How Index-Linked Annuity Interest Crediting Works

One-Year Monthly Point-to-Point

The monthly point-to-point index change is determined by subtracting the prior month’s index value from current month’s index value and dividing it by the prior month’sindex value. If this results in a positive monthly point-to-point index change and is not more than the declared cap, then it is
used as the capped index change for that month. If it is more than the declared cap, then we use the declared cap as the capped index change for that month.

A negative monthly point-to-point index change is not subject to a cap.

A “capped index change” for each month is captured over a 12-month period. The sum of the 12 monthly “capped index changes” will be the index credit rate on the index crediting date. The index credit rate is multiplied by the option’s account value to determine the index credit.

One-Year Annual Point-to-Point

The annual point-to-point index change is determined by subtracting the prior year’s index value from the current year’s index value and dividing it by the prior year’s index value. If this results in a positive annual point-to-point index change and is not more than the declared cap, then it is used as the index change for that year. If it is more than the declared cap, then we use the declared cap as the index change for that year.

A negative annual point-to-point index change is not subject to a cap. The index change will be the index credit rate on the index crediting date. The index credit rate is multiplied by the option’s account value to determine the index credit.

Participation Rate

The participation rate may very greatly from one annuity to another and from time to time within a particular annuity. Therefore, it is important for you to know how your annuity’s participation rate works with the indexing method. A high participation rate may be offset by other features, such as simple interest, averaging, or a point-to-point indexing method. On the other hand, an insurance company may offset a lower participation rate by also offering a
feature such as an annual reset indexing method.

Annual Point-to-Point

The index-linked interest, if any, is based on the difference between the index value at the end of the one year term and the index value at the start of the one year term. Interest is added to your annuity at the end of the one year annual reset term.

You can freely reprint this article as long as the author, bio, and live links are left intact.

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SCOTUS - Obamacare - Sour Grapes

It seems some of the same folks who were co-conspirators in the scheme to shove Obamacare down the throats of the American public are now crying foul. The back room shady deals and political vote buying on a bill that was passed along strict party lines now has become, in the minds of some, a case of partisan judicial activism.

Have they no shame?

The Hill reports.

While several of the high court’s liberal justices seemed to cheerlead for its defense, Scalia appeared hostile to the law, an attitude that rubbed some Democrats the wrong way.

Scalia mocked the so-called “Cornhusker Kickback” without seeming to know that provision was stripped out of the law two years ago.

This argument is flaccid given that the Cornhusker Kickback was used to buy Sen. Nelson's vote.

Scalia also joked that the task of having to review the complex bill violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

“You really want us to go through these 2,700 pages?” he quipped. “Is this not totally unrealistic, that we are going to go through this enormous bill item by item and decide each one?”

Name one member of Congress that read the 2,700 pages before (or after) voting on it.

Seems a bit disingenuous don't you think?

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Obamacare - The Movie

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How Does My Driving Record Affect My Car Insurance Premiums?

In order to legally drive a vehicle on the roads of the United States of America, the vehicle being operated needs to have the appropriate auto insurance applied to it. Drivers are required to insure their vehicles in order to comply with the rules and regulations established by the federal government. Persons who have auto insurance will be required to pay car insurance premiums.

This is the amount necessitated by the insurance company which needs to be paid by insurance policy holders in order to cover the cost of the individual's coverage. Different policy holders will often pay different amounts, or premiums, either monthly, semi-annually or annually. Since there can be such a difference between one person's premiums and the next, many people are interested in learning why there are such variations in price. Primarily, what insurance companies look for in determining a person's car insurance premium is their driving record.

A person's insurance premium is a direct reflection of the information that is found within the person's driving record. Insurance companies look at the last three to five years of a person's driving record in order to determine how much of a liability the driver would represent to the insurance company. The reason that insurance companies look at these driving records is because individuals who have had tickets or accidents are more likely to have tickets or accidents in the future, as compared to drivers that have not been in any accidents or acquired any citations from law enforcement officials. Insurance companies order your driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles from your state of residency, in addition to any other states in which you have been licensed to drive. The specific number of accidents and citations found in your file will affect the price of your car insurance premium.

Most states issue points for individuals who are in violation of the various driving rules that are put in place and sometimes for those who have gotten into auto accidents. Insurance companies often use the point system and the number of points in a driver's record in order to determine their auto insurance premium(s). In order to compete with other insurance companies, many insurance providers will try to offer the lowest insurance premium while still protecting their own company from any liability the driver may cause the insurance company.

Premiums can be established initially when the driver adopts a specific company's policy, but they can be changed over time if the driver gets into an accident or if they receive a ticket. Specific changes to a driver's premium as a result of accidents or citations will vary from company to company. If you have a question about how your specific policy will change, it will probably be easiest and most convenient for you to get individualized answers regarding your policy, and a potential premium change, by getting in contact with your insurance company. If you have your account number, you will be able to contact an insurance agent who can give you the information that you are looking for when it comes to your auto insurance account.

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Why Blackout blinds are Absolutely Essential for Audio Visual Events

Modern businesses have to arrange various audio visual events for their business needs. It is not only an arena for exchanging ideas, but also plan for business expansion. If there is an audio visual event slated in your company then blackout blinds are the best choices. These blinds can provide good lighting and they are immensely popular in the training industry. The training industry thrives on organising seminars with the use of a variety of audio visual aids to elucidate any given subject matter. With the help of blackout blinds the organisers can achieve a dark ambience that can be a crucial factor for such events. 

Blackout blinds have the capability to block excess light and stop entry of outside noise into the rooms. If your office requires light and sound management then these are the perfect blinds to install. Blackout blinds are not as high costing as the wooden or Roman blinds. They can be afforded within your pre-set budget. Blackout blinds are made of top quality materials and they generally last for a number of years. Such features makes them a popular option for the corporate sector. 

As the blackout blinds were primarily invented for photographic purposes thus they have an inherent light blocking mechanism. In studios they stopped light interruption in the photo processing. These blinds were very popular in the war days too. They were used in many homes to avoid air raids. Over the ages their design and uses have seen a drastic evolution. Now they are used to shield excess light into the audio visual rooms. They are used in theatres and cinemas too. They are key items for light management in most corporate offices. 

Most homes in UK use LED or LCD screens for better viewing of their favourite television programs. These offer good viewing when good lighting conditions prevail. In order to get best viewing from these types of media you will require least light interference. If there is a lot of light entering the rooms then it becomes tough to view the television properly. Even other types of television screens can provide good viewing when there is little light in the room. Thus installing the blackout blinds in your media viewing room is a necessity. Most of the offices depend on a lot of computer work. Viewing on the computer screens can be eased with the utilisation of blackout blinds. They stop the strong natural light and create an ideal condition to work in. Prolonged exposure of LCD and LED screens to sunlight is not good for their health. So you should put in your best efforts to shield them. 

The blackout blinds are quite easy to install. They have thermal control capabilities which keep an ideal temperature within the rooms at all times. They do not entrap the heat and create a stuffy environment inside, rather the reflect all the heat. Thus the people attending seminars will not have any problems with stuffiness within the rooms. 

With the application of blackout blinds you can create a dark and cosy environment within the seminar room which will be ideal for the attendees. They are cost effective and do not require regular repairs.

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Santa Barbara Therapists for Family and Child Therapy

Santa Barbara therapists play a very important role in helping people deal with different types of mental health problems and life challenges. Santa Barbara residents can benefit a lot from their guidance in matters like ADHD, anger management, addiction and substance abuse, family counseling, adolescent counseling, child therapy, PTSD, anxiety disorders and eating disorders, to name just a few examples. Here, we will succinctly describe the significance of the help provided by Santa Barbara family therapists and child counselors, for your reference:

 Family therapists in Santa Barbara:
 Like elsewhere, people in Santa Barbara depend on their families quite a lot. It is arguably the single most important part of a persons social support network. Therefore, it is essential to get family counseling or therapy from experienced Santa Barbara therapists when there is any type of problem in the functioning of a family. These issues can include those that arise from a terminal illness in the family, substance abuse by a member, the impending divorce of the parents, or communication problems between teenagers and parents. Family therapists will devise more effective conflict resolution and communication models, and work with the whole family as a unit, to facilitate better understanding of each others roles.

 Family therapy can also be used proactively, in cases where conflict is likely to arise in the future. This approach can be adopted in newly blended families, where both parents have children from earlier marriages, and for adults who have come from dysfunctional families of their won and are about to start their own families.

 Child therapists in Santa Barbara:
 Santa Barbara therapists who have specialized in child therapy can help you with different issues that are affecting your children. While parents are the first support system for most kids, sometimes, they find it awkward and even scary to confide fully in them, precisely because of the strong emotional investment in the relationship. They may fear being branded as abnormal by the people they most love. Or it may be the case that they have tried to tell their parents, but the latter have not realized the enormity of the situation for their wards and now they have become withdrawn and sullen as a result.

 Counselors skilled in child therapy are trained to create a non judgmental yet sympathetic atmosphere in which children can feel confident enough to relate to the therapist or counselor as a detached but interested listener. They will help bring out all the inner fears and anxieties of your children and help them overcome their life issues. They will also help them cope with the challenges of conforming to societys and their own expectations.

 Ryan FitzGerald is the Co-Founder of WebTribes Inc. WebTribes is a network of online community websites designed to bring people with similar life issues together from around the world that are in need of support. The support communities are for people affected by Depression, Addiction, OCD and HIV/Aids. Browse Therapy Tribe to How to Find A Therapist, San Diego Therapists, and New York Therapists.

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The Black Ops 2 Forum Has All Modern Weapons

The black ops 2 forum has many weapons in the game. There are single player and the multi player modes. There are many uploads to be made for the game. Uploads are made mainly depends on the players interest. If he does not like the upload then it need not be up loaded. There are many versions in the game. The game lovers will like this game. This game is popular all over the world. They are satisfied with these versions of black ops 2. The single player game mainly tells about the Russian army invading America. The players will be learning about the weapons through out the game.

 There are many maps in the game Here the players can go according to the map to finish the levels. The shooting experience is marvelous to the player. In the single player mode the player will assume different roles in the same play after each level. The war is almost all over the world in different destinations. There are as much as 16 game maps in the game. The player has to pass from level to level after he successfully faces the enemies. This game can be played on the split screen on the internet.

 The game gives the picture frames at sixty per second. The graphics of this game is spectacular. The player can have the track of the other player and know his scores also. The black ops 2 forum has all modern weapons which may be new to the starters. The game has an option for the starters to learn the operation of the weapons. Each assault, kill and reaching destination in each level will give bonus points. There is also currency got from level to level. With this currency the player can buy weapons and accessories. The player can improve his health in the game as he plays. These options will make the player to play for more time.

 The weapons used in this game are brand new. The starters have to get trained in the game to play the game successfully. There is even nuclear bomb which will pull down the whole level. This bomb will end the game. The kill streaks will give a remote controlled car to the player. The RC car can be used to go around the map. If there are enemies then the player can put an explosive to destroy him. When the player is playing he will get more experienced in using the weapons.

 The weapons can be designed with the stickers. There are options for the player to disguise himself according to the environment. At the end of each level the currency got can be used to buy weapons which are used for solving the next level. The Black Ops 2 Forum will give ranking for the player after each level. The higher risk in the level the greater will be the reward. The video clips can be downloaded according to the wish of the player. The game results can be shared with the friends.

 There are many weapons introduced in the black ops 2 games. This will improve the game in many levels.

 Author Resource: The Author is a professional writer, presently writing for Black ops 2.

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HCG weight loss for quick and safe weight loss results

The whole tussle has been on the brand new HCG diet plan, a system which many has truly assured excellent leads to losing weight and maintaining this around the long term. We will explore the HCG weight loss results later, however let's evaluate the actual developments of these past few many years prior to. A few years ago, the main focus had been on the improvement and adoption of vast nutritional ideas, which basically intended eliminating all sorts of meals through individuals diet. The problem was not only unhealthy foods, or a few heavy meals, rather all sorts of various elements, depending on which diet plan all of us checked out.

It was just in a second phase it had been recognized exactly how related it's, for an individual who would like to slim down, to switch to a healthier way of life, exercise and do sports as well as exercise every day. This discovery certainly assisted, and it has formed the life of numerous in our citizens who have turned to sports activities as a way to maintain slim and wholesome, and also to release tension after work.

One may think that the active lifestyle, coupled with the sufficient diet regime, would surely be successful in losing weight; however for many people it's not that simple, and that's where it seems that an HCG diet plan could be associated with assist. If you choose to buy HCG you look in the direction of changing your metabolism, or perhaps in short change your system's routines and prevent this from wanting food, not only to merely inhibiting those self same desires. The HCG diet enables you to lose plenty of weight and also make a move so as not to restore this after a short time, because it often happens.
 This means that after your own intensive diet plan period you can think of heading to a pleasant restaurant and get a little goodies and also the things you adore the most without stressing an excessive amount of. The body may respond differently to the stimulus of meals, right now, and you will feel a lot better about the method you gaze contributing to yourself.
 This said and thinking about the first couple of developments offered, it would apt to be an excellent concept to include an Anaheim HCG diet for your weight loss plan. When you occupy these types of three components, you'll hopefully find the right choice to lose weight within an easy way, and for good. 

Several people are afraid of the so called low calorie HCG Diet plan. But HCG is a very good hunger suppressant and this will allow you loose the fats without feeling the hunger carving and painful hunger pangs for the food. This is natural and entirely safe so far as the HCG weight loss results are concerned. You can simply bring down the extra fat content with the consumption of small doses of HCG along with a very low calorie HCG diet plan. collectively they can help loose fats with ease. 

So if you are looking for a sure shot weight loss remedy you can simply go on with the HCG weight loss plan. To buy HCG you can log on to: 



James Smith a health expert and an SEO content writer who has written many articles on HCG weight loss, HCG diet and Download Hollywood movies.

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OSI offers Cost Effective Physician Billing Services

A leading outsourcing company in the US, Outsource Strategies International (OSI) provides fast and efficient physician billing services to support health care providers. Rather than handling their billing tasks on their own, many physicians rely on medical billing companies to get the job done. By providing outsourced medical billing services, OSI makes it easier for physicians to focus on core competencies while enabling timely reimbursement and increased cash flow.

 The company brings together experts in physician billing to carry out the billing process. The team of experts has experience in working with multiple specialties including Allergy and Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, Critical Care, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Microbiology, Obstetrics, Pathology, Pain Management, and more. They take care of entire process of their medical billing tasks - from patient scheduling and reminders, patient enrollment, insurance verification, and coding and audits to account analysis and denial management and AR management.

 Our approach is SOLUTIONS; striving to tailor our resources to solve the unique challenges of each client. We are constantly researching and developing these resources to better serve our clients, says a representative of the company.

 The company has the ability to work using clients software and login in via VPN or use their own billing software. The medical billing specialists are well-versed in all popular billing systems or software, such as Medisoft, Practice Admin, AdvantX, eClinicalWorks, Advanced MD NextGen, IDX, Lytec, Eclipse, Practice Admin and so on.

 Considerable Savings for Clients 

 As a partner for physician billing services, OSI assures 30% to 40% savings on operating costs. Clients who order for medical billing and collections plus transcription are offered 10% off of services. To get more information about medical billing company, please contact us at:.

 Outsource Strategies International (OSI)

 Outsource Strategies International (OSI) is a leading healthcare business process outsourcing company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving a wide variety of healthcare clients across all medical specialties. As an outsourcing partner, the company makes available a wide range of services to its clients including transcription, medical billing with emphasis on old AR collections, healthcare staffing, website designing and search engine optimization, web development, and document conversion. The services at OSI are managed by US based managers and a full time support department onshore and offshore.

 Location and Contact Details 
 United States Main Office
 8596 E. 101st Street, Suite H
 Tulsa, OK 74133
 Main: (800) 670 2809
 Fax: (877) 835-5442
 E-mail: 

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Va bene signoras e signores

Why does health insurance cost so much?

Here's part of the reason:

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How 'bout ANOTHER $17 Trillion ObamneyCareBux©?

Last time we looked, ObamneyCare© had racked up an additional $111 billion cost overrun, and we remarked at the time how ironic it was that that might have been a low-ball guesstimate.

Little did we suspect, though, a "massive $17 trillion funding gap."

Ooopsies.

"The $17 trillion in extra promises was revealed by an analysis of the law’s long-term requirements ... when combined with existing Medicare and Medicaid funding shortfalls, leaves taxpayers on the hook for an extra $82 trillion in health care obligations"

Which begs the continuing question: How many more of these little nuggets still lurk in the belly of the beast we had to pass in order to find out what's in it?

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Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?

No, not that kind of Pepper, this kind:

"The food that inspires wariness is on course for inspiring even more wonder ... scientists reported this week ... that chili peppers are a heart-healthy food with potential to protect against the number one cause of death in the developed world."

The key ingredient, capsaicin, is why a lot of Asian restaurants include those little pepper symbols next to their spicy dishes. Many folks already use skin care and pain relief products containing the fiery capsaicinoids; this is apparently the first study to suggest that they help the heart in more ways than one:

"They lower cholesterol levels ... They also block action of a gene that makes arteries contract, restricting the flow of blood to the heart and other organs."

As with all things, moderation is the key; Dr Zhen-Yu Chen, Ph.D., who was involved in the study, warns that "we certainly do not recommend that people start consuming chilies to an excess."

Of course.

Now please pass that glass of cold milk.

[Hat Tip: FoIB Holly R]

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SCOTUS vs Obamacare Summation

The folks at Unum were kind enough to provide a summary of the 3 days of March Madness, legal edition.

Most of their comments and observations where ho-hum, especially for those who have even a casual interest (you have got to be kidding!!) in this topic. But a few were of note and not overly legal-speak.

They made reference to the number of "amicus curiae" (friend of the court) briefs. According to Unum, the "typical" SCOTUS case might have 5 - 10 briefs.

Obamacare had 136.

Apparently there were a number of folks that are not too happy about Obamacrap and wanted to make sure their voices were heard.

Imagine that . . .

One observation concerning the mandate was this.

"PPACA prohibits medical underwriting - which means insurance companies will be required to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions. As a result, more unhealthy people will be covered . . ."

Well duh.

The comment continues.

"The individual mandate ensures healthy people will also have coverage, so the financial burden (of insuring those with health conditions) is spread more evenly."

This has attorney fingerprints all over it, which clearly indicates a lack of understanding of risk management.

Just because someone is required by law to purchase insurance doesn't mean it will happen. As long as the penalty (or tax) is minimal compared to the outlay for health insurance premiums, many healthy people (especially the young) will postpone the purchase, pay the penalty, and only buy when they need coverage.

All this does is make health insurance even more expensive than it already is.

Clearly there is a lot in balance here that effects almost everyone, regardless if you currently have health insurance or not.

In the interim, it's back to the rack . . .

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Cavalcade of Risk #154: Call for submissions

Ken Faulkenberry hosts next week's CavRisk. Entries are due by Monday (the 2nd).

To submit your risk-related post, just click here to email it.

You'll need to provide:

■ Your post's url and title
■ Your blog's url and name
■ Your name and email
■ A (brief) summary of the post ("Remarks")

PLEASE remember: ONLY posts that relate to risk (not personal finance tips and the like).

Thanks!

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How Does Dental Insurance Work

Bad oral hygiene like failure to brush or floss teeth, gargle your mouth after meals, or eating foods like chocolate or sugar can harm your teeth. This gives rise to many dental problems like bad breath, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and dental cavities. This means a visit to a dentist could leave a hole in your pocket. At times, a normal checkup can set you back by $50 without undergoing any treatment. Besides, good oral health is important for our appearance. Also, dental problems can signify underlying health problems like heart disease. But going for dental insurance will ensure that the insurer pays for the costs. Here we explain briefly how dental insurance works.

Good dental health is not only important for our appearance, it is important for our overall health too as problems in the mouth can often be a sign that something else in the body needs attention.

Why do I need dental insurance?
A dental insurance plan is useful in paying for the costs of both normal and emergency dental treatments. You need not worry about paying your dentist’s fees to take care of your oral health.

Where do you get dental insurance?
There are various healthcare cash plan insurers who cover the dentistry fees to a determined limit. Now some companies offer independent dental insurance. The cover will vary from insurer to insurer, but both the cash plan and an independent dental insurance policy will cover the charges for normal checkup, emergencies and any unintentional injuries to the teeth. Recently, an insurer has started providing cover for major dental problems like reconstructive surgery, which can include a plastic surgery after injury to the teeth or oral cancer.

Where should I buy dental insurance?
You can get the best insurance that fits your budget by shopping around. Visiting the websites will offer you detailed information on the dental insurers and their policies. This gives you adequate time to compare the terms and conditions of various policies. You can also find out about any discounts on dental insurance.

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Achieve Better Health Through Kickboxing

Do you want to improve on your health and be ready for the kickboxing tournament? Kickboxing training is one way to achieve that body that is physically fit. You also become stronger and get more confidence in your personality because it trains your muscles and your stamina as well. You can be the best kickboxer with regular fitness boxing workouts at K Box Studios.

 Kickboxing classes can be easy to get because we have several timetable where you can choose your schedule. So even if you are poor in time, you can find a schedule that will fit you free time in the chart that we have provided in the site.

 If you are just keen on maintaining good health and not looking forward to competing in kickboxing, you can also take kickboxing lessons to get the body form that you have dreamed of. The person who is physically fit is happier and you can gain your sense of inner strength with training for kickboxing in Sydney.

 This is one of the most used form of cardiovascular training through repetitive workouts. It helps burn up to 500 calories with just an hour of kickboxing lessons which can maintain the heart rate at 85% maximum. This is the target heart rate that is ideal for adults and those that of advanced age.

 Frequent kickboxing training can contribute to the cultivation of fluid movements. At K- Box Studios, you will be provided with a personal trainer in Sydney to coach you on kick boxing.

 Get kickboxing workouts to relieve stress and achieve results in little time. When you need toned muscles and a bigger butt, K- Box Studios can provide a personal trainer to guide you. Your stamina will see an improvement as well as your strength and your total body appearance.

 So look great with kickboxing because you can easily train your muscles with exercises that are proven to produce the real effects on your body. Kickboxing workout has never been as fun as this. Enroll in kickboxing sessions now! Contact us at +61 2 9282 9166 or email at . 

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Achieve Your Health Retreat Objective Under Experts Eye With High Level Motivation

Why people join any health retreat programs in Australia and what is the underlying reason behind the success of such camps. There are more then one factors responsible for that and this article is a attempt to brief few interesting things you will experience while in any health retreat or fat camps. First of all it is important to understand the need of physically fit body.

 In todays professional environment it is quite important to have proper physical health as without proper physical health it is not possible to work efficiently and Mal nutrition often lead to poor mental status resulting in low level of performance in your office. While few of diseases like obesity are an open invitation to other diseases like hypertension. Surprisingly obesity is now becoming the major health problem found in any country across the globe. For example every out of two is obese in Australia and the number of service provider of health retreat NSW is increasing day by day. It means that people are now getting aware of the disadvantages of unfit physical conditions.

 Now Health retreat in NSW or any other health retreat camp is specially organised camp for the achievement of a particular health objective. Health objective can be of different types like weight reduction, Weight gain, Muscle strength increment, Body shaping and mental health retreat. Duration of any such camp depends upon the health objective of the camp. Some objectives like weight reduction may take months to achieve and such camps are often refereed as Fat camps.

 If I talk about the benefits of joining any health retreat camp of fat camp then the first thing which comes into my mind is the expert guidance. Guidance not only ensures fast effects of any exercise but it prevents certain mis happenings also. While in any fat camp coach keeps and sharp eye over your moves in any particular exercise and makes necessary corrections if required. In other type of camps proper dieting and workout plan is designed for every individual participants taking care of their health objectives. Most of the trainers in any fitness camp are highly trained and experienced health professionals from army background.

 To achieve any health objective it is required to have high level of motivation through out the entire course. While doing exercises at your home people feel less motivated very soon because of the monotony of the work and the loneliness. In any Sydney health retreat or in any other fat camp you will not feel less motivated because you are not the only person following the program but there is team with you also. You can compare your performance with others and can decide your achievement levels by yourself.

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Acidic Drinking Water & Its Health Risks

The ill effects of acidity in drinking water has recently come to light as studies have progressed documenting the changing lifestyles of Americans. pH is the measurement of acid versus alkaline within a substance. A measurement of seven on the pH scale is generally said to be neutral (pure), while anything below is considered acidic and above alkaline. The pH in the body has been linked to long term concerns as it relates to many diseases. Most forms of diseases flourish in an acidic environment which is why drinking high acidic water in combination with our lifestyle changes and diet are a path for future health problems. The body manages this process of being more alkaline automatically. If the alkalinity level drops than the body will seek to draw alkaline from calcium deposits in our teeth and bones.

 In our early years we get away with eating an imbalanced diet because our bodies produce a much higher rate of alkaline. This is why the body in earlier years stays skinnier even if we eat poorly. In our thirties and forties our bodies begin to change and the years of drinking acidic soda and ingesting other dietary NO-NOs, along with stress, environmental toxins and acidic chemicals in our daily hygiene products, all contribute to a higher acid level. Our bodies become less able to neutralize the acid. Chronic acidosis is a new term that has been established by the medical community to describe this event. Another new phenomenon is acid reflux directly linked to our lifestyle change and the amount of acid in our bodies. Twenty years ago did you ever even hear about this disease? Ever heard of acid rain and its damaging affects? This is the same thing that is currently happening in our bodies and it is time to take control!

 According to the research of Dr. Enderlein our bodies can only be healed of any chronic illness when our blood is at normal, or slightly alkaline. An imbalanced pH affects the cellular activity in the body, leading to the progression of most degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease and heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, kidney stones, urinary incontinence, arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, systemic weight gain and obesity.

 Minerals in water are an easy way to improve this balance within our bodies. The water that we choose to drink is impacting our bodys pH levels. Reverse Osmosis and bottled water are both bad choices as they are very acidic. Reverse Osmosis is water that is filtered to such a microscopic level that most if not all the minerals are removed. If you look at the label on bottled water that is processed through Reverse Osmosis (RO) it always states, "minerals added". Even though bottled water generally isnt as acidic as RO water we should still shy away from it since the minerals added do not create a high enough pH level for healthy drinking. Find a water system that offers the best options for optimum health and leaves the necessary minerals in your water. Make choices that are in your family's best interest there are many water system options today that leave the minerals in the water and have a healthy pH level.

 To further make you think about drinking acidic Reverse Osmosis water think about this! In general, water with a low pH level of (less then 6.5) is acidic, soft and corrosive. As corrosive as this water is when it travels through our plumbing fixtures it is leaching metal ions like iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc from those fixtures and pipes. The fowl taste that comes from metals in the water and the health concerns of metals in drinking water is further proof that acidic water should be avoided.

 Not sold yet? Take two different bowls one with Reverse Osmosis water and the other with water where the minerals have not been removed or substituted with salt and put it down for a pet. Their instincts guide them directly to the healthy water with minerals in it and they will choose the bowl with that water every time. Follow your pets instincts and your own and stay away from acidic water your body will love you for it. The long term health risks are real if you do not make this choice.

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Disingenuous ObamneyCare© Proponents

Since the train-wreck itself is indefensible on any logical or legal grounds, it just make sense to hire union members to astro-turf ginned up protests. Here, a gaggle of SEIU-related "women" explicitly discuss how much they were paid for their participation:

[Courtesy of The Daily Caller]

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SwedishCare: "Shut up or die"

Welcome to SvenCare©, where your nurses are hot (or not), you can literally be saved by the bell (or not), and you can call 911 but you better not say anything when you do:

"Swedish health authorities have come under criticism over the death of a woman whose repeated calls to emergency services were ignored because she was still able to talk."

But not, of course, for long. In Sweden, apparently, those cell phone minutes can kill you.

Literally:

"Jill Soderberg, 22, died in her home... shortly after she had placed her third and last call ... requesting an ambulance"

Hey, just because she was having major respiratory failure is no reason to be alarmed, right? After all, she could still talk, right?

Right?!

[Hat Tip: FoIB Jeff M]

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Subrogation in South Carolina Part II: Proper Parties to the Action

Subrogation in South Carolina Series: Part II

Post by Lee Floyd

An initial question when evaluating and bringing a subrogation claim is who are the proper parties to identify as bringing suit?  While ordinarily a fairly simple question in most litigation, this issue creates numerous complexities when dealing with subrogation claims, and resolving these issues can have a substantial impact on the perceived value of a subrogation claim. 

The impact of the named parties is apparent when you consider whether a jury will be directly informed that not only is insurance involved, but any award will be for the partial or complete benefit of an insurance company.  Further, because South Carolina law firmly prohibits any reference to the existence of (or non-existence of) liability insurance, the jury will not expressly know whether the burden of an award will be placed on the defendant or the defendant’s insurance carrier.  This scenario can easily present a situation in which a jury perceives the case as one where a multi-million dollar insurance company is asking to recover damages from a small company or an individual.  In short, the parties may present a picture of Goliath pursuing David. 

While some issues remain unanswered in South Carolina, the following general rules exist for the proper parties for bringing a subrogation claim.  Each depends upon the total amount of the loss the insurer has paid. 

1. The insured alone may bring the claim:  It appears that in most situations the subrogation claim may be brought exclusively in the name of the insured.  In South Carolina, an insured is the only proper party to institute a subrogation claim where an insurer has not yet paid for the loss or disputes coverage depending on the outcome of the claim against the third party.  While obvious in its reasoning, this rule has important implications: an insurer appears capable of always bringing a subrogation claim solely listing the insured as the plaintiff and still retains control over prosecution of the claim under the terms of the insurance policy. Using this rationale, there is no need to identify the plaintiff as “insurance company X as subrogee of” or similar language. 

2. The insured and the insurer are both proper parties to the action: This approach has been recognized in South Carolina where an insurer pays only a portion of the insured’s loss due to the actions of the defendant. This rule is consistent with South Carolina’s recognition of equitable subrogation as automatic on a pro-rata basis.

3. The insurer may bring the action solely in its own name: An insurer may file a Complaint solely in its own name only where it is has paid the total loss.  It is unclear, in South Carolina, whether this requires the insurer to have waived any amount due under the policy for the deductible or if this amount is excluded from calculating the total loss.

While this issue can be overlooked, determining the proper parties to Complaint in a subrogation claim may have significant ramifications on how the claim is presented to a jury and the perceived value of a claim.  As it currently exists, South Carolina law appears to permit an insurer to institute a subrogation claim in solely the insured’s name in most, if not all, circumstances.  It appears that this approach may be underutilized or overlooked in current practice.

This blog post is the second in a series by Collins & Lacy attorney Lee Floyd that seeks to identify some common issues that arise in subrogation claims for property damage and provide some general guidelines for resolving those issues.  Read the first post Subrogation Claims in South Carolina.  To learn more about how Collins & Lacy handles subrogation claims, visit our subrogation webpage.  

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Nate vs Chad: Entering the Ring

[Regular readers may recognize Nate Ogden as a frequent commenter and occasional guest-blogger here at InsureBlog. Well, it's our pleasure today to welcome Nate on board as a full-fledged Contributor. Nate's a Third Party Administrator in Northeast Ohio, and brings a very unique perspective to the whole insurance and risk-management business. In his debut post, Nate corrects the MSM on the subject of how self-funded plans are taxed. Welcome aboard, Nate! HGS]

Writing in the LA Times, Chad Terhune offers up his take on " a new type of self-insurance for small businesses with as few as 25 workers." While he does a better job than most media types (talk about a low bar), he still missed the mark. For one thing, this is not new at all. Some 15-20 years ago, there used to be a huge self-funded market for small groups. This is just a normal market cycle that repeats itself all the time. My family owns three TPAs(Third Party Administrators), we process the claims for self funded employers, and were based in Costa Mesa from 1980-2006. We had tons of 15 life, self-funded groups. There were carriers like Vasa Brougher that specialized in small group self funding.

For numerous reasons the market disappeared:

• Provider contracting favored the large carriers who did not rent their PPO networks. When you're self funded, you have to rent a PPO; generally, rental PPO's didn't have the deep discounts available to the "big boys." This was especially true in California until the Blues starting giving access to their PPOs 10 or so years ago.

• Poorly written COBRA laws made it extremely risky for small groups. Congress wrote the law, then left it up to the courts to interrupt the details. Large employers could afford a lawsuit while it put small employers out of business.

• The reinsurance market didn’t recognize the different needs of small employers compared to large ones, and thus the stop-loss policies didn’t provide all the protection small employers needed.

When we have these debates about health care reform and insurance it's important that the public be given accurate information. Small group self-funding is not some new concept just invented to circumvent State Regulation or PPACA reform. It has been around since the late 70's and early 80's. The failure of heavily regulated small group reform is just making it incredibly attractive right now. I would argue the reason you're seeing it more in California is that you have higher regulation there.

In most other States employers have been buying $5000+ deductible, fully insured plans, and then self-funding that deductible down. In California, most of the carriers worked hard to forbid this or to put enough restrictions on it to make it impossible.

Anyone arguing that self-funding only peels off the healthy risks has no idea what they are talking about. The vast majority of our business is groups that are moderately to very sick. Super healthy groups have premiums too low to make self-funding attractive. If everything works perfectly, they save a couple percent; if anything goes wrong, as it does on average once every five years, they pay considerably more. The groups flocking to self-funding are those that have been getting double digit rate increases year after year with no help from the carrier to fix the problem. Mr Terhune does mention getting claims data but doesn’t give it nearly as much discussion as it merits. Educating employees, often face to face, fighting with providers, finding waste and inefficiency is where the savings come from. Isn’t that what all groups should be looking to do?

Two more things: Mr Terhune is incorrect that self-funded groups don’t pay premium tax: they do, just on a smaller amount. This is one error the media always repeats and has for decades. Premium taxes apply to premiums (imagine that!), so the stop-loss premium is subject to them. For the most part, the claims paid by the employer are not subject to premium taxes (a handful of states have taxes based on claims).

Also, claiming that self-funded plans don’t contribute to the pools in PPACA is absolutely incorrect: self-funded plans have to pay the same per employee tax that fully insured plans do.

It sure would be nice to see the media care as much about accuracy as framing their message.

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Business Incentives to Help Conquer Sick Days

Many businesses large and small have now taken action to prevent their employees from going off unwell and eating into company margins whilst doing so.  Sick days are currently costing UK businesses and the economy £13 billion per year and more and more employers have been introducing incentives such as gym memberships, employee assistance programmes and personal medical insurance programmes to stem the amount of sick days being taken across the country.  We have put together a quick overview of what’s on offer with some employers and how they look to have a positive impact.

Many employers have, for a while now, have been offering private medical insurance as an incentive or a tool in which to manage their employee’s health.  There are many variations in which PMI is offered and lots of different levels of coverage ranging from those who have their own businesses who would opt for a self employed healthinsurance to grander schemes for larger companies such as group health insurance.  The idea behind these plans was to improve employee’s healthcare and have them back to work quicker as PMi’s  provide quicker, more efficient treatments and well as the flexibility to choose when treatments are undertaken.

An incentive lots of businesses are using is the provision of gym memberships at a discount rate and offering partnership schemes with gyms such as Pure Gym or Virgin Health clubs.  Many may even have the set up in their buildings to provide a work out area for those before and after work.  Employers see this as a wise investment because if their workforce is fitter then that can see off infections and colds that someone who is possibly less fit would be more susceptible to, thus less work days off.

What is becoming more and more common is the introduction of employee assistance programmes (EAP’s) where identifying staff who maybe suffering from work related issues such as stress or may have external pressures in their personal lives.   An EAP will provide help and advice 24 hours a day and can also involve face to face counselling to support an employee’s state of well being.  This can also be linked to limiting their exposure with the long term costs associated with stress and would incur extra premiums with a PMI supplier, income protection and critical illness. 

Related articles

• Health insurance as part of staff benefits - inducements required? (healthinsurancejournal.blogetery.com)
• Offering an Employee Assistance Program (frankcrum.wordpress.com)

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Unlucky 7

Lucky 7. 7 seas. 7 brides for 7 brothers. 7 hills of Rome. 7 hills of Constantinople. 7 Wonders of the World.

Throughout history 7 has been an almost magical number, even termed "lucky 7".

Maybe 7's luck just ran out.

Especially if your name is Barack Obama.

The folks at Heritage offer this recap and assessment of Obamacare.

In the 2 years since the passage of Obamacrap, there have been 7 failures directly tied to this law.

• The disappearance of child-only policies. Obamacare requires insurers who sell child-only plans to accept all applicants regardless of health condition. This allows parents to wait until their children are sick to enroll them in health plans. Two years later, one survey found that “17 states indicated that no insurers were selling child-only policies to new enrollees, and 39 states responded that at least one insurer exited the child-only market since the new law took effect.”
• “Free” preventive services cost Americans. Obamacare requires coverage of certain preventive services with no cost-sharing for the individual. Two years later, the list includes abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and other contraceptives as mandated coverage—even for many religious organizations. Heritage analysts report, “This created an outcry from members of many faiths who feel this decision is an attack on religious freedom and their ability to serve communities across the country.”

An addendum to the "no child health insurance left behind" comment, there are a few states (such as Georgia) where child only health insurance can be sold. The problem, the policies are not true major medical.

Parents can buy a child only health insurance plan in Georgia as long as they are willing to either buy a limited benefit basic health insurance plan, or a short term medical plan that is only good for 6 months.

Either of these options is fine as long as your child does not become seriously ill or has a major accident.

• A failing small business tax credit. Obamacare provides a temporary tax credit to small employers as an incentive for them to offer health insurance to their employees. Two years later, the IRS reports that only 7 percent of the originally estimated 4.4 million eligible small businesses have claimed the credit.
• A broke program for early retirees. Obamacare established a temporary reinsurance program from May 2010 to January 2014 to pay a portion of companies’ costs to insure early retirees between the ages of 55 and 65. Two years later, the program ran out of money almost three years early and is no longer accepting additional applications. As Heritage analysts explain, the program “clearly shifts the costs of paying for unsustainable promises made to public and private employees to federal taxpayers and further underscores how the true cost of implementing the health care law exceeds original estimates.”

These items get very little play in the media since they directly affect employers and only indirectly impact individuals and families. Still, this is just another example of what some may believe was good intentions gone awry.

Seems to me this is yet another case of government interference.

• Low enrollment in high-risk pools. Obamacare creates high-risk pools for individuals with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months to purchase insurance. Two years later, using the Administration’s own numbers, enrollment in the high-risk pools remains low: only 13 percent of initial estimates. Heritage analysts point out, “At the same time, medical-claims costs have been 2.5 times higher than initially projected, and the high-risk pools may still exhaust or exceed the available funding, even though they serve such a small portion of those they were intended to help.”
• A damaging medical loss ratio (MLR). Obamacare requires insurers to spend 80 percent (85 percent for large group plans) of premium revenue on medical claims or quality improvement. Two years later, Heritage analysts point out, “Seventeen states applied for the MLR waivers, arguing that the regulations would destabilize their markets.” The Administration has granted a full waiver to only one state; six received a partial waiver, and 10 requests were rejected. Some insurers have already left the market because of the requirement, and the strict medical loss ratio threatens the existence of health savings accounts, which are used by 11 million Americans.
• An unsustainable new entitlement. Obamacare created the CLASS Act, a government-run long-term care insurance program. Two years later, the Administration has declared the CLASS program unsustainable and halted its implementation. Heritage analysts report, “On February 1, 2012, the House of Representatives voted 267 (including 28 Democrats) to 159 to repeal the troubled CLASS program, and it now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.”

PCIP, the high risk pool substitute was actually a good idea. Had Obamacare created this plan and stopped there we would be much better off.

But Obama and company wanted something bigger. Something grand. Something regal.

The number 7 also has other associations.

The 7 dwarfs. 7 deadly sins.

Maybe Obamacare isn't such a BFD any more.

Perhaps 7 will now be known as an unlucky number.

At least if your name is Obama.

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Health Wonk Review: SCOTUS in the news edition

FoIB David Williams hosts this week's round-up of wonky posts, focusing (unsurprisingly) on the health "care" reform case before the Supremes. If you've been following this (and who hasn't been?), here's your chance to see how folks on all sides see the case.

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How Disability Insurance Differs From Health Insurance

When faced with the option of whether to purchase disability insurance, many consumers say no without fully understanding the consequences of their decision. The major reason why so few people opt for a smart amount of disability insurance is that disability insurance policies are not as widely held or as commonly discussed as life or health insurance policies. This leads to the current situation, where many people remain uneducated as to the possible benefits that disability insurance can offer them.

Disability insurance works within a fairly simple framework. In the event you become disabled in some way and cannot do the job that you are trained for and accomplished in, your insurance will pay you some amount of tax-free replacement income. Disabilities come in many shapes and forms, and anything from vertigo to obesity to any other condition that interferes with your ability to work can potentially make it possible for you to file a disability insurance claim.

To many people, disability is a word that brings to mind hospitals and medical costs. To be certain, you may require a substantial level of care in order to recover from the injury or illness that has made it impossible to work, and having good health insurance is an important part of making it through this kind of situation with your bank account still in the black. However, it is all too easy to forget about the fact that if you find yourself in this situation, medical costs are just one piece of the financial pie. If you cannot work because of a health condition, trying to keep your home, car, and other assets can be a serious struggle without the assistance that a disability insurance claim can offer. The exact amount of money you will receive as income replacement varies depending on the kind of policy that you have, but most people who have disability insurance are insured for roughly half of their normal gross income. This kind of helping hand during the difficult period of recovery after an injury or illness can mean the difference between being able to make ends meet or falling deeply into debt.

Although few people enjoy planning for a worst case scenario, spending some time figuring out how you could financially weather becoming disabled may lead you to put some important plans into place. This kind of forethought can help make a difficult period much more bearable. Many people find that knowing they are prepared for the worst helps them enjoy more carefree times; so consider taking out disability insurance for your peace of mind as well as for its other benefits.

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Wednesday ObamneyCare© Update

Even as the Supremes wrap up their little shindig, the train-wreck itself keeps on keepin' on:

"As the first quarter of 2012 comes to an end, more activities related to the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision of [ObamneyCare©] will occur ... Foremost among these is the April 1 filing of a Supplemental Health Care Exhibit (SHCE) ... to assist state regulators in identifying and defining elements that make up MLR."

But that's just the beginning; there's more!

"In early April, [carriers] will mail letters concerning MLR to two groups of customers ... employers that are non-ERISA and non-government entities (such as churches and tribal groups) and may also be eligible for a rebate ... request that these employers provide written assurance that a certain portion of any potential MLR rebate paid to them will be used for the benefit of their subscribers."

Did you know about this requirement? Does your employer?

And there's this:

"[Carriers] will be legally required by [HHS Secretary Shecantbeserious] to pay the entire amount of any owed rebate directly to the subscribers of any terminated groups that cannot be located."

Of course! What could possibly go wrong with that?

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FuneralCare©

Bob's been doing a yeoman's job of reporting on the SCOTUS ObamneyCare© trial, for which we're very grateful. Something came up yesterday, though, that I don't think got a lot of play in the MSM, and which seems to me to surpass even the "broccoli" argument. Justice Alito asked SG Verrilli:

"Do you think there is a, a market for burial services?"

The Solicitor General affirmed that he believed there was such a market, which allowed Justice Alito to ponder:

"[S]uppose that you and I walked around downtown Washington at lunch hour and we found a couple of healthy young people and we stopped them and we said, "You know what you're doing? You are financing your burial services right now because eventually you're going to die, and somebody is going to have to pay for it, and if you don't have burial insurance and you haven't saved money for it, you're going to shift the cost to somebody else."

At first blush, this would seem a stretch; after all, no one forces us to buy life insurance (which is what burial or mortgage insurance really is). But upon reflection, one is reminded that ObamneyCare© proponents repeatedly argue that we're all going to use the health care system at some point (a rather dubious assumption, to be sure), and that we must have insurance in place to (help) pay for that care.

Well, it may or may not come to pass that a given person will need health care, but there's no escaping the Man with the Scythe. That is, unlike illness, death is inevitable, so why aren't we required to purchase burial insurance, as well? It's the same premise, after all, with the added benefit of being true.

[Hat Tip: Co-blogger Kelley]

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