About The Blue Cross
Blue Cross was started in 1929 by Justin Ford Kimball, at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. It was developed to guarantee teachers 21 days of hospital care for $6 a year. Later on the plan was enlarged to other people in the Dallas area and then throughout the country.
In 1939 the term Blue Cross was used to include other plans as well. Blue Cross is a name used by an association of health insurance plans throughout the United States.
It was developed in 1929, by Justin Ford Kimball, at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. The first plan guaranteed teachers The plan was extended to other employee groups in Dallas, and then nationally. The American Hospital Association (AHA) adopted the Blue Cross symbol in 1939 as the emblem for plans meeting certain standards.
So as it stands today Blue Cross is an independent membership association working on a service basis and providing protection against the costs mainly of hospital care. Benefit payments are made directly to the hospital. Benefits vary among various Blue Cross associations.
And then there is Blue Shield which, rather than covering hospital care, provides protection on a service basis against the cost of surgical and medical care in a limited geographical area. The actual Blue Cross, which was a blue Greek Cross, was created by the artist Joseph Binder under the auspices of E A van Steenwijk who was the Company secretary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
The Blue Cross began now to be used in other parts of the country as well. At present it is a national trade organization linking 40 health insurance companies in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico together.
Supposedly, Blue Cross operations are considered to happen as franchises in specifically designated regions. At present these services are available in every state wihin the United States and every Canadian province
Blue Cross is very prevalent in providing coverage to State as well as Federal government employees and they are also very important in the administration of Social Security. There is a problem with health insurance in the United States.
There is a conflict between the need for the insurance company to make money versus the need of their clients to remain healthy.
This need to make money has become so uncontrolled that one third of the population in the US can not afford medical insurance and medical bills today are the major cause for bankruptcies. This is why state and federal regulation of health insurance companies is necessary. On the other hand medical insurance companies could hypothetically face unforeseen events such as the chicken flu where a large percentage of their clients all of a sudden face horrendous hospital bills.
Theoretically this could bankrupt the insurance company within a very short timeframe. So to prevent this situation medical insurance companies use a variety of checks and balances to limit payments to beneficiaries.
And of course it is a well-known fact that those seeking health insurance are also those most likely to have medical problems being present or future ones. It is also known that if the cost of healthcare to the beneficiary is very low than the use of medical benefits will be much greater than if the cost is substantial.
So to find the balance where medical services are available when needed but not abused to the extend that for every paper cut you will make a visit to the doctor proper safeguards should be in place.
So in theory, if people would exercise, would eat healthy food, would avoid addictive substances, this would lower health insurance prices because the insurance companies would pay fewer doctor bills.
However, you could then also say that too much of the insurance premiums would be paid out in executive salaries or kept as profits by the company.
Taking a Chance on Healthy Living! One of the most important
aspects of living a healthy and prosperous life is understanding
“risk.” By this I mean knowing how to understand and analyze
situations in life that affect health. Being able to accurately
weigh benefits and risks when making health decisions is very
important! Too often decisions are based on incomplete or
inaccurate information and this is a huge mistake with
significant consequences!
Failure to accurately assess risk keeps people locked in all
kinds of unhealthy situations including poor eating and exercise
habits (lifestyle), relationships and jobs. Sometimes people are
just afraid to step out and make a change. They see “risk” in
making a change when the REAL risk comes from NOT making a
change. From my perspective, living with the stress, unhappiness
and frustration of indecision and poor health is the greatest
risk of all, and one that is definitely not worth taking!
Accessing “risk” is nothing more than collecting information,
weighing the alternatives and then making appropriate decisions
based on the information.
Some risks to our health are more “real” than others. For
example, it is common knowledge that obesity is associated with
a wide variety of health problems. On the other hand, there are
some health risks that are so remote we rarely think about them.
On a practical level, eating highly processed foods and avoiding
a daily dose of fresh fruits and vegetables is rarely considered
serious. But, as too many have already discovered, the long
range consequences of this practice are real and devastating.
Failure to accurately assess risk limits us in many ways. We
imagine the “risk” of talking with our children about drugs,
dating or sex and we put off having the “talk,” even though the
risks of NOT talking are infinitely greater. Fear of flying and
public speaking are two more “risks” affecting millions of
people. But practically speaking, these fears are unfounded.
People ride in cars every day, even though cars are far more
dangerous than commercial aircraft! It’s a failure to accurately
assess risk, and it limits our health, prosperity and pleasure
in life.
The goods news is that failure to accurately access risk is
reversible! The effects of those decisions to eat
inappropriately or NOT to exercise are, as the common expression
goes, “do-overs.” We can effect positive change in our lives by
following a few simple steps to accurately access risk:
1. Accurately define your present situation and access your
health “risks”. Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you getting
enough exercise and good quality sleep? What are the
consequences if you DON’T change? Weigh the benefits of
healthier living vs the potential risks such as increased cost,
inconvenience or discomfort.
2. What do you stand to gain if you change your present
circumstances? Assess the “up-side” potential. Too often we look
only at the “downside” risk and forget the benefits. What good
things might happen if you take the risk and win?
3. Limit the “down-side” if you happen to make a wrong decision.
Don’t continue down a path if it does not produce results. This
is especially important when following weight loss programs. If
the pounds are not coming off or if the weight loss is only
temporary, find a new program! You not only want to lose weight,
but want to sustain the weight loss for as long as possible.
Take steps to ensure this will happen. Clear, concise, realistic
objectives will definitely help.
4. Reduce your risk by being smart! Understand the situation and
seek the advice of experts in the field of health and nutrition.
This includes finding and forming partnerships to receive
support and get good advice.
5. Have a fall-back position. If the decision you make fails to
produce the desired results, be prepared to take a long, hard
look at the circumstances and be prepared to change what you are
doing.
Everything in life involves some element of risk. Driving your
car, meeting someone new, crossing the street…but we do them
every day. Winners in life are willing to accept the risk and
continue on their way! Get involved, be smart about how you play
the game, come prepared for a few failures along the way, but
don’t quite. You will reap the benefits for your effort and live
a happier and healthier life. I like to remember the words of
the great Winston Churchill when
Natural weight loss and exercise is the only path to permananent
fitness and wellness. Learn more, visit our website
http://www.livingtobeyounger.com