ID Theft - of Your Health?

I frequently hear people say that they have no need for ID Theft Protection, like LifeLock®, because they don’t use credit cards.  They don’t seem to realize that credit card theft is not the only way a thief can steal your identity, and perhaps ruin your life. ID Theft is one of the worst and fastest growing crimes today.  Its victims’ lives can be virtually destroyed.  However, what I don’t believe many people think about when they reflect on ID theft is that even their health records can be stolen. Today, in most doctors’ offices, it is likely that at least some of your private information - from your social security number, details of your last blood tests, your last mammogram to your family history – is stored electronically.  My personal physician walks around with a laptop to refer to my records, not a chart as he used to do.  All my records are neatly stored in that computer.  What if the laptop ended up in the wrong hands? The staff might even take my records – or yours - home on a flash drive.  Doctors also use smart phones, receiving, inputting and sending patient records over cell phone lines. There have been security measures put in place, passwords required to access the information, but as we know, computers are not 100% secure, no matter what measures are taken. According to a report by the Ponemon Institute, a Traverse City, Michigan-based firm that conducts research about privacy and security: •Health data breaches have grown nationally over the past few years by 32%.  Not because of blatant stealing of records by employees, but rather, because of employee negligence and lack of oversight. •72 organizations were surveyed, and nearly all reported that they had at least one incident of lost or stolen medical information in the previous year. •Of the four out of five doctors who claim they use smart phones, over half reported they are not taking precautions to encrypt information. •According to the report by Ponemon Institute, there are three main causes for data breaches.  1) Lost or stolen computing devices, 2) Unintentional release of information by contractors; and unintentional employee action. •Of those who responded, more than half reported they had little or no confidence that their particular system would be able to detect allbreaches. Throughout the U.S., medical records of more than 19 million people have been reported breached since September 2009.  (That is when the new federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health – HITECH - Act increased the penalties for providers whose data are stolen, lost or otherwise breached, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights.)  Plus, thousands of smaller breaches occur annually. A Detroit-area woman recently filed a lawsuit after a transcription service inadvertently put her medical information on the Internet, her name, medical record number and diagnosis of "cervical dysplasia secondary to HPV (human papillomavirus)," according to the law suit. Let’s say someone gained access to your health insurance card and visited a physician.  That person is then diagnosed and treated for diabetes using your insurance card.  From that point forward, every time you see a physician or visit a hospital, you will have that diabetes diagnoses in your medical records, which may well cause treatment that could result in injury or even your death – because you don’t truly have diabetes.  Once your medical records are breached, it is nearly impossible to get them reinstated to their original state.  This is a Crime that may well go unnoticed, until it is too late.  It isn’t clear how often medical information is misused; a person who steals an ID to get prescription drugs might slip through for years unnoticed. A stolen laptop with patient data might be reported to local police, but never be linked to fraudulent billing in another jurisdiction. According to Pam Dixon, founder of the California-based World Privacy Forum testified before Congress on the subject of medical ID theft, reported that medical information is worth $50 on the street, compared to $1 or $2 for a Social Security number.  There are few safeguards for medical ID theft.  If you are one of those people who believe they have no need for ID Theft Protection, think again.  Your financial life, your credit, and yes, even your life and health can be ruined without this protection. My company, Xpress Healthcare, offers a Lifestyle Select Discount Plan, which includes LifeLock® for only $19.95 per month for your entire immediate family in your home!  Prior to having this plan, I paid $12.95 for myself and another $12.95 for my husband for ID Theft Protection.  Now, both of us are covered for $5.95 less than we were paying before, PLUS the Lifestyle Select Discount Plan includes discounts on Pet Care, Roadside Assistance, Legal Access and more at no additional cost!  If you don’t have ID Theft Protection, please look at our plans at http://ibourl.net/EverydaySavings.  Even if you already have protection, please compare our coverage and the cost of our plan.  Perhaps you can save money and get an even better protection using LifeLock®. Please don’t risk losing everything!  It could happen to you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The source for some of this information was found here: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2012-02-12/Data-breaches-put-patients-at-risk-for-identity-theft/53065576/1 ************************ Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more athttp://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).   Please visit my Facebook Page athttp://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle   To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.

Which is the Best Cell Phone Carrier

Some people absolutely love their cell phone carrier and believe theirs is the best available.  However, many factors go into selecting a cell phone, and there simply is no ONE best carrier.

 

The most important thing to look at when selecting a carrier is your location. Every carrier will have “gaps,” with no reception is certain specific areas.  Look at a map of each company’s coverage to be certain they have good coverage where you live and work. You may want to ask your friends, family and neighbors who live in the area which carrier they use.

 

If you travel into different countries, you should be sure the carrier supports GSM technology.  There are devices to get around this if your phone does not have GSM, but I won’t get into that here.  Some companies strictly operate in the United States or in other countries, not worldwide.

Because the smartphones we use today, making phone calls is only one thing we use them for.  So, you must consider data speeds which enable your phone to download apps, send and receive emails, access the internet and more.  Like voice coverage, data coverage too varies by location and strength. 

Exactly how you plan to use your cell will help you determine which plan you choose from whichever carrier you decide upon.  How many calling minutes will you need?  How much data comes with the plan?  Choose your plan based on these factors, and be sure to consider price.  Remember that taxes and fees will be added to the plan.  Don’t spend more than you can afford or purchase a plan that offers more services than you will use.

Plan contracts are still the norm for the moment, but prepaid carriers are just beginning to expand.  There is a possibility that the major carriers will offer pre-paid service in the near future.  With a contract, you usually receive a great discount on the phone itself up front.  Keep in mind though that you’ll be paying for that plan for the contracted amount of time – even if you decide later that you don’t like that particular phone.  I have also read that T-Mobile has a hybrid that combines the two concepts. I don’t know all the details, but it is another thing to consider.

Be sure to read the terms of the plan’s contract.  You may think you’re getting unlimited calling, some companies actually limit when you can call or charge more for calls made a certain days and times.  The same applies for texting and data plans.  So read the terms carefully. 

There are phones that are available only with one carrier.  The iPhone and Samsung Galaxy can be purchased from different carriers, but that does not mean their customer service or plans will be the same.  Don’t purchase a phone strictly because you love it without considering the points above. 

Customer service, unfortunately, is unpredictable.  Some people may have a wonderful experience with one company about which someone else tells a horror story.  There really is no way to be certain customer service will be good.  If it turns out to be poor service after you have signed your contract, be your own advocate to acquire the service you expect.

Many people today have eliminated land line phones from their homes.  It is rather interesting, because in decades past, we kept adding more extension phones to our home lines to enable us to access our phones wherever we are in our home.  Apparently that is no longer the case.  I have heard, however, that it is a good idea to keep a land line in case of emergencies.  Cell phone services may not be available if there is a disaster.  Something else I just read today is that during a crisis, if you have a cell phone that works, send a text message to your loved ones to let them know you’re all right instead of tying up cell service that first responders may need.

I’m sure there is a lot more we want to consider when purchasing a new phone and carrier.  This post is intended to address the basics.  I hope some readers find it helpful.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Can I Meet the Challenge?

I live in a small city.  I am in the “old west,” where the U.S. Army fought Cochise in the late 1800’s.  The city exists because of a military base.  Surrounding our city, there is basically nothing.  It is 90 miles to the nearest large city, 90 miles of nothing.  The vast majority of the population is either in the military, works for the Department of Defense (DOD) or a Defense Contractor.

When I first moved here, I worked jobs, with a boss, earning a regular paycheck.   Then the economy took a down turn.  My job (the position) was eliminated. I started another job, and after a few months, it too was eliminated.  I was tired of job hunting, learning new jobs only to be laid off.  I decided to work from home. I tried a couple business opportunities unsuccessfully before I discovered my current company.

I now work with Xpress Healthcare, a discount health and dental benefits company.  Hmmm.  Military town, health benefits.  Yep, most people who live here have benefits through the military, Department of Defense or through the Defense Contractors. 

Some people look at my career situation as a challenge, even a handicap.  I did not.  I simply began working my business via the internet, entirely through the internet.  Within a few months, I’d built a larger business than I’d had with either of my previous companies, and I grew a team.  I have customers in various areas of the United States, and my team is spread throughout the country. 

I have a strong, ever-growing business, and never had to sell my discount plans locally.  In January, 2012, Xpress Healthcare added some non-health discount benefits to our program.  We now offer LifeLock® ID Theft Protection, Pet Care Discounts, Roadside Assistance, Legal Discounts and Cash Back Rewards. 

The military does not provide those benefits!  I am now in a position where I can offer my products offline.  Although it may seem odd, I AM facing a challenge now – myself!  It has been “interesting” pushing myself out of my phone/internet comfort zone. 

Lots of people say their business requires no “selling.”  On the internet, my products mostly “sell themselves,” because my websites do the work for me.  But approaching the local population is really SELLING!      

I am aware that I am not taking full advantage of the opportunity of promoting my business locally.  I am slowly approaching the local community.  I presented my program at a local senior center a couple months ago, and I’m setting up a table at a health fair tomorrow.  Approaching businesses and individuals will be my next adventure into the community.  I must admit, it is a bit frightening to me.  Wish me luck!   

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

 

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

 

Did You Hear the News?

Rather than writing my own blog today, I want to share interesting news about Microsoft.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-23/ballmer-exit-leaves-microsoft-searching-for-hero-in-slump.html  Ballmer Exit Leaves Microsoft Searching for Hero in Slump  By Ian King & Sarah Frier - Aug 23, 2013 9:45 AM MT  Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer’s retirement leaves the world’s largest software company in a succession crisis amid the worst slump in history for the industry it helped create.  Ballmer’s planned departure, announced today, follows a management reshuffle, the company’s biggest earnings disappointment in a decade and the fifth consecutive quarterly drop in personal-computer shipments. Meanwhile, Microsoft remains an outsider in a burgeoning mobile-computing market led by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc.  “It would be a difficult job, but if you could turn around Microsoft you’d be seen as a hero,” said Brendan Barnicle, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities LLC, in Portland, Oregon. He has the equivalent of a hold rating on the stock. “He’s not really leaving the company in the best financial position.”  Ballmer, who took the helm from co-founder Bill Gates in 2000, said he will leave within the next 12 months. Microsoft is looking at both internal and external candidates in a search led by independent director John Thompson and including input from Gates, the Redmond, Washington-based company said today in a statement.  There are no obvious choices. Last month, Microsoft reduced the number of business units to four and said Windows Chief Julie Larson-Green would oversee all hardware, including the Surface tablet and Xbox console and related games. Windows Phone software head Terry Myerson gained added responsibility for the Windows and Xbox operating systems.  Outside Options  If Microsoft decides to bring in a leader from the outside, it might consider EBay Inc. (EBAY) CEO John Donahoe or try to recruit Facebook Inc. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Pacific Crest’s Barnicle said.  “There’s not a clear internal successor, as some of the potential successors have left in recent years,” said David Cearley, an analyst at Gartner Inc. in Stamford, Connecticut. “It’ll be difficult for an outsider to come in and change a very strong culture that exists at Microsoft.”  Steven Sinofsky, former head of the Windows division, left the company last year after clashes with executives including Ballmer, people familiar with the situation said at the time. Gates is not being considered, according to people with knowledge of the matter.  Also among contenders may be Tony Bates, who leads the company’s business development organization. Bates, a former Cisco Systems Inc. executive, joined Microsoft when the company bought Skype Technologies SA in 2011.  Many Challenges  Whoever gets the job will face a list of challenges that recently has grown longer. Last month the company reported profit that missed analysts’ estimates by the biggest margin in at least a decade amid weakening demand for PCs running its Windows software.  Microsoft’s attempt to crack the growing market for tablet computers with the Surface device led to a $900 million write down of inventory as consumers continued to buy rival products like Apple’s iPad. Surface, Microsoft’s first-ever homegrown computer, shipped just 900,000 units in each of the December and March quarters, according to IDC.  At the same time, Microsoft’s flagship business is struggling. PC shipments fell 11 percent last quarter, according to Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC. For some investors, the most important thing is replacing Ballmer with a leader who will help the company reemerge as a technology pioneer rather than just a follower. “You need someone who doesn’t need to be as much of an operations person as Steve Ballmer, who can say where Microsoft needs to be five years from now,” said Microsoft investor Michael Obuchowski, a fund manager at North Shore Asset Management LLC in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.  Microsoft shares rose 6.6 percent to $34.53 at 12:42 p.m. in New York after earlier climbing as high as $35.20. The stock had gained 21 percent this year before today.  ************************ Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).   Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle   To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.

Working at Home… Is it as great as you think it will be?

I think nearly everyone dreams about the freedom of working for themselves, having their own home business.  For most, it remains a dream.  Over the past several years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in home-based businesses. 

More people want to raise their own children, instead of placing them in day care and missing out on all the milestones.    The cost of day care, gasoline and maintaining a vehicle can take a huge chunk out of their paycheck.  For those with a low to medium-sized income, they may not even take home enough to make it worthwhile to have a job. 

Those who are seriously considering working from home have a lot to consider before quitting their job.  There are pros and cons that come with owning a home business. 

Self-discipline can be the difference between success and failure in a home business.  Some people are not self-disciplined enough to “be their own boss.” 

Entrepreneurs must determine a work schedule, and stick to it; and they must be able to balance work and home life.  If they have young children, will they be able to focus on work at home?  Will the family support their efforts and respect their work time?  Or, will they think that they should be available at all times?

For most people, a job offers a stable income, and receiving a paycheck on a regular basis.  Those who work at home may be giving up health insurance or a retirement plan.  With a home business, income is not predictable.  Although there is a potential to earn far more than with most jobs, it is just that – potential, not a given.

For households with a single wage earner, it will be difficult at the beginning.  Nearly all home businesses must be built over time.  If the business is successful, their income will grow, but the road will be a bumpy one, with challenges along the way.  Obstacles will appear requiring changes in marketing strategy.  There will be slow periods when it seems the business is going nowhere. 

Many people believe they will work less when they have their own business.  Those who are serious about growing a business, however, may end up working longer hours, not fewer.  Many work harder than they did on any job they ever had.  Success, after all, is dependant entirely on the home business owner. 

Will they be able to cope with the isolation of working at home, or will they go stir crazy without another adult with whom to chat?  Operating a home business requires goal, plans, flexibility, focus, organization, self-motivation and creativity. 

We often hear that most home businesses fail.  In reality, most home business owners quit.  They must prepare themselves for the many challenges that will arise along their path to success.  They must be patient, but persistent.  The road to success will be just a bit smoother for those whose mantra is “Quitting is Not an Option.”

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

 

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Why Doesn't Anyone Read My Ads?

When we write ads, our goal is to get the very best response we can, right?  There are several factors involved in grabbing the attention of readers to help you achieve results. You’ll notice that some of these tips also apply to writing and posting blogs.

Writing an attention-grabbing headline is the most important tip I can give you.  Most of us are pressed for time and on information overload.  So we just skim over the page to find something that looks interesting.  If your headline doesn't get their attention your ad likely won’t even be read. 

Write a list of all the features of your products, service or business opportunity.  Then, ask yourself, how each feature will benefit your potential customers.  Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and ask, “How will this help me?” or simply, “So what?”  Do not simply provide a list of good features; explain how the features will help your customer.

I’ll use one of my company’s products as an example.  We offer a discount dental program. What makes our service better than our competitors’ and what purpose will it serve our customers?  By using our program, our members often save hundreds of dollars on their dental care expenses.  We are better than our competition, because our network of dentists is the largest in the country. 

Start with your strongest selling points. Use the first lines to create a desire for your product or service by briefly touching on the major benefits it will bring the customer. Do not provide too much detail. Your ad should pique their interest enough that they will go to your website where they can learn all the details. 

The end of your ad should be a “call to action.”  Tell the reader what to do.  For instance, "Click here to learn more!"

Do not “hype” your readers in your ad.  By doing so, you can ruin your reputation or worse.  Be persuasive, but not too much so. 

Finally, be sure you know your company’s policies regarding use of their name, logos, etc.  Some company’s require you to submit your ads for approval prior to publishing them.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more athttp://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

Please visit my Facebook Page athttp://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

As Baby Boomers Age

Information for the press release was acquired at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/28/senior-citizens-health-care-report/2354635/.  (“Senior health care crisis looms; report ranks states”)

Baby Boomers are now becoming senior citizens.  As they do, a strain is going to be placed on the health care system.  On average, they may live longer than previous generations, however, they are also more likely to be obese and have diabetes and other chronic diseases. 

A few months ago, the United Health Foundation released, “America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.”  Based on 34 measures of senior health, including obesity, drug coverage, physical inactivity and more, the report analyzed seniors’ health status.

This report states that one in eight Americans is now 65 or older (about 40.3 million people).  By 2030, the year by which all Baby Boomers will have turned at least 65, those numbers will increase to one in five (72.1 million people).  By 2030, it is anticipated that 8.7 million Americans will be 85 or older.

Out of every 10 seniors, about eight have one or more chronic health issues.  Fifty-percent have two or more conditions.  Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and arthritis will bring about huge numbers of disabled seniors.  Adults 65 and older spend two to five times more on healthcare than younger adults.

It is hoped that this report will serve as a warning about the impending economic consequences.  “The report offers ‘an important set of messages ... for personal focus, family and community focus, and a heads-up to the providers, and a real heads-up to policy makers,’ said Jennie Chin Hansen, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and author of one of several commentaries in the report.”

The report revealed how each State is ranked based on a variety of issues, “including a large number of seniors who report being in very good or excellent health, high rates of creditable drug coverage, relatively high availability of home health care workers, as well as a low rate of seniors at risk of going hungry and a low rate of hospitalization for hip fractures…”

Using these factors, Minnesota has the best record while Mississippi has the worst.  However, these figures don’t provide the full picture, because Minnesota also has a high rate of chronic drinkers, and the State provides little assistance to older adults in poverty.  And while Mississippi ranked lowest on the factors in the previous paragraph, they also have a much smaller number of chronic drinking and a high rate of flu vaccination.

The senior population is expected to grow 46% between 2015 and 2030.  Arizona expects the largest increase in the number of seniors by 2030, with a whopping 101% anticipated increase of seniors.  The report covered each State’s obesity rates, the number of seniors living at or below the poverty level, the percentage of seniors with chronic diseases and much more.

If you’re interested in reading the entire report, visit the link at the top of this PR.  As a Baby Boomer myself, being over 65, I found this report to be both interesting and frightening.  What are your thoughts on this topic?

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I am glad that my business can help all Americans, but seniors in particular, to reduce many of their health-related expenses.  Medicare does not offer dental care, has limitations on prescriptions, and provides no assistance on vision or hearing costs.  My company offers discounts on all of these expenditures and much more.

Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.