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In the wake of news last week that the Affordable Care Act could cost more than $2 trillion through 2022 and facing a contentious Supreme Court hearing next week, the Department of Health and Human Services is aggressively highlighting the new health care law’s benefits for millions of Americans.

Today, department Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released data showing that more than five million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare saved $3.2 billion on prescription drugs in the last two years. In 2012, Sebelius said Medicare beneficiaries will receive a 50 percent discount from manufacturers on covered brand name drugs and a 14 percent savings on generic drugs. Receive an easy health tip a day. Join our health-loving people on Facebook.

That’s good news for Medicare recipients, but for millions of other Americans there are now questions regarding just how much a government managed health care system will cost. The Congressional Budget Office released a report last week suggesting that 20 million citizens could lose their employer-sponsored health benefits while another 49 million Americans might have no other choice but government-sponsored health care. The loss of employer health benefits could happen when private health care plans become too expensive in the new health care environment of the Affordable Care Act. Even more disturbing, the budget office also predicted that the cost of the new health care law could more than double the $900 billion estimate over the next ten years.

Countering those perceptions, Sebelius reiterated on Friday the “seamless path” to affordable health insurance coverage the new law provides many Americans. She sai

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But there could only be one winner. And that was a writer who turned something mundane into something beautiful

Congratulations to Mandy Huggins from Cleckheaton, whose first trip abroad was special for several reasons. Here’s the Kindle-winning entry, in all its glory.

My first trip abroad was memorable for many reasons but the thing that made it special was my first taste of an exotic drink which I have loved ever since.

I contemplate the tall glass that has been placed on the table in front of me. I have yearned for this drink for some time. Even with my limited experience of life, I know that it spells sophistication. A drink that has so far been denied to me at home, but here in Catalonia anything seems possible. I run my finger down the condensation on the outside of the glass. When I raise it to my lips, the sweet bubbles tickle my nose. There is the sharp citrus scent of the lemon slice, and the pleasing chink of the ice. I am still expecting someone to snatch it away and say that it’s a mistake.

This is my first holiday abroad. It is 1967, and Roses in Catalonia is still a sleepy fishing town. We have rented a green-shuttered villa on the hillside, which comes complete with Maria, the seriously buxom maid. I think that my father may lose an eye.

Every day Maria takes our pesetas to town and brings back heavenly bread with a thick dark crust, fresh fish, rice in a cloth bag, and rich spicy sausages. My mother has learnt Spanish at evening class, but Maria pretends not to understand her.

Today we have taken a trip inland for lunch. The

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Couples intending to begin planning their big day after investing in wedding insurance may be interested to hear about the latest trends.

Georgina Way, student liaison officer at the Wedding Planner School, explained how lace dresses will continue to dominate spring and summer fashions.

However, compared with last years designs, there will be greater emphasis on medieval styles.

For example, gowns will have long, flowing sleeves and sheer back panels that help to give a “very stylish effect”.

The expert commented that this will influence hairstyles, remarking: “As a result, more up-dos for hair, or just simple styles, not over-fussy [will be popular].”

Ms Way also noted the Olympics and diamond jubilee celebrations will influence trends, with couples adding lots of sparkle to decorations, flowers and dresses in order to do this.

The opening ceremony of the Games will take place on July 27th in London and will mark the third time the city has hosted the event.

Sunz Insurance, a workers’ compensation company, has received the certificate of authority to begin offering workers’ compensation coverage in Oklahoma, US.

With expansion into Oklahoma, the company expects to attract new clients and support growth of existing clients in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.

SUNZ president Scott Robertson said the authority to write business in Oklahoma strengthens the company’s ability to serve its clients.

“In addition, our filing gives us tremendous flexibility with the large deductible program by allowing smaller employers with premiums as low as $100,000 to participate in the risk sharing and reward offered by those programs,” Robertson added.

SUNZ, established as a single-state insurer in 2005, specialises in underwriting workers’ compensation policies for PEOs and staffing companies.

The company has expanded into 15 additional states covering the entire South-eastern US, and expects to file an additional 10 states in 2012.

Nearly half of the people who bought individual critical illness insurance policies last year were younger than age 45, according to a new report.

Exactly 49% of men and 46% of women who purchased policies in 2011 were under 45 years old, according to the 2012 Critical Illness Insurance Buyer Study conducted by the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance (AACII) and General Re Life Corp.

Researchers analyzed data from 10 critical illness insurers, which accounted for more than 57,200 purchasers of individual critical illness insurance policies made in 2011.

While the majority of critical illness insurance sales continue to be made in the worksite setting, sales to individuals are increasing as awareness grows, explains Jesse Slome, AACII executive director.

Exactly 18% of male buyers and 17% of female buyers were between the ages of 25 and 34.

Fewer than one in 10 buyers were age 25 or less and just over one in five buyers were age 55 or older.   This year’s study found that buying ages for men and women were more closely aligned compared to last year, said Stephen Rowley, vice president for Gen Re, in a statement.

Critical illness insurance pays a tax-free, lump-sum cash benefit generally upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke.

Sold in 54 countries worldwide, the first policies became available in the United States around 1996 and today more than 1 million individuals have such protection in the U.S.

Everything to do with a medical treatment, healing, and surgery is now being offered as part of medical tourism in many Asian, Central American countries, including South Africa. The main appeal for traveling to other countries is the affordability of the procedures and treatments as compared to what one can get in their country. However, many of these procedures are not covered by international medical insurance. One is even required to pay in cash or credit card in many of these places. This effectively lessens accountability should something go wrong. Who can you turn to if you don’t have an option like international health insurance?
Of course there are very few cases of botched surgeries or treatments but it still can happen. For instance, having cosmetic surgery to remove excess fat in the body can easily cause a problem if the patient isn’t tested for allergic reaction to the drugs used. There are also cases when the wrong tooth was pulled out or the wrong dosage was administered.
On the other hand, the fact remains that over half a million Americans have travelled elsewhere for surgery and only a small percent have had problems. Thus, it really matters where you go and who you pick to handle your surgery. Going through the internet for the cheapest prices shouldn’t be the way it’s done. This is like shopping for clothes or shoes. There has to be a precedent of successful operations and zero botched surgeries for you to even consider a place. Otherwise, you will end up spending more than if you had it done locally.
Your other option would be to expand your medical insurance so you can avail of certain services through an expert local surgeon. You won

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