In recent years, we’ve had more severe, natural disasters globally.  Earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods to fires, the devastation comes to survivors who are left stranded and awaiting aid.  So when you’ve done everything to prepare for safety, how prepared are you for that critical time after a disaster?

Get informed about what risks your community or region faces.  Aside from knowing what to do during a natural disaster, you should know what your community’s evacuation and shelter plans are as well as any regional safe spots.  Without getting too stressed, research what your regions history has been with natural disasters and how things were handled.  Plan accordingly.

Look back on hurricane Katrina.  Many survived the storm, but the after math was devastating and help could not arrive as quickly as people assumed it would.  In California, we are earthquake prone and have had problems with fires in recent years.  Assume the worst.  If roads are closed off, help may not arrive as fast as we need.

Be prepared not only for natural disasters, but also for man made ones as well.  Carelessness, honest accidents, and even possible terror attacks are never predictable and while these may seem unlikely, it’s still a good idea to have an emergency plan for these scenarios as well.

Making a plan:

Quiz and drill your family about where rendezvous points are, where to seek help, what to do, etc.  Remember those practice drills in school?  They may seem silly when you are a kid, but it is a good exercise to practice with your family every six months.  Make sure your kids know how to evacuate safely in case of a fire, or how to avoid danger if caught in an earthquake or a storm specific to your region.  (If you are in California, consider recent tornado activity in Riverside and Costa Mesa.  While those were mild, it is still a good topic to consider.)

Consider your family’s special needs.  Have kits readily available for each member of the family.  If you must have something in the house, car, or workplace, let it be an emergency kit with everything you need to survive.  Take into account any pets, livestock, and any important possessions or documents.  We live in a materialistic society, but if disaster strikes, we need to know what is truly important.

Making a Kit:

As mentioned above, consider the needs of your family.  If you have children, prepare a backpack with spare clothes in case you get stranded, a toy or something to keep your child comfortable and entertained, water, and items to meet other needs your child may have.  If you have a teenager, consider sanitary items for girls.

Have the essentials in your kits.  One gallon of water per person per day is ideal for your home kit.  This may not be ideal in the car.  Have at least one bottle of water in each car pack.  First aid kits are essential for cuts and burns as well.  Canned foods are great, but check every so often to ensure it’s not expired, dented, or bloated.  Also make sure to have a can opener.

Other essentials include:

• Flashlights and batteries
• Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape to help in filtering contaminated air and to shelter-in-place
• A radio, either battery powered or crank powered
• Local maps (do not rely on your gps or cell phone; if you do, have a solar charger for them)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation.  Consider having a bucket as a porta-potty
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

These are basic, and of course there are more items that you can include that are useful.  Consider that you may be stranded miles from home with no road access.  Consider that cell phones and land lines may not work.  Consider your own health and your family’s, and plan accordingly.

Follow the IPPK (Inform, Prepare, Plan, and have a Kit) guidelines for safety in the after math of any disaster.

For detailed information please visit

www.ready.gov

At Aetna,‡ we believe there is nothing more important than your health. That’s why we’re pleased to give you information to help you manage your health.  Read on to learn more.

Other than skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 106,680 new cases of colon cancer and 41,930 new cases of rectal cancer in 2006 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 55,170 deaths. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop colorectal cancer.¹

If you are age 50 or older, you should be tested for colon cancer.*

• Most colon cancers occur in men and women who are 50 and older.
• Screening tests can find growths before they turn to cancer.
• If you get checked and you do have cancer, the earlier you and your doctor treat the cancer the better. It is curable if found and treated early.
• There is more than one way to get tested. You and your doctor should choose the test that’s best for you.

Learn about your colon cancer testing options

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or watch the video at www.cancer.org/Colon-Link.

Questions to ask your doctor**

• I’m over 50 — should I get tested for colon cancer?
• I’ve read that there’s more than one test for colon cancer. Which one do you think is right for me?
• How is the test done? How do I prepare for it? What will happen to me, and how will it feel?
• Now that I’m 50, what other tests for cancer should I have?

Visit your personal self-service member website online!

Your secure Aetna Navigator® member website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use it to perform common transactions involving your Aetna medical, dental, prescription drug or flexible spending account (FSA) plans.  You can send a secure email to Aetna Member Services, access claims, who’s covered, and general health information as well as decision-support tools. Log in to the Aetna Navigator site at www.aetna.com.

Also on Aetna Navigator — online Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements! You can turn off paper EOB statements in favor of viewing them on your personal member website. View your EOB statements online and enjoy the convenience of secure electronic record keeping while you aid the environment, reduce excess mail and clear away piles of paper. Simply visit your Aetna Navigator member website at www.aetna.com and change your Personal Profile U.S. Mail options to “Turn Off Paper.”

¹Information provided by the American Cancer Society Accessed on March 8, 2006 at the following link:  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_Many_People_Get_Colorectal_Cancer.asp?sitearea=

** Recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society. Speak with your doctor about being checked earlier or more often if you think you’re at a high risk for colorectal cancer.

**Recommended and provided by the American Cancer Society.

‡ Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered, underwritten or administered by

Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of the Carolinas Inc., Aetna Health of Illinois Inc., Aetna Health Insurance Company of New York, Aetna Health Insurance Company and/or Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna).  In Maryland, by Aetna Health Inc., 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06156.

Health information programs provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna plans, refer to www.aetna.com.

Want to show your sweetie how much you care this valentines day?
Opt for a gift of red wine and dark chocolate. Not only are these treats delicious, but when consumed in moderation, they may also improve the health of your loves one’s heart.

Wine contains antioxidants called polyphenols, and red wine contains more polyphenols than does white wine. Research suggests that the polyphenols in wine help protect the lining of the blood vessels in your heart. For those who don’t drink alcohol, a small glass of grape fruit with sparkling water is an alternative treat.

Dark Chocolate also is rich in polyphenols, particularly in those called flavonoids. Recent research has shown that eating small amounts of dark chocolate regularly may help lower the levels of blood vessel inflamation, lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.

The first thing to note is that whatever your goals may be, they should be SPECIFIC.

It’s easier to stay on track and stay focused when you know what you want. Having written specific goals helps your mind know exactly what to visualize for yourself. It’s not enough to say, “I want to be healthier and lose some weight”, it’s simply too general. Instead try setting something more specific as a goal, such as eating 3 home cooked/prepared meals a day, exercising 3 times a week, or cutting soda out completely. Also, keep a journal, or use your daily calendar to monitor your progress. There are many websites available that help you keep track for free of your own wellness efforts for free. http://www.sparkpeople.com/ is a great tool with free videos and even a forum to offer support. Another great tool is http://www.wellness360.com/ which actually pays you the more you use their site to monitor your progress. This brings us to the next part of maintaining your goals.

You must be able to MEASURE the goal to properly keep track of your progress.

This ties in with your specific goals, such as exercising 3 times a week. Now that something tangible has been established, it is easy to see how your actions compare to your written goals and therefore monitor your progress for your long term goals. If you cannot see where you are or where you are going, it’s really tough to keep your mind focused on any path. Whether it is keeping a journal, using a website, or marking in your at-a-glance monthly view calendar, if you can see it and measure it, then you will find yourself reaching your goals a lot faster and more easily.

Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew so it is important that our goals are ATTAINABLE and REALISTIC.

Wanting to drop 100 pounds in 3 months is not only very unlikely without drastic surgical measures, but also unrealistic. Pace yourself, it is healthier and when you keep track time will seem to move faster towards achieving your goals. Make sure your goal doesn’t interfere with other areas in your life. Your goals should always help you grow and bring a sense of accomplishment. They should not cause you stress or disappointment over taking on more than you can handle. Start off small and gradually increase your efforts as your lifestyle and body adjusts.

Make sure you can dedicate TIME to yourself and your goals.

Sometimes we don’t take into account that we get slammed with work at certain times of the year, or perhaps a family event or a big trip is on your calendar right in the middle of your goals. These are serious hazards to derailing your efforts. Devote specific time for yourself and your goals so you do not find any interruptions. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to stay on track when you make a commitment to yourself and step away from the plans for just an hour to keep on track. Your busy life won’t miss you if you are only away an hour 3 times a week to take a walk/jog, go to the gym for a short set, or prepare your meals the night before.

Now that we have gone through the corner stones of effective goal setting, you can see that having SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable and Realistic, Timely) goals goes a long way in anything you decide to go for in life.

Thanks to Wellness Corporate Solutions for sending us these steps in their newsletter

www.WellnessCorporateSolutions.com

http://wellnesscorporatesolutions.com/z-news/5-jan10/Setting%20S.M.A.R.T.%20goals.pdf

“If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.”

It is a beautiful song, and the sunscreen part was funny but true!

Whether you blame it on the hole in the o-zone, or global warming, or a changing sun, we cannot deny that our healhy doses of sun baths can now more than ever result in harsh consequences when we do not take proper measures against the UV rays.

UV rays are high energy unseen light which can harm you in prolonged exposure.  If you are near water the rays reflect off the surface and you have greater exposure to them.

We all have different results from sunburns depending on our skin types.  For example, I have light skin but and I will burn red in 30 minutes without sunblock, then I peel.  After wards I have a very dark tan.  However, my friend will burn and blister if he doesn’t take preventive measures.

Aside from blistering, he will get headaches and even suffer from nausea.  While those are short term effects that many people experience, long term unprotected exposure can lead to a variety of problems from skin dryness, to wrinkles, to -  the worst of all – skin cancer.

There are three types of Skin Cancer; Basal Cell Carcinomas, Squamous Cell Carcinomas, and Malignant Melanomas.

Basal cell carcinomas makes 80 percent of all skin cancer cases.  It is also treated the easiest.   You can spot it by recognizing it’s appearance and characteristics; pearly, slow growth, raised areas which might or do crust and bleed and they are most commonly on the face, neck and hands.

Squamous cell carcinomas makes 16 percent of skin cancer cases.  You can recognize it as red or pink scaly bumps on the face, usually, and on the hands and ears.  With early detection these are also treated easily.

The most serious of all cancers only makes 4 percent of cases and is known as malignant melanomas.  They do have the potential to be fatal but as with most cancers they can be treated successfully if caught early.  You should look out for dark brown or black flat spot with irregular borders, they can later change shape or color.  This type of cancer is also known to grow from preexisting benign moles.

But your skin is not the only part of your body that is in danger.  It is important to protect your eyes as well.

Your eyes are very vulnerable to damage against the sun and once your eyes are damaged by UV rays, the situation cannot be reversed.  Eye conditions can range from cataract, pterygium and cancers of the eye and eyelids.  You eye color can play a role to light sensitivity as well increasing the chance of migraine, and nausea due to the sun.

According to the Reuters article here, “expert ophthalmologist and eye plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Jacobs of Harvard Eye Associates, based in Laguna Hills and San Clemente, cautions patients to limit and protect themselves from sun exposure when levels of UV radiation are particularly high — between 10:00a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Especially on overcast days, at high altitude, or on reflective surfaces such as water and sand, UV rays are particularly damaging.”

The key of course is prevention.  It is best to know what type of skin you have and what type of protection works best.  Always trust SPF15 as a minimum when being in direct sunlight.  If your skin is fairer you may consider a higher SPF sunscreen, and if you are active or swimming, a water proof one may work best.

Proper application is important.  You should start with your face, neck and ears and work down your body with even and complete coverage.  Have a friend apply sunscreen to areas you cannot reach.  Remember to reapply every 1-2 hours hours if you are swimming.

Proper sunglasses with UV protection paired up with sunscreen goes a long way.  You can also choose to wear a hat to both protect and keep you cooler.  Consider wearing lighter colored garments so to reflect the light rather than absorb it also keeping you cooler.  Even with clothing, it does not hurt to wear sunblock underneath depending on the density of the garment, light of course will still penetrate the clothing and get to your skin with lighter fabrics.

Men are more vulnerable to sun damage since women tend to wear make up and lipstick.  An SP chapstick goes a long way and SPF skin protector (really a manly term for facial mosturizer for men) can protect as much if not more as make up.

Resources:

Read Aetna’s PDF here

Reauters Article

Health Savings Accounts  were introduced in 2004 to allow individuals to pay for medical services up front through funds they deposit tax-free nto their personal Health Savings Account.  A required insurance policy then kciks in for catastrophic expenses.  Any unused funds build up from year to year and collect interest in the process.  Today these advantages apply to employers benefit programs, employee’s and the independent health insurance plan owner.

Put simply, no other investment account has the tax advantaged that health savings accounts do.  Throughout the life of a Health Savings Account its owners can withdraw finds for qualified medical expenses tax-free.  Because of this, taxpayers shoulc consider fully funding their Health Savings Accounts fist before any other type of retirement accounts.

You may consider:

A temporary medical plan, also known as short term insurance, would cover you from 30 days to 185 days and is non renewable.  Rates are based on your age, county you reside in and the deductible plan you choose.  There are only a few health questions to answer and, if approved by the carrier, your coverage can begin as early as the day after the postmark date of your application and is within 30 days of signature date.  You can however reapply for additional days or months not to exceed a total of 365 days.

An individual permanent policy is a renewable policy that you can continue with for years.  There are HMO and PPO plans to choose from.  Rates are based on your age, county you reside in and the plan you choose.  You must complete an application and answer health questions.  Depending on the answers to the health questions will determine if medical records will be requested from your physician.  You can request the effective date to when coverage will begin or you can have the carrier provide the effective date once the application is approved.

Some of the companies we represent include Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Kaiser, and Health Net.  To help you get insured on a temporary basis or a more permanent basis please visit our website at www.aclevidence.com or simply contact our office at (800) 447-4023 and our staff will be more than happy to assist you with information to help meet your personal needs.

Many people are under the assumption that insurance carrier profits, aging of the general population and the impact of medical malpractice awards are what drive Health Care Premiums but in reality, these factors have very little impact on premiums.

Key factors that are driving health care premiums are advances in medical technology, which brings about increases in utilization, excess price inflation for medical services, cost shifting to the private insured sector, patient lifestyles and the ever expanding regulations that are being forced upon insurance carriers by the government. Surprisingly, though still a factor, prescription drugs contribute less significantly to rising costs due to the increased use of generic medications.

Anthem Blue Cross has a very informative report regarding this issue on their website at www.wellpoint.com, under quick links click on WellPoint Institute of Healthcare Knowledge. Check out the “What’s New” section or click here on What’s really driving Health Care Premiums.

Are you certain your retirement plan is compliant with ERISA Section 404(a) required and 404(c) recommended?

Ask yourself these questions:

Section 404(a) Compliance:

Do you have an investment policy statement maintained by a plan committee who is appointed by your company?

Do you or a professional advisor properly select, monitor, remove and replace a diversified selection of investment alternatives?

Is the plan administered in accordance with the plan document and consistent with ERISA?

Section 404(c) Compliance:

Does your SPD state that the plan is in compliance with ERISA section 404(c) and that the fiduciaries may be reduced of liability for losses which are the direct and necessary result of investment instructions given by the participant or beneficiary?

Do you conduct participant education meetings every 90 days with a professional securities licensed advisor?

Do you have employee acknowledgment letters regarding investment changes, meeting attendance, etc.?

Do you disclose the identity of the 404(c) fiduciary?

Upon request, do you provide the description of the annual operating expenses of each designated investment alternative, the underlying assets of each investment alternative, information concerning the value of shares or units in investment alternatives held in the account of the participant or beneficiary and copies of any prospective and financial statements?

If you answered no to any of these questions then your plan may not be section 404(a) or (c) compliant.

Section 404(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974 (ERISA) defines the responsibilities for which the plan fiduciaries have personal liability. It is the responsibility of the fiduciaries to prudently select, monitor, remove and replace a diverse selection of investment alternatives appropriate for plan participants. As part of Section 404(c), plan fiduciaries will avoid personally liability for losses on the investment choices made by plan participants.

Please let us know if we can help you evaluate your plan or help you create the necessary protection for the plan fiduciaries.

www.AClevidence.com

When I checked this morning (April 29,2009) there were 91 cases of Swine Influenza Strain A, 14 of which are in California, and one of which caused the death of a two year old Mexican child. It’s all over the news, the papers, and seemingly in daily conversation. Swine Influenza, an acute respiratory infection, is normally found in pigs and does not affect humans, however this strain of the virus mutated much like the Bird Flu Strain A virus, and is now infectious to humans.

There are many different Flu Viruses. Aside form Bird, Human and Swine Flu; you can find Horse Flu, Dog Flu, etc… Even whales have Flu Strains. Not all animals react the way humans do, and not all strains are as bad, but if you notice, the two that have made the jump are Strains A. Viruses constantly mutate since we develop antibodies to fight off future infection. It’s the virus’s method of survival. How these viruses make the jump from animal to human is still a mystery.

What stands out most in all reports of the Swine Flu is the definite presence of fear. We keep hearing about a death toll in Mexico of over 150 now, one (1) in the US (A Mexican child) and world wide confirmations of the virus with 91 cases in the US, 14 of which are in California as of today. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its alert to a level 4, two levels away from declaring a pandemic.

But do we have nothing to fear but fear itself?

There are three different types of flu viruses: A, B, and C. Chances are you may catch type C but the symptoms are much less severe than the other two which cause all those annoying and achy symptoms during flu season. In fact, every flu season thanks to Strains A and B, in the US alone, there are an average of 36,000 deaths and over 100,000 hospitalizations.

The 150 deaths in Mexico pale in comparison to those numbers. Take into account that currently we have a population of 300 million people in the United States and Mexico has 110 million.

Because symptoms for the Swine Flu are very similar to seasonal Influenza, the only way to tell if you do have Swine Flu is via testing. If you do have flu symptoms and you have recently traveled to a confirmed infected area, you should see a doctor and get tested. Medical providers can take a nasal swab and send it to the state and federal authorities for testing.

At this point in time, the virus is present in the U.S. and containment is not an option but we can slow down the virus from spreading. There is currently no vaccine and unlike regular flu strains which are dangerous towards the elderly and young children, this strain is said that the swine flu’s victims are younger and seem healthy. Swine Flu is however treatable with two prescription antivirals Tamiflu or Relenza (though it is resistant to two older medications).

Why isn’t there a vaccine?

This is not the first time Swine Flu caused a scare, and perhaps that’s why this time around they decided not to cause a massive panick, but honestly, I just don’t know.

What I do know is that in 1976 there was a case of the death due to swine flu of an 18-year-old U.S. Army private at a New Jersey base. The scare was rapid in growth. A vaccine was quickly available but to everyone’s surprise, there were more deaths and complications from the vaccine than the actual swine flu virus. In fact, the swine flu didn’t claim anyone other than the 18 year old Army Private.

What to do.

Regardless of the type of flu, there are simple ways to avoid catching and spreading it.  Always cover you mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue when doing so and then dispose of it. If you cannot use a tissue, do not use your hands to cover you mouth and nose, instead use the inside of your shirt or sweater. Also be sure to wash you hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer if necessary. Try not to touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) since germs do spread that way.

Avoid contact with sick people, and if you are sick, stay away from healthy ones. You cannot catch swine flu by eating pork but you can catch it by contact or if someone sneezed on something and you came into contact with the object.

Maintain a healthy diet to keep your immune system as healthy as possible. Take preventative health measures rather than seeking out the prescriptions once you already have fallen ill. You have a better chance at beating any virus if you simply steer clear from it through taking the preventative measures.

For more on Swine Flu:
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

http://www.who.int/en/