Part I of this two-part series focused on that 15 percent of the United States population that is without health benefits. It was disturbing to learn that 80 percent of uninsured households have at least one parent working full-time, and still they are without health benefits.

But there is another trend in the US that is more startling! Shrinking health benefits for employed Americans AND retirees alike. What is even more disturbing is that, because health benefits are shrinking a little bit at a time, many people don’t realize it’s impact until it’s too late.

Deductibles rise and restrictions are placed on the kinds of services that are available. Dental, vision, chiropractic care and prescription drugs are all targets for restricted services or payout limits. In addition, both employer and government-sponsored health benefits programs are requiring larger contributions from the “insured”.

In March 2006, Jim Jubak (investment guru) wrote about how his father’s pension check was cut in half because the company that he retired from upped his health benefits contribution by $170 a month-with no notice!

According to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, the average cost of employer-sponsored health care plans was $3695 for an individual and $9950 for a family. The employee’s average contribution to this plan was $2261, which is more than a 160 percent increase [from 2000 to 2004].

Who should we blame? Highly paid doctors and pharmaceutical companies for skyrocketing healthcare costs? Large companies for not seeing the impact that the aging Baby Boomers would have on their ability to take care of their retired employees? The federal government for not legislating a fix to an overwhelming problem?

The fact is that everyone and no one is to blame. And the problem isn’t getting any smaller, not for a long time.

Fortunately, there are some problem solvers out there. And once again, they come in the form of Consumer Driven Health benefits programs. These programs offer something called “Supplemental Health Benefits” packages. And they work like this. For a small monthly fee, supplemental health program members get discounted rates on the very health services insurance companies are cutting. And the discounts are sizable. AmeriPlan reports up to 80% savings to its members for dental care alone. What’s more, anyone can join. No one is turned down for any reason, including preexisting health or dental conditions.

The challenges of the US health care system have not gone away. The problems run deep and wide. For those of us who need complete health services-and peace of mind-Supplemental Health Benefits may be the answer.

About The Author

Jim Martinez is a National Sales Director for AmeriPlan USA, offering discount health benefits programs that include ongoing medical conditions, starting at just $29.95 per month. For more information on AmeriPlan Health, Dental, Vision, Prescription and Chiropractic Benefits and more health related articles, visit http://www.familydentalhealthplans.com.

Laser Ultrasound Helps Determine Dental Health

This is the first time anyone has employed such a tool to find the elasticity of our teeth, besides assessing dental health and predict tooth decay and cavities.

Enamel goes through a cycle of mineral loss and restoration, through a lifetime, in which healthy teeth maintain a high mineral content.

If the balance between mineral loss and gain is lost, however, teeth can develop areas of softened enamel — known as carious lesions — which are precursors to cavities and permanently damaged teeth.

‘The ultimate goal is to come up with a quick, efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive way to evaluate the mineralisation of human dental enamel,’ says study co-author David Hsiao-Chuan Wang, graduate student at the University of Sydney (U-S).

Wang and his adviser Simon Fleming, physics professor at the U-S Institute of Photonics and Optical Science, worked on the study with U-S dental researchers and ultrasonic researchers from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.

Stronger than bone, enamel is the hardest and the most mineralised substance of the human body — one of the reasons why human teeth can survive for centuries after a person has died. It envelops teeth in a protective layer that shields the underlying dentin from decay, said an U-S release.

Enamel demineralisation is caused by bad oral hygiene. Not brushing, for instance, can lead to the build-up of dental plaques, and bacteria in these plaques will absorb sugars and other carbohydrates a person chews and produce acids that will dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel.

By: Shane Ennerson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dragonlasers – No 1 online store for green laser pointers, high power lasers & laser glasses

Click here for Laser Safety

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Science Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From – Home | Reference & Education | Science

Cosmic Ordering – Scam?
Laboratories Test for Biocompatibility
Will Our Sun Die One Day Like Stars in the Universe?
How to Find a Research Environment for Your Science Fair Project
How Solar Water Heaters Work?
California Lemon Law: Beware Transmission Problems
Introduction to Vibratory Deburring
Prepare Hard For AIEEE
The Future Of Solar-Panel Vehicles
Solutions in the Life Sciences

Technorati Tags: dental