Health Insurance Archives - Page 14 of 52

Don’t Let Stress Take A Toll On Your Body, Get Help From EZ

It’s happening again: you’re overwhelmed with everything you’ve got on your plate. You’re running late, you have to drop your kids off at school or their extracurricular activities, and on top of that, you have work and chores to get done. All of these are just some of the stressors that most people have piled on them every day, and they can result in physical symptoms of stress like daily headaches, back pain, neck pain day, or just muscle tension at the end of the day. April is Stress Awareness Month, so find out just how stress takes its toll on your body, and how you can manage it, so you don’t have to live with the way that stress affects your health.

How Does Stress Affect Your Physical Health?

Stress doesn’t just take a toll on your mental health, it can also cause actual, physical symptoms. Just take a look at how stress affects each of these areas of your body:

Musculoskeletal System

When you’re stressed, your muscles tense up. This is your body’s way of guarding against injury and pain, so in a way, your muscles are always on guard and tensed when you’re stressed. You might find that you have tightness in your neck or back when you’re stressed, or even that you have tension headaches or migraines, which are associated with chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, and head.

Respiratory System

Your body has other ways of dealing with stress other than tensing up. You might find that stress and other emotions present as respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath and rapid breathing. This happens because stress can constrict the airway between the nose in the lungs, and even cause a panic or asthma attack.

Cardiovascular System

Stress can lead to issues in your cardiovascular system, because it increases your heart rate, creating stronger contractions of the heart muscle. Blood vessels, which direct your blood to the large muscles and the heart, dilate, increasing the amount of blood pumped to these parts of the body and elevating your blood pressure. This is the same response you’ll have as when you’re in an extreme fight or flight situation, so chronic stress can contribute to long-term problems for the heart and blood vessels, leading to possible hypertension, heart attack, or stroke.

Endocrine System

During times of stress, the hypothalamus, which is a collection of nuclei that connects the brain and the endocrine signals, and the pituitary gland produce a hormone that increases the production of cortisol. This chemical can provide the energy required to deal with the stress until it has passed. But if you’re dealing with chronic stress, you could end up with impaired communication between the immune system and brain. Over a long period of time, this impaired communication can lead to physical and mental health conditions including chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, and more.

the inside of the stomach illustration — *Stress also affects how your brain and gut communicate, and can trigger pain.*

Gastrointestinal System

How does stress affect your gut? Well, stress is associated with changes in gut bacteria, which can influence your mood. Stress also affects how your brain and gut communicate, and can trigger pain, bloating, and other discomforts in your stomach. You might even find yourself eating more or less than usual when you are stressed, having heartburn or acid reflux, vomiting, or being more bloated or uncomfortable than usual. Stress can also affect how you digest food and what nutrients the intestines absorb.

Nervous System

The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal cord, and autonomic and somatic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system (specifically what’s known as the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS) has a direct role in the physical response to stress, contributing to what is known as the “fight or flight” response. The body shifts its energy resources towards the fight or the flight, with the SNS signaling the adrenal glands to release hormones called adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones can cause your heart to beat faster, your respiratory rate to rise, the blood vessels in your arms and legs to dilate, your digestive process to change, and glucose levels (sugar energy) in the bloodstream to increase to deal with the emergency.

Your body is supposed to go back to a normal state after the stress has passed, but chronic stress can result in a long-term drain on the body, since all of these reactions cause wear and tear on all of your body’s systems.

Reproductive system

Stress can take a toll on both the male and female reproductive systems. It can affect testosterone production over time, which will result in a decline in sex drive or libido. It can even cause erectile dysfunction or impotence in men, as well as impact sperm production.

In the female reproductive system, stress can affect menstruation among adolescent girls and women. It can result in absent or irregular menstrual cycles, more painful periods, and changes in the length of the menstrual cycle. It can also have an impact on a woman’s ability to conceive, as well as her health during pregnancy and postpartum.

Managing Stress

The best thing that you can do for your mental and physical health is to find ways to manage and take control of the stress in your life. This could be working out, meditating, getting a good amount of sleep every night, or just having a great support system – what’s most important is that you take the time to create these habits. If you feel that stress is taking over your life and affecting your health, though, it is important to seek medical attention, whether from your primary care physician, or a psychologist, who can help you with strategies to manage your stress.

EZ can help you find a plan that covers all of your medical needs when seeking help. We offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money, even hundreds of dollars, even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

A Guide To Dealing With Complex PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that is often triggered by witnessing or experiencing something terrible. Almost 8% of the population will experience PTSD at some point in their life. But now a newer classification of PTSD has emerged that is meant to separate a more intense version of PTSD, called complex PTSD, or CTPSD. This type of PTSD, which can be caused by repeated trauma over months and years rather than by a single event, has become more widely recognized by doctors in recent years. Dealing with complex PTSD can be more complicated than dealing with non-complex PTSD, and while mental health professionals are still undecided about the best course of treatment, there are things that can be done.

Causes of Complex PTSD

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is thought to be caused by chronic or prolonged exposure to many traumatic experiences, as opposed to one single traumatic event. “It’s the concentration camp, the person in a bomb shelter in Syria, the soldier in war or child suffering sexual or physical abuse. It’s happening to you, or you’re witnessing it,” says Dr. Robert Shulman, associate chair of psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center.

There are various types of traumatic events that can cause complex PTSD, including:

Ongoing domestic violence or abuse
Childhood abuse, neglect, or abandonment
Being a prisoner of war
Torture
Kidnapping
Repeatedly witnessing violence or abuse
Being forced or manipulated into prostitution

Symptoms

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder will often have similar symptoms to PTSD, along with some additional symptoms, such as:

Unwanted repeated flashbacks or nightmares of the event or events.
Difficulty controlling your emotions.
Avoiding friendships and relationships, or finding them very difficult.
A need to avoid triggers that will remind you of traumatic events.
Feeling like nobody can understand what happened to you.
Feeling as if you are permanently damaged or worthless.
Reactive symptoms such as difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
Reckless behavior.
Feelings of detachment from others.
Feelings of anger, sadness, fear, guilt, or shame.

“People have severe difficulty with emotional regulation, self-image and sustaining personal relationships that are not fully captured by a PTSD diagnosis,” says Dr. Thomas Neylan, director of the PTSD Clinic at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a professor of psychiatry at the University of California—San Francisco.

Treatment

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has not yet developed any recommendations specifically for complex PTSD. The standard treatment used for regular PTSD can be helpful, but people with complex PTSD need more long-term, intensive support. Treatment might include:

Talk therapy, or psychotherapy
Skills training, which can help manage strong emotions and triggers
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, involves directing eye movements while talking about traumatic experiences.
Medication
Medical marijuana
Virtual reality

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental health condition that has only been recognized fairly recently, so it will take more time for effective treatments to be developed. It is a lifelong condition, but with the help of therapy and other forms of treatment, it can be managed.

In addition, if you are living with a mental health issue, being insured will give you peace of mind, and the coverage you need to make sure you can see your doctor regularly, and get any treatments you might need. If you’re looking for an insurance plan, EZ can help: we offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

Infertility Rates in Women Are Rising, Find Out What’s Going on and What You Can Do

The U.S. birth rate is the lowest it’s been in more than three decades, and the U.S. fertility rate is at a record low. Fertility issues in women are increasing, with an estimated 15% of couples having trouble conceiving, and this number just continues to grow. All of this means that around 5 to 10% of couples will seek help conceiving a baby each year. Infertility can also cause issues beyond trouble conceiving: it can also lead to mental health issues like depression. If you are worried about conceiving, know there are some ways to reduce the chances of infertility; if these don’t work, there are many treatment options available, including medications, surgery, and IVF.

What Is Infertility?

Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant even after having frequent and unprotected sex for a year or more. It can affect both women and men, with one-third of infertility cases generally due to a problem with the male partner, one-third due to a female problem, and one-third due to a combination of unknown reasons.

Female infertility, or female factor infertility, can have multiple reasons behind it: for example, a menstrual cycle that is too long or too short, or other medical issues such as pelvic inflammatory disease. If you are having trouble conceiving, speak to your doctor, who will run tests to help determine the cause of your infertility.

How Common Is Infertility?

Infertility is fairly common, with at least 10% of women dealing with some form of it. The chances of being infertile increase as a woman ages; poor nutrition, high BMI, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol and drug use can also affect fertility. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of infertility, but, for women, the reasons can include problems with:

The uterus- Fibroids, polyps, or adhesions inside the uterus can cause fertility issues.
The fallopian tubes- Pelvic inflammatory disease, which is usually caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea, can cause infertility because it affects the fallopian tubes.
Ovulation- Irregular ovulation can pose a problem when trying to get pregnant. Many things can affect ovulation, such as a hormonal imbalance, substance abuse, or a thyroid condition.
Egg number and quality– Women are born with a limited number of eggs that are released every time they have their period. Some women have issues with their eggs, such as chromosomal issues that will make them less likely to become impregnated.

Why Are Female Infertility Rates Increasing?

Many factors can increase a woman’s risk of infertility, including genetic traits and lifestyle choices. The biggest factor in determining infertility, though, is generally age: as a woman ages, the chances of becoming pregnant decrease because of egg quantity and quality, as noted above.

But there are other reasons that rates of infertility are increasing:

Environmental factors- Chemicals in foods and cleaning products can contribute to infertility. This means that sticking with a clean diet and using greener household supplies is a good idea if you’re trying to get pregnant.
Lifestyle factors- Having a high or low BMI, being regularly exposed to chemicals, smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise can contribute to women’s infertility.

Diagnosis & Tests

To diagnose infertility, doctors will perform tests including a pap smear, pelvic exam, ultrasound, and blood tests. They may also perform:

A laparoscopy, in which a small instrument is inserted into the abdomen to look at the organs.
A saline sonohysterogram, during which your doctor will fill your uterus with saline and use an ultrasound machine to look at the lining of the uterus to check for any polyps, fibroids, or abnormalities.
A hysteroscopy, in which a small device with a camera will be inserted into the vagina to provide a better view of the inside of the uterus.

Reducing Your Chances

Most forms of female infertility cannot be prevented; however, you can make some lifestyle modifications to reduce your risks of infertility. This can be done by cutting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight by eating well and exercising.

Living With Infertility

If you are diagnosed with infertility, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Once your doctor determines the cause or causes of your fertility issues, you can discuss the right treatment options for you. If the cause is structural, surgery can correct it; if it is hormonal, medication might help.

And if all else fails, artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization can help a woman to get pregnant. One study by Fertility Solutions showed that females aged 30-33 have the best chance of success (58%) during their first cycle of IVF compared to females of other age groups.

Dealing with infertility is not only a medical condition: it can be a mental health one as well. Studies show that dealing with fertility issues can lead to depression in both women and men. Speak to your doctor or a mental health professional if you’re feeling hopeless, or feel that your mental health is suffering in any way because of your physical condition.

To get tested, and treated, for infertility, you’ll need a good health insurance plan. If you’re looking for an insurance plan, EZ can help: we offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money, even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

When Was The Last Time You Were Checked For Testicular Cancer?

The chance of a man developing testicular cancer is around 1 in 250, meaning that between 8 and 10 thousand men will develop it each year. Fortunately, the recovery rate for testicular cancer is very high: around 95% of all men with testicular cancer will beat it if they catch it early. But what exactly are the signs of testicular cancer that will help you detect it early? Have you or your loved one been checked for it lately? Find out just what to look for, how this cancer is diagnosed, and how it is treated.

What Is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer occurs when cancer cells develop in the tissue of a testicle. It is very rare that the cancer cells will develop in both testicles, but it can happen. More than 90% of testicular cancer cases start in the germ cells, which are cells in the testicles that develop into sperm. There are two primary types of these testicular germ cell cancers:

Seminoma– This type accounts for around 30 to 40% of testicular cancers, and grows slowly in young germ cells.
Non-seminoma– This type occurs in more mature germ cells, and grows into more aggressive tumors.

Who Is At Risk?

While testicular cancer can occur at any age, it is most common in men between the ages of 20 and 35, with an average diagnosis age of 33 years old. It tends to be at its most malignant amongst 22 to 40-year-old men. Diagnosis is most common in Caucasian men, and less common in African American, Latino, and Asian American men. In fact, Caucasian men are four to five times more likely to develop testicular cancer than African-American men, and three times more likely than Asian American men.

In addition, men who are at most at risk are those who have:

Undescended testicles, which means one or both testicles did not move down into the scrotum before birth
Family history, such as a brother or father who had testicular cancer
Infertility

Symptoms

It’s important to recognize the signs of testicular cancer, since the earlier you catch it, the more likely you are to beat it. Symptoms to look out for include:

Tenderness in the scrotum
A lump or swelling in either testicle
A shrinking testicle
Pain or discomfort in the scrotum or testicle
Fluid in the scrotum
A dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen area

Diagnosis

If you or your loved one experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is important to see a doctor right away. Your doctor will order an ultrasound to see if there are any abnormalities in the testicle; if there are any abnormalities or evidence of cancer, you will need to have surgery to remove the testicle, so it can be examined to see whether cancer is present. Testicular cancer can only be diagnosed after the testicle is removed and examined; unfortunately, biopsies cannot be performed on testicles.

Aside from ultrasounds, other tests to help diagnose testicular cancer can include:

A tumor marker test– A blood sample is taken and is used to measure the number of certain substances linked to specific types of cancers. The tumor markers that are often elevated in cases of testicular cancer are alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase.
CT scans and X-rays- CT scans and X-rays can be performed to determine if there is cancer present anywhere else in the body, usually the abdomen and pelvis.

Treatment

chemotherapy IV bag — *Chemotherapy is one way to help reduce cancer cells.*

On the rare occasion that testicular cancer is found, there are three different kinds of treatment available, including:

Surgical treatment- The testicle is removed, as well as some lymph nodes. Surgery can also be performed in certain situations to remove tumors from the lungs or liver if they do not disappear after receiving chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy- High-dose radiation will be used to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is more commonly used for cases of seminomas.
Chemotherapy– Drugs are administered to kill cancer cells in cases of both seminomas and non-seminomas.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent testicular cancer, but early detection can help immensely. You should perform a self-examination once a month to see if there are any lumps or issues in your testicles and scrotum. It’s best to perform the exam in a warm shower because the warm water relaxes the skin of the scrotum making it easier to feel for anything unusual.

When performing the exam, you should feel around for any lumps that are pea-sized or larger, as well as check to see if there has been any change in the size of your testicles. If you find a lump, the next step is to immediately contact your healthcare provider.

It is also important to get a physical exam once a year so that your doctor can check you, as well. To get the preventive care you need, you’ll need a good health insurance plan that will allow you to see your doctor regularly, and get any treatments you might need. If you’re looking for an insurance plan, EZ can help: we offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

How To Make Sense of Your EOB

Having a health insurance plan means being able to see your doctor and get medical treatment without having to worry about going bankrupt, but it can also mean a lot of paperwork. It’s important to know what kind of paperwork to expect after receiving treatment, as well as how to read everything you get in the mail from your providers and your insurance company.

For example, in addition to getting a bill from your provider after you receive treatment, you will also get what’s known as an explanation of benefits, or EOB, from your insurance company. It will look like a bill, but it is not: it’s simply an explanation of the services that you received, how much the insurance company will pay for the services you received, and how much you will end up paying out-of-pocket. Generally, you will receive an EOB every time you receive a service or treatment from your healthcare provider, including seeing your doctor, going to the hospital, getting lab work done, etc.

Your EOB Will Include:

Your Information– Your name, or the name of your dependent (whoever received the service)
Health Plan Information– Your (or the insured’s) health insurance ID or policy number, and the claim number
The Name of the Health Care Provider – The doctor, dentist, specialist, laboratory, hospital, or clinic that provided your treatment/care
Date of Service– When you received the service from your provider
Service Description- A description of what service you received, and whether it was an office visit, lab work, or other diagnostic screenings
Provider Charges- The amount your provider billed your insurance company for the service you received
Allowed Charges- The amount your provider receives as payment from your insurance company
Paid by Insurer- The amount your health insurance plan pays your provider.
What You Owe- The difference between what the provider charged and what your health plan paid

Why Are EOBs Useful?

EOBs are a tool for showing you the value of your health insurance plan, and for helping you to plan for your healthcare costs. You will see the cost of the services you received and the savings your plan has given you; you will also be able to see how much you have paid toward your deductible and how much is left for the year to pay.

Not only that, but your EOB is an important tool for helping you understand how claims are processed, and for helping you to ensure that there are no errors on your bills. You will want to pay close attention to your explanation of benefits letter and check for any issues like double billing, bills for services you didn’t receive, bills for the wrong service, or errors in the calculation of contributions to your deductible.

Don’t make the mistake of ignoring your EOB, or paying it as if it were a bill: you could end up paying more than you should for medical services.

exclamation point in an orange circle — *If you find an error in your EOB, then contact the insurance company and explain what it is so you do not get charged for a mistake.*

If You Find An Error

If you find any errors in your EOB, you need to contact your health insurance company immediately and notify them so they can investigate them and correct them with the provider. And if you feel like your health insurance company is not providing the best coverage, it might be time to consider looking for other options.

The best way to understand how health insurance works, and to find the right plan for you and your family’s specific needs, is by working with an agent who specializes in health insurance. EZ can help: we offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

Free At-Home Covid Test Kits: How Many Will Your Insurance Cover?

Although rates of Covid hospitalizations have been steadily declining, the pandemic is not yet over and there is still a danger of becoming infected with the virus. For this reason, it is important to stay vigilant and get tested if you have any symptoms or come into contact with someone who has Covid. But fortunately, getting tested for Covid is now a little bit easier: a few weeks ago, President Biden issued a directive requiring health insurance companies to cover at-home Covid test kits. Americans can now have access to free at-home tests, but how many will your insurance cover?

How Many Tests Are Covered?

covid tests — *Health insurance companies will now help cover the cost of 8 at-home antigen tests per household per month.*

Last month, the Biden Administration mandated that health insurance companies help cover the cost of 8 at-home antigen tests per household per month. In addition, if you are told by your doctor that you need to get tested more often because of underlying conditions, there is no limit on how many tests your insurance will cover.

In order to get the free tests, you will need to purchase them at any store where they are available and then apply for reimbursement from your health insurance company. It is important to note, though, that most insurers will only reimburse you up to $12 per test, which means you’ll have to pay for the rest out-of-pocket.

Several states are also issuing free COVID-19 tests to residents, including Colorado, Iowa, Connecticut, Washington, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

In addition, you can get 4 free Covid test kits by requesting them online at covidtests.gov, or by calling 1-800-232-0233. If you order your tests this way, you can expect to receive them in 7 to 12 days.

How Much Are The Tests?

At-home Covid tests can be found at pharmacies like Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, and even online at Amazon. The price varies depending on the type and the brand, but tests generally cost around $10 to $25 per kit, with two tests per kit. Currently, most Walgreens and CVS stores are selling Abbott’s BinaxNow and Quidel’s QuickVue tests (two of the first tests authorized by the Food and Drug Administration) for $24 for a pack of two.

What If You Don’t Have Health Insurance?

If you don’t have health insurance or any kind of coverage, you can order your 4 free tests; there will also be locations where you can pick up free at-home Covid tests. According to the Biden Administration, those without insurance will soon be able to access test kits at community health clinics and other local sites.

What If You Test Positive At Home?

If you take an at-home test and test positive, it is recommended that you share the results with your doctor or medical provider. You should also isolate for at least five days after getting your positive test result, and stay home until you are no longer symptomatic.