cuban hospital.

The message is hard to miss: Cuba takes better care of its citizens than America does. In fact, Cuba is willing to take care of a few American citizens that America abandoned! That kind of "in-yo-face" embarrassment to U.S. officials isn't appreciated much in police-state America these days, where practically anyone who dares question the wisdom of the government is branded a terrorist. Moore is clearly being targeted not merely because he took some 9/11 heroes to Cuba and got them health care, but because he dared to make it all public. Humiliating the King is a quick way to find your head on a chopping block. Just ask all the scientists who publicly disagree with the Bush Administration's hopelessly politicized view on climate change...

Other critics of Moore are either the greedy, corrupt corporations impacted by his film (drug companies, health insurance providers, hospitals and so on) or juvenile stay-at-home back-seat Internet critics who don't like Moore for the simple fact that he dares to stand up and say "The Emperor Has No Clothes!" Nearly all the criticism leveled against Moore is without substance. People attack Moore personally, but they won't dare debate what he's presenting in the movie. Why? Because Michael Moore is right. America's health care system is an embarrassment to the nation, and to the world. It's so bad that most informed world citizens wouldn't be caught dead in this country, unless of course they actually visit America and have an accident that lands them in the U.S. health care system.

Personally, I opted out of the American health care system long ago. I'm a holistic nutritionist, and I exercise, eat right, get lots of sunshine and gorge on superfoods and raw berries. I have no need for a doctor, or a pharmaceutical, or a health insurance policy. I don't get annual physical exams, and I have zero risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other common health conditions. (I posted my health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org if you want to see my blood workup.)

At the same time, I realize that not everybody is in such a fortunate health position. Most people simply don't take care of their own health, and while I could argue for days about the need for more patient responsibility alongside corporate responsibility, the fact is that relentless advertising from drug companies and food manufacturers has bred a mindset of disease, junk food consumption, pharmaceutical dependence and patient victimization. We have a health crisis in this country, and it's going to take genuinely radical reforms to turn this around and save America from a financial wipeout exacerbated by runaway health care spending.

What's missing from SiCKO

The material that's in SiCKO is hard-hitting, and it accomplishes what it sets out to do. But there's something missing from the film: A serious discussion about how a nation can prevent disease using nutrition, medicinal herbs, sunshine, clean water, avoidance of toxic chemicals, smart dietary choices, banning the advertising of junk foods and pharmaceuticals, and so on. Of course, that's not really what SiCKO set out to do, and this topic would require another film all by itself, but personally I wouldn't have minded a stronger nod towards solving our nation's health care problems through genuine prevention (rather than the current policy which is basically centered around waiting for everybody to get sick and then treating their symptoms while ignoring the true causes of their disease).

Of course, it might be tricky for Moore to argue for disease prevention given that he is obviously not the poster boy for ideal physical health. But he never claims to be. So the critics who attack Moore's own personal health are missing the whole point of the film. Moore is simply pointing out what's wrong with America's health care system, and he does so brilliantly and convincingly, regardless of his own personal health status. And besides, if you want to argue about the health of "experts," just walk into any hospital and take a look at the health of all the people who work there. Many aren't any healthier than Moore, and they work in the industry! The average lifespan of a U.S. doctor is less than a Cuban peasant. That's not a joke.

Regardless of Moore's present physical fitness challenges, he's obviously operating with a great degree of healthy skepticism about the way the U.S. operates today. Moore is an independent thinker who simply refuses to follow the crowd, and with this film, he's doing the job that the American people should have been doing all along -- questioning the sanity of our health care system. But sadly, the truth is that most Americans are sheeple who just follow the herd and do what they're told. A recent poll revealed that nearly 45% of Americans still trust the FDA! That's astounding, given that I've solidly established the Food and Drug Administration is far more dangerous to the health and safety of the American people than all the terrorists in the world. To learn more, read my article The lawlessness of the FDA, Big Pharma immunity, and crimes against humanity.

How will SiCKO play?

I think SiCKO's timing is perfect, and I think the movie will be a significant factor in the upcoming 2008 elections. Those politicians who run on a platform of radical health care reforms are likely to pick up a lot more support than those unwise enough to try to defend the current system.

This is a tough call for Republicans, since most Republicans support Big Pharma and the corporate control of modern medicine, usually at the expense of the people. Democrats, though, are also on Big Pharma's payroll, as was obvious with the recent voting record on the FDA Revitilization Act co-sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy. The truth is, Big Pharma owns virtually all the politicians in Washington (except Rep. Ron Paul, of course).

The movie will definitely get America talking about serious health care reforms. But as I've pointed out in a previous article, Where's the Health In Health Care Reform?, almost nobody is considering proposals that would genuinely solve the health care problem in America today. You can't "treat" your way out of a nation that has become so over-drugged, over-fed and over-diseased that even the little children are now being put on speed (also called "Ritalin"). Nearly 50 percent of American adults are now taking pharmaceuticals, most of which are utterly unnecessary from a medical point of view. Drug advertising has taken over the media, the FDA has suppressed natural alternatives, and the American Medical Association continues to peddle such health nonsense that it's amazing the AMA hasn't yet been invited to join the Smithsonian's Museum of Outdated American History.

The American Cancer Society, in my opinion, is a supremely corrupt, big-business front group that actually takes steps to ensure more cases of future cancer by "preventing prevention," the American Diabetes Association takes money from candy and soda manufacturers, and the American Psychiatric Association is so steeped in Big Pharma money that they've practically become inseparable. (Click here to see my CounterThink cartoon on this topic.)

The future of America looks dim

Clearly, something has to change in this country if we're going to survive as a nation. Under the current system of massive debt spending, widespread political corruption, war mongering and health care failures, the United States of America will simply not survive another generation. No nation that abandons the health of its people can expect to have a future. As Moore points out, however, there is a chance to save America, but only if we make significant changes starting now.

Truly radical changes must be put into place. I've offered many suggestions in a popular article, The health care reform legislation that Congress should pass, but won't. Lawmakers, you see, have no interest in actually saving America from financial demise. They're only concerned about the next election, and raising campaign reelection funds means kow-towing to the interests of the powerful corporations that really run Washington.

Personally, I don't see that meaningful reform is possible under the current system of politics in America. The Big Business sick care industry has a stranglehold on the American political system, and the whole ugly thing will mostly likely have to collapse and be rebooted before we'll see significant change.

And make no mistake: that's what's coming. I predict America will not survive its health care crisis. It won't be the first empire to crumble from arrogance and corruption. In fact, it will join a long (and growing) list of civilizations that have risen and fallen, securing its place in the pages of history as yet another imperialist nation that thought it could rule the world while abandoning the needs of its own people.

The bottom line on SiCKO

It's a must-see documentary. It's surprisingly even-handed and well grounded, never resorting to unsubstantiated claims merely to shock the audience. In fact, as a person who has been writing about America's health care problems for four years, I didn't detect a single false statement in the film. It's all true, and it's pretty damn scary. Go see it. It opens on June 29th.

And if, like one person featured in the film, I ever have to choose between reconnective surgery for my middle finger at $60,000 vs. my ring finger at $12,000, I'll choose to have my middle finger sewn on first just so I can visually demonstrate to U.S. Senators precisely how I feel about America's health care system today.

Hillary Clinton's Universal Health Care Plan: Buy Health Insurance or Else!

NaturalNews) As candidates for U.S. President continue to battle for their respective parties' nominations, details are beginning to emerge about their (disastrous) health care plans. The New York Times is now reporting that Hillary Clinton's universal health care plan will be accomplished through "enforcement measures" that may include garnishing the wages of people who choose not to buy health insurance. What this comes down to, of course, is yet another form of medical tyranny where citizens are forced by threat of financial penalty to participate in conventional medicine's health insurance scheme that pushes drugs, surgeries, chemotherapy and other harmful treatments while disallowing converage of naturopathic health therapies that really work (like nutritional therapy).

Hillary Clinton's universal health care plan, then, is nothing more than a system for threatening all Americans to buy health insurance, and then financially punishing them if they don't. For people like myself who choose not to participate in America's drugs-and-surgery health care scam, Clinton's proposal would equate to yet another form of government-inspired financial tyranny that further erodes personal freedoms in a country that claims to be "free."

Clinton claims that people who choose to not buy health insurance are a "burden" on those who do, as if our opting out of that whole system of sickness and disease is somehow costing the nation extra money. It isn't, of course: People who choose to prevent disease and stay healthy while refusing to buy health insurance are actually saving money for the nation and, in fact, adding productivity to our economy. It's the sick people who eat junk foods and take pharmaceuticals that are the real financial burdens on society, and those are precisely the people who typically stay enrolled in the drugs-and-surgery system of health insurance.

With Clinton at the helm, the government will now exercise yet more control over your paycheck, stealing yet more of your money by confiscating a portion of your wages and turning them over to corrupt health insurance companies that do absolutely nothing to encourage real health.

It would be yet another government scam to further enrich the corporations that make money by keeping people sick and diseased, and under a Clinton regime, the enforcement of this ridiculous measure would push the United States of America ever closer to a nation of pharmaceutical enslavement where virtually all options for alternative medicine are eliminated. Consumers must be required to participate in conventional (pharmaceutical) medicine, didn't you know? And the government, of course, knows what's best for your health.

The Clinton-led invasion of your paycheck

If this wasn't a serious plan put forth by Hillary Clinton, the whole thing would be laughable. It won't be so funny, however, if Clinton becomes President and starts dictating such policies to the American people. If you thought George W. Bush was insane with his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, just wait until Hillary Clinton starts invading your personal lives and weekly paycheck. By the time you pay off the IRS, the mandatory health insurance scam, your home mortgage and local property taxes, you have just enough left to pay for prescription medications and junk food. And that, of course, is right where the folks in charge want you: Broke, diseased and powerless.

Clinton believes that the best way for society to solve problems is to force the people to follow government policy, and take away their paychecks if they don't. It's a form of financial tyranny, and the fact that she's announcing all this even before winning the election indicates just how little respect Clinton has for individual liberty and real freedom.

Fortunatately, Obama is giving Clinton some stiff competition on the Democratic side, and if we're lucky, we won't have to face the possibility of seeing Clinton elected. I'll take Obama over Clinton any day. And yet, the only real choice for people who desire genuine freedom is, of course, Ron Paul. As President, Paul would get the government out of our lives (and our paychecks), returning freedom and responsibility to the American people. This fact -- that people might actually have to think for themselves -- scares the bejeezus out of at least half the U.S. population, and that's why they're continuing to blindly support status quo candidates who openly stand for more war (McCain and Huckabee) or more Big Brother enslavement (Clinton).

In terms of health care, the NaturalNews ranking of candidates to support, is:

1. Ron Paul: A champion of health freedom. Would curtail FDA powers and restore health freedom to America.

2. Dennis Kucinich: No longer a serious candidate, but he's a vegan, and he believes in preventive medicine and protecting the environment.

3. Barack Obama: Believes in universal health care coverage, and he's an outsider who doesn't have as many dirty corporate ties that keep the Clinton machine running. Obama supports animal rights (he says), and might be willing to rock the health care boat if elected president. Obama holds promise, but we'll have to wait and see whether he's willing to stand up to Big Pharma.

Beyond these three candidates, there is nobody else that has a position on health care that NaturalNews can support. Even Obama's health care plan remains to be seen -- it might end up being just as bad as Clinton's. If there's one thing we've all learned about politicians, it's that they will say anything to get elected. Just because they promise something doesn't mean they'll pursue it once they get into office.

The truth about health care that politicians won't dare admit

Want to know the real truth about health care in this nation? I tell it like it is:

1. Health care spending will bankrupt this nation. 84% of the U.S. government's budget is now spent on three things: Disease, debt and war. The national debt is now over $9 trillion (see clock). The U.S. dollar is losing value. This nation will not survive its own crushing debt. Expect hyperinflation of an increasingly-worthless currency.

2. No elected president will propose a health care system that actually makes people healthy. (The disease corporations wouldn't stand for it.) There is simply no profit to be found in teaching the public how to avoid disease. Eliminating disease and the sick care industry would put millions out of work and implode the economy.

3. All this talk about "who pays" for health care is a joke. Unless you start talking about ways to keep people healthy and ban the advertising of pharmaceuticals, junk foods and sodas, we will remain stuck in a system of disease management where nobody wins!

4. The Fall of Western Medicine is fast approaching. When the United States collapses under a worthless dollar and a desperate hyperinflation bailout attempt, much of what the U.S. espouses will also be shunned by nations around the world, including its deadly system of pharmaceutical-based medicine. The collapse of the U.S. money supply will inevitably result in the collapse of Big Pharma's profitability, since it is nothing more than debt spending (at all levels: Personal, municipal and nation) that currently supports Big Pharma's monopoly prices for pharmaceuticals.

Haven't heard these statements from mainstream politicians? Of course you haven't. Expecting popular politicians to tell the truth is like expecting pigs to fly. Only Ron Paul dares to talk about reality, and for his efforts he's been marginalized by the MSM.

Let's face it: The American voters love to be lied to. In fact, they can't accept a President that tells them the truth. What they really want, when it comes down to it, is four more years of lies: The economy is great, your future is secure, we're winning the War on Terror, the War on Drugs, the War on Cancer and every other lie you can imagine. Oh yes, and don't forget: Deposit your life savings in dollars, please, and don't question anything we tell you, or we'll label you a terrorist and have you arrested.

Of course, despite all this talk about Clinton's disastrous health insurance proposal, let me be clear that electing a Republican for President will likely only continue Big Pharma's powerful influence over Washington. The drug companies have been very, very cozy with the Bush Administration, and there is a fundamental lack of understanding about nutrition, Mother Nature and natural medicine in the Republican party. So in terms of health care, I don't support any of the Republican candidates either (other than Ron Paul, due to his "freedom" platform and the fact that he's really a Libertarian).

The way this election is shaping up right now, it looks like we're going to be given a choice between bad and worse. Sound familiar?

Heard of preventive care? Get ready for one

Preventive care - That's the new mantra of today. Gone are the days when you only visited a neighbourhood doctor while you were absolutely unwell and your usual die hard habits of popping in pills never helped much. With the new age science of preventive healthcare bringing sweeping changes in the healthcare industry get set to see a total transformation in healthcare.

More professionalism:

The concept of managed care is coming up in a big way, which will provide a comprehensive range of services from preventive primary care to long-term care. And that's not all. Healthcare is getting more professional and commercial too. Perhaps its the rising consumerism, growing need for better healthcare facilities or the discerning middle class getting more demanding, it's the dawn of a new era for the healthcare industry.

For economically weaker sections:

With the recent spate of insurers coming in, healthcare seems to have come of age. While hospitals such as Apollo did dole out healthcare packages, these were by and large limited to the higher echelons of society, the privileged few. Today times have changed and quality healthcare will soon be made accessible to the economically weaker sections too at an affordable price.

Healthcare companies:

Considering the potential the healthcare industry holds, a number of companies are busy working out strategies. Also a new breed of third party administrators (TPAs), will play their role and help administer these strategies to reach out to the consumer. Max India, Fortis Healthcare, Paramount Healthcare, BUPA Piramal, a joint venture between the Piramal group and the UK-based healthcare major BUPA are few which have ventured into this arena.

Speciality hospitals:

Max India is setting up a network of about 35 to 40 primary care clinics, four diagnostic centres (with ambulatory surgery facilities), two medium-sized hospitals, and a large state-of-the-art tertiary care hospital by 2005.

While, Apollo plans to set up speciality hospitals here as also abroad and Apollo Lifestyle Clinics too, of which 200 will begin their operations by end of 2002 some companies believe in going via the primary route as they feel this could help them tap the market better since patients approach the nearby primary clinic first.

Third party administrators:

The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) is yet to come out with the final guidelines on third party administrators. While the draft regulations are already out a number of changes are required in the norms set, in order to encourage the newcomers set up shop here. Also the sale of healthcare products has not been permitted by the regulator which has proved to be a major setback to them considering the large amount of investment that has already been made.

But things are expected to change for the better bringing in better services, products and facilities for one and all that will change the face of the healthcare industry that it was.

 

New age healthcare gets going

The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) has now changed the draft regulations for third party administrators to permit sale of healthcare products. This has come as a welcome relief for the local as also overseas managed healthcare companies to go ahead with their almost -worked- out strategies and investment decisions.

Overseas companies:

Also considering the fact that the healthcare industry is only beginning to exploit the vast potential and also since there exists no cap on foreign direct investments, a number of companies for instance Aetna, Blue Shield, Cigna, Sloan Lake, Care Inc, Blue Cross etc are planning joint ventures with Indian outfits to set up shop.

Economical covers:

The 7000 crore healthcare industry has only begun to see activity. So far thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the government run hospitals, the unorganised system of administering medicare quality of service left much to be desired. Henceforth policyholders will be provided with better service and economical covers that will take care of the whole aspect of healthcare inclusive of primary, secondary and tertiary care, to be hopefully provided under one roof saving the policyholder the trouble of running from pillar to post for treatments.

Several services:

Policyholders can in the near future, look forward to a cashless hospitalisation system; a 24-hours hotline service in case of an emergency, claims, critical care services including admission in ICU; doctor on call for visiting corporates and institutions to provide consultancy; managed care programmes in preventive care, child care and old-age etc among others.

Expanding existing network:

Another advantage of such a changed scenario will be the low cost, coupled with quality covers that will encompass even the lower sections of society. Ican Medicare, Paramount Healthcare, Sedgwick Parekh etc among others will now work on expanding their network. Already Ican has drawn up plans to set up six more offices and a few others will soon join the fray to ensure a better treat for the policyholder.

A Step-by-Step Guide in Auto Insurance

It's very important that you're able to acquire an auto insurance. You need it since it's not all the time you're going to have funds for your car, especially when it gets damaged due to collision. But do you know what to look for and how to get one?

1. Set your budget. Before you start choosing your car insurance, know first how much you're willing to spend for the premium. It will never be the right amount, as there are still a lot of things that you have to consider, but at least you will have an idea how much money you're going to set aside for it. It's also ideal if you do have a budget so the insurance company will be able to suggest you a package that you can afford. Just so you can easily make your estimate, you can try doing some research on the current average premiums for car insurance.

2. Know what type of coverage you need. Your premium will basically depend on your coverage. Hence, even before you talk to any insurance agent, know first what you truly want. Keep in mind that some brokers will eventually entice you to buy an insurance coverage that you actually don't need. It only means that you're simply wasting your money. If you aren't sure what type of coverage to select, you can refer to your state. There are some places that mandate the insurance coverage every driver should get. You can also add liability coverage in your list. You need this just in case you have accidentally bumped into someone else's car or caused damage because of your own doing. If you like to lower down your expenses, you can also shop for an auto insurance coverage that includes other kinds of insurance, such as life or accidental.

3. Start looking for an insurance company. When you already have an insurance coverage in mind, you need to obtain a quote. But before you can get one, you have to look for an insurance company first. It's definitely a great idea if you rely on the recommendations of your friends and family members. Surely, they wouldn't suggest anyone that won't be able to provide excellent service to you. You can also look for one over the Internet, but it's better if it has an office somewhere near your area. There's one thing you need to remember: don't just simply go for one that has very low premium or an excellent package. More than anything else, make sure that it has superb customer service support, one that you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You simply just don't know when you will need to use your car insurance.

4. Always start the hunting with a call. There are some people who would directly meet their agent face to face. Though this could be good as you can directly obtain information about your desired car insurance policy, this isn't advisable - at least when you're still trying to shop for a company. Just making a call and inquiring about their products will not make you feel awkward if you decide not to deal with them.

5. Know the policies of the company. There are numerous car owners who make the mistake of only understanding what they would get and forgetting about their obligations to the company. If you don't like to be surprised with charges you don't know about or why you can't avail your insurance in certain situations, know their policies first. This should also be accomplished even before you purchase a policy.

The Right Way to File a Claim in Your Auto Insurance

If you have got yourself an auto insurance, then you're entitled to get a claim. The problem is there are numerous car owners who are able to do so simply because they don't know how to file one. In the end, they're not able to enjoy the premiums they constantly pay to their insurance company. A claim is something you need to obtain when your vehicle meets an accident or when you're injured because of a collision. It will basically cover the cost, partial or full, for the repair or your hospitalization.

To ensure that you can fully maximize your premium and obtain your claim the soonest time possible, here are some techniques:

1. Make a report of the incident right away. Don't wait until the next day to file your incident report or at least list down what happened. The later you will make one the higher the chances that you're going to forget it are. You need all these information once you're going to file your claim. If you cannot create your own report for one reason or the other, at least have someone to do it for you, with your assistance. Besides, a more detailed report will make it very easier for the insurance company to decide how much claim you will be entitled with.

2. Notify the police. Notifying the police will further strengthen your case and will improve your chances of being granted with your claim. There are many instances that you should seek professional help immediately or inform the police. First, you must notify them if your vehicle got stolen or someone has vandalized something. You must also provide them a report if your car gets damaged because of collision or a person has purposely did it. It's also advisable to make a report if you have been injured because of a vehicular accident. All these can be filed together with your own incident report. It will establish the credibility of your story.

3. Call your insurance company immediately. This is the part when you will be grateful of your insurance company's 24-hour hotline. If you get yourself in any form of trouble, with undue damage on your vehicle, you have to file a report right away so the insurance company will be able to act upon it the soonest time possible. It will also remove any doubt that could play up in their minds. Remember, not all policy holders are as honest as you. Some of them will simply create stories so they'll be able to make a claim. Nevertheless, don't end the notification with a call. The next day, submit an intent-to-claim letter. If it's possible, state that you have already placed a call and the name of the customer service representative that you have talked to.

4. Know what to do next. Companies have their own way of processing claims, so it's recommended that you obtain first-hand information on the right steps to do it. First, know if there are still some requirements you need to accomplish, your rights and obligations to your claim, and how soon before you will be able to get your claim.

The Trouble With Vehicle Insurance Policies

Cars, Bike, trucks, lorries, vans and motorcycles - all of which require insurance to safeguard you from any unpredictable events and covering expenses. Without them, you may have to pay up a hefty fine. Fortunately, vehicle insurance is improving and cheaper insurance are always readily available offering more services.

Even young people can be offered cheap scooter insurance, as more young people are opting towards riding a moped/scooter for travelling, before learning to drive a car. The downside of it all is finding the right one for you. Insurance adverts have become very clever, more gimmicky and they all appear to sound the same offering the same things. Very different from the original purposes of insurance, when insurance meant protecting and preventing from crises.

Brief History of Insurance

Even looking for simple cheap scooter insurance requires in depth research and understanding of the users requirements before they apply for the insurance policy. Insurance is something that has been in progress for many years. Human society function on two types of economies, the first being financial (market, money and financial instrument) and the second being non-financial or non-money economy (without money, market etc).

The second economical principle is an ancient practise, whereby people help each other in times of crisis and are guaranteed help if they need it should a crisis occur for them. Money economy is the more common modern principle that we live by. Financial insurance became more of a common practise during the - mid 17th and 18th century, particularly focussing on building insurance against fire hazards.

The insurance policies were sparked after the devastations left by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Nicholas Barbon established the first Fire Insurance Company in England, for the sole purpose of insuring buildings from fire. In 1680 his office formed the first London fire Brigade. Benjamin Franklin later founded the first fire insurance company that contributed towards fire prevention with the exception of contributing towards buildings that had a higher risk of fire e.g. wooden houses.

Modern Insurance Practises

Today vehicle insurances are the most commonly used form of insurance. For young people, the most common type of transport they begin with for travelling independence are scooters. This is a great way for young people to introduce themselves to vehicle insurance and gain responsibility in maintaining their vehicle. Though when looking for cheap scooter insurance, one should know that the policies are almost the same as a normal motorcycle insurance policy, excluding insurance on added/customized parts to the scooter/moped and vary in prices.

Car insurance are widely advertised in the UK alone. Big branded insurance companies offer courtesy cars, whilst the previous car is in repair. Other insurance policies offer coverage for medical expenses, third party cover, legal liabilities, and damage to the vehicle, breakdown coverage and even car towing cover. Certain parts of America will not permit cars on the roads unless the drivers have applied for insurance. The best way to find the right insurance policy is to compare prices, terms and conditions, gain advice from experienced drivers or for first time drivers to join onto a third party insurance to reduce costs.

Insurance policies are far more complicated than what they were when they were first introduced. Many vehicle insurance companies require details of the make of your vehicle, your age, past driving records, age of your vehicle etc. Not to mention premium charges, excess payments, legal costs etc. No matter how different insurance appears to be now, it still maintains the policy to cover costs, whilst staying strong in the mainframe of the financial economic sphere.

Buyers Guide For Personal Health Insurance

If you have ever been sick or injured, you know how important it is to have health coverage. But if you're confused about what kind is best for you, you're not alone.

If your employer offers you a choice of health plans, what should you know before making a decision? What types of health coverage are available? In addition to coverage for medical expenses, do you need some other kind of insurance? What if you are too ill to work? Or, if you are over 65,will Medicare pay for all your medical expenses?

These questions aren't necessarily easy to answer.

This booklet should help. It discusses the basic forms of health coverage and includes a checklist to help you compare plans. It answers some commonly asked questions and also includes thumbnail descriptions of other forms of health insurance, including hospital-surgical policies, specified disease policies, catastrophic coverage, hospital indemnity insurance, and disability, long-term care, and Medicare supplement insurance.

While we know that our guide can't answer all your questions, we think it will help you make the right decisions for yourself, your family, and even your business.

Making Sense of Health Insurance

The term health insurance refers to a wide variety of insurance policies. These range from policies that cover the costs of doctors and hospitals to those that meet a specific need, such as paying for long-term care. Even disability insurance - which replaces lost income if you can't work because of illness or accident - is considered health insurance, even though it's not specifically for medical expenses

But when people talk about health insurance, they usually mean the kind of insurance offered by employers to employees, the kind that covers medical bills, surgery, and hospital expenses. You may have heard this kind of health insurance referred to as comprehensive or major medical policies, alluding to the broad protection they offer. But the fact is, neither of these terms is particularly helpful to the consumer.

Today, when people talk about broad health care coverage, instead of using the term "major medical," they are more likely to refer to fee-for-service or managed care. These terms apply to different kinds of coverage or health plans. Moreover, you'll also hear about specific kinds of managed care plans: health maintenance organizations or HMOs, preferred provider organizations or PPOs, and point-of-service or POS plans.

While fee-for-service and managed care plans differ in important ways, in some ways they are similar. Both cover an array of medical, surgical, and hospital expenses. Most offer some coverage for prescription drugs, and some include coverage for dentists and other providers. But there are many important differences that will make one or the other form of coverage the right one for you.

The section below is designed to acquaint you with the basics of fee-for-service and managed care plans. But remember: The detailed differences between one plan and another can only be understood by careful reading of the materials provided by insurers, your employee benefits specialist, or your agent or broker.

Fee-for-Service

This type of coverage generally assumes that the medical provider (usually a doctor or hospital) will be paid a fee for each service rendered to the patient - you or a family member covered under your policy. With fee-for-service insurance, you go to the doctor of your choice and you or your doctor or hospital submits a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. You will only receive reimbursement for "covered" medical expenses, the ones listed in your benefits summary.

When a service is covered under your policy, you can expect to be reimbursed for some, but generally not all, of the cost. How much you will receive depends on the provisions of the policy on coinsurance and deductibles. Here's how it works:

The portion of the covered medical expenses you pay is called "coinsurance." Although there are variations, fee-for-service policies often reimburse doctor bills at 80 percent of the "reasonable and customary charge." (This is the prevailing cost of a medical service in a given geographic area.) You pay the other 20 percent - your coinsurance. However, if a medical provider charges more than the reasonable and customary fee, you will have to pay the difference. For example, if the reasonable and customary fee for a medical service is $100, the insurer will pay $80. If your doctor charged $100, you will pay $20. But if the doctor charged $105, you will pay $25. Note that many fee-for-service plans pay hospital expenses in full; some reimburse at the 80/20 level as described above.

Deductibles are the amount of the covered expenses you must pay each year before the insurer starts to reimburse you. These might range from$100 to $300 per year per individual, or $500 or more per family. Generally, the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums, which are the monthly, quarterly, or annual payments for the insurance. Policies typically have an out-of-pocket maximum. This means that once your expenses reach a certain amount in a given calendar year, the reasonable and customary fee for covered benefits will be paid in full by the insurer. (If your doctor bills you more than the reasonable and customary charge, you may still have to pay a portion of the bill.) Note that Medicare limits how much a physician may charge you above the usual amount. There also may be lifetime limits on benefits paid under the policy. Most experts recommend that you look for a policy whose lifetime limit is at least $1 million. Anything less may prove to be inadequate.

Managed-Care

The three major types of managed care plans are health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service (POS) plans.

Managedcare plans generally provide comprehensive health services to their members, and offer financial incentives for patients to use the providers who belong to the plan. In managed care plans, instead of paying separately for each service that you receive, your coverage is paid in advance. This is called prepaid care.

An example, you may decide to join a local HMO where you pay a monthly or quarterly premium. That premium is the same whether you use the plan's services or not. The plan may charge a copayment for certain services - for example, $10 for an office visit, or $5 for every prescription. So, if you join this HMO, you may find that you have few out-of-pocket expenses for medical care - as long as you use doctors or hospitals that participate in or are part of the HMO. Your share may be only the small copayments; generally, you will not have deductibles or coinsurance.

The most interesting things about HMOs is that they deliver care directly to patients. Patients sometimes go to a medical facility to see the nurses and doctors or to a specific doctor's office. Another common model is a network of individual practitioners. In these individual practice associations (IPAs), you will get your care in a physician's office.

If you belong to an HMO, typically you must receive your medical care through the plan. Generally, you will select a primary care physician who coordinates your care. Primary care physicians may be family practice doctors, internists, pediatricians, or other types of doctors. The primary care physician is responsible for referring you to specialists when needed. While most of these specialists will be "participating providers" in the HMO, there are circumstances in which patients enrolled in an HMO may be referred to providers outside the HMO network and still receive coverage.

PPOs and POS plans are categorized as managed care plans. (Indeed, many people call POS plans "an HMO with a point-of-service option.") From the consumer's point of view, these plans combine features of fee-for-service and HMOs. They offer more flexibility than HMOs, but premiums are likely to be somewhat higher.

With a PPO or a POS plan, unlike most HMOs, you will get some reimbursement if you receive a covered service from a provider who is not in the plan. Of course, choosing a provider outside the plan's network will cost you more than choosing a provider in the network. These plans will act like fee-for-service plans and charge you coinsurance when you go outside the network.

What is the difference between a PPO and a POS plan? A POS plan has primary care physicians who coordinate patient care; and in most cases, PPO plans do not. But there are exceptions!

HMOs and PPOs have contracts with doctors, hospitals, and other providers. They have negotiated certain fees with these providers - and, as long as you get your care from these providers, they should not ask you for additional payment. (Of course, if your plan requires a copayment at the time you receive care, you will have to pay that.)

Always look carefully at the description of the plans you are considering for the conditions of payment. Check with your employer, your benefits manager, or your state department of insurance to find out about laws that may regulate who is responsible for payment.

Self-insured Plans

Your employer may have set up a financial arrangement that helps cover employees' health care expenses. Sometimes employers do this and have the "health plan" administered by an insurance company; but sometimes there is no outside administrator. With self-insured health plans, certain federal laws may apply. Thus, if you have problems with a plan that isn't state regulated, it's probably a good idea to talk to an attorney who specializes in health law.

Appropriate Care

HMOs, PPOs, and fee-for-service plans often share certain features, including pre authorization, utilization review, and discharge planning.

For example, you may be asked to get authorization from your plan or insurer before admission to a hospital for certain types of surgery. Utilization review is the process by which a plan determines whether a specific medical or surgical service is appropriate and/or medically necessary. Discharge planning is an approach that facilitates the transfer of a patient to amore cost-effective facility if the patient no longer needs to stay in the hospital. For example, if, following surgery, you no longer need hospitalization but cannot be cared for at home, you may be transferred to a skilled nursing facility.

Almost all fee-for-service plans apply managed care techniques to contain costs and guarantee appropriate care; and an increasing number of managed care plans contain fee-for-service elements. While the distinctions among plans are growing increasingly blurred, the number of options available to consumers increases every day.

How Do I Get Health Coverage?

Health insurance is generally available through groups and to individuals. Premiums - the regular fees that you pay for health insurance coverage - are generally lower for group coverage. When you receive group insurance at work, the premium usually is paid through your employer.

Group insurance is typically offered through employers, although unions, professional associations, and other organizations also offer it. As an employee benefit, group health insurance has many advantages. Much - although not all - of the cost may be borne by the employer. Premium costs are frequently lower because economies of scale in large groups make administration less expensive. With group insurance, if you enroll when you first become eligible for coverage, you generally will not be asked for evidence that you are insurable. (Enrollment usually occurs when you first take a job, and/or during a specified period each year, which is called open enrollment.) Some employers offer employees a choice of fee-for-service and managed care plans. In addition, some group plans offer dental insurance as well as medical.

Individual insurance is a good option if you work for a small company that does not offer health insurance or if you are self-employed. Buying individual insurance allows you to tailor a plan to fit your needs from the insurance company of your choice. It requires careful shopping, because coverage and costs vary from company to company. In evaluating policies, consider what medical services are covered, what benefits are paid, and how much you must pay in deductibles and coinsurance. You may keep premiums down by accepting a higher deductible.

Pre-existing Conditions

Many people worry about coverage for preexisting conditions, especially when they change jobs. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) helps assure continued health insurance coverage for employees and their dependents. Starting July 1, 1997, insurers could impose only one 12-month waiting period for any preexisting condition treated or diagnosed in the previous six months. Your prior health insurance coverage will be credited toward the preexisting condition exclusion period as long as you have maintained continuous coverage without a break of more than 62 days. Pregnancy is not considered a preexisting condition, and newborns and adopted children who are covered within 30 days are not subject to the 12-monthwaiting period.

If you have had group health coverage for two years, and you switch jobs and go to another plan, that new health plan cannot impose another preexisting condition exclusion period. If, for example, you have had prior coverage of only eight months, you may be subject to a four-month, preexisting condition exclusion period when you switch jobs. If you've never been covered by an employer's group plan, and you get a job that offers such coverage, you may be subject to a 12-month, preexisting condition waiting period.

Federal law also makes it easier for you to get individual insurance under certain situations, including if you have left a job where you had group health insurance, or had another plan for more than 18 months without a break of more than 62 days.

If you have not been covered under a group plan and have found it difficult to get insurance on your own, check with your state insurance department to see if your state has a risk pool. Similar to risk pools for automobile insurance, these can provide health insurance for people who cannot get it elsewhere.

What Is Not Covered?

While HMO benefits are generally more comprehensive than those of traditional fee-for-service plans, no health plan will cover every medical expense.

Very few plans cover eyeglasses and hearing aids because these are considered budgetable expenses. Very few cover elective cosmetic surgery, except to correct damage caused by a covered accidental injury. Some fee-for-service plans do not cover checkups. Procedures that are considered experimental may not be covered either. And some plans cover complications arising from pregnancy, but do not cover normal pregnancy or childbirth.

Health insurance policies frequently exclude coverage for preexisting conditions, but, as explained, federal law now limits exclusions based on such conditions.

You should also remember that insurers will not pay duplicate benefits. You and your spouse may each be covered under a health insurance plan at work but, under what is called a "coordination of benefits" provision, the total you can receive under both plans for a covered medical expense cannot exceed 100 percent of the allowable cost. Also note that if neither of your plans covers 100 percent of your expenses, you will only be covered for the percentage of coverage (for example, 80 percent) that your primary plan covers. This provision benefits everyone in the long run because it helps to keep costs down.

A Final Word

If you get health care coverage at work, or through a trade or professional association or a union, you are almost certainly enrolled under a group contract. Generally, the contract is between the group and the insurer, and your employer has done comparison shopping before offering the plan to the employees. Nevertheless, while some employers only offer one plan, some offer more than one. Compare plans carefully!

If you are buying individual insurance, or any form of insurance that you purchase directly, read and compare the policies you are considering before you buy one, and make sure you understand all of the provisions. Marketing or sales literature is no substitute for the actual policy. Read the policy itself before you buy.

Ask for a summary of each policy's benefits or an outline of coverage. Good agents and good insurance companies want you to know what you are buying. Don't be afraid to ask your benefits manager or insurance agent to explain anything that is unclear.

It is also a good idea to ask for the insurance company's rating. The A.M. Best Company, Standard & Poor's Corporation, and Moody's all rate insurance companies after analyzing their financial records. These publications that list ratings usually can be found in the business section of libraries.

And bear in mind: In some cases, even after you buy a policy, if you find that it doesn't meet your needs, you may have 30 days to return the policy and get your money back. This is called the "free look."