Saving money on pet health costs in the summer months

Getting back to nature may not always be the best thing for pets. In fact, medical claims data shows that as pets spend more time outside in warm weather, they are more likely to be injured, suffer from heat stroke or be affected by a number of other ailments.

Of course, that doesn't mean pets need to be kept on a short leash just because it's nice out. Pet owners just need to take some precautions.

"Pets are treated more frequently in the warm months due to their increased exposure to the outdoors. Warm weather exposes pets to more insects, higher temperatures and bodies of water, such as swimming pools, lakes and oceans," says Dr. Carol McConnell, director of veterinary education and services for Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI). "High temperatures can lead to sunburn and heatstroke. Exposure to swimming pools can lead to ear infections or-worse-case scenario-a pet accidentally falling into a pool and drowning."

Dr. McConnell says her company sees a significant spike in veterinary claims during the warmer months. In February of 2005, for instance, her company paid on 12 claims that involved a pet stepping on an object such as glass and injuring its paw. That number jumped to 76 claims in June and 87 in July. Some of these injuries most likely required surgery, which averages about $574 for canines and $337 for cats.

Dr. McConnell suggests offsetting those costs by keeping a watchful eye on your pet and by purchasing pet insurance.

"Protecting your dog or cat with a pet health insurance policy is not only a smart decision prior to warm weather months, but all year round," she explains. Her company's insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for thousands of medical problems and costly procedures relating to accidents, illness or injury. Optional Vaccination & Routine Care Coverage is available as well.

The following facts from Dr. McConnell explain some of the most common warm weather injuries to pets:

• Foreign Bodies-Foxtails, a type of grass with sharp points, are common in dry, warm months. The sharp points often become embedded into pet paws, ears, eyes or noses. As a penetrating foreign body, the foxtail inevitably causes an infection.

• Stings/Bites-Insects and spiders of all shapes and sizes come out of their hiding places in the warm weather months. Mosquitoes congregate near pools of water. Dr. McConnell recommends ridding your yard of even the shallowest pools of water (including the toddler's pool) so mosquitoes don't breed. Additionally, pet owners should keep their pets away from bees, wasps and woodpiles that may harbor spiders.

• Heatstroke-Dr. McConnell recommends keeping pets indoors as much as possible during the warmest hours of the day (usually 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Never leave your pet in the car unattended.

• Burns-Hot sidewalks can be downright painful for pets and could account for the rise in claims for burns, says Dr. McConnell. In addition to burns on the paws, sunburns are more common in hot months, especially on body areas not protected by fur or dark skin.

• Ear Infections-These are frequently caused by water getting trapped in a dog's ear after swimming or bathing. If your pet is involved in water activities, speak to your veterinarian regarding specific ear-cleaning products that will help dry the ear canal after water exposure to prevent recurring ear infections.

• Near Drownings-Although relatively rare, cases of near drownings do increase in warm weather summer months. If this happens, be sure to keep the pet warm, and dry thoroughly with towels. Then, take the pet to the veterinarian immediately.

For more information on medical coverage for warm weather maladies, call (866) 823-5595 or visit www.petinsurance.com/info.

It's important to protect pets from common warm weather injuries.

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Understanding your health care plan's rules on prescription drugs

One goal you may want to set this year is to understand your health plan rules, especially those for prescription medicines. Even if you didn't change health plans, your plan's rules may change at any time and in ways that impact your access to medicines and how much you'll have to pay for them.

While most people have a sense of how to use their insurance for doctor's visits, many overlook the benefits that cover prescription medicines. These benefits can work differently and have different rules than those for office visits. This may become a problem when you go to the pharmacy to pick up a new prescription and find that you're having a hard time getting your plan to pay for it.

"A conversation with your pharmacist about the medications you take can be an invaluable resource in making the best use of your health insurance plan's prescription drug coverage," said Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association.

A new Web resource, called www.YourPharmacyBenefit.org, helps consumers troubleshoot common problems, including situations where:

• The information your pharmacy has about your plan doesn't match what is on your pharmacy benefit ID card.

• It's too early to refill the prescription.

• A particular medication may react badly with another medication you're on or with another medical condition you have.

• The medicine your doctor prescribed requires your plan's approval.

• The medication is not covered by your health plan, or is not on the "formulary," the list of medicines covered.

The Web resource explains all of these situations and provides tips on how to deal with these problems, how to translate "insurance-speak," and who to contact when questions arise. It also explains how to file an appeal with your insurance company if the plan refuses to cover a medicine you need.

"Many consumers don't realize that they don't have to take a simple 'no' for an answer," says Bill McLin, executive director of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. "Asking the right questions may reveal that the problem isn't difficult to fix. It's smart to know how to navigate your insurance plan's rules so you can deal with coverage problems."

With the right information in hand, you can be sure you're getting the full value of your health coverage and that you receive the benefits to which you are entitled. For more information, go to www.YourPharmacyBenefit.org.

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Shopping Tips for Health Insurance

Increasingly, consumers are faced with the challenge of selecting and purchasing their own health insurance or supplemental insurance. Many are doing this for the first time.

The good news, experts say, is that by doing their homework, consumers can determine the kind of coverage they need and can often cut premiums substantially.

According to Alan Snyder, CEO and founder of Answer Financial Inc., "There are ways to reduce the cost while getting proper coverage that most people don't consider. One way is simply to comparison shop and there's nothing easier than doing it online or having an unbiased expert doing the shopping for you."

Snyder offers these ideas for controlling your health care insurance premiums:

• Comparison shop. You may be able to save money by exploring higher deductibles, a sensible option for young adults. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium. Compare benefits, deductibles and premiums and make sure, if you have a preferred physician, that he or she is in the plan.

• Practice preventive care. Explore preventive health screenings that are appropriate for your age and gender with your physician.

• Understand health risks. Good lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise and eating vegetables and fruits, have proven to make a positive difference on health even when started in older years.

• Take an active role in health care decisions. Take the time to build a good relationship with your doctor and participate actively in your care. Your doctor may be able to suggest alternatives that are less risky and costly.

• Know what your medical benefits cover. Study the medical benefits of various plans and always compare before you purchase.

• Consider same day surgery or out patient services. More than half of all health care costs are for hospitalization.

• Save the emergency room for emergencies. Emergency room charges can be much more costly than a doctor's visit. These visits will also drive up your premium.

• Check your hospital and doctor bills carefully. Notify your hospital and health plan promptly when errors are found.

Answer Financial Inc. offers ratings of a range of insurance products online. To learn more, visit www.answerfinancial.com.

If you have a preferred physician, you may want to check to see if he or she participates in the insurance plan you select.

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Reducing Company Health Insurance Costs

Health insurance costs have been skyrocketing for years. Many employers can't afford it and have no choice but to pass the increased costs along to you. If the money taken out of your paycheck seems to go up and up, that's why. But what can you do about it?

Take Control of Your Health Insurance Dollars

Every company has an open enrollment period when employees are allowed to review health insurance options and make changes or drop coverage. Do your homework first! Look at your deductions and talk to your HR person to find out what percentage of your monthly premium the company covers.

With these numbers in mind, look at private health insurance. A good place for advice and free health insurance quotes is www.ehealthinsurance.com. Believe it or not, you may find that it makes more sense to opt out of your employer's plan and use the money they would have taken out of your paycheck to pay for your own insurance.

Suffering From Coverage Overkill?

The truth is, many employers offer expensive insurance. If you or a dependent has a medical condition, it probably makes sense to stay with your employer's plan. But if you rarely visit the doctor, why pay more for an expensive health plan with benefits you won't use?

Imagine if auto insurance included coverage for repairs. You'd probably pay twice as much and, if your car is reliable, you'd never use that extra coverage. You'd be better off putting the money you would spend on insurance into the bank. Health insurance works the same way. You can lower premiums by finding a high-deductible health plan. Put that savings in the bank in case you need medical care until you reach your deductible.

Think About Your Kids

Even if you keep your own employer coverage, you might save money by putting your dependents on a private health insurance plan. Most employers only cover a small percentage of the premium for your dependents, while you're left paying the rest. Individual plans for your kids are another way to save money. For example, a nine-year-old in Toledo, Ohio can get a policy for under $50 a month! An easy way to compare rates from insurance companies is on eHealthInsurance.com. You can find quotes for just one child or for your entire family just by entering your zip code.

Karen Auby is a personal finance expert.

A high-deductible health plan is one way to lower your premiums.

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Cleaning Up For Your Family's Health & Well Being

The benefits of a clean home may extend beyond a house that looks good. Doctors say houses that are cleaned regularly tend to have fewer airborne particles that can cause asthma and allergies than houses that are not.

It is estimated that as many as 35 million Americans suffer from some form of allergies due to indoor-airborne pollutants. The pollutants include pollen and mold spores, but most frequently are made up of household dust.

Household dust is a mixture of potentially allergenic materials. Dust may contain fiber from different types of fabrics, dander from pets, bacteria, food particles, bits of plants and microscopic mites. To help clear the air your family breathes, allergists recommend regularly cleaning your house and keeping linens and towels clean.

The problem with grabbing a dust cloth and wiping the house from top to bottom is that most traditional dusting methods simply redistribute, rather than remove, dust. You could dust all day with feather or static dusters and not make much of a difference. This frustration has led cleaning product manufacturers to focus on how to remove dust from the home and clean up the air as well as the furniture.

"The rising rates of allergies and asthma have brought the dust bunnies out from under the bed, so to speak. People have become increasingly concerned with keeping their homes free from dust-not just for a clean appearance, but for the health benefits," says Troy Anderson, co-founder of the company FilterStream®.

Anderson's company makes a new cleaning device called DustTamer Deluxe®. The product, sold at Canadian Tire stores, is the first ever vacuum-powered duster. This housecleaning tool uses a 100 percent lambswool duster to gather and hold dust from a variety of surfaces and adds the power and convenience of a cordless, rechargeable vacuum chamber to remove dust on the spot.

The machine's dust collection system then traps large particles in a reusable stainless steel screen, while a HEPA filter removes 99.97 percent of smaller, microscopic dust particles from a home. Such power cleaning devices can help keep homes clean and families healthy.

For more information on the DustTamer or FilterStream's family of cleaning products, visit www.filterstream.com or call
1-800-685-0710.

New tools that remove dust from the home can help lower the amount of indoor allergens your family breathes.

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How to get free health care in the US

More than 45 million Americans, or one in seven, need help paying for their medicine, and many are not aware that there are programs available that can help people get the medicines they need-programs that may provide medication at a fraction of the cost or even for free.

To help consumers learn about these government and private programs, Merck & Co., Inc., a global research-driven pharmaceutical company, has developed the Guide to Affordable Medicine. The Guide to Affordable Medicine can help patients learn how to find the right program for them, determine their eligibility to enroll, understand how to navigate the paperwork and approval processes and answer commonly asked questions.

"We know that people without prescription coverage are less likely to use medications and more likely to stop therapy that could potentially save lives, keep them out of the hospital, and allow them to lead more productive, healthier lives," said Nancy Wicks, Executive Vice President, Merck Patient Assistance Program, Inc. "The most unfortunate part is that there are many programs that the uninsured could take advantage of, if they only knew about them. This new resource is designed to help people understand the range of options available to them."

Eligibility for these programs differs based on a number of factors, including age, income, disability status, health insurance and prescription drug coverage, among others. The Guide is divided into easy-to-read sections to help readers find the appropriate program:

• Medicare-For people over age 65 or disabled, who need help affording their medicine.

• Medicaid-For people who lack health insurance and have a limited income.

• Patient Assistance Programs-For people who have a limited income and no prescription drug coverage, and have exhausted all other payment options.

• Prescription Discount Card Programs-For people who don't have prescription drug coverage, but earn too much to receive public assistance.

• Children's Insurance-For people who lack insurance coverage for their children under age 19.

To order a free copy of the Guide to Affordable Medicine, call (888) MERCK-38 or visit www.merckhelps.com.

The Guide to Affordable Medicine outlines various programs to help people obtain the medicines they need.

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