7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans

Title:7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account PlansWord Count:956Summary:A health savings account plan offers lower premiums and lower taxes for many individuals.Before switching to an HSA plan, however, one would be well advised to seek the counsel of anexperienced benefits specialist who is familiar with insurance companies offering highdeductible policies that qualify for HSA account participation. In some situations, the lowercosts anticipated may not be realized, or may not be worth trade-offs necessary to achieve thosesavings.Keywords:employee health savings account, flexible health savings account, health care savings account,health savings account, health savings account plan, health savings account taxArticle Body:Health savings accounts (HSAs) are wildly popular. Since their introduction in 2004,approximately 2.5 million Americans have enrolled in these so-called consumer-driven healthplans. But, alas, HSA plans are not for everyone.Here are some pointers to help you consider whether an HSA will benefit you and your family.1. An HSA plan can cut healthcare costs by an average of 40% for many people.

Nevertheless, some people will not realize any net savings. Those most likely to realizesignificant savings are people who pay all of their own health insurance premiums, such as theself-employed, who are relatively healthy with few medical expenses.2. <a href=\"http://www.hsahealthplans.com \">health savings plan </a> restores freedom ofchoice.An HSA plan puts individual consumers back in control of their own health care. This alsomeans that each individual must be more responsible for his or her own health care decisions.This approach of self-reliance is not always popular with or appropriate for everyone, especiallythose who have become comfortable with HMO-type \"co-pay\" plans.3. <a href=\"http://www.hsahealthplans.com \">Health savings accounts</a> reduce incometaxes.Every dollar contributed into your HSA account is deducted from your taxable income in thesame manner as contributions into a traditional IRA account--regardless of whether you spend itor just save it. Interest and investment earnings in a HSA accumulate tax-deferred, just like atraditional IRA. Unlike an IRA, withdrawals are tax-FREE when used to pay qualifyingmedical expenses. In many situations, new account holders are able to almost fully fund theirHSA with money saved on premiums from a prior, higher priced plan. By stashing all or mostof those savings into an HSA, the account holder realizes instant, additional savings in the formof reduced taxes.4. You must have a properly qualified high health insurance policy in place first beforeyou can open a health savings account. One of the biggest misconceptions about HSA plans isthat any insurance policy with a high deductible will qualify the policyholder to establish anHSA account. IRS regulations, however, are quite specific. Not just any policy with aso-called \"high deductible\" will suffice. It is important to be certain that you are insured undera properly qualified policy. Your best bet is to work with a qualified and duly licensed healthinsurance broker who is experienced in marketing properly qualified HSA plans.5. You must be insurable in order to qualify for the HSA-qualified health insurance policy.Because most people do not have a properly qualified high deductible insurance policy, theywill need to switch insurance plans in order to become HSA-eligible. Unless coverage is beingoffered under small group reform laws (generally groups with 2-49 employees), the new highdeductible policy will be individually underwritten by an insurance company. This means thatsome \"pre-existing\" conditions may not be fully covered. Alternatively, some companies mayopt to cover certain \"pre-existing\" conditions in exchange for slightly higher premiums.Unfortunately, some health conditions simply render an individual uninsurable (examples:diabetes, chron's disease, heart attack, etc.). Underwriting requirements vary by state, which isanother reason to rely on an experienced health plan broker.You should not switch to a HSA plan when the management of existing medical expenses ismore important than saving up-front medical insurance premiums. Do not change health plans:in the middle of ongoing medical treatments; after a major health issue has been diagnosed; orif any family member is pregnant.Generally, it is relatively hassle-free to qualify, i.e. no medical exams, etc. Most insurancecompanies offering HSA coverage will issue based on your application answers, perhapsaccompanied by a follow-up telephone interview. In some cases, medical records may be

requested, and companies always reserve the right to order a paramed exam.6. Although HSA insurance premiums are low, they are not always as low as you might expect.梐This happens for one main reason. Simply stated, the underlying insurance policy is just thathealth insurance policy. Although it has a \"high\" deductible, as required by law, the insurancecompany still must compensate for the risk it is assuming over the deductible amount, which it搊does by charging premiums. Many companies offer policies with ne deductible?that allfamily members contribute toward. With those plans, it is not uncommon for premiums for a5000 family deductible with 100% coverage after the deductible to be comparable to a 2500\"per person\" deductible plan with 80/20 coverage after the deductible.Lower premiums represent just one element of the lower net cost achieved with an HSA plan.The low net cost of an HSA plan is achieved after factoring in the benefits of lower taxes, madepossible by the tax-deductible contribution to the HSA account. Thus, if obtaining the lowestpossible gross premium is your main concern, you may wish to consider a high deductible,non-HSA policy, especially if you do not see the benefit to contributing to a tax-deductiblesavings account.7. An HSA offers your best chance to keep a lid on health insurance rate increases.Make no mistake-you will have rate increases with your HSA insurance policy. Because anHSA qualified policy is still a health insurance policy at heart, there is no logical reason topresuppose that an HSA policy would be immune to rate increases required by an insurer tokeep paying claims and stay in business. But what you can expect is that the actual dollaramount of any future rate increases will be substantially lower compared to traditional healthinsurance plans (regular PPO and HMO plans). This is true because insurers base increases onpercentages, and the same percentage of a lower base premium results in a lower dollar increase.It's not a perfect solution-but it is the most cost-efficient solution for many qualified people.Title:Head-to-Toe Health and More with SeleniumWord Count:437Summary:Like vitamins, minerals perform specific functions within the body.Keywords:nutrition, multi vitaminsArticle Body:Like vitamins, minerals perform specific functions within the body. Some minerals are so vitalto our health that if they are not present in our bodies in sufficient amounts, we may become illor develop a serious health condition. While most minerals are associated with a single bodilyfunction, selenium is one nutrient that can provide good health for your entire body.

Healthy hair, skin, and eyes are all contributory to selenium. Selenium works closely withantioxidants to help prevent an increase in free radicals in the system. It is also beneficial inregulating the thyroid and immune system. If you are feeling energized and healthy, you mayhave selenium to thank for it. Selenium produces antibodies, which basically forms a chain ofprotection in the body. This one feature of selenium is important because it means that you areprotected from a variety of viral and toxic invaders that can result in serious illness.One serious health condition for which selenium may provide protection is cancer. The goodnews about selenium is that it may be protecting you from cancer and other health conditionswithout you even being aware. When you consume plant food, seafood, and meats on a regularbasis, there is a good chance that you are acquiring sufficient selenium. Scientists have alsodiscovered that selenium may be an effective treatment method for people diagnosed withcancer. Although selenium has been found beneficial to killing cancer cells in prostate cancer,there is promise that it may help treat other forms of cancers. This is good news to the millionsof people who are suffering from one of the 200 types of cancer.The cancer prevention benefits of selenium were discovered in recent years and scientists arespending a significant amount of time researching other possible benefits. In basic terms, canceris a malfunction in the body's normal production of growth cells. Studies of selenium indicatethat the mineral may offer cancer-prevention benefits.Since the body only requires a small amount of selenium (about 60 micrograms), it is veryunlikely that you will develop a selenium deficiency. However, you should make sure that youris getting sufficient selenium. Your heart can become weakened if you have a seleniumdeficiency.If when you discuss selenium supplementation with your doctor and they give you the go aheadto start taking supplements, be sure to follow your doctor's recommended instructions. Toomuch selenium (more than 200 micrograms) can be toxic.To check out the supplement we take daily and highly recommend, be sure to check outhttp://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html<a href=\"http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com>Nutrition supplements</a>Title:Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Part 3Word Count:1228Summary:While there are many common pharmaceutical treatments for high blood pressure includingbeta blockers and A.C.E. inhibitors there are some very effective alternatives includingpomegranate juice, passion flower and physical exercise.

Keywords:Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure Part 3Article Body:While there are many common pharmaceutical treatments for high blood pressure includingbeta blockers and A.C.E. inhibitors there are some very effective alternatives includingpomegranate juice, passion flower and physical exercise.There is evidence that pomegranate juice offers protection against cardiovascular disease. Whilepomegranates (punica granatum) have been around for thousands of years, not much researchhad been done until recently. Most of the research was first conducted in Israel and has beenongoing. One of the first studies to gain attention showed that pomegranate juice had potentantiatherogenic (biologically active substance that prevents atherogenesis, the accumulation oflipid containing plaques on the innermost layers of the arteries) effects in healthy humans and inatherosclerotic mice that may be attributable to its anti oxidative properties. A few months later,the results of a study conducted at the University of California showed an antioxidant activitythree times higher than those of red wine and green tea.Then, another study in Israel showed that pomegranate juice reduced the development ofatherosclerosis in mice that already had advanced atherosclerosis. The next month , results ofanother study showed a 36% decrease in serum ACE activity and a 5% reduction in systolicblood pressure in patients who drank pomegranate juice. The study concluded that pomegranatejuice can offer a wide protection against cardiovascular diseases which could be related to itsinhibitory effect on oxidative stress and on serum ACE activity.In the past 5 years, 150+ more studies and publications involving the pomegranate have beenindexed at U.S. National Library of Medicine's PubMed database, with findings that suggestmany healthy benefits of this fruit. Probably the most significant is in the reduction ofcardiovascular disease.Another exciting study in March, 2005 tested the effects of pomegranate juice on samples ofcultured human coronary artery cells exposed to extreme stress in vitro (as they would be insomeone with high blood pressure), and also on hypercholesterolemic mice. The study showedthat administration of pomegranate juice significantly reduced the progression ofatherosclerosis, and that the proatherogenic effects induced by perturbed shear stress can bereversed by chronic administration of pomegranate juice. Implications of this is that chronicadministration of pomegranate juice may be effective in both prevention and treatment ofatherosclerosis.The results of another 3-year study suggest that pomegranate juice decreases carotidintima-media thickness and systolic blood pressure in patients with carotid artery stenosis.In the most recent article about pomegranates, posted at PubMed on January 17, 2007, theauthors stated, \"The last 7 years have seen over seven times as many publications indexed byMedline dealing with pomegranate and Punica granatum than in all the years preceding them.\"They noted that the seed, juice, peel, leaf, flower, bark and roots each have pharmacologicactivity. They concluded that \"the phytochemistry and pharmacological actions of all Punicagranatum components suggest a wide range of clinical applications for the treatment and

prevention of cancer, as well as other diseases where chronic inflammation is believed to playan essential etiologic role.\"Passion Flower has also shows promise of lowering high blood produce by regulating nervoussystem neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety. (Passiflora incarnata) is accepted for medicinaluse in Germany, France, and other European countries for the treatment of nervous anxiety, andwas at one time approved as a sedative and sleep aid over-the-counter drug in the U.S. After areview of night-time sleep aids by the FDA in 1978, it was no longer recognized as effective bythe FDA since no American company submitted data on safety and efficacy as required by theFDA, so it was dropped as an over-the-counter drug.Although passion flower is a native American plant, it has been more widely researched andused in Europe than in the United States. In Germany, France, and other European countries, itis accepted for the treatment of nervous anxiety. Standardized passion flower products containflavonoids as the primary chemical marker. While flavonoids are generally considered amongthe most active components of the plant, scientists have not been able to pinpoint the singlechemical compound or group of compounds responsible for its sedative action.Passion flower increases levels of a neurotransmitter known as gamma-amino butyric acid(GABA), which decreases the activity of nerve cells in the brain, causing relaxation andrelieving anxiety. It contains chemicals known as harmala alkaloids, which are thought to blockan enzyme involved in depression.A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of Passiflora extract to the drugOxazepam in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) showed that Passifloraextract is effective for the management of GAD, with no significant difference between theefficacy of it and Oxazepam. An advantage seen with the Passiflora extract was that fewerproblems relating to impairment of job performance were encountered.Everyone experiences anxiety. It is the body's normal reaction to uncertainty, trouble, feelingunprepared, or a perceived, anticipated or imagined danger or threatening situation. Normalanxiety can be a good thing. It helps motivate a person who works well under pressure,resulting in an increase in productivity. But when anxiety and worry are exaggerated withoutcause, it is a sign of anxiety disorder such as GAD.People with GAD, like those participating in the trial above, experience pathological anxiety,which is excessive, chronic, and typically interferes with their ability to function in normaldaily activities, and is not triggered by any specific object or situation. Passion Flower appearsto be helpful in relieving stress not only in individuals with normal anxiety, but in those withGAD as well.Although there are many available blood pressure medications and natural therapy (such asMelaleuca's Prostolic) are both helpful in reducing and maintaining healthy blood pressure,your body's best defense against high blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseasebegins with a change in lifestyle. The time to change is now, no matter what your age is.Begin by eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, wholegrains, and other heart healthy foods. Lower your salt intake, and avoid processed foods thatdestroy potassium and generally have high levels of salt added that further robs your body ofthis vital nutrient. Get plenty of exercise, limit alcohol intake and don't smoke.

Your blood pressure rises as your weight increases, but losing just 10 percent of your bodyweight over a period of six months can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk ofdeveloping diabetes, which are two major risk factors for heart disease. Those who areoverweight and already have hypertension will see the greatest effect of a 10-lb. weight loss.A February, 2006 Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association:\"In view of the continuing epidemic of BP-related diseases and the increasing prevalence ofhypertension, efforts to reduce BP in both non hypertensive and hypertensive individuals arewarranted. In non hypertensive individuals, dietary changes can lower BP and preventhypertension. In uncomplicated stage I hypertension (systolic BP of 140 to 159 mm Hg ordiastolic BP of 90 to 99 mm Hg), dietary changes serve as initial treatment before drug therapy.In those hypertensive patients already on drug therapy, lifestyle modifications, particularly areduced salt intake, can further lower BP. The current challenge to health care providers,researchers, government officials, and the general public is developing and implementingeffective clinical and public health strategies that lead to sustained dietary changes amongindividuals and more broadly among whole populations.\"