SavvySugar

Yoga Off the Mat: Tyler's Fight With Cancer

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:00:10 -0800

This story of courage comes from the OnSugar blog yoga off the mat.

I'm afraid this is not going to be one of my funny, lighthearted blogs, although I hope it will have a happy ending.

Recently I found out that one of my longtime students has been battling cancer for the last few years.

We all have that one quintessential story of the amazing, sweet, nice, wonderful person who didn't deserve to get sick. Tyler is mine.

Tyler had been a student of mine for many years. Without knowing her very well on a personal level, I adored her and was always happy when she showed up for my class. She is a lovely, good-natured person with a graceful, easy practice and a strong and flexible body. Yoga seems like it comes naturally to Tyler, but the most striking thing about her practice is her humility.

When I last saw Tyler in class, she seemed so happy and like she had her whole life ahead of her.

She was 33 and had just gotten married when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. After being initially misdiagnosed for far too long, her cancer advanced to stage four. She has since had a complete hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and all sorts of alternative therapies.

It's always the nicest people who seem to get the short end of the stick. And of course, this story has the standard evil health conglomerate twist to make it even more dramatic.

To hear more about Tyler's fight, read more.

Nothing makes the healthcare argument more vivid than seeing a lovely person in their prime being denied of coverage when they get sick. Although Tyler had a perfectly good insurance policy when she first found out she had cancer, after two rounds of chemo her insurance company denied her any more coverage for treatment. Now on her third round of chemo, Tyler and her husband are paying for it out of their own pockets.

Luckily, she is surrounded with people who love her and are rooting for her. I attended a benefit in her honor last week at The Independent in San Francisco, where several thousand dollars were raised to help pay for her health care.

When I think of Tyler, I think of her beautiful yoga practice and the way she handled even the most challenging poses with a face of calm, radiant ease - kind of like she is now handling her cancer. She's the type of student whose energy lights up a room. I hope to see Tyler continue to light up people's lives for many years.

If you know Tyler and you want to contribute, this is the official "Fight With Tyler" web site with all the information you need: www.fightwithtyler.com

(And lots of pictures of this beautiful bright star of a woman.)

For more life lessons, start following yoga off the mat or start your own OnSugar blog. Maybe we'll post your story here on FitSugar!

Has the Economy Forced You to Change Your Insurance Coverage?

GeekSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:47:40 -0800

California's largest health insurance provider, Anthem Blue Cross, has been in the news a lot lately, and it's not positive coverage. The company first made news when it proposed rate hikes of up to 39 percent for existing customers. Then, California state investigators found the company guilty of more than 700 violations, including failure to pay claims on time and low-balling customers in settlement discussions.

In regard to the proposed rate increases, Blue Cross defended itself by saying that in tough economic times, healthy people low on cash elect to cancel their insurance, leaving a higher proportion of expensive-to-insure people, therefore warranting an increase. Going without insurance is a risky move, but if spending hundreds of dollars a month on coverage isn't an option, it's tempting for someone who's relatively healthy to drop it. I spent two months of my adult life uninsured, and felt like I was walking on eggshells the entire time! Luckily I stayed healthy and didn't get in any accidents those two months I was without coverage, but it's a health gamble I don't recommend.

Should Insurance Pay For Flat Head Helmets?

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:00:58 -0800

Are insurance companies using their noggins? The Back to Sleep campaign has succeeded in reducing the occurrence of SIDS by almost 50 percent, but doing so has led to an increase in the number of babies experiencing flat head syndrome. Some doctors estimate that one in 40 babies will be affected.

While some mamas look to reshape their lil one's heads for aesthetic reasons, there are medical reasons to do so too. Flat heads can lead to more ear infections, which, in turn, can result in language disorders and learning disabilities. Treatment for the syndrome usually resides in cranial molding helmets with hard outer shells and foam inner linings that discourage continued growth in the wrong direction. The helmets, which can cost up to $2,500 are normally covered by insurance, but military families – whose budgets are already stretched – are finding that their insurance won't foot the bill because it's not a proven cure.

Should insurance policies pay for such corrective devices?

Source

Does Mama Obama's Chitchat Help You Understand Better?

babysugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:29 -0700

Though she may be a tad biased on the subject of healthcare reform, First Lady Michelle Obama is taking the opportunity to speak out to women and mothers on the hot topic. While most Americans are aware of the legislation being introduced, many still have questions when it comes to the facts behind it. In her small-screen reachout to other mothers and female Americans, first mom Obama gives real-life examples of existing health care and the possibility of what the future holds with her husband's proposed plan. Watch the video and tell me if it changes your view on the subject.

Reality Check: Working at Starbucks, Just For the Health Care

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:30:52 -0700

Health insurance has become an invaluable benefit - if an accident were to occur and you didn't have coverage, you could be paying off a mountain of medical debt for years to come. A Reuters article highlights just how important insurance is for Americans when considering employment opportunities, and profiles a mother of three in Texas who has taken a part-time job just for the medical benefits.

That's right, full-time real estate agent Lisa DeWaal spends the first four hours of her days serving coffee at a Starbucks before heading to her office. DeWaal sought out employment with Starbucks solely for the affordable health insurance the company offers. Private insurance plans are burdensome for most households, and health experts say they've met plenty of people like DeWaal who are motivated to take or stick with a job because of the health benefits.

DeWaal begins her daily Starbucks shifts at 5 a.m, but those early mornings are worth it. The 20-hours a week at serving coffee allows her to rest easier at night because, for $180 a month, her family is insured. She commented, "Health insurance is exactly the reason why I have taken the extra job. It's company health insurance, which is a lot better than a private plan. I would put these extra hours into real estate if I had affordable health insurance."

Your Two Cents: Do You Have Health Insurance?

SavvySugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:23 -0700

Big changes could be in the future for health insurance. Are you currently insured?

I'm Asking: Do You Keep Up With Routine Dental Care?

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 -0700

Fresh off the news that dentists have noticed an uptick in client visits, a new study suggests many Americans forgo routine dental care because it is considered a "luxury item."

A consumer adviser for the American Dental Association warns (just like your mother!) that prevention is always cheaper than fixing problems later, so anyone attempting to skimp out on routine visits is only hurting herself down the road.

I happen to be a little compulsive about dentist visits and take advantage of my dental coverage every six months, but I know many people don't have coverage and struggle to make room in their budget for routine work. Have you let it slide?
Source

7 Steps to Take When You've Been Laid Off

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:15:26 -0800

The economy has been shedding jobs at an accelerated rate, forcing many workers to be the bearers of bad news when telling their families they've been laid off. A lot of people haven't dealt with a layoff before and feel panicked entering new territory. Start the slideshow to see seven steps that will help you gain control after losing your job.

View Slideshow ›

6 Things About COBRA Under the New Stimulus

SavvySugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:30:13 -0800

As if having to search for a new job after a layoff isn't enough stress, jobless workers must consider how they'll get health care coverage without their old employers' plans. COBRA, short for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act passed by Congress in 1986, requires most group health care plans to provide a temporary continuation of coverage that an employee would typically lose after termination.

The downside to COBRA has been cost, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 calls for a 65 percent subsidy toward group health insurance premiums for laid-off employees. Here are six facts about the COBRA subsidy under the stimulus plan.

The subsidy only lasts for nine months.
You're eligible if you were laid off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.
To qualify for the subsidy, individuals must make less than $125,000 and families can't earn more than $250,000.
You are not eligible for the subsidy if your employer went out of business.
If you’ve already made COBRA payments, there's no provision for a retroactive credit for the previous payments.
If you missed your 62-day window for signing up for COBRA coverage (but were laid of in the eligible time period), the door is open for you to sign up again.

Are you currently paying for COBRA coverage?

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Dentists and Deodorant Are Recession Bedfellows

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:30:36 -0800

There aren't many winners in this economy, so it's interesting to see which businesses are posting profits and getting it done despite the recession. It has become clear that hygiene is of the utmost importance as of late because dentistry and deodorant makers have been sitting pretty through the crisis.

Dentists attribute an uptick in client visits to a couple of patterns: People are grinding their teeth so much because of economy-related stress and need dental work because of it; those without dental insurance are putting off appointments to the point where they need serious work; and nervous employees with insurance are rushing to get to the dentist while they still have coverage.

To find out why deodorant sales are up, read more.

Deodorant makers are experiencing an increase in sales as well, and they are crediting the success to the release of more expensive clinical formulas. These products can cost more than double the price of original formulas, but cash-strapped consumers are willing to shell out the extra dough. Lisa J. Pieretti, executive director of the International Hyperhidrosis Society (hyperhidrosis means extreme sweating) explained why she thinks people are paying more and said, "At least I’d have the confidence that I’m not going to go to a job interview and have huge sweat stains under my arms, which will make people perceive that I’m nervous or lying or I don’t know what I’m talking about."

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