Health Care Reform: The Unintended Impact on Children

When health care reform was passed in 2010, many applauded the provision that children could no longer be denied health insurance coverage due to pre-existing conditions, but there’s decidedly less clapping now.

“As an unintended consequence of health reform, a lot of insurers stopped offering individual coverage for children. That put parents in a bind, and children in danger. How would you feel if you were told that you children could no longer be declined for health insurance, but then you found that no plans were actually available?” asks Carrie McLean, a consumer health insurance expert with eHealthInsurance.com.

The situation is severe. There are an estimated 6 million children in the U.S. without health insurance. “While more insurers and states are stepping up the plate this year, in over 20 states today, there is no child-only health insurance on the market. Even when child-only plans are available, their availability may be limited to a single insurer or to specific once-a-year enrollment periods,” says McLean.

They may also be expensive. “Two years later, the unintended consequence of this new regulation is that many parents now wait to purchase a policy for their child until after they are already sick and have expensive medical bills looming. This drives the cost of child-only health insurance up so high that premiums in many states are unaffordable,” explains Joel Ohman, founder of InsuranceProviders.com.

When children don’t receive proper health care from the start, the fallout can last a lifetime. The big question is, what can parents do?

Check to see if health insurers are still offering child-only policies in your state. You can find out from your State Insurance Department. Ask too, if the state is holding a child-only open enrollment period. Many states have two enrollment periods a year.

Another alternative, says Erinn Springer, media specialist with GoHealthInsurance.com an online portal for finding health insurance coverage, is try to add a child to an individual or group health policy as a dependent. “Children will not be turned down coverage when added to an adult’s individual plan or when added as a dependent to a group plan,” says Springer.

Review your state’s eligibility requirements for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), also known as Medicaid. Many states have expanded CHIP coverage in the past few years.

Do investigate your state’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance (PCIP) Program to see if you child is eligible. This plan provides coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions with funds from health care reform. “While it’s a great and affordable option, children cannot have health insurance coverage for six months prior to enrolling in the plan,” says Springer. You can learn more about PCIP here.

You can also call health insurance companies directly to ask about their child-only coverage, because in some states, health insurance companies may not sell child-only plans through agents.

Know too, that just because you miss the enrollment period, there may be some wiggle room and you may be able to apply. However, you could face potentially higher premiums as a result, says Phil Lebherz, executive director of the Foundation for Health Coverage Education. If you qualify, you may be able to find coverage for your child through government programs depending on your income by going to www.CoverageForAll.org

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

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Planning Weight Loss Regime for Children

If your child has over weight problem, then you definitely need to have weight loss regime for the kid. As everybody knows, being overweight is the roots for many troubles, but if the instructions coming up in this article can be followed on strict basis, reducing the weight can be a cakewalk and we are also going to tell about the common mistakes that most people do.

So, let's go through the fitness routine that needs to implemented, as it is the responsibility of every parent. Then seeing your youngster's toned, fit body in the mirror, will be no big deal.

No Specific Timings

A lot of people have a common philosophy, that growing kids should have enough food. There aren't any specific timing maintained, due to the above reason.

We agree that, parents aim is to provide them with valuable nutrients, but in the process of giving vitamins and minerals, they are actually fed with extra fats and cholesterol.

So in order to deal with this problem, you have to set a schedule for eating and ensure that the following points are taken care of:

Causes for the Excess Weight

Extra food intake and no physical activity, is one of the main reasons for excess weight.
Fast food and junk food act as petrol, in the fire of weight increase.
Computer, internet and the over playing of video games, are some of the reasons for no physical activity.
In order to deal with the above matter, outdoor games must be introduced.
All the video games, indoor games should be packed and kept aside, until your kid gets in the shape.
Let's take a quick look for some easy solutions for the weight loss.
If the adults maintain a healthy living, that will surely influence the kids.
So if you want the kids to be fit and fine, then a health routine must be adopted by you first.
Avoid using weight loss medicines for children and try to get rid of it, through natural means.
The calorie intake must be checked on regular basis; especially for the obese youngsters.
Follow a balanced diet with fruits and leafy vegetables.
Fish and chicken can be substitutes for the meat and beef products, as the former contain very less fat, compared to the latter.
Just follow the above routine and make your dream come true.
Increasing obesity and difficult weight loss process, stand as the biggest challenges for parents, in keeping their children healthy. Actually due to diverse digestive system in kids, it has created many hurdles in the weight loss regimes.

The sole intention to write this article is, to give you ample information about weight losing strategies for your kids. Try to implement these on a strict basis and you shall witness, a healthy and fit body of your kid.

Balanced Diet with Lot of Nutrients

Review the complete calorie intake for your kids and then introduce a balanced diet with lot of nutrients. Calorie intake count is a must for reducing the extra pounds from the body. The balanced diet ensures a healthy living, plus an active body. All the sources of extra fat must be completely evaluated and a sweet good bye must be gestured, to the most harmful.

Sweets are the Most Hazardous

The most harmful elements in increasing the weight are the sweet delicacies. Chocolates, pan cakes, waffles, cookies and donuts etc taste very good while eating, but the amount of weight they increase in the body is really dangerous. So, if any parent has the zeal to maintain their kid's weight, they need to keep them away from the above things. Try to explain them about the ill effects of its usages and that shall help the kids in understanding its importance.

Motivation for Physical Exercise

The best way to keep the kids in shape is by physical exercise. More and more physical activity can help them in staying fit and losing all the extra pounds. Energy level is also increased through it and excess of calories are burned to a great level.

Explain the Pros and Cons

Explanation of the benefits of weight loss can be very good for the kids. The ill effects, which can be faced in the near future, must be told clearly. How people make fun of obese people, can be main punch in the complete talk. Heart diseases and diabetes can be common factor in the fat people, but this should be said in such a way that they don't get scared. Tell them the conclusion for all the above is, work hard, stay healthy and live a happy life.

Kids usually grow by observing their parents and if the parents maintain a proper diet, exercise on regular basis, then it's definitely going to create an impact on the child's brain

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Ways To Burn Calories - Physical Movement And Exercise Is Important For All - Adults AND Children

Ways to burn calories reduces to physical movement and exercise. It is important for all of us...adults and children. There are, however, a few more difficulties involved in remaining physically active for those who are unusually heavy (morbid obesity):

Self-esteem issues may prevent you from participating in group activities.
Movement, such as bending or brisk walking, may be difficult.
Clothes suitable for exercise may be hard to find.
Depression may cause lack of motivation to even make the effort.
Discouragement causes one to feel hopeless that anything will make any difference.

So, what is the larger person to do? Should you just abandon the effort and "resign yourself to your fate"?

Exercise is essential for all living beings. We are not designed to be sedentary. Further, people who are overweight to any extent are at more risk of developing illnesses associated with weight: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, arthritis, sleep disorders, gall bladder disease, and even some types of cancer.

What are the benefits if you "get on the move"? In addition to losing weight and reducing risk of disease as discussed above, take a look at this benefits:

Improves mood and self-esteem.
Increases energy.
Helps to reduce blood pressure.
Aids in the control of blood sugar.
Improves balance and flexibility.
Strengthens and conditions bones, muscles, and joints.

Convinced? Let's get started!

1. Walk. Start slowly if you have been completely sedentary. (If you have been ill or suffer from breathing difficulties or heart disease, check with your doctor first, just so he knows what you're doing. It's unlikely he will tell you to continue to sit or lie perfectly still all day.) Start with only five minutes at a time and build up to ten minutes, and then fifteen. Walking is a safe and comfortable way to begin to get yourself moving. If you wish, ask a friend to walk with you. Don't race...don't even get out of breath. Just start walking. (If you have large thighs you may need liners or shorts to prevent skin irritation of your inner thighs).

2. Water exercise. If you have access to a gym with a pool (check with your local YMCA) count yourself fortunate and sign up immediately. Exercising in water is an excellent way to get yourself moving without undue stress on muscles or joints. Water provides natural resistance for toning of muscles and flexibility of joints.

3. Yoga exercises. Check your community resources for classes. Yoga is a gentle way to begin to get your body moving without undue stress on muscles and joints that have become accustomed to inactivity.

4. Limit the amount of time you spend watching TV or using the computer. You are more likely to feel an urge to get moving if you are not engaged in a pleasant activity. Set certain hours of the day for screen time and in the off times, get moving...even if you're walking around your house or lifting small hand weights.

5. If you are too large at this time to engage in much movement, participate in chair exercises available every morning on several TV stations.

Remember your goal...you're striving for a mere five percent of your body weight. You can do it...start right now!

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