2011 HSA Rule Changes
The enactment of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (”PPACA”) on March 23, 2010, will have little impact on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), but here are two changes to be aware of:
Reimbursement for Over-the-Counter Drugs and Medicines
The definition of qualified medical expense for HSAs was amended to exclude over-the-counter drugs unless [...]
Multiple studies have shown the benefits of regular preventive health care. Recently, the American Heart Association stated that basic preventive health care services should be an integral part of any comprehensive health care plan pointing out that prevention costs less than expensive medical interventions (view article here). The new health care reform legislation addressed the issue of preventive care and [...]
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men. Obstructive [...]
Allergy season got you down? Allergies come from your body’s reaction to allergens in the surrounding environment (although you can also have food allergies as well). These allergens can come from pollen found in trees, grass and weeds, dust, pet dander and mold. Some of the most common allergy symptoms include any and all of [...]
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina recently announced a major change in how fast Blue Advantage policies can be issued. Now, thanks to a proprietary automated underwriting system, Blue Advantage policies can be issued in as little as seven days! Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s new guidelines state that if [...]
It may be a bit cliche’, but America is fighting its own battle against fat. This may not be World War II, and an excess of fat is not a Panzer tank, but all that extra weight is just as deadly in the long run. Fat may seem like an external problem, something [...]
If you’re one of the 28 million Americans who suffer from migraines, you know that the effects can be debilitating. Different from normal tension headaches, migraines are usually concentrated on one side of the head, involve pounding pain, and are sometimes accompanied by nausea and/or sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. The headaches can also [...]
Last week, I was thrilled to see the U.S. take the top 2 positions in the women’s gymnastics all-around final at the Olympics. Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, who took gold and silver, are both amazing athletes who have been two of the top gymnasts in the country for the past few years. Both started [...]
Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of Americans every year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 23.6 million people or 7.8% of the population have diabetes. There are two major different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, or juvenile-onset because it typically strikes children [...]
There are a number of reasons why a person may not sleep well during the night. If you’re a pet owner like myself, the tossing and turning may be caused by a lack of room available on the bed. Or maybe you suffer from night tremors or the popular appearance of nightmares. Whatever the reason, [...]
Confidentiality Agreement | Compensation Disclosure Statement | Notice of Privacy Practices | Sitemap Copyright IBD Insurance sevices. Raleigh, NC. Providing BCBSNC options for North Carolina residents. Site design and hosting by Unlimited Web Solutions. Blog design by Spyre Studios.