Wednesday, December 26, 2007

List Your Gols Below

I received an email from one of the insurance companies that I represent and it was a "Goal Sheet" for 2008. Here were the goals they thought I needed to address for this new year.
1. Finical & Wealth Goals.
2. Career Goals.
3. Free Time Goals.
4. Health & Appearance Goals.
5. Relationship Goals.
6. Personal Development Goals.
7. Community & Charity Goals.

Along side each box was a space for me to write in and that took up about a quarter of the page but the other three quarters of the page was labeled "High Achiever 90-Day Success Focusing System." In that section were 12 boxes labeled for each week and they want me to call, call call and sell, sell, sell and track my success. I thought I was all done with this type of hype. I feel that I need to "sell" to make a living but so much of my leads come from referrals that just like big corporations, this makes me nauseous. So I tore it up and figured that the goals that I need to set for myself have to come from me, not another business source and the people I sell to will be provided, because they always are. If we treat each other like we are suppose to then the universe has a funny way in rewarding us for our effort. This is the year I will write about the things I know and that I want to and so i will be saying good-bye to insurance and hello to my talent!

Have a wonderful New Year, I am preparing for the new year and came across a great quote. I will share it with you; Desire without action gives us freedom only when we dream. I'm tired of sleeping.

Getting the Beat on Individual Health Insurance

If you work for yourself, retire before Medicare kicks in, or don’t have health insurance through your job, finding individual coverage that you can afford depends as much on the state that you live in as the state of your health.

It often comes as a rude awakening to look for insurance on your own, especially if you’ve been spoiled by years of relatively carefree coverage through your employer.

**this is the article that you can access at the website http://www.dailyherald.com/.**

It was featured on Monday, December 24th,2007 in the Health & Fitness section. I read it twice only because I liked what it said and found it to be generally honest about the health care options that individuals have in our present time. Remember, you have to be the driving force in protecting yourself in regards to your health. Read and learn, I did.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Back and Standing Upright!

Good tidings...I am back and sitting upright. Oh what a week it has been for me. On Monday I decided that I was going to increase my exercise and began to ride my son’s stationary reclining bike. What a mistake that was. I rode the bike for only 20 minutes and then did the "walk away the pound's" tape for 30 minutes. I felt great! I went through my day like a superwoman. Then the next morning I was up and about and all of a sudden I went to take a step and I could not walk. I had reinjured the disc that I had surgery on it and was really frozen in my spot. After many many tears I got myself (with my wonderful husband Dan's help of course) to Dr. Chen in Lombard, Illinois. He is the acupuncturist who has been helping me. Once he saw me he looked puzzled and asked "What you do?" All I did was cry. After three treatments I am up and walking and yes, using my cane but I went to work for the first time since last Monday. This has cost me about $240.00 so far and insurance (if I had it) doesn't cover this...so once again I learn that out of pocket means out of money. Not only am I limited on my activities but this puts a damper on the much awaited Christmas shopping. Oh well, I guess my friends and family will just be getting a lot of "me" this year as a gift. Ho>Ho>Ho>>>Peace, Margie

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The Elusive MIB ( does not stand for men in black)

Under federal law consumers are entitled to one free disclosure every 12 months. Using the identification information provided as a part of your request to MIB, we have made a thorough search of our records on November 13,2007 and cannot find any information under the following name/names: Margaret E Mack

For your information, an MIB record is created only if the following conditions exists:
1. an application for life, health, or disability insurance was submitted within the past seven years;and
2. the insurance company's underwriting investigation showed condition(s) which could affect health or longevity.

Sincerely,
Sue Corey,Director
MIB Customer Services

Now I had just applied for insurance through AARP's actual insurance plan and was denied so they should have something on me...makes me wonder just what kind of MIB the insurance companies are using, right?

Peace,
Margie

Follow Up On Tests Needed

I said I would let you know on the progress I was making for the tests that my husband needed for his heart follow-up. Well, the two tests together is a cool $3000.00 and they want half up front and then healthy monthly payments. That cannot be done fro us so I went on Alexian Brothers website and I sent an email to finical aid and I am going to see what kind of assistance there can be for us. Here is the email that I sent.

Hello, my name is Margie Mack and my husband Daniel is a patient of Dr. Reddy. Dan had a heart attack in 1999 and then had to have heart angioplasty with a stint put int. We had just lost our insurance so we ended up loosing almost everything and filing bankruptcy. So, we have managed his health care as best as we can but no insurance company will cover him because of his heart attack. Now Dan needs to have a followup Stress Echocardiogram and also a Carotid Duplex. I contacted the hospital for prices and was told that the Stress test would cost $1300.00 and the Carotid test would be $1612.00. I was offered to pay have and then pay the balance over time but I do not have that amount of money to do this for my husband. I need help and I need to know if there is a program that will assist us in his quest to make sure his heart is OK. He is important to me and I do not want anything to happen to him. I appreciate all you can tell me on what to do. He is retired but cannot get Medicare yet and doesn't qualify for Medicare because I work, even though I do not make that much it is too much so he was denied.
-- Peace,
Margie Mack
630-973-8185
website:http://margaretmack.mymedicalqoutes.com
Website: www.bellytobelly-margie.blogspot.com

Compassion, Dignity, Care of the Poor, Holism, Partnership

Family Health History Risk Assessment
Free Initiative that provides fast screening recommendations for patients and their physicians including:
Personal medical and family health history — pedigree construction and risk assessment
Sleep apnea screening
Nutrition screening
Depression screening
Personalized age- and gender-specific screening recommendations
Women's Health Risk AssessmentTake the Online Women's Health Risk Assessment for FREE
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Take the Women's Health Risk Assessment for FREE
Men's Health Risk Assessment
Take the Men's Health Risk Assessment for FREE
For additional information you and your patients are invited to contact:Karen Giammicchio, RN BSN, Director of Prevention & Early Detection: 847-385-7300

http://www.alexianwellness.com/

There are programs and Plans out there for all of regardless the walk that we have traveled. With Alexian Brothers they look at the whole person. They are compassionate, they care for the dignity of the person, they care for the poor, they allow holism regardless of what form you choose and they partner with other business leaders and individuals in the community all over the country to help us who do not have the resources for the insurance coverage that you so desperately need.

Look towards giving to an organization of your choice that can better a life, no matter how small. These are things we all desire, after all we are our brothers keeper...Peace, Margie

Monday, December 3, 2007

Heart To Heart Follow Up

This is what we received from the Larry King Foundation:

Dear Margie,
Thank you for taking the time to contact The Larry King Cardiac Foundation on behalf of your husband and for sharing his story with us. Our Foundation provides life saving cardiac procedures for those who do not have insurance or the financial means to pay, as well individuals we help do not qualify for state or federal funding. I hope this clarifies our support efforts. At this time, our foundation is not set up to handle screening or tests of possible patients. I suggest you look into one of the state or federal programs to see if he qualifies. A social worker at your local hospital may have more information too. There are also free clinics that can give him support if he qualifies.We have two financial assistance programs for prescription drugs listed on our website. I have provided the link below and hope you find this information helpful. http://www.lkcf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=what_patientresources.We wish you and your family the best.
Sincerely,
JeanJean Mulvihill Assistant to Larry King, Jr., President Larry King Cardiac Foundationjean.mulvihill@lkcf.orgSign up for the Quaker Oats Challenge at www.lkcf.organd $1 goes to The Larry King Cardiac Foundation.Help us Save A Heart A Day!

So, he cannot get the help from them and we do not qualify for any state programs so the visit we had today with the heart doctor as well as the future tests we have to do is going to be a self-pay plan. That is what happens when you do not protect yourself. Please what ever you do, do not go without insurance!

Peace,
Margie Mack