Health insurance problem

When people start talking about health insurance reform and how to bring health insurance to the American people, they inevitably end up in a ridiculous discussion about how to negotiate the cost of drugs, how to provide drug discounts to senior citizens, or how to engage in a system of managed care that denies medical services to certain groups. It's all a rather useless exercise in shifting paperwork, blame, or money from the pockets of one organization to another. And in the end, it helps no one. Health insurance reform needs to focus on the health, not the insurance, because you can never solve a problem by shifting paperwork to another party or bu denying services to an ever-expanding group of people. It's similar to the way in which the federal government wants to solve social security: just keep raising the qualification age until it's so high that almost nobody lives that long. How's that for security? "If you live long enough, we'll even pay you back all the money you worked for!" In the realm of health insurance, we need to start talking about disease prevention. The only way we're going to lower the costs in the long run is if we make our population healthier. And the only way we're going to make people healthier is if we start admitting the truth about the detrimental health effects of prescription drugs, processed foods, junk foods, soft drinks, lack of physical exercise and so on, and then start educating people about how to take control of their health and reduce their risk of ever experiencing chronic disease. That's how you solve the health insurance problem: by making people healthy. What a novel idea, huh? Right now people are getting all the wrong messages about their health. They are being told that unhealthy foods are good for them. The FDA has approved health claims that mislead consumers into thinking things like sugary oatmeal is good for your heart because it contains oats. It's a ridiculous claim. And yet the legitimate food claims -- like olive oil prevents breast cancer, garlic prevents cancer, raw nuts prevent heart disease -- are not allowed at all. In fact, those are outlawed by the FDA. So today we have a regulatory environment that actually prevents people from learning the truth about foods that could help prevent disease. Thank goodness the FDA is protecting us from all those dangerous health claims!

Health tips

1. Move More

Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat

Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking

The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress

Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution

If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

Aarp health insurance

For the AppleTalk protocol developed by Apple Computer, see AppleTalk address resolution protocol (AARP). AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, is a United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group. According to its mission statement,[1] it is "a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over ... dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age," which "provides a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members." AARP operates as a non-profit advocate for its members and as one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States, and it also sells insurance, investment funds and other financial products. AARP claims over 35 million members,[2] making it one of the largest membership organizations for people age 50 and over in the United States. Membership is expected to grow significantly as baby boomers age.
Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP in 1958. AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), which Andrus had established in 1947 to promote her philosophy of productive aging, and in response to the need of retired teachers for health insurance. After ten years, Andrus opened the organization to all Americans over 50, creating AARP. Today, NRTA is a division within AARP. According to Andy Rooney, AARP was established by insurance salesman Leonard Davis in 1958, after he met Ethel Percy Andrus. Ms. Andrus was at the time helping teachers get health insurance through the National Retired Teachers Association. According to Rooney, Davis saw the opportunity to sell medical insurance to the elderly rather than just retired teachers and for that purpose put in $50,000 establishing AARP. According to Rooney, Davis established the Colonial Penn Insurance Co. in order to control AARP, selling millions of dollars in insurance to its members through advertisings in AARP's magazine Modern Maturity and for several years Colonial Penn Insurance Co. became one of the most profitable in the U. S. In 1978, after a 60 Minutes report exposé, AARP got rid of Colonial Penn Insurance Co. and signed up with Prudential Insurance Co.[3] According to critics, until the 1980s AARP was controlled by businessman Leonard Davis, who promoted its image as a non-profit advocate of retirees in order to sell insurance to members.[4] In the 1990s, the United States Senate investigated AARP's non-profit status, with Republican Senator Alan Simpson, then chairman of the Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy, questioning the organization's tax exempt status in congressional hearings. These investigations did not reveal sufficient evidence to change the organization's status.[5] The organization was originally named American Association of Retired Persons, but to reflect that its focus had become broader than American retirees, in 1999 it officially changed its name to just "AARP" (pronounced one letter at a time, "A-A-R-P").[6] AARP no longer requires that members be retired.

Health and fiteness make difference

Quality of life is what we all want. Good health helps us achieve a high quality of life. Fitness makes us want to live it every day. If you agree with these three premises, keep reading.

The Purpose of Health and Fitness Tips

To inform you of new developments in the health and fitness fields is our aim. We'll do the research; we have the resources. You get the results. The name of the game is 'current' and 'relevant' for today. Forget all the excess baggage of the so-called fitness gurus.

Become Healthier and Fitter Faster

While we know you are interested in becoming healthier and fitter or maintaining the health and fitness you have, we also know you have limited time to devote to it. We therefore pledge to you a fast, simple method to hop aboard the fitness fast train. Get on track with the facts.

Health Professionals, Medical Doctors and Health and Fitness Writers and Editors Make Up Our Staff

Our staff experience in the booming Health and Fitness field adds up to more than 100 years. Not that anyone is age 100 or even close, but we all plan to live that long. We want to make sure we have company. So we invite you along for the ride. We'll spur you on and help you over the rough spots to your own fitness destination

. Diet and Exercise are Keys to Healthy Living

But you know all this. So our aim is to give you the shortcuts, the little-known tricks and proven methods to help prevent boredom and hopelessness in your quest for good health. Our high tech world has advanced in the fitness field also. In fact, so fast that we want to get the information out to you yesterday. That's what the Health and Fitness Tips Site is all about…the latest up-to-the-minute-in-the-zone information for your health and fitness.

Child Health Consultations

It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here this morning as we focus on one of the most important elements that affect the social and economic welfare of any nation: healthcare; and maternal and child health in particular. I am glad to see distinguished policy-makers from all levels of government, academicians, health administrators, the private-sector, civil society organizations, international organizations and donors all assembled here for this discussion. Everyone has an important and unique contribution to make and we are pleased to be part of this Consultation as we create a vision, design a strategy and define concrete actions to improve maternal, child and family health care for all.

Pakistan has made great strides in improving access to health services. People have more opportunities to receive health care services than ever before and the private sector is playing an increasingly important role in expanding the availability and quality of these services. This is evident in these and other statistics. For example, in 1961, the infant mortality rate was 139 per 1,000 live births. Today that rate is 91. The life expectancy has increased by 9 years for women and 7 years for men. Pakistan has made progress in reducing population growth, and the contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 5.5 percent in 1968 to 23.9 percent in 1998. The total fertility rate, or the average number of children born per woman, has also declined from 6.4 percent at the beginning of the decade to around 4.8 percent by the year 2000. And, the national immunization rate has increased to 52 percent.

Although Pakistan has made notable progress in some key health indicators, preventable and treatable diseases -- that primarily affect young children and women of reproductive age -- still account for a predominant share of the country’s high mortality and morbidity rates. Health status and quality of life are not only affected by the presence and availability of health services, but also by social, cultural, economic and political factors as well.

Pakistan faces a daunting set of challenges at the start of the new millennium: a rapidly growing population, the need to compete in a global economy, and the necessity to steer a political course that will ensure peace and prosperity for its citizenry. A healthy population is key in addressing these challenges. Yet, Pakistan’s social and health indicators rank among the worst in the world. Pakistan ranks 129th out of 174 nations on the Human Development Index. About a third of the population lives below the poverty line, despite an economic growth rate of 5-6 percent on average between 1960-1990. Pakistan ranks 82nd out of 94 countries on the Mother’s Index, and is ranked 118 out of 140 countries on the Girl’s Investment Index.

The Social Action Program (SAP), which started in 1992, focused on increasing government expenditures on basic social services (education, health population, rural water and sanitation), institutional reforms, and improved governance and accountability. Social spending has unfortunately declined and now rests at pre-SAP levels; thus, there is a need to put more resources in social services and institutionalize the reform process.

The Government has recently taken a number of important steps to stabilize the economy, correct the fiscal deficit, re-establish confidence in public institutions, and create new public/private-sector partnerships which often tap the substantial capabilities and resources of the NGO community. These measures have helped improve the quality and availability of health care services. In parallel with its macroeconomic stabilization program, the Government has also developed a comprehensive program for structural reforms as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. Addressing social sector issues is becoming increasingly important in this context and we are pleased to see new strategies in health and education that reflect the Government’s commitment.

While progress has been made in a number of areas and programs, however, there still exists a critical need for increased access to and improved quality of health services especially for women and children – reproductive health, family planning and maternal and child health services. The maternal mortality rate, high percentages of deaths due to induced abortion and low-levels of female literacy indicate that we need to re-energize our efforts to address women’s health needs. Until women are more empowered to make their own choices, and until both women and men can participate in a dialogue about their reproductive health and family planning needs, little will change in the social and health indicators. Needs exist in every aspect of reproductive health and in empowering family and communities to enable them to access services and make informed choices. Therefore, the challenge ahead is to respond to the health needs of the women and children through a holistic and integrated approach, and link them to the social interventions – literacy, economic empowerment and gender programs.

This Consultation, over the next three days, will hopefully focus and reinvigorate public and private-sector efforts to improve the health of Pakistani women and children throughout the country. Several challenges must be successfully addressed if we are to achieve that goal. First, public sector expenditures on health care must increase. Currently, this figure has been reported to be only between 2 to 3 percent of the national budget, which is low by any measure in any country of the world. We cannot expect to make measurable and continuous progress in any of the key health indicators without a substantial increase in public expenditures. A more rationalized national budget allocation process that provides provincial and district government greater authority to plan and program resources will also make government health expenditures more effective in delivery health care services.

Second, we need to pursue innovative public-private sector partnerships – which include NGO service providers -- to improve the quality of health care services and ensure they reach the poorest segments of society. Third, we need to view health in the context of the broader social issues, such as women’s empowerment and the status of women. We should pursue opportunities to link to other programs -- such as income generation, education especially for women and girls – to improve the women’s status in society and empower her to make informed decisions about her health and that of her family. Finally, we should continue pursuing the current health care reform agenda to improve the health system structure so that there will be better delivery of quality health care services.

For over three decades, the United States has supported development efforts in Pakistan through USAID. Though our office closed in 1994, USAID continued to support Pakistan’s efforts to improve social sector services through the Pakistan NGO Initiative. In July of last year, USAID returned to Pakistan and I am pleased to announce we will work together with those in this room and many others to help meet the country’s goals and objectives in the health sector, especially as it relates to women and children.

This consultation provides USAID an excellent opportunity to hear first-hand -- from stakeholders to development partners -- what are the issues and challenges and what would be the best way to approach them in the medium and long-term. Your input over the next three days will play a critical role in shaping USAID’s health. We are here to listen to you and seek your input as to how best support your endeavors in improving the health status of the families and communities, reducing maternal and child mortality. Your participation in the meeting reflects your commitment to Pakistani women and children, and a commitment to work towards improving women’s status and services for women and children. Investments in maternal and child health will have an impact beyond improving women’s health, that of their children. It will also empower and strengthen families and communities. It’s the first step that lays the foundation for all others. And, we look forward to working with you all in this endeavor.

Main Health Indicators of Pakistan

Years	1999	2000
Life Expectancy
Male	64	64
Female	66	66
% Disabled Population (1998)*	2.54
Crude Death Rate	8.3	7.8
Growth Rate	2.19	1.13
Women's Health
Crude Birth Rate	30.2	29.1
General Fertility Rate	134.9	127.6
Total Fertility Rate	4.5	4.3
% Births at Non-Medical places	76.7	76.2
Child Health
Infant Mortality Rate	81.5	79.8
Neo-Natal Mortality Rate	51	51.5
Post Neo-Natal Mortality Rate	30.5	28.3
% Vaccinated (1998)*	70.7
Ratios**	2000	2001
Population per bed	1,495	1,490
Population per Doctor	1,529	1,516
Population per Nurse	33,629	31,579
Population per Dentist	3,732	3,639

health insurance in pakistan

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Pakistan

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Pakistan nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Pakistan national and moving to Pakistan we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

The policies that we can provide are guaranteed renewable for life and globally portable, so even if you should relocate away from the country your plan will continue to cover you. With a number of extra benefits including maternity coverage, emergency evacuation and repatriation, dental treatment, out-patient consultations, alternative medicines, complimentary therapies, and specialist consultations, you can be assured that an international health insurance Pakistan plan will give you the coverage that you need. For more information about the products and services that we can offer, or to receive a free quote.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Pakistan hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates we maintain a list of Embassies in Pakistan.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Pakistan we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Pakistan Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Pakistan dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.