Gardening Energy UP, Pain and Depression DOWN

Oh, yeah - they felt that they were being put upon unreasonably. They had all justified their position, of course. I do believe that they think they are the God-appointed rationers of health care and that nobody else gets how important it is what they do.

Please assume that there is a continuation of the deleted rant here. Please feel free to include whatever (colorful or not) vocabulary feels most suitable to you when contemplating the aforementioned execs.

Yeah, you can imagine how well I got along with them . . .

Hmmm..... yeah.....

One of the reasons I favor a universal health system similar to England or Canada (there are lots of untruths being spread about these) is that if there is a public option (which I support) it will not create substantial competition for the insurance companies if it is an option only for those with limited financial means. The rest of us would still be the victims of the private insur companies. This would also further advance the double standard we have now. For instance, now there is Medicaid for those needing financial assistance, and many providers will not see Medicaid patients or limit the numbers they are able to see, and these patients do not have the same access to care in hospitals and medical centers that privately insured patients have, simply because Medicaid does not reimburse at the same rate that insurance companies do. So if a public option is not available to everyone to choose, the private insurers will still have a captive audience. And if you think they are operating with the best interest of patients in mind, just take a look at their profits for the last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc.

Goodness this is a complicated issue and I like hearing the opinions of others. It seems we all agree that SOMETHING has to be done. Otherwise, our insurance rates will continue to go up, we'll have larger deductibles so we can afford the insurance, and we won't be able to afford the deductibles so we won't get all the preventive care that keeps us productive and costs to the whole system down.

Yes, Judi - it's an interesting topic and discussion helps to get us over the hurdles of misinformation that is being disseminated. I agree, a public option would be good, but it has to be competitive, both in terms of the care available for the consumer (would I use the public option even if my employer offered another?) and in terms of the cost to the consumer (would I use the public option if I couldn't find a provider that would accept it?).

I DO like the mandates for preventive care. States have started to establish their own, but it's been a tooth and nail battle each time. And, again, the current insurers and employers won't include it in their coverage packages EVEN THOUGH it will head off future costs to a plan by identitying underlying illness before it becomes chronic.

I have purposfully refrained from chiming in on the insurance discussion for two reasons. The first is that although I have strong opinions regarding the direction that health insurance has been heading over the last several years, I do not feel that I am well informed enough with the issues to discuss them intelligently. The second reason is that I AM well informed in another area of insurance (automotive) and have VERY strong feelings about how that portion of the insurance industry is run. As a result, I feel that my negative thoughts regarding how the automobile industry is treated would strongly and unjustly color anything I may have to say regarding healthcare.

Our small business has provided health care as a bennefit for our employees for over 20 years. All of our employees with the exception of myself and our receptionist are male and under 45 years of age with no pre-existing health issues. The best coverage we could possibly afford for such a "healthy" group still costs us $250 per month for each employee, and we had to choose a $1000 per person annual deductible. In this economy, when our own business is regulated so heavily by the insurance industry, we can barely afford this expense, and will very likely have to drop in from our bennifit plan next year. Something just doesn't seem right about that...

I have been enjoying reading the commentary from those of you with more knowledge in this area.

Julie, that sounds tough -- it's too much expense for everybody. I can understand that as technology changes, the cost of the new technology might be high. But why is the cost for an office visit so much higher than it used to be? Health care prices in general are going up.

I had an interesting conversation with my brother, who has been a practicing family doctor in Oregon for 35 years (at least). He's also very active in the governing bodies and oversight organizations, as well. He told me that the percentage of physicians who are members of the AMA is only about 15%. The AMA doesn't even represent the physician population. NPR totally missed that when they mentioned that physicians are for a public insurance option, but the AMA is not. My brother said that the AMA's revenue (to lobby for itself) comes not from physician dues, but from investments in real-estate in the 70's and from [get this] the royalties they get on the CPT codes that providers have to use to communicate with the insurance companies to get reimbursed.

It's the standard - there is no other way to get paid - and the AMA is collecting royalties. Hmmmmm, where does that money go?

And don't forget the malpractice insurance that providers must carry - paying increasing payments to - once again - insurance companies! It all stinks.

Here's something I wish would get more press. Boeing pays about 7,000$ per person per year for our family's insurance, an ungodly amount. Since we are all healthy, we pretty much just use it if my son has an accident (and we'd be bankrupt at this point if we didn't have it) or for physical exams. I wish we had the option of a catastrophic care policy, and then putting the rest in a medical savings account to be used as we see fit. Then we could 'shop around' for the best healthcare that fits our needs and would not have to worry about what is 'covered' and what isn't. It would save the company money because the insurance companies would charge less. Even if they just put,, say 4,000 apiece in to the account, it would be a step towards making people look at healthcare more as consumers than as helpless numbers in the system.

Pix, your insurance is still really, really good. Your costs are still pretty low. For a point of reference, we were paying more than $850/mo for our COBRA coverage-for two people....With our pre-existing conditions we can't let anything lapse or we'll probably never be covered again. On our new plan, DH's co pays his premium, but we pay mine, and it's still more than $400 a month-and not as good as the COBRA coverage was. It's a small company-the only way they can do this at all is to be part of this strange collaborative thing. (At the other large company, before he was laid off and it converted to COBRA we were paying substantially less than this-but we were still paying part of the premium.)

Otherwise, though, Pix, I've wondered something like that as well-have the company pay whatever it pays into a fund that pays the costsof whatever plan you're on (or whatever % of the plan you've chosen that the company $$ covers) that you just keep from job to job. And, why folks can't just stay with a co or plan regardless of employer. It would probably be better care if you're no longer forced to change Dr when you change jobs and ins co's. I've also wondered occasionally why companies don't actually let non-employees sign up and pay COBRA rates-it can be something like 103% of the employee costs-why not make it available to other folks and dilute your own risk pool, get the group larger and reduce the costs to cover the employees. I guess, though, the risk is that you'll pick up folks with high costs, not low ones?

Yes, we have very good insurance coverage. Probably it's the kind that keeps costs going up. I was thinking 'how can we stay covered for when we really need it and at the same time use the power of competition to lower overall costs'. It would probably increase our family's overall costs, which are very minimal at this point, but might be better for the nation as a whole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVgOl3cETb4

I don't know how to do a link to a youtube video but maybe it will work if you paste this in your browser?

Excellent!!

Does anyone have any recommendations for supplements/vitamins, what-not that have made any noticeable difference in creating a sunny outlook? I just found some sam-E in with my vitamins while unpacking some stuff.

There is some good research on Sam-E in terms of improving mood. Also, 5-htp works well for many people. Treatment lights are a very good choice as well. Plenty of research that backs their effectiveness, and less expensive that taking supplements for long periods of time. St. John's Wort is also good.
In terms of mood, make sure you take a good B vitamin supplement, and have your vitamin D checked.
Of course, it's always best to consult a doctor about these things. A naturopathic physician is likely to point you in the right direction in terms of the correct choice for you.

My Vitamin D comes in the form of gummy bears, so I am religious about taking that!
The horse-pill of a multivitamin ... somehow I forget that one usually.

Gummy bears must be a very delicious way to get a dose of sunshine! And flavorful, too!

I take at least 3 "Freddie Flinstone" children's vitamins daily because I hate swallowing the big one and they are quite effective for the "B complex" that are only short time in our body. By taking 3 a day as a treat I get continual vitamin supplements.
We use Sam-E in practice as a great antioxidant for the liver to keep it healthy during any hepatic insult. I too profess the melatonin, seratonin and Vit D that is naturally delivered when sunshine is available in the morning. Most effective!

Sunshine and laughter are truly the best medicine around! Go Freddy Flinstone! I remember giving those to my sister when she was small. I would always put several in my hand so she could choose which flavor she wanted that day. Hey, maybe I should try that for myself. I just hate the taste of the vitamins I take.

Bronson's puts out a very nice time release B complex "Super B 100" , (there is also a S.B. 50).
I've been taking megadoses of B since i was 16. LOL, that's a lot of years...
I take all my vitamins/minerals separately in order to get the dosage I prefer.
I can so relate to swallowing big pills/capsules. Really dandy when capsules get stuck in your throat & open up: vitamin powder in the mouth. yum.

I just bought some Calcium with D chews from Costco. They are yummy.

What Therapy Light do you suggest? Costco doesn't have them anymore. Is the Blue Light better than the fluorescent bulbs?

Well, the multivitamin makes me sick to my stomach for about 15 minutes too, which is a deterrent. I'll look into some separate pills.

Taking natural remedies is something I've avoided like the plague because it seems so complicated. Like, this cancels out that, or flax is only useful if eaten with cottage cheese. And then if you take too many of the wrong thing BAM your liver fails.

It's just a subject that seems to take a PhD. So whenever I hear a credible claim for something, I just add that to the little pile of pills. So there's milk thistle to offset any effects from the dark beer I like to drink, extra Vitamin C because EVERYONE says so, Vitamin D because somebody said so, potassium for muscles and, of course, that horse pill staring me in the face that's supposed to cover the basics.

I have had this one for several years:
http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/

Last year I bought this one from Costco for my son:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLite-Spectrum-Therapy-Device/dp/B000C1946S/ref=pd_sim_hpc_3

They are equally effective. It is the blue wave spectrum of light that does the trick. Personally, I like the big one in the dark of winter because it's very bright, but other people may not like that. My son uses the blue one, and I have several clients who use that one as well. It's a personal taste issue.
I noticed that Philips has some newer models that cost more. I don't see any reason to pay more for the new model unless you just like some feature. If I were going to spend the money for a newer model I would get this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B001I45XL8/ref=pd_sim_hpc_4

because they have used a diffuser to make the light softer. The other version uses blue LED's and they are pretty intense. You get used to it, though.

Thanks, Pix. I just ordered the cheap one.

I would rob a bank every Jan or Feb and go to Mexico Summer. If you get a big haul you could go to Costa Rica, or Belize. Best way to overcome SADS living in Pac NW.

I wasn't thrilled with Costa Rica the couple of times I was there. But the Languedoc-Roussillon region in Southern France, NOW yer talkin. They get 300-plus days of sun on average.

I am impressed with any place in winter at Seattle that isn't raining. Have only trained around the south coast of France. Never stopped. Was headed to Pamplona to see the bulls run. But all of the art films I see of southern France makes me want to visit. All of the cicada and bugs flying around would make it interesting. Good Bordeau sitting on a sunny westerly facing balcony smelling the onset of evening with a brisk bite of Brie and a book like "the tuscan sun". Yes Summer you have me going on to French travel sights to find my next European Vacation. Actually I thought the western coast of Italy would suffice.

Languedoc is magical partly because of its proximity to Barcelona & other Catalan pleasures ... it's an earthy mix.

You won't regret it, summerkid. If you need serotonin, that will do it. No reason not to have the light PLUS go chasing the sunshine elsewhere. You CAN have it all!!
Many years ago, well, about 15 years anyway,when I was working at a local agency, people on staff used to comment during our weekly staff meetings that they felt better after going over to eastern washington for only 1 day. The psychiatrist on staff at the time always pooh poohed this notion, saying it was merely psychological. Those of us who had experienced it knew way better than that, but no one could 'argue with the doctor'. I hope he has eaten his words because he was completely wrong.

I'm thinking I'll hang it from the ceiling! I have surround sound, why not surround sun?

I would put it in my bathroom. again more surface exposed and in the morning.

Last spring I was feeling pretty punk....my vit D level was low so my doc wanted me to take 4,ooo units a day...........what a difference! I finally can toss out the prozac! After doing some research I discovered that as we age we are not as able to absorb Vitamin D as well and anyone living above the California/Oregon borde doesn't benifit as much from sunlight because the available sunlight is so much weaker. It all makes sense. Vitamin D supplements supports health where antidepressants only mask the symptoms.
I have worked in healthcare all of my life and firmly believe that although we do have the best healthcare in the world the way, that is is distributed is unethical. A child with an ear infection may go untreated and suffer lifelong consequences because of his family's inability to afford healthcare!
I am currently paying nearly $700 a month for only me and my premiums are going up again this year just like every year. Great insurance at a great cost!
To me not doing yearly exams especially gyn and paps is like riding a motorcycle on the freeway and putting too much trust in other people. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is very prevailant and may not show up for decades after exposure. This is the one major cause of cervical cancer and according to my doc nearly every penis carries it and men are for the most part are asymtomatic.
I also believe that all of us need to take responsibility for our own healthcare and know the benefits and risks of our own lifestyle and practices and RX's as well.
Thankyou
(now stepping down from the soap box)

I added D-3 to my vitamin regime about 2 years ago, at 6000 units per day, half in the a.m., half at night. Yes, it has made a huge difference, even though I have taken mega-doses of D for a number of years.

So in all the posts here, I am unclear: are we speaking about Health care OR Health Insurance?
Big difference between the two.

I just ordered the last one you recommended. Thanks, Pix. Also, is it something that a 9 yr old can use? One of my grandsons has severe insomnia, and is extremely emotional.
My 7 yr old granddaughter also has trouble going to sleep. She will hide under the blanket with a flashlight and read WAY past her bedtime.

I have worked in healthcare both as an RN and as an architect specializing in healthcare systems and large university medical centers, in this country and others, and I don't think we have the best healthcare. Here are some statistics:

35th in life expectancy (35 countries do better than us!)
33rd in infant and child to age 5 mortality rate
14th of 28 of the most developed countries in death from heart disease
27th in death rate from cancer in males
33rd in females

Pretty sobering.

Oh great. There's a D-3 AND a D-4?

Unfortunately our health care is so closely tied to insurance...I see them as inseparerable. Our whole system is problem based not health maintence.
I agree very sobering Judi, but at least the potential is there. Is there anything about income levels vs life expectancy?

I heard a doc say on TV that we may have the best technology but we do not have the best care.

Willow I agree with that, and France has the same stuff we have. I also think we have the best med schools. So what stands between all that and us? Insurance companies of course!