These days in the event you go into any gymnasium, you will see a big focus on “core workouts. ” Personal trainers have people doing a number of crazy exercises on training balls which supposedly forces the entire body to stabilize itself applying “core muscles. ” Concentrating on the core muscles allegedly tones the abs to obtain a six pack stomach muscles. I see personal trainers devoting nearly 1/2 of the client’s time concentrating on exercises which work the actual core. The funny thing is always that I see people make it happen week in and weeks time out and none these people get any closer which will get six pack abs.

Another way of thinking is to work abs hard every single day. There are tons of exercises which consentrate on the abdominal muscles. A lot of people use various floor exercises for example crunches or sit-ups. People also use machines for their quest for six wrap abs. Some people recommend working the abs each day or every other day time. Some tell you to utilize high reps and absolutely no weight or heavy weight like almost every other muscle. I see a lot of people do this 7 days in and week out and what happens…very few of those have six pack washboard abs!

I use a defined midsection year circular, but it wasn’t always doing this. I followed the above recommendations and still did not get that six group look. Believe it or perhaps not, a back injury helped me discover what works best for getting six pack abs! Ok , i’ll elaborate…I sustained a back injury 5 issue and was unable that you’re performing any crunch movement pain free. I was bummed away, because I had any vacation to Cancun organized 8 months later. I needed to look great from a swimsuit and have firm 6-pack abs. I had to give that up on working my washboard abs directly for 8 complete months! I was persuaded that my abs would certainly look flabby. A nuts thing happened…I had amazing hard six pack abs in time regarding my vacation and WE didn’t do one belly exercise for 8 many months!

Okay, since time I haven’t worked abs directly whatsoever and my midsection looks much better than ever. I am convinced that having hard six pack abs showing is 95% about our bodies fat percentage and possibly 5% or less concerning working the abs. The thing is that, all of us curently have a nice six load up…it is just undetectable under a layer involving fat. I guarantee that in case you get your body weight to 10% or decrease, you will have amazing washboard abs for the world to view. My recommendation is that will drop your ab workout and spend that period on cardio. You would like nice abs? Hit that Treadmill or the Elliptical Appliance. Seriously, it the only way you can ever see those ab muscles.

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State budget problems are so dire and rising health care costs so worrisome that some states are considering what may have been unthinkable just a year or two ago — opting out of the federal Medicaid program. The New York Times reported last week that Texas (see below) and a handful of other states are considering doing exactly that, especially given that federal health care reform will expand (as of 2014) the number of residents who are eligible for the state-administered health care program. In South Carolina, state officials there are considering not paying Medicaid claims as of March 2011 unless they can secure permission to run at a deficit. Some state leaders concede dropping Medicaid could have a devastating effect on their local economies, making such a course unlikely. The fact that it’s on the table, however, speaks volumes about the growing problem of runaway health care costs, and the need to develop systematic solutions in the way that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) addressed access issues. Easy To Insure ME has the answers

Health Care Reform Implementation
For more detail about the ongoing implementation of the new health care reform law and its potential impact on you, read a new edition of our Eye on Implementation feature.

Federal

With Congress on recess last week, there is no Federal summary for this week.

States

ALASKA: A state health commission created by the legislature this year has begun reviewing rapidly rising medical costs and patterns of health care pricing among providers. Alaska’s health care costs are rising faster than the national average. The commission held its first meeting in Anchorage October 14 and 15 after its members were appointed by Gov. Sean Parnell. Most members of the panel were on an earlier health care task force, but this panel has five new members, including two state legislators. In an effort to provide the Commission with relevant cost and quality data, Aetna has forwarded several relevant studies and documents produced by its Public Policy Department.

CALIFORNIA: The state is yet again facing a massive budget deficit — .4 billion projected for 2011, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO). Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will call a budget special session starting December 6 to resolve the current-year .1 billion deficit. Next year’s budget process will be impacted by two propositions passed during the November election. Voters approved Proposition 22, which limits the state’s ability to borrow money from local governments, and they also approved Proposition 26, which makes it harder to raise fees. It also rolls back fees that were passed by less than a two-thirds vote this year. The LAO estimates these two propositions will create a billion hole in the budget. Democrat Governor-elect Jerry Brown, who campaigned on a pledge of no new taxes, will release his budget proposal in early January.

NEW JERSEY: Last week the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee took up legislation that clarifies out-of-network payment responsibilities under health benefits plans, requires certain coverage and procedure disclosures to consumers, and revises procedures for changes to managed care plan contracts. After more than two hours of testimony, Chairman Schaer used his discretion to withhold formal action on the bill. In his comments the chairman noted, “The rising cost of health coverage is crowding out other socially important efforts for government and resulting in economic stress for employers.”  Led by the New Jersey Hospital Association and Medical Society, the provider community was virtually unified in its opposition to the legislation. The business community, NJ Association of Health Underwriters, and a large contingent of trade unions expressed their support for the bill.  Aetna, along with other commercial plans, remains concerned about provisions in the bill concerning non-participating, hospital-based physicians and the ability of out-of-network providers to waive member copayment, coinsurance, or deductibles. Aetna will continue to closely monitor the legislation.

TENNESSEE: The Tennessee Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative has announced the members of two newly created Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs). Members of these groups will provide expertise on specific analytical questions to help in the state’s insurance exchange planning process. The state is in the process of deciding whether it will operate a health insurance exchange. Mark Schmidt, Aetna Market President, Southeast, has been appointed to the Governor’s TAG for State Insurance Exchange Planning. The members of the Actuarial/Underwriting TAG and the Agent/Broker TAGs will provide expertise on specific analytical questions to help in the state’s insurance exchange planning process. The volunteer members of each TAG will meet in Nashville this fall and winter. Members of the Agent/Broker TAG will provide a detailed inventory of options for state decision-makers and then post any resulting discussion papers. Once additional information is received from the federal government, the state also intends to convene TAGs of health care providers, consumer representatives, and marketing and outreach experts.

TEXAS: Several Republican lawmakers are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state’s estimated billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, estimates Texas could save billion between 2013 and 2019 by opting out of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, dropping coverage for acute care but continuing to fund long-term care services. With 3.6 million children, people with disabilities and impoverished Texans enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will release its own study on the effect of ending the state’s participation in the federal match program. Some lawmakers say not being able to reduce benefits or change eligibility to cut costs is “bankrupting our state.” State Rep. John Zerwas, an anesthesiologist who authored the bill commissioning the Medicaid study, said early indications are that dropping out of the program would have a tremendous ripple effect monetarily, and he worries about who would carry the burden of care without Medicaid’s “financial mechanism.” Currently, the Texas program costs billion per biennium, with the federal government footing 60 percent of the bill. As a result of federal health care reform, millions of additional Texans will become eligible for Medicaid. Lawmakers want to examine whether Medicaid enrollees could be served more cost efficiently with better outcomes in a state-run program.

WASHINGTON: Governor Chris Gregoire says she gets the message following the recent elections, and as a result has announced that she will seek supplemental budget cuts of million before the end of the year. Voters signaled a strong aversion to additional tax hikes to balance the budget by recently passing initiative 1053, which restores the two-thirds vote requirement for the legislature to raise taxes, and initiative 1107, which repeals a tax on bottled water and carbonated beverages. Also, voters rejected initiative 1098, which would have instituted a state income tax. Among the programs Gregoire is considering for possible cuts is the state’s Basic Health Plan. The Governor said she is open to the idea of a one-day special session if there is agreement with legislative leaders on quick action.

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Try these foods for flat abs and learn how to burn belly fat in 2 weeks!

A recent survey found that many Americans feel that their problem area is their stomach, but now there’s good news. Chris Wragge talks to Liz Vaccariello of Prevention Magazine “The Flat Belly Diet.”
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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People who are older or who are in bad health, will have to pay higher premiums than those who are younger and in excellent health.

Knowing how health insurance is priced is among the most confusing elements of buying individual health insurance, so evaluating various companies and their rates might make a big difference in the amount you have to pay for health insurance.

In case you are trying to find individual health insurance, don’t let all of the confusion allow you to shy away from getting a policy. Even for people who are in great health, one accident could land you in economic peril without health insurance. Some questions to think about when buying individual health insurance are:

Do I wish to keep my existing doctor? If there is a doctor that you really like, this might determine whether an HMO or PPO plan is good for you. If you have an HMO, then you must use their doctors, but a PPO plan will allow you to use the physician that you pick.

Just how much will it cost me out of pocket, and just how much will my premiums be every month? Is it intelligent for me to pay more for lower out of pocket expenditures? For a comprehensive health plan that doesn’t have many out of pocket costs, an HMO might be what you are searching for. However, if you’re in your 20′s or 30′s, don’t have children, and have more money saved up, you can save money by only getting insurance for catastrophic illnesses. This will mean that you’ll have to pay out of pocket for virtually any tests or doctor visits.

How much health care will my family members need? Consider any services that may be needed by all your family members on a regular basis. If somebody has asthma in the family, will they need to go to an asthma specialist to regulate their illness?

When you can take some time to assess and consider the health insurance you and your family need, it can make purchasing individual health insurance much less difficult, and offer the health coverage you and your family need for a price that you’ll be able to live with at the same time.

Go to BuildMuscleBurnFat.info my FREE workout plan Build Muscle and Burn Fat FAST AS HELL! Keys to getting a six pack: You can have the greatest, most muscular set of abs in the world, but if they are blanketed by a layer of body fat, who cares. In order to rid yourself of the extra body fat around your midsection, you need to incorporate effective cardio sessions into your fitness plan. You cannot spot-reduce the midsection by doing extra ab exercises like crunches or sit-ups. You first must burn off the body fat through proper cardio to properly define the area. Abdominal training by itself will not do much. Cardio needs to be intense enough to do the trick. Three to four sessions a week of intense jogging, running, the Stairmaster, the elliptical, jumping rope, or biking should be enough to get the process in gear. Swimming, hiking, and taking aerobics classes are beneficial as well. Nothing beats jogging or running. It is the most intense, efficient, and effective method of burning calories. If running outside hurts your joints, try running inside on a treadmill or outside on a dirt path. It definitely is easier on the body. Again, you NEED three to four intense cardio sessions a week to help create a calorie deficit and help rid the body of the fat that covers your abs. Proper Nutrition: Do not sabotage your results in the gym by giving yourself a passport to pig out. Ridding the body of fat once and for all is accomplished by proper nutrition more so than …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Senior fitness trainer Craig Marcacci (http://EasyDoesItVideo.com) is pleased to announce his second senior fitness video. ”Easy Does It! Staying Active, Staying Fit” has been designed for a more active and fit senior and helps improve flexibility, balance, strength, posture and cardiovascular health.

“The newest ‘Easy Does It!’ video features state of the art sound and extensive menus with subtitling for the hearing impaired,” said Marcacci. “The high-quality production also features more challenging exercises than the first, which will help seniors feel stronger and more energetic.”

Marcacci developed his fitness training program with the help of physicians and geriatric experts. The workout is a no-impact strength and flexibility training workout designed specifically to address senior exercise requirements, while keeping safety the highest priority. The exercises are designed for those 55 and up.

“‘Easy Does It! Staying Active, Staying Fit’ is the perfect starting point for older persons or anyone recuperating from illness, injury or surgery,” said Dr. Shari L. Kaminsky, DPM, FACFAS. “These exercises are simple and easy to understand and perform. Daily usage of this program should allow the participant to gradually and painlessly regain strength and flexibility necessary to resume an active and healthy lifestyle.”

”Easy Does It!” and ”Easy Does It! Staying Active, Staying Fit” are both available in DVD or VHS format from Marcacci’s Web site at http://EasyDoesItVideo.com and through Amazon.com. Both senior fitness videos come with a 60-day money back guarantee and make it possible to get fit at any age.

About Craig Marcacci

Craig Marcacci is a certified fitness instructor with 15 years experience in senior fitness and nutrition. He currently teaches senior fitness classes in St. Louis, MO and offers customized fitness programs. Marcacci created a senior fitness training program, which he developed into an exercise video called ”Easy Does It! Staying Active, Staying Fit.” The workout DVD is a no-impact strength and flexibility training workout designed to help seniors regain strength and maintain a full range of motion.

For more information, please contact:

Craig Marcacci

1-866-232-1501

314-397-4206

###

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Week of April 25, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it had rejected a request from the state of Virginia to fast-track its challenge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in March 2010. The Court did not disclose the reasons behind its decision.  Since the 4th and 11th Circuits will be hearing arguments in the next two months on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, it is much more likely that once these two Circuits have spoken the Supreme Court will be more inclined to resolve the matter with some finality.

While the lawsuits filed by a number of states march on through the normal appeals process, some of the states are taking the unusual step of turning down money available to help fund implementation of the law. Oklahoma, for one, has turned down .6 million in demonstration grants to distance itself from the law. But Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter upped the ante last week when he issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from implementing any aspect of the health reform law and from accepting federal funds tied to implementation of the law. While some question whether such outright defiance of the law would hold up as constitutional, the situation underscores the bitterness felt by some state leaders toward the law. In some cases, implementation can be expected to move at a snail’s pace, if at all, until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the issue.

Federal

With Congress on recess last week, there is no Federal report for this week.

States

ARIZONA:  The legislature adjourned last week after a contentious and partisan session. Governor Jan Brewer has until May 2, to sign or veto legislation, but the final status on several bills affecting health insurers and their customers is already known:

A bill that would have established the Arizona Health Exchange, governed by a board of directors that included insurer representation, was voted out of committee but did not make it out of the House. The legislation was based on the NAIC model.
A bill that would have required health insurers to provide a written claims information report within 30 days of receiving a request from a plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator was passed in both chambers but died when a required conference committee failed to consider the matter prior to adjournment.
A bill that would have established the procedural mechanisms for an interstate compact to work with other states to avoid implementing provisions of the ACA was passed by both chambers but was vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer.
A bill that would have prohibited contracts from requiring providers to assume the cost of acquiring vaccines and would have mandated reimbursement of providers for vaccine acquisition costs and administration was scrapped. Health insurers committed to meeting with the Arizona Academy of Pediatrics to reach a resolution without legislation.

In other matters, the Department of Insurance announced that it will hold a series of community meetings around the state to provide information about health insurance premiums in the individual and small group markets.

CALIFORNIA:  Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law last week that eases administrative and cost burdens on employers and individuals, come tax time, by conforming to federal rules relating to the taxation of dependent coverage. As a result, employers and their employees will not have to deal with the complications of complying with differing tax rules.  Aetna joined a diverse coalition of business, labor, and other groups in helping to focus attention on the need for this legislation. Also, the California Health Benefits Exchange board met for the first time last week, a step toward implementing the first reform-prompted insurance exchange in the nation. The Board spent most of it time on administrative decisions and announced the appointment of interim administrative director, Pat Powers, who is now president of the nonprofit Center for Health Improvement.

In other news, Aetna is seeking amendments to a bill that would direct state regulators to develop a single prior authorization form to be used by providers and plans in seeking authorization for prescriptions.  The bill already has been amended to reflect some the industries’ concerns. But other issues remain to be resolved, including the timeframe that plans would be allotted to approve prior authorization requests.  Aetna and others are seeking more flexibility on that issue and want to ensure the legislation does not conflict with what CMS or other national workgroups are developing. The bill passed the Senate Health committee last week.

CONNECTICUT:  The Governor and legislative leadership announced a budget deal last week that does not include a proposed premium tax increase. A premium tax increase (from 1.75 percent to 1.95 percent) was designed to raise million for the state but would have triggered retaliatory taxes for Connecticut-domiciled insurers, including Aetna, sending approximately million to other states. A coalition that included Aetna, the state trade association, property/casualty insurers and life insurers was able to convince state leaders that lowering tax credits (until 2013) to drive about million in new revenue was a better id.

The administration and Democratic legislative leaders also announced an agreement on the proposed SustiNet state-run health plan. This agreement combines aspects of the SustiNet bill with the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership bill.  The new deal calls for opening the state employee health plan to municipalities and some non-profits but not to the public. The agreement also would establish a “SustiNet cabinet” advisory panel within the lieutenant governor’s office to oversee health reform efforts in the state. The agreement does not call for the state to combine the Medicaid and state employee and retiree health plans into a large pool (as the current SustiNet proposal would).  Legislative language for the new proposal is still being developed, but it is clear the bill will not include the SustiNet quasi-public authority or a public option.

In the next fiscal year, municipalities would be allowed to buy coverage through the state employee and retiree plan, under the new agreement. Non-profits that have contracts with the state could buy in beginning the following fiscal year. The agreement does not include allowing small businesses to buy coverage through the state employee plan. Whether the state health plan is ultimately expanded further will depend how the initial round of pooling goes and whether expansion is considered necessary once federal health reform rolls out. As part of health reform, the state plans to establish an insurance exchange by 2014.

GEORGIA: America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be submitting a letter to Governor Nathan Deal urging him to veto prompt-pay legislation that would apply insurer claims-payment standards to self-funded plans.  Also passed and awaiting the Governor’s signature is a bill that would allow for sale of coverage across state lines.

MAINE: A revised state supplemental budget that covers a million gap between revenues and spending is now law. Last week Gov. Paul LePage signed the bill, which had unanimous, bipartisan support. Most of the million gap resulted from cost overruns in the state Department of Health and Human Services. The supplemental budget appropriated unspent funds from various state agencies to fill the gap. The budget addresses spending in fiscal 2011, which ends June 30. A two-year budget starting July 1 is still being deliberated.

NEW YORK: Less than one week after the Cuomo administration held a meeting to gather input on a health insurance exchange, Senate Republicans will hold their own open Roundtable on Exchanges this week to gather similar input. The roundtable discussion will be chaired by Senate Insurance Committee Chair Jim Seward and Senate Health Committee Chair Kemp Hannon. Although only trade associations were invited to participate, the meeting will be open to observers. At the administration’s first exchange meeting, the consumer lobby made it clear that they support an exchange that is either a government agency or public authority that is an active purchaser. The NYS Association of Health Underwriters advocated for a merger of the individual and small group markets combined with an expanded definition of small groups up to 100. Some small businesses, however, spoke against such a merger. The Business Council of NYS made the point that an exchange with all of New York’s mandated benefits, aggressive purchasing and extensive consumer components may not be sustainable.  There was no discussion of financing. It is anticipated that future meetings and public hearings will be scheduled by the Cuomo administration to solicit public input.

Citizen Action of New York is pushing for a health insurance exchange that is exactly opposite of the market-based model advocated earlier this month by the Manhattan Institute. The consumer group said in a statement last week that some of the recommendations of the pro-business Manhattan Institute “would undermine the rights of consumers.” Citizen Action’s research and education affiliate, Public Policy and Education Fund of New York, recommends one statewide exchange that functions as an independent authority and coordinates its enforcement efforts with the state Insurance Department and the attorney general. Citizen Action also wants heavy consumer representation on the governing board and a significant increase in penalties for violations of the new federal law.

TEXAS: The House passed a bill  that would allow the state to enter into a health care “compact” with like-minded states. The bill, passed on a party line 102-46 vote, is a grab for some of the control over health care currently held by the federal government. Lawmakers in several other states are considering similar initiatives. The bill would require at least one state partner and approval from Congress before it could go into effect. Proponents say the bill would help Texas stretch its health dollars further and better deal with spiraling costs. Critics say it would remove a key federal safety net and cut back on already strapped programs for the the poor and elderly. The legislation faces a final procedural vote before moving to the Senate.

WASHINGTON: The Governor is expected to sign legislation establishing a state health insurance exchange as a non-profit, public private partnership with a governing board consisting of nine members.  The bipartisan legislation directs the board, in consultation with the Washington State Health Care Authority, to develop a range of recommendations for establishing/implementing the exchange using stakeholder input and recognizing the need for a private market outside of the exchange. The board’s recommendations would need to be ratified by the legislature during the 2012 legislative session.

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President Obama Releases New Health Care Proposal in Time for Health Summit: On Monday February 22, 2010, White House officials unveiled a new health insurance reform overhaul that builds on the Senate version passed last Christmas Eve, with some changes aimed at pleasing House Democrats who had concerns with the Senate bill. The President’s proposal does not include the public option, despite the hopes of Senate Democrats, due to White House concerns that the provision will hinder passage in the Senate. President Obama ignored requests by Republicans to scratch the Democratic plan and start over. As such, Republican leaders questioned Democratic motives and labeled the bill as a massive government takeover of America’s health care system.

Republicans Insist House Democrats Don’t Have the Votes to Pass Legislation: Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) announced on Wednesday that Democrats don’t have the necessary votes to pass the President’s proposal in the House because of three new House vacancies and lagging support among some moderate Democrats. At issue for some Democrats are weaker abortion provisions in the President’s proposal as well as the ongoing controversy over passing a bill by a simple majority, a process known as reconciliation.

Health Care Summit Preview

On Thursday, the President’s Health Care Summit began at 10:00 a.m. with opening comments from the President, followed by remarks from both Republicans and Democrats. The discussion centered on four themes: controlling health care costs, overhauling the insurance market, reducing the deficit and expanding insurance coverage. Prior to Thursday, several top Republicans and some Democrats stated that expectations were extremely low for the Summit’s success.

House Republicans arrived armed with their own version of a health care bill that encourages small businesses to join together to buy insurance, gives federal money to states to run high-risk pools for those unable to obtain private insurance and limits damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. The Republican plan would cost billion and cover three million people over ten years. In contrast, President Obama contends his plan would cost 0 billion and cover 30 million people over the same time period. However, officials at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicated they would not be able to officially score the President’s proposal with just a summary – that legislative language is needed.

Note: A full summary of the results from the Health Care Summit will be included in next week’s newsletter

Additional Activities

WellPoint Executives Defend Premium Increases: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to examine the proposed health insurance premium increases by Anthem Blue Cross in California. Anthem, a WellPoint subsidiary, recently informed subscribers in California that premiums for individual insurance policies would be raised an average of 25 percent, with some rates going up as much as 39 percent. Angela Braly, president of WellPoint , said the premium increases were justified by soaring medical costs, and that pending legislation could make the problem worse, driving up costs further for young, healthy people.

“Raising our premiums was not something we wanted to do,” Ms. Braly said . “But we believe this was the most prudent choice, given the rising cost of care and the problems caused by many younger and healthier policyholders dropping or reducing their coverage during tough economic times. By law, premiums must be reasonable in relationship to benefits provided, which means they need to reflect the known and anticipated costs they will cover.”

In Sacramento , Leslie Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California, also testified before lawmakers, joined by vice president and general manager James Oatman. The focus of that hearing was also the proposed premium increase for California members in the individual market, with company executives pointing to the current economic climate and rising health care costs as reasons for the rate hikes.

U.S. House of Representatives Repeals Antitrust Exemption from Health Insurance Companies: On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted 406-19 in favor of repealing a 65-year-old antitrust exemption from health insurance companies. Democrats said the repeal would lead to increased scrutiny of the industry. Yet, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said last year that repealing the exemption would not significantly reduce premiums because states already investigate health insurance companies.

In addition, industry executives pointed out that legislation could further hinder competition and the ability to share information to improve health care quality. “Health insurance is one of the most regulated industries in America at both the federal and the state levels,” said Karen Ignani, president and chief executive of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). “The real focus should be on addressing the rising cost of medical care, which is putting an unsustainable burden on families, employers and the federal budget,” she said.

Public Opinion

Polling Suggest Health Care Reform is Still Key to Economic Recovery: Recent polling on health care reform shows mixed reaction among the public over the proposed legislation. According to a recent CNN poll, 48 percent of those questioned said lawmakers should work on an entirely new bill and 25 percent felt that Congress should stop work on health care reform altogether.

According to the monthly poll from the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 75 percent of Americans still think it’s important that Obama include health care reform in addressing the nation’s economic crisis, while many still harbor doubts about the legislation.

When asked how health care legislation relates to their economic situation:

* Nearly 31 percent said they thought the Democratic bills would make their personal financial situation worse, compared with 10 percent who said it would improve their family budgets.
* Forty-two percent said the nation’s fiscal condition would suffer because of the legislation, compared with 26 percent who said it would get better.
* Americans were divided on whether the Democrats’ approach would improve overall access to health care around the country, with 35 percent saying it would and nearly that many disagreeing.

Health Insurance Coverage Varies Widely Based on Age: Coming just before the President’s Summit on Health Care Reform, a newly released Gallup Poll reinforces the wide degree of variability in health insurance coverage across U.S. population segments, especially when it comes to age. Eighty-four percent of 18-year-olds have health insurance, most likely because they are still covered under their parents’ policies. By age 22, health insurance coverage reaches its lowest point, with just 66 percent maintaining coverage. From age 22 on, the percentage of Americans with health insurance begins to climb, albeit slowly, reaching the 95 percent level at age 65 when Medicare becomes an option.

Looking Ahead

Legislators need to determine next steps for health care legislation coming out of the President’s Health Care Reform Summit. On Wednesday, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius invited executives from the top five insurance companies to meet at HHS to discuss their companies’ insurance premiums.

Related Health Articles

This Week in Health Care Reform     

Health care reform legislation passed the House this week on a party-line vote. Late Sunday night, House Democrats approved the Senate health care reform package, sending the legislation to President Obama for his signature. On Tuesday, President Obama signed the underlying bill into law, yet the House has yet to finalize the package of “fixes” that will alter the final implications of the legislation.

Health Care Reform Negotiations

House Democrats Pass Health Care Reform Package: The House of Representatives approved the Senate health care reform bill Sunday night by a vote of 219 to 212. The vote marks the climactic finale to a year-long debate over health care reform. In the final vote, 34 Democrats joined all House Republicans in voting against the measure. Shortly thereafter, the House also passed a package of “fixes,” by a vote of 220-211, that was sent directly to the Senate for its approval through reconciliation. On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law the Senate health care reform bill, called the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

Republicans Force Senate to Send the Reconciliation Bill Back to the House: Shortly after the President signed the Senate bill into law, Senators began deliberations on the reconciliation bill. Reconciliation protocol restricts Senators to 20 hours of debate on the measure, but it does not limit the number of amendments that can be filed. In an expression of opposition to the bill, Republicans filed 29 amendments to the reconciliation package.

After 10 hours of continuous debate, Republicans were successful in eliminating two provisions related to college financial aid in the non-health care portion of the bill. The Senate parliamentarian ruled early Thursday morning that those two provisions violated the chamber’s rules, sending the legislation back to the House for a new vote. As a result, on Thursday afternoon, the Senate voted on the reconciliation bill without those two provisions and sent the bill  back to the House for a vote on final passage. The House vote will likely come Thursday evening.

What Does This Health Care Reform Legislation Mean: While the health care reform bill extends insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans by 2019, the legislation has other far-reaching implications that will be phased in sooner, during a multi-year implementation period.

Several features of the new health care overhaul bill that would take effect in 2010 under the measure passed Sunday include:

* New product requirements beginning 6 months after enactment, including:
o Coverage for dependents up to age 26
o No lifetime maximum benefit limits
o And no cost sharing on preventive care for certain policyholders
* Temporary federal high risk pools;
* Tax credits for small employers; and
* Prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions for children (beginning 6 months after enactment).

Most Americans will have until 2014 to purchase insurance or pay a penalty. Other elements of the bill that will not take effect until at least 2014 include insurance marketplaces called “exchanges”; rules requiring insurers to accept all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions, and an expansion of state Medicaid programs.

A number of experts question whether health care reform will really drive down insurance premiums. America’s Health Insurance Plans ( AHIP), the trade group representing health insurers, outlines a series of concerns related to the legislation including a lack of provisions that address underlying health care costs, improve quality of care or ensure a stable risk pool. In addition, AHIP expressed concerns regarding new taxes on health coverage, which will likely increase premiums.

Additional Activities

Obama’s Executive Order on Abortion Funding: On Sunday afternoon, prior to the final House vote on health care reform, President Obama agreed to issue an Executive Order that would uphold the ban on federal funding for abortion . In so doing, he secured about a half-dozen votes from anti-abortion Democrats, led by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who previously opposed the legislation. On Wednesday, President Obama signed the Executive Order banning the government from spending federal money to pay for abortions through plans offered on the insurance exchanges created under the measure.

States Filing Lawsuit to Fight Provision of Health Care Reform Bill: In response to the new health care reform legislation, states across the country have filed lawsuits asking the courts to declare the law unconstitutional and to bar its enforcement. On Monday,Attorneys General in 13 states, led by Florida, filed a joint lawsuit claiming that the new health care reforms violate state government rights in the U.S. Constitution and will force massive new spending on hard-pressed state governments. Joining Florida in the suit are Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.

At the same time, the Attorney General in Virginia filed a separate suit contending that Congress has exceeded its power in mandating that people buy health insurance. Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli argues that the new law’s requirement clashes with Virginia law that exempts citizens from federal fines imposed for not having health insurance.

Senate Voting to Extend COBRA Until May 5:  Senate Democrats plan another short-term extension of unemployment aid this week, setting up a face-off with Republicans, who are vowing to fight the extension if the billion cost isn’t offset with spending cuts. The bill, currently set to expire on April 5, would extend a series of emergency programs – including funding for unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA health coverage for the jobless  – and would hold off a deep cut in reimbursement rates for doctors who serve Medicare patients. The long-term extension has already passed in both the House and Senate, but the two measures are not expected to be reconciled and sent to the President’s desk until after the Easter recess.

President Obama Heads to Iowa to Speak on Health Care: President Obama headed to Iowa on Thursday to increase support for his health care legislation. This was President Obama’sfirst trip out ofWashington since signing health care reform legislation earlier this week. He spoke at the University of Iowa, in the city where he first announced his health care proposal during the Presidential campaign.

Public Opinion

Most Americans Want Republicans to Fight Health Care Reform Bill: In a recent CBS News poll, 62 percent of Americans said they want congressional Republicans to continue challenging the bill, while 33 percent said they should not. Disapproval of the bill has remained steady, with 46 percent saying they disapprove, including 32 percent who “strongly” disapprove. A majority of Americans continue to say that they find the bill to be confusing and do not understand what it means for them or their family.

American’s Split on Health Care Reform Passage: In a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, 42 percent of Americans said they were angry or disappointed with the recent passage of health care reform legislation. When asked to reveal party affiliation, 79 percent identified themselves as Republicans.

Polling Shows Support for State Lawsuits Against Government: National polling reveals significant opposition to the individual mandate. In a newly released Rasmussen report , 53 percent of those polled oppose the new mandate requiring every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Further, 49 percent of voters are in favor of their state suing the federal government to fight the mandate. Fifty-one percent say individual states should have the right to opt out of the health care plan entirely.

Looking Ahead

After this week’s final health care reform vote, President Obama plans to travel the country in the next few months to discuss the new law. Republicans have begun their own discussions of the law, with an eye towards the November elections.

Author Resource. Easy To Insure ME http://www.easytoinsureme.com

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When I said it is not easy because there is no short cut to get a flat belly with 6 pack abs. Only those late night informercials can give you fake promises that certain gizmos can help you get a flat belly. If you want an easy way out, then part your money to those advertisers forever and then get ready to be disappointed.

No, even if you perform a trillion sit ups and leg raisers day in and day out is not gonna get you the coveted six pack abs. To get a flat belly you want, you will need to put in some work and get educated with some science.

Here some helpful pointers to help you achieve your flat belly objective and if you stick on to it, you will find that not only will your belly get flatter week after week, you will also reduce excess body fat from all parts of your body and soon, your 6 pack abs will be revealed.

Correct eating habit and nutrition is the most important factor in getting a flat stomach. Therefore you will need to control your blood sugar levels to lose body fat. One way to do that is to consume five to six meals small meals a day. Please note, I said small meals, such as dividing the portion of your three daily meals into 5-6 smaller meals.

Next, reduce your carbohydrate consumption to about 50 percent or less from your meals. Most people eat way too much carbs anyway and before their body can burn the carbs for energy, the carbs would have been converted to glycogen and the further excess carbs into body fat.

Consume your small meals at 2 to 3 hours intervals. This is because when your stomach is empty, your body will tend to conserve fat for energy and by eating frequently. You won’t want that to happen right? Furthermore, you will be controlling your blood sugar level to encourage fat loss and you will start to lose weight gradually.

However, if you are still not losing weight, then you are consuming too many calories. In this case, make your meals even smaller by reducing more carbs.

By the first week, you will probably lose between 4 to 5 pounds (about 2kg) of water weight and some body fat. By continuing to eat like this, you should be losing about 1 to 2 pounds per week. If you are losing weight more than that, then you are probably losing muscle weight too. In this case, then increase your carbs consumption a little until you achieve a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week.

However, if you are not losing 1 to 2 pounds per week, then reduce another 100 calories from your meals. Remember to abstain from sugar laden drinks such as soda and soft drinks as these drinks are chock full of calories. Alcohol consumption is a big fat No No!

Now, when you are losing weight, your belly will get flatter and flatter but you will still need to incorporate exercises into your weight loss routine to burn more calories as well as getting your muscles toned and getting the 6 pack abs. Furthermore, for every pound of muscle you that you gain on your body, you will burn 30-50 extra calories a day. You will then become a natural calorie burner.

Is this get flat belly program easy? Nope, it is not and that is why so few people have flat bellies and tight six pack abs. However, it is definitely achievable if your desire to have a flat belly is strong enough.