Can't afford health care?

If you are like many Americans who do not have health insurance and cannot afford health care, or have health insurance that is limited, you should know that you still have options. Check out the Low Cost Health Care and Assistance page on WhereToFindCare.com.

You will find links to free and low cost clinics, federally qualified health centers, urgent care and walk in clinics, prescription assistance programs, and more.

If you know of a program or service that can help others please let us know and we can share them with consumers who are looking for those services.

Occupational Therapy Session Aiding Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease can show devastating symptoms from person to person. There have been studies upon studies trying to find successful ways to moderate the disease. As some drugs have been pushed, occupational therapy sessions have come into play. A Dutch health investigating team tested the effect of occupational therapy with Alzheimer's patients and it showed levels of success. "The patients used most of the same doctor's office and hospital care, but required less close attention at home. So if the Dutch results can be replicated elsewhere, the occupational therapy treatment program joins a very small number of treatments, such as flu shots, that are so successful they decrease the total health care bill, paying for themselves in the process." There are many nursing care facilities posted on WhereToFindCare.com that offer occupational therapy, such as Coronado Health Care Center of Phoenix, Catalina Health Care Center of Tuscan, and Arroyo Vista Nursing Center of San Diego. If you know an individual that has tried occupational therapy, or would like to find locations offering the therapy, visit our Nursing Home Directory for a listing of nursing homes specializing in Alzheimer's care and occupational therapy.

Also visit, MLive: Occupational Therapy Sessions for the full article on the Dutch study with the therapy and Alzheimer's disease.

Going away with family or friends

Summer is a great season for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

Here in Michigan we have wonderful lakes, vineyards, festivals (Detroit Cityfest and National Cherry Festival in Traverse City to name a few) and a world class International fireworks show. Parks, picnics areas, dunes, and bike trails are beckoning everyone to enjoy nature's beauty.

Michigan.org is a great source to find fun things to do in Michigan for your 4th of July weekend and throughout the summer.

And WhereToFindCare.com is a helpful resource to learn about health care services and facilities in all areas of Michigan (and throughout the United States) should the need arise.

Anyone Can Practice Yoga for the Mind, Body & Soul

By Marina Takagi

There are many types of Yoga in this day and age, types ranging from slow, relaxing methods to fast-paced, workout methods. The great thing about Yoga is that anyone can practice it. A stressed out college student during finals week, a pregnant mother, or a working woman can all find some kind of benefit to the art and practice of Yoga.

There are types of Yoga that focus on breathing and relaxation. These kinds of Yoga are usually slower-paced, relying on the power of meditation. An example of this kind of Yoga is Kripalu. By learning to breathe and relax, an individual can learn to focus their negative energies and replace them with the positive. This kind of Yoga can be done any where at any time; practicing in a office or in your own living room. All types of Yoga carry some aspect of meditation, but some, like Kripalu, focus more on this than others.

Types of Yoga that are a little more intense include Ashtanga and Power Yoga. These kinds of Yoga focus on physical strength along with mental power. The goal is to be able to channel mental strength with physical strength, believing that the mind and body together can accomplish. This practice of Yoga is very beneficial as a work out. It is challenging but still, any person can participate. Yoga is about self-accomplishment and development so an individual focuses on their own limits and skills, no matter how different they are from the rest of the people in the room.

There are many different types of Yoga, in different places, in different styles. But no matter the type, Yoga has a very beneficial effect. The calmness yet mental push of Yoga works the mind. The stretching yet muscle toning works the body. And all of this put together works the soul.

Yoga classes and Yoga centers are all over the country. Look for the one nearest you.
Here are some in the Ann Arbor, MI area:

*Sun - Moon Yoga Studio
sun-moon-yoga.com
(734) 929-0274

*A2Yoga--A2Yoga Wellness Studio
a2yoga.com
(734) 216-4006

*Siddha Yoga Meditation Center of Ann Arbor http://www.siddhayoga.org
(734) 747-7116

* Ann Arbor School of Yoga
http://www.annarborschoolofyoga.com/
(734) 663-7612

Beware of Fake Health Plans

With the number of uninsured on the rise, some have taken to the Internet in search of discounted health care programs. But beware, some of the discount health care programs are scams.

The Federal Trade Commission and at least eight states have taken action against more than two dozen health cards for offering discounts services that don't exist.

Consumer advocates say you should suspect a scam if:
1.You learn of the discount card from a blast fax or Internet pop up ad.
2. They promise a certain percentage savings.
3. They use the term "guaranteed coverage."
4. They won't give you a list of providers until you sign up.
5. It sounds too good to be true.

(Source: CNN)

Did you know some health care providers offer their services for free or low cost? Check out the free/low cost clinic finder to see if you qualify and find a clinic near you. You should also check out federally qualified health centers. They provide free/low cost care to those who qualify.

Looking for other ways to cut your medical expenses? Many pharmacies offer discount generic drug programs. Also check out this article on tips to control your health care costs.

Medical Related Bankruptcies are on the Rise

According to a new study, medical bills account for more than 60% of bankruptcies. This is an increase, in 2001, 46% of bankruptcies were medical-related.

The study surveyed a random sample of 2,374 people who filed for bankruptcy in early 2007, examined court records, and interviewed 1,000 of them.

A surprising fact from the study: 75% of the people who filed medical-related bankruptcy had health insurance.

78% of patients from the study said there were gaps in their coverage, like co-payments, deductibles, and uncovered services. Other people had private insurance, but got so sick that they lost their job and insurance.

"Unless you're a Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, you're one illness away from financial ruin in this country," says lead author Steffie Woolhandler, M.D., of the Harvard Medical School, in Cambridge, Mass. "If an illness is long enough and expensive enough, private insurance offers very little protection against medical bankruptcy, and that's the major finding in our study."

(Source: CNN)

Other links of interest:
No Health Insurance? A Tip to Control Health Care Costs
Free/Low Cost Clinic Finder
Discounted care courtesy of the Federal Government
Discounted Prescription Programs

10 Ways for Healthy, Happy Living...No Matter the Age

by Marina Takagi

Every woman has wants and needs. Every woman is capable of fulfilling those single-handedly. There are easy methods that any woman, any age can utilize, easily boosting health, happiness, and being.

10. It's okay to indulge: Eat a chocolate bar, buy shoes or a bottle of wine that may be a little more expensive, or get a manicure/pedicure.

9. Say it: you're a woman!: Feel empowered as a woman, physically and emotionally.

8. Feel the beat: Music is a gift. Whether you need Mozart to help you study, Shania Twain to listen to in the car, or Norah Jones to relax you, there is a fitting genre to fit your mood.

7. Do something you normally wouldn't do: Maybe you never wear high heels and dresses. Maybe you have never liked the outdoors. So then, go on a date in some stilettos and a cocktail dress or go camping for a weekend. You can do what you want to do.

6. Be careful in the sun: Sunshine can be a pick-me-up, but too much sun can be a hand-me-down. Use that sunscreen and be careful. You know your body's limits when it comes to those UV Rays.

5. A smile goes alone way: You can read a book that makes you laugh, watch a TV show, or enjoy the company of jokster friends. No matter the choice, laughter boosts your mood, pulling you out from slumps and dreary days.

4. Relax: Take a bath. Read a book. Go on a run. Watch a movie. Breathe. Every woman deserves a step back and time to relax.

3. It always helps to stay informed: Read about the latest health news and make sure you know what is going on in your society. It never hurts to be safe and also help others be aware, as well. Along with staying informed about our society, check-up on your own health too.

2. Eat smart: Eating healthy is important. It's okay to have the occasional dessert or coffee drink. Just make sure you know your body and its' limits. (Don't go to the grocery store hungry...that'll save your bank account, too!)

1. Move!: Whether it's going to the gym, playing sports, or just walking around the block with your dog...stay active.

National Women's Health Week

The week following Mother's Day is National Women's Health Week, May 10 - 16, 2009). Coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, the goal is to get women to make their health a priority and take some simple steps to improve their health such as:

• Getting at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both each week
• Eating a nutritious diet (for help with this, we like the resources our friends at NutriInfo put together http://www.nutriinfo.com/)
  
• Visiting a health care professional for regular checkups and preventative screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seat belt
• Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• If you're over 40, get a mammogram
  

For more information or to see events in your neighborhood, go to http://www.womenshealth.gov/.

Obama's Budget: What it does for Health Care

Obama's proposed budget provides the Department of Health and Human Services with $76.8 billion dollars. Some key points of the plan:

1. The budget establishes a reserve fund of $630 billion over 10 years to finance health care reform. Half of the $630 billion comes from new revenues. The other half comes from saving proposals. This is only a down payment. The $630 billion will not guarantee health care coverage for all Americans. For this, additional funding is needed.
2. Invest in cancer research with the goal of developing new diagnostics, treatments and cures.
3. Encourage and increase the use of electronic health records (EHR). Starting in 2011, health care providers participating in the Medicare program will receive temporary incentives to use EHR. However, by 2015, all Medicare health care providers will need to use the system, or else they will face financial penalties. Medicaid providers are also eligible for incentives to assist with the purchase, implementation, and use of EHR.
4. New efforts to lower drug costs and strengthen the Food and Drug Administration efforts to make food and medical products safer.
5. Dedicate resources to improve oversight for the Medicare Prescription Drug program, Medicare Advantage, and the Medicaid Program.
6. Increase efforts to strengthen the long term sustainability of the Medicare program.
7. New funding to broaden the Medicare and Medicaid research agenda.
8. Provide health care coverage to low-income individuals by temporarily increasing federal Medicaid funding to help states facing budget problems. Also signing into law the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, a program that provides children access to health care.
9. Increase resources in the detection, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
10. Strengthen the health professions work force by investing $330 million to address the shortage of health care providers in certain areas.
11. Invest $4 billion in Indian Health Services to support and expand the provision of health care services and public health programs to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
12. Invest $221 million for research into the causes and treatments for Autism Spectrum disorders, screenings, public awareness, and support services.
13. $73 million to improve access to and quality of health care in rural areas.
14. Continue investment in comparative effectiveness research, which produces information on what medical treatments work best for a given condition.
15. Create the Nurse Home Visitation program, which will provide funds to states to provide home visits by trained nurses to first-time low-income mothers and mothers-to-be.
16. Increase efforts to prevent teen pregnancy.

Click here to see a copy of the proposed budget. (Source: CNN)

Need help finding a health care provider? Use our free health care provider directory. We have quality information, reviews, ratings, and much more!

Relocating to a New City? Don't Forget the Health Care!

New Home, New City & New Health Care - Making Relocation Easier

You cut your finger slicing potatoes! You slip, fall and break your arm! You're having chest pains!

Although these thoughts are all unpleasant, all could feasibly happen to you. Do you know where your closest health care facility is in case of an emergency? Sure you do, odds are you have visited them numerous times. But what if you don't know the area? How do you know where to go. Or worse yet, you move into an area where the closest facility is an hour away. These are all things you really should consider when thinking of relocating to a new area. Most people think of finding a home in a great school district or a home close to the freeways or shopping. But don't overlook the importance of finding a home where you can easily access care to protect your most important asset...YOUR HEALTH!

If you know the approximate area where you plan to relocate, do a quick search on WhereToFindCare.com to locate nearby health care providers such as hospitals and urgent care centers. Don't forget to look for renal dialysis facilities or other providers you'll be needing!

Also contact Gem1Properties.com relocation specialists for assistance relocating anywhere nationwide. They'll find you the best real estate agent for your areas of interest in the United States. Agents who consider not only the wants and needs you specify...but also those you don't even think of - like health care providers!