New Treatment for Alcoholism

July 17th, 2017

Next Sunday night (7/23/17) the TV investigative news journal “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly” will report on a new treatment for alcoholism.

The new treatment seems to incorporate medication that controls the urge to drink. Interestingly, the patients do not abstain from drinking.

HealthCare Advocates has no prior knowledge of the interview or the legitimacy of the treatment – we simply bring this to your attention to keep people informed.

Prostate Cancer and Ejaculation

July 5th, 2017

Men who ejaculated 21 or more times a month enjoyed a 33% lower risk of prostate cancer.

Source:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Ejaculation_frequency_and_prostate_cancer

The latest House healthcare bill – What it changes?

May 12th, 2017

The House passed a bill to change the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare). If it becomes law, what does it mean to you?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires businesses with 50 or more employees to provide health insurance to employees working 30 hours or more a week. The new bill, if implemented, ends coverage requirements for large employers. This “could” result in employees losing coverage or having to pay more toward their medical care. That stated, most large employers offered insurance long before the ACA required it so most people who obtain insurance through their employers will likely not see any change.

Under current law, people are protected by not having annual or lifetime limits on the amount of care they receive. If your cancer care costs $2 million, the insurer pays it. Under the new bill, states are allowed to apply for waivers that could alter or abolish these provisions thereby limiting the amount of care an individual would receive on an annual or lifetime basis. While such limitations would cap the amount of care an individual would receive, these provisions could also reduce insurance premiums for all insured because it would limit the amount of money being paid by the insurer.

The personal mandate to have insurance would no longer exist. Instead, the House bill prohibits insurance companies from terminating policies and from charging more for people with pre-existing conditions as long as their insurance doesn’t lapse. If there is a coverage lapse greater than 63 days, however, insurers can charge a 30% penalty over their premium for one year. To ensure people with pre-existing conditions have coverage, $38 billion is being allocated for high-risk insurance pools, and maternity and childbirth services.

Subsidies will change, instead of income-based tax credits and subsidies, the new plan will implement age-based tax credits ranging from $2,000 a year for people in their 20s to $4,000 a year for those 60 and older.

The new bill eliminates nearly all of the taxes that were included in the ACA. These taxes which total nearly $592 billion included taxing incomes over $200,000 (or $250,000 for a married couple); a tax on health insurers and a limit on how much insurers can deduct for executive pay; and a tax on medical-device manufacturers.

The COB predicts that the House bill would cut federal deficits by $337 billion over 10 years.

Painkillers and Heart Attacks

May 11th, 2017

Common painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen are already known to raise people’s risk of a heart attack. Now a new study shows the risk comes within the first week of using the drugs.

See full story: http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/painkillers-raise-heart-attack-risk-within-a-week/ar-BBAXjDb?OCID=ansmsnnews11

Update on the repealing of Obamacare

May 4th, 2017

House passes bill to repeal Obamacare!

Read the full story at:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-gop-votes-to-gut-obama-health-care-law/ar-BBAJcdb?OCID=ansmsnnews11

Pain Medication Leads to Heroin Addiction

March 23rd, 2017

Pain Medication: The heroin epidemic has caused doctors to rethink how they prescribe pain medication. HealthCare Advocates is receiving an increasing number of calls from people who were on pain medication but are now being taken off it due to new approaches being taken by physicians.

Medicare Provider Changes

January 19th, 2017

Medicare: effective Jan. 1, 2017, the Quality Payment Program replaced the Medicare physician incentive programs, creating one program that will govern Medicare Part B payments to all eligible providers. This program incentivizes providers to increase quality of care and decrease inefficiencies in the cost of care.

Donald Trump’s Effect on Your Health Insurance

November 15th, 2016

trump

Montel Williams – medical marijuana

September 8th, 2016

Whether you are for or against medical marijuana, Montel Williams has jumped into the budding industry. Having used medical marijuana for years, Montel Williams launched a medical marijuana line called LenitivLabs.

Insurance Coverage for Drug Addication and Mental Health

July 12th, 2016

HealthCare Advocates was successful in obtaining $32,400 for drug and alcohol treatment.

$32k insurance coverage