Barack Obama’s ambitious health care plan is fairly simple and straightforward. His plan seeks to dramatically and swiftly increase the number of people that have health insurance. He insists that this plan will save the typical American family approximately $2500 in annual costs. Since the average Ohio health insurance premium is less than most other states, savings to Ohio residents may average less than $2500.

The Obama plan is designed to give the federal government more control over health care decisions and dollars, a major difference from the current decentralized system of employer-based insurance and state-based insurance regulation. Here in Ohio, health insurers have been effectively held in check by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This, however, is not the case in many other states.

The Obama Plan

Many parts of the Obama plan resemble initiatives from the Clinton health plan of 1994 and the Kerry Health plan of 2004.
Essentially, Obama’s health care plan is divided into three sections:

1. Modernizing the US health care system to lower costs and improve quality
2. Promoting prevention and strengthening public health
3. Quality, portable and affordable health coverage for every person

The “Savings”

The $2500 in savings will come from health care reform, using some of the following initiatives:

*Making health insurance universal, which may reduce spending on uncompensated care.
*Improving management and prevention of chronic conditions.
*Increasing insurance industry competition and reducing underwriting costs and profits.
*Providing reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, which will reduce insurance premiums.

Shifting Cost Burden

While all of these ideas are feasible, the underlying theme seems to be simply shifting some of the cost burden from the private sector to the government. And of course, much more control of our health dollars and decisions would come from Washington D.C and not Anthem or UnitedHealthCare.

The Obama plan will actually compete directly with Ohio private health insurance companies in a “National Health Insurance Exchange.” The federal government (not health insurance carriers) would determine the quality of health benefits that Americans would receive. And these new rules would apply to both the new national health plan and all participating private health plans.

Preventative Coverage Would Be Emphasized

Obama’s health care plan will encourage “healthy lifestyles” with specific emphasis on wellness. Employer wellness programs will be increased, and cafeterias and vending machines in the workplace may see healthier food.

School-based health screening programs may increase along with increased support for physical education.

For Ohio individuals and families, the Obama plan would require preventative services on many federally-supported health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. One benefit may be possible discounts to on health insurance premiums for enrollment in wellness and prevention programs.

Currently, some Ohio individual health insurance policies offer a similar discount, such as Anthem’s Lumenos Health Incentive Account (HIA).

Ohio Group Health Insurance

Employer-based health insurance would radically change under the Obama plan. Here in Ohio, both small and large employers are able to choose among many different health plans for their employees. The Obama plan would force employers to offer a specific level of health benefits to their employees or pay a tax to finance a national health program. Currently, the amount of provided health benefits and the size of the tax have not been specifically discussed.

Perhaps the best and most economical health insurance plan for Ohio residents would be a concept already in place…HSAs (Health Savings Accounts). Thus, instead of imposing a top-down change on the health care system, it would seem to be prudent to transfer direct control of health care dollars to individuals and families. This would allow Americans to choose their own health plans and benefits, while making health insurance companies compete directly for consumer’s dollars by providing a real value to patients.

All of this could be accomplished by specific tax and regulatory changes designed to utilize the power of free-market competition. Health care spending could be reduced, preventative treatment could be emphasized and portability could be promoted. Reforming the tax treatment of health insurance and aiding employers that help their employees buy health insurance would help quite a bit.

For now, Ohio health insurance rates are remarkably low compared to many other states. There are many reputable health insurance companies that offer a wide array of policies, including Health Savings Accounts. That shouldn’t change much for the next two years. In 2011, things might change…hopefully, for the better.

For additional information on Ohio health insurance plans, or an instant Ohio health insurance quote, please visit http://www.ohioquotes.com

Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints that doctors hear about. It affects more than 80% of adults at some point in their lives.

While it can impact those of varying ages and backgrounds, certain people are more at risk for back pain than others. And there are a variety of strategies they can use for back pain relief.

The following is a summary of the main risk factors that could leave you susceptible to back pain, followed by some of the most common causes of back pain, and treatments for back pain relief.

Risk Factors for Back Pain

* Age. Your chance of suffering from back pain increases with age. Because the discs that provide cushioning to the spine can wear out over time, older people are more likely to experience back pain than the young.

* Obesity. Being overweight places an added burden on the spine. This can unduly stress the back, resulting in back pain.

* Sedentary Lifestyle. People who sit for long periods of time at a desk are more susceptible to back pain. Sitting, especially in a slumped position, can put you at increased risk for back pain. People who exercise and are more physically active are less likely to injure their backs or suffer from back pain than others.

* Occupational Hazards. People with jobs that require large amounts of standing, lifting, bending, and/or twisting are more likely to suffer from back pain. These activities place additional strain on the spine, which can contribute to back pain or injury.

* Smoking. Smokers appear to have a higher risk of back pain than non-smokers. This may be related to the fact that smoking reduces blood circulation. In addition, smokers tend to take longer to heal than non-smokers, which could mean that back pain lasts longer for them.

Common Causes of Back Pain

* Injuries. Pulled or strained muscles, fractures, sprains and other injuries are often the root cause of back pain. These injuries, even when not affecting the back directly, can increase pressure on the spine, which stresses the back.

* Spinal Disc Problems. Discs act as cushions between the spinal vertebrae. Disc degeneration, ruptured or herniated discs and other disc-related conditions can result in sudden or chronic back pain.

* Arthritis. Various forms of arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, can either cause back pain or make it worse. Osteoarthritis, in particular, is a common cause of back pain among older adults.

* Other Diseases or Conditions. Scoliosis, kidney stones, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia are among the conditions that are associated with back pain. In rare cases, back pain may be caused by infection or cancer in the spine.

Common Treatments For Back Pain Relief

If you suffer from back pain, you should consult with a physician for a proper diagnosis and to determine the best treatment options, because the best method of managing your back pain often depends on what caused it.

Here are some treatments and pain relief medications often prescribed by doctors for back pain:

* Over the Counter Pain Relief. Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can all be effective for back pain relief.

* Prescription Pain Relief Medication. A variety of prescription medications have been shown to be effective in the treatment of back pain. These include muscle relaxants, narcotics, and prescription-strength anti-inflammatory drugs.

* Exercise and Physical Therapy. Chronic back pain can often be eased through certain types of exercise or physical therapy, though strenuous exercise is usually not recommended for acute back pain.

* Heat Therapy or Cold Packs. Hot or cold packs can sometimes provide effective pain relief. Cold packs help reduce swelling and can numb back pain to some extent while heat helps loosen and relax muscles.

* Alternative Pain Relief Treatments. Some people with back pain have been helped by alternative treatments including: massage therapy, acupuncture and acupressure, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

* Surgery. Surgery is considered only in cases where chronic back pain does not respond to other treatments.

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The second most common neurological problem in the United States is back pain. The most common is headache.

The nice part about lower back pain is that it will usually disappear in a few days. After you have a minor fall or some other injury that can cause you to have a muscle pull or a ligament strain, it is very common to have some lower back pain.

The use of anti inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofin can be used along with ice and rest to help ease the pain over the next 5 to 7 days. Back pain is common in middle school and high school teenagers as well as adults. Treatment for pain is usually the same despite the age differences.

Many ligaments, bones, neurological components make up the structure of our backs. Due to these complex structures, back pain can be difficult to diagnose. The onset of muscle fatigue associated with back pain can come at any time, causing debilitating conditions.

All countries have back pain problems and there is much knowledge about the subject. Even with the medical advances we have on the subject we do not know the many causes of back pain. In fact a lot of times back pain is caused by other body parts not functioning as they should. Fatigue in the muscles or low back pain are not a diagnosis but just a symptom. More than 80% of all Americans suffer from some type of back pain at some time in their lives. Back pain is one of the leading causes of disability for younger people under 45 years old.

There are 3 categories of back pain, that are based on the duration of the symptoms. They are:

Acute back pain – this is a pain that will last anywhere from present to 6 weeks or less. Subacute back pain – is defined as pain for 6 to 12 weeks in duration. Chronic back pain – last longer than 12 weeks.

Back pain is caused by these common reasons:

Impingement on the nerve commonly called a pinched nerve Herniated discs commonly referred to as a slipped disc or ruptured disc Muscular problems Spinal degeneration The well known sciatic back pain Osteoarthritis

MRI scans are particularly useful to assess certain conditions by providing detail of the disc (such as for degenerative disc disease, isthmic spondylolisthesis) and nerve roots (such as for herniated discs, spinal stenosis). MRI scans are also useful to rule out tumors or spinal infections. MRI scans are painless and don’t require needles or dye. The MRI scan has become the most common test to look at the lumbar spine after X-rays have been taken. MRI is the preferred imaging modality in this situation.

When you are having spasms of the back, medication such as muscle relaxants are sometimes prescribed for relief and treatment. This type of medication should not be taken for a long duration and it does have a tendency to cloud the mind. The benefits are controversial and they have some serious side effects, such as sedation and potential dependency on the drug.

You can relax the back spasm by treating the muscles with a tens unit, gentle stretching, heat, massage and other types of back pain therapy. These types of treatment are good at helping relax the muscles causing the back pain. Pulled muscles are sometimes the cause of muscle imbalances and chronic back pain. For the length of this imbalance, so the pain can continue.

Don’t suffer anymore from back pain. Imagine how good it would feel to be back pain free. You can, by getting your FREE report and discover the treatment of back pain and start getting relief you need starting today. Get it Today

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