Health Insurance Fraud: What You Should Know

Health insurance fraud represents one of America's largest taxpayer rip-offs ever, costing Americans literally billions of dollars every year.

Due to rampant deception, scams and abuse in the health care system, consumers are forced to pay the price--literally--through escalating medical costs and rising health insurance premiums.

And government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, designed to help the low-income and elderly, represent two of the biggest losers of all.

Health Insurance Scams

According to the Insurance Information Institute, health providers and facilities such as doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic labs and attorneys routinely attempt to defraud the health insurance system...with devastating results.

How do they do it? In a number of ways, including:

1. Billing health insurance companies for expensive treatments, tests or equipment patients never had or never received
2. Double- or triple-billing health insurers for the same treatments
3. Giving health care recipients unnecessary, dangerous, or life-threatening treatments
4. Selling low-cost health insurance coverage from fake insurance companies
5. Stealing medical information and using it to bill health insurance companies for phantom treatments

If health insurance fraud knocks on your door, these types of scams may leave you with medical debts, damaged credit ratings, falsified health records, a high level of stress and overpriced health insurance premiums...or the inability to get any health insurance at all.

So what can you do about it?

Report it; then fight back!

What to Watch For

The first step to fighting health insurance fraud is keeping your eyes and ears open for abuse.

Be especially watchful for providers who:

• Charge your health insurance company for services you never received or medical procedures you don't need
• Give you prescriptions for controlled substances for no justified medical reason
• Bill your health insurance company for brand-name drugs when you actually get generics
• Misrepresent cosmetic or other health care procedures not usually covered by health insurance plans as covered

If you notice a health care provider doing any of these things, keep all supporting paperwork handy for reference, and then contact your health insurance company to let them know.

Then, if you're a Medicare or Medicaid recipient, call the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and report the abuse.

Finally, contact your state department of insurance or the local police.

Fighting Health Insurance Fraud

To keep yourself from falling victim to health insurance fraud, take the following steps to fight back:

* Check with your state insurance department to make sure your health insurance company is licensed in your state.

* Check out your health insurance company for consumer complaints, fraud convictions and bankruptcies through your state department of insurance.

* Keep detailed medical records.

* Carefully review your billing statements.

* Never sign blank insurance claim forms.

* Avoid salespeople offering free health services or advice.

* Protect your medical records and information.

* Make sure you know what your health insurance policy covers--and what it doesn't.

* Never pay your health insurance premiums in cash.

* Be wary if you're asked to pay a full year's premium up front.

* Be on guard against medical providers claiming to be connected with federal programs or the government.

* Beware of health insurance companies offering you coverage at an unreasonably low price.

* Ask your health insurance provider about anything you don't understand regarding your bills.

Making a Difference

Protect your right to health insurance, lower your premiums and keep your medical information safe. All it takes is a little education, a watchful eye, and the willingness to make a difference!

Womens Health Fitness

Type in a couple of womens health fitness keywords into Google or any one of the many search engines and what do you get? You get some great sites related to womens health fitness and more

There are tons of womens health fitness websites some are little more than advertisements but many others provide a terrific supply of information relating to womens issues. Scientific research, data from studies, health conditions, nutrition, and fitness, as well as prevention and treatment information.

It's important for women to get accurate information about issues that directly relate to their health and that includes the latest on womens health fitness. What was thought the best advice only a year or so ago has now been improved.

For example today it is a well known fact that women suffer heart attacks at the same rate as men but they often present differently to emergency wards to many go undiagnosed. It has also bee shown that womens health fitness is critical to keeping women healthier especially after menopause when their natural protection dwindles.

Studies have also shown that women health fitness can make a big difference in a womens ability to maintain here weight. It seems after 40 women get the privilege of a few extra pounds suddenly appearing around the waste line and so with some proper exercise routines you can better defy mother nature.

Womens health fitness is finally getting the same attention that mens has for decades. Suddenly we realize that besides helping to keep the pounds off women also need to make sure that they are taking care of their cardio workouts.

This brings us to another subject - weight loss. For many women this is an ongoing battle that's not easy to resolve. Many would love to convince you that you need all kinds of diet pills to lose those pounds when really what you need is much simpler. You need to ensure that the calories you are burning exceed the calories you are taking in.

There are plenty of excellent health fitness resource sites for women and there are just as many terrific magazines that are full of helpful exercise tips, nutritional tips, and all kinds of tips to have you looking and feeling great. And isn't that what all women want? To look and feel their best?

Women may a great deal more attention to how they look and feel then men do. In general women are much more in tune to the signals their bodies are sending them and they are also much more interested in health fitness and how it affects their overall well being.

Men are more interested in fitness to great a buff, polished look although slowly they are beginning to recognize and understand the value of a cardio workout. Women on the other hand have long understood how their health fitness and their overall well being were directly related. And for one to have a terrific overall well being they needed to have a good health fitness ethic.

So the only question that remains is which type of health fitness program best suits your own personal lifestyle and goals.

The Benefits of Complementary Therapies

Health is an important concern for everyone in their daily lives, particularly as they advance in age. While advances in the medical field have revolutionized options and technologies available within the mainstream health care system, they have also, conversely, brought to light many of the advantages and benefits associated with holistic therapies. When an individual examines the pros and cons of utilizing conventional medical care, there are many factors to be borne in mind.

A major pro relates to the individuals who work within this environment, whose extensive medical training over many years can help you in your efforts to improve your health. A major con, however, is associated with the pharmaceutical industry with its predominant focus on generating money and commercial profits rather than on improving health. Serendipitously, the financial strain arising from recent economic developments has led to growing numbers of medical professionals seeking to supply their clients with affordable therapies as against high cost pharmaceutical options.

This coming together of medical science and holistic therapies as complementary therapies is starting a new wave of medical care. When utilizing these different health systems as complementary therapies, you are availing of the benefits of both, which, in combination, offer you the best health options. Many individuals choose not to pursue complementary therapies due to their negative attitudes pertaining to holistic therapies. However many of the claims that have been made for holistic therapies in the past have now been proven and endorsed by medical science. When you opt for the complementary therapy approach, you are equipping yourself with knowledge available within the medical field while utilizing affordable and effective measures available within therapies with the overall objective of improving your health.

Currently a negative misconception exists with regard to holistic therapies the genesis of which can be directly correlated with the increasing commercial orientation of the pharmaceutical industry and the identification of significant profits accruing from manufactured drugs. As a result, there has been a concerted and widespread negative campaign against the use of therapies in favor of the solutions provided by the pharmaceutical industry.

Fortunately, the continuously increasing costs associated with pharmaceutical solutions have inspired ongoing research on the proven efficacy of therapies and now medical science supports many of these natural solutions. In addition to the fact that therapies are more affordable, they also offer improved health. Many of the negative side effects that are associated with pharmaceutical solutions are absent from the natural solutions offered by holistic therapies.

Deep Penetrating Light of the DPL Therapy System Is Used for Skin Rejuvenation and Pain Relief

Deep penetrating light therapy product brings affordable, non invasive and effective pain relief and skin rejuvenation to the consumer without the need of a prescription.

The leading DIY (do it yourself) therapy for home use is the DPL® Therapy system. This system provides the most effective, affordable and largest foot print in the home use light therapy marketplace and is one of the few if not the only light therapy system that helps with both pain and skin.

The application of the DPL® Therapy for consumer home use is the same deep penetrating light therapy technology used by doctors, spas, physical therapists and chiropractors is now available to the consumer.

The DPL® Therapy system brings affordable and effective pain relief and skin rejuvenation to the consumer that in the past was only available through a doctor's referral or prescription. Now consumers suffering with skin problems including wrinkles, arthritis, carpal tunnel and a wide array of pain, swelling and wounds can now heal and get fast relief in the comfort and convenience of their own home.

DPL® Therapy is making huge strides in medical pain management and skin rejuvenation arenas. As baby boomers begin to age, pain, arthritis and aging skin is becoming prevalent in our society with few options for relief other than drugs and cosmetic surgery. This system is the most advance health care product for your body and offers an affordable and effective option for skin rejuvenation, pain relief and potential reduction in the use of OTC and prescription pain medication.

This light therapy's deep penetrating Red and Infrared wavelengths stimulates the circulatory system and studies indicate the efficiency of 660nm and 880nm LED (light emitting diodes) are highly effective in managing pain associated with arthritis.

Light therapy also provides accelerated healing properties for faster relief of sports injuries, wounds, bruising, joint pain and swelling, muscle tension, wrinkle reduction and age spots to name just a few of the benefits associated with the DPL® Therapy System. It is proven science that Red and Infrared light therapy delivers results for pain relief and skin rejuvenation. The Red and Infrared wavelengths penetrate deep into the cellular level of skin and tissue stimulating fibroblasts causing a boost in collagen and elastin which helps restore skin to its more supple and youthful state.

ForNuSkin.com is helping to bring awareness of this remarkable non invasive light therapy application system to the consumer and believes that every household should not be without one, simply because the benefits are outstanding!

Anyone who wants to get started with this incredible system and lives in the Phoenix area, we will deliver free of charge whether at work or home. This is just one of our ways of helping the baby boomer or anyone get relief they have not been able to get with other options."

To learn more, visit http://www.ForNuSkin.com or call 1-888-803-4902

12 Steps to a Successful Slideshow Production

Planning is the key word for creating a successful slideshow. This is not difficult, but does require time and effort on your part before hiring a professional slide show creating company to create your unique video slideshow. Here are some steps you can follow to insure a beautiful slideshow production.

1. Determine how long you want your slideshow to be. The length of your slideshow will determine how many photos you can use. If you are using the simple fade-in fade-out style, you can usually use about 80 pictures for a 10 minute show. And that is about all most audiences can handle. However, if you choose a slideshow creating company that has more creative elements included in the slideshow production, then you may only be able to use 50-60 photos for a 10 minute slideshow. However, the upside of this is that a more creative slideshow can last longer and seem shorter.

A 20 minute creative slideshow can feel like only 10 minutes, where a 10 minute fade-in, fade-out slideshow can feel like 30 minutes to a lot of people. As we all know, we don't always enjoy viewing one another's photos for long periods of time. So, the more creative the show, the longer it can play and your audience will not even realize how much time has passed.

For instance: Sands of Time Multimedia Creations did a video slideshow for a church that went on a mission trip. They were given hundreds of photos to work with and the end results were a one hour video slideshow presentation. As the youth gathered around to see this, they were not at all excited at the prospect of watching photo after photo for one straight hour. However, as soon as the video started they noticed immediately that this was not your photo-after-photo slideshow. Their attention was captured from the beginning to the ending as they laughed, cried, and cheered. At the end they were surprised it was over and stated that they had no idea an hour had passed! They all purchased their own copy of the video. Creativity - the key to a truly great slideshow presentation!

2. Pleasing Your Audience - If possible include some photos of the people who will be viewing the presentation. Everyone loves to see themselves light up on the big screen! It will make them feel a part of your special event and keep their interest peaked to see who will be showing up next.

3. Decide Your Theme - Choosing your theme will help you choose your photos.

A. Do you want your slideshow to span the life of an individual?

B. Is more than one person's life going to be featured in this slideshow? If so, do you want their lives shown separately or simultaneously?

C. Is the slideshow going to focus on a specific aspect of the person's life such as
a sports video, a particular hobby, or a particular quality aspect of a person's life such as in a Mother's Day Slideshow or Father's Day Slideshow?

D. Is the time frame very specific as in a vacation slideshow? Or Christmas slideshow highlighting the current years events?

4. Choose and Organize Your Photos- These are very crucial steps and also very challenging. After all, almost every photo of Jane or Bobby is truly unique and beautiful and shows different character qualities. Sometimes it's good to have a friend help you because they can be more objective. As cute as Jane or Bobby is, most people get the point after about 3 - 5 pictures in a certain time frame. Organize your photos chronologically or by theme, or depending on your slideshow, both. Ask a slideshow consultant for advice

An example for choosing your photos - Becky is doing a slideshow of her daughter's graduation. She wants the photos to be from the day she was born to the day of her graduation. She goes through her photos, picks out her favorites and organizes them according to the year. Then she goes back and selects her very favorites from her favorites. Sometimes a third time is necessary, by then you will need to determine which ones MUST be in the slideshow and which ones can be omitted.

5. Choose Quality Photos - This will help you in the choosing process. Ask yourself these questions:

A. Is the photograph clear, not blurred or hazy? The blurring and haziness will be enhanced the more enlarged the photo is.

B. How is the lighting? Too dark or washed out?

C. Is the photo too grainy? Grainy photos do not scan well.

D. Has the photo been cut in an odd shape? - Although these work great for scrapbooking, they work poorly for slideshows.

Though some photographs can be somewhat fixed and corrected the better quality you start with, the better the finished product.

6. Choose Your Captions - Captions can add to the appeal of the picture for the audience to help them understand what is happening in that particular photo. They can also add to the humor or sentimental value of the video. Not every picture should have a caption; for the most part the photos should be able to speak for themselves. Your audience may not enjoy the slideshow as much with too many captions. However, in certain circumstances, such as creating a slideshow for a loved one who is away serving in the military captions can be quite effective.

7. Choose Your Music Carefully - Hollywood producers will tell you that the right or wrong music can make or break a movie production. Choose the music according to the feeling you want to give your audience. Happy, sentimental, funny, nostalgic.... it's all in the music. Choose music that means something to you or the person you are creating the slideshow for. Check the length of the music to the number of photos you want to use and the type of slideshow you are choosing.

8. Add Video Clips - Adding short video clips to your slideshow can help break up the slideshow and 10 - 30 second video clips can enhance any slideshow.

9. Use Voiceovers - This can add a sentimental touch to any slideshow. This can be done using a video camera, or with some digital cameras that take video. Just be sure to tell your slideshow company that you just want to use the voice, not the video.

10. View Samples, Choose Your Slideshow Company, and Place Your Order-There are many slideshow companies to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you? Always view the online samples. If you are looking for the simple fade-in, fade-out slideshow, any slideshow company can do that. If you want the Ken Burn's effect with the pan and zoom this is very nice and some slideshow companies can do that. However, to narrow your search even more look for unique and creative slideshows. Very, very few slideshows can do this. Combining the Ken Burns effects with creative elements, scenery, and backgrounds make the best slideshows. Creativity and uniqueness...key elements to any truly stunning slideshow.

11. Back up your photos. Are you sending film photos? Make sure you have copies of your photos or the negatives. Sending scanned photos on disc? Make sure you have a copy. Sending videos - make a copy. Slideshow companies are not responsible for what happens to your photos while in the mail. And unless you have a back-up, photos are irreplaceable.

12. Pack your photos with care. Use proper packaging material. Always place 5x7's or 8x10's between pieces of cardboard. Make sure the photos and other material is packed tightly to avoid moving around inside the box. When packaging your photos place them in Ziploc baggies. This will protect them from any possible water damage and also works great for separating your photos chronologically. You should also place your discs or videos in Ziploc baggies. And always insure your package. Although lost or damaged mail is a rare occurrence, it's always best to be prepared. And always opt for priority mailing services. The less time in the mail - the better.

This is where your slideshow company now takes over. They should be in constant communication with you and you should have a good idea when to expect your slideshow to be finished. Your slideshow creators should work closely with you to help you receive the ultimate slideshow. With Sands of Time Multimedia Creations your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Sandra Clukey, Lead Slideshow Creator for Sands of Time Multimedia Creations