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According to recent article by the Detroit Free Press, it seems that more and more diabetics are skipping healthcare due to the recession.  They are going without doctor visits, necessary medications, and blood sugar testing.  A dangerous proposition indeed.

Doctors are reporting a drop off in the number of patients that are seeking treatment, opting to go with charity or tax susidized care.  This trend means more diabetics are winding up in the emergency room.

As the numbers of diabetics continues to increase (1.6 million in 2007) these trips to the emergency room will surely put a tax on our healthcare system.

This trend is not limited to diabetics, the article goes on to state that more and more people with health problems are seeking alternatives or going without healthcare altogether due to the recession.  That may work for some, but for diabetics, missing out on crutial care can be life threating.

The Freep states “Patients’ frugality comes at a tremendous cost to the already-strained health care system. The typical monthly bill to treat diabetes runs $350 to $900 for those without insurance, a price tag that has risen as newer, more expensive medicines have hit the market.”

Per the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Some diabetes symptoms include:

* Frequent urination
* Excessive thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Increased fatigue
* Irritability
* Blurry vision

You may think that having diabetes may mean that if you are currenly uninsured that you won’t be able to find health insurance.  This is not the case.  There are health insurance providers that offer competitive, affordable options for those with pre-existing conditions. You may find that your premium is at or below the $350 - $900 dollar monthly cost of treating diabetes.

If you were recently laid off or fear a layoff in the upcoming days or weeks.  In addition to dusting off your resume, don’t forget about your healthcare.  

According to a recent article from the FREEP, here are some key things to remember:

Schedule necessary doctor appointments you may have been putting off.  Especially if you are still on a company sponsered healthcare plan.

Don’t get every test out there.  Why?  If something bad comes up, it goes into your medical file, and may make it difficult to get affordable health insurance due to a pre-existed condition.

Speak with your doctor.  Most people would be surprised at how willing your doctor may be to offer lower rates considering your current situation.

Get up to date on your immunizations.  This is just smart planning while you still have insurance.  You don’t want to get caught paying for these on your own.  

Remember this important note, if the company you currently work for has 20 plus employees, they are legally required to provide COBRA to pink slipped employees for 18 months at group rates.  Be sure to ask if will be covered for a period of time at no cost to you. 

Be sure to look into alternative insurance options.  These days there are plenty of companies offering affordable individual and family health insurance as an alternative to COBRA.  

To read the full article:

Visit the freep.com under the health section

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The bottom line is that investing is for the long haul. You would not want to put money into an annuity that you were planning on using next year to purchase a new car or home. Annuities are much more appropriate for your longer term use like 401-k rollovers, I.R.A.’s, certificates of deposit, saving accounts and brokerage accounts.

There are two common myths concerning these investments. The first is that consumers have little access to their annuity money during their maturity term. The second is that the insurance company keeps your money at your passing. These myths are simply not true. The facts are these: unless you choose to annuitize your contract, you have access to your funds just like you would a C.D. and your beneficiaries receive your account value at your passing.

These investment accounts are all around you. Many state retirement plans like Ohio Public Employee Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System use these accounts for their employees. In fact, every year billions of dollars from individuals and employers alike flow into these investment vehicles for many of the above-mentioned reasons.

Annuity accounts are very flexible. Their maturity terms can range from as little as 1 year to 10 years or longer. Generally, an account with a longer maturity will have a higher interest payment. In addition, many insurance companies are offering 1st year premium bonuses between 5-10% if you meet certain criteria.

Most new annuities allow you to add money throughout the duration of the contract without re-starting the surrender period. Many contracts allow for systematic interest withdraws on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis without penalty. Unlike C.D.’s, these accounts also offer you access to a portion of your principal during the maturity period, usually up to 10% of the account value if needed.

At or before maturity, you have the option of withdrawing your money systematically like you would a pension or Social Security payment for income purposes. (This is called an annuitization - see the immediate annuity section for more details.) However, most Ohio consumers withdraw their annuities in a lump sum payment just as they would when cashing in a certificate of deposit. Others transfer their older account for new ones in what is called a “1035 tax free exchange.” This type of exchange allows any tax deferred interest in an older contract to be transferred tax free into a new contract.

Annuities are usually very safe vehicles for investing. They are backed by the full faith of the insurance company with whom you choose to invest. It is important for you and your agent to pick an established, well-rated company. There are many independent groups which rate the overall strength of insurance companies. AM Best, Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s are a few of the more prominent companies providing these services nationwide.

Annuities can have significant tax advantages over other investments. Alternatively, C.D.’s and many other income generating accounts are taxable whether or not the interest is withdrawn. If you reinvest the interest back into your annuity principal, you owe no taxes. This way you can defer taxes for your lifetime in a non-qualified annuity. * Thus, your interest compounds for many years and your nest egg can grow larger for later use. Albert Einstein said compounding interest was one of the great inventions of the world. Einstein understood that this simple, powerful concept was an important key to wealth accumulation.

A qualified annuity requires a mandatory distribution at age 70 and 1/2. (You should always consult your accountant for tax advice.)

An annuity is a financial agreement between a consumer and an insurance company. When purchasing an annuity, you are investing your money with an insurance company for a set period of time. In turn, the insurance company guarantees interest on your principal. Consumers have many options when it comes to annuity investments.

Annuities have become very popular in the investment world for a variety of reasons. To begin with, these investments can avoid probate by using a beneficiary designation for payout. For example, you can name your spouse, your children or a favorite charity as the beneficiary of the account at your passing.

A Michigan Health Insurance Company that can help you find just the right insurance. The Focus Group is dedicated to being your Client Advocate offering experience where it counts and superior personalized service. Privately owned, The Focus Group strives to provide objective information to individuals, families, small business, and the self employed — helping them make informed health insurance decisions.