Revolution Health has a new interactive tool, momScore, that ranks states based on the accessibility and quality of maternal health care. To determine the score, a team of health experts compared state-to-state criteria including:

• Access to prenatal care
• Maternal mortality
• Risk of pregnancy complications
• Childcare availability per capita
• Infant mortality
• Air quality
• Violent crime rate
• Access to health insurance
• Affordability of children's health insurance
• Mandatory paid leave policy
  

You can check your state's score overall or by specific health topic. My state ranked roughly in the middle, which was what I expected to see. Where does your state rank?

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Maybe this is a sign of insurance companies finally starting to come around. Quite honestly, it never really made much sense to me that health care companies will fight you tooth and nail to cover smaller procedures, yet coverage is provided for more severe and complicated surgeries (in many cases, anyway).

But, considering that the far more expensive major surgery could have been avoided in the first place if the smaller and less costly procedures were covered (and therefore taken care of by patients), it seems to only make sense that insurance companies are now beginning to reward healthy lifestyles.

In an article written in in the Los Angeles Times, several businesses were highlighted that are receiving extra "benefits" from their health insurance provider. In addition to their normal insurance coverage, companies such as Ottawa Dental Laboratory employees receive "bucks" -- a point accumulation system wherein said points can be redeemed by employees for merchandise -- for getting in shape, lowering their cholesterol, smoking cessation, or controlling their chronic conditions such as diabetes.

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Medical spending information released from the federal government this week indicated that a record $2.1 trillion was spent in 2006 for health care in the U.S. Yes, that's trillion with a 't.' Excuse me, but is that number unbelievably high?

The $2.1 trillion figure was 7 percent higher than in 2005, and although the 2006 figure indicates that health care spending is actually slowing down from just a decade ago, it may be headed for higher ground in the near future.

Why on earth are we spending so much on health care in the U.S.? Although the $2.1 trillion figure includes everything from insurance to individual spending and from local to federal government spending, the figure is still astounding.

The U.S. population hasn't doubled in the last decade, nor will it double by 2016. However, by 2016, the figure is estimated to hit $4.1 trillion (PDF link) from 2006's $2.1 trillion. That's one meaty decade for health care expenditures.

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It's estimated that about 40 million adults are without health insurance, according to a new study from the U.S. government. With no more than 300 million citizens in the U.S., that's a staggering amount of people without health insurance.

But, not all of that amount just can't access needed health care -- they can't afford it as well. Affordability and access are two different things, yes?

Do you believe that health care will be a top issue in next year's presidential election? I do -- and proponents of privatizing health care along with those that believe the government should subsidize a majority of health care costs will surely square off. Among the ammunition will be 40 million Americans without health care.

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While I was visiting family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, I happened to pick up a copy of the local newspaper. Inside it were fourteen pages of home foreclosure listings for that week alone. I then turned on CNN and heard a report about an increase in violent crime in some cities. And lastly, I listened intently as relatives spoke of downsizing and rampant layoffs. Inasmuch as these three topics seem to be some of the greatest concerns among Americans these days, statistics show that even more people are concerned with losing their health benefits.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey study found that 34 percent of Americans are concerned about losing their health care benefits, whereas only 25 percent are concerned with being able to afford housing, 21 percent were afraid of being the victim of violent crime, and 22 percent worried about losing their job.

What's more, the data shows that women are 25 percent more likely than men to worry about losing their health care benefits; something that can possibly be explained by the fact that women tend to visit the doctor's office more often than men (women 58.2 percent -- men 41.8 percent).

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Do you think about health insurance like you do auto insurance? That is the comparison California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants residents of his state to think about.

Early this year, the go-vern-a-tor wanted all Californians to have health coverage by spreading the cost among individuals, businesses, hospitals, insurers and the government.

To a point, this kind of socialized medicine would make health care cheaper and more accessible for millions. For those that are small business owners and those who don't like to subsidize costs for others, this is probably not a plan that has a fan. Something has to be done, though. American health care is the joke of the civilized world in many respects.

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Does your company encourage employees to adopt healthier habits? If the answer is no, you could soon see changes in this regard -- according to this article, employers are being encouraged by health insurers to implement higher insurance rates for employees who smoke, or don't eat well or exercise. So you could end up paying for your bad habits -- literally!

In one company, employees undergo health tests, and if they don't pass, they pay high premiums and are encouraged to work with a health coach. And those who refused to take the test automatically paid the high rate.

What do you think about this? A good idea? I think it's a great idea, but I'm biased because I'm one of the people who would qualify for the lower rate.

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It seems that the social healthcare environment in the U.S. is escalating (whether you support it or not), but a new study finds that almost two million U.S. veterans are without health insurance along with many civilians.

Does that strike you as odd? Let's put it this way: do you agree or disagree that those citizens that have fought for the U.S. should be given complimentary health insurance for life when they have returned to the U.S.? That is a question sure to spark a firestorm of comments, so let 'em roll!

The study reported that t12.7 percent of the uninsured veterans were under the age of 65, which is quite a few all things considered. Additionally, over 3 million family members of those veterans are also uninsured.

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Oprah recently aired the show Sick in America: It Can Happen to You. Kimberly Lankford, insurance expert and author of The Insurance Maze, shared six strategies for landing not only health insurance, but the right policy for you.

• Make sure your maximum coverage is between $3 and $5 million or a major illness could jeopardize your finances.
• Higher deductibles ($1,100/individual or $2,200/family) significantly lower monthly premiums. They also qualify for a health savings account for tax savings.
• Check your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefits for errors. They're more common than you think.
• Keep meticulous records and secure answers to your questions in writing to fight disputes down the line.
• Periodically review your health insurance needs and options to find the best fit. Speak up to Human Resources if you're having a bad experience with your employer's health insurance company, others are likely feeling the same.
• In a dispute? Lean on your state insurance department for appeal advice.

Good tips -- I'm fighting two ER bills right now that were coded incorrectly -- sticking us with 20% of the ER/physician/radiology costs versus a $50 ER co-pay.

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Did you know of the 47 million medically uninsured in this country, 19 million of them are 18-34 years old? Oftentimes they are still studying, between jobs, self-employed, working for smaller companies or new employees awaiting qualification of benefits.

This excellent article in The Charlotte Observer highlights the importance of securing health insurance for the younger, immortal crowd, as well as sound strategies to purchase your own insurance.

• Do not assume health insurance is too expensive: A healthy 25-year-old man with a $1,000 deductible and prescription drug benefits will pay $77-$185 a month. According to one health insurance company, individual policies have jumped from 1 percent of their policies sold last year to 20-30 percent today.
• You can buy on-line: ehealthinsurance.com compares itself to expedia.com for vacations. It hosts 160 carriers and quotes thousands of plans.
• Investigate before buying: Contact your state department of insurance to make sure the company is licensed to do business in your state and is in good standing. The Better Business Bureau can also provide a report. Finally, a carrier has an A.M. Best Co. rating -- check out your carrier's grade for free at www.ambest.com. Don't settle for a grade less than an A-.

The article also offer a concise explanation of COBRA insurance and a loophole that may benefit you upon leaving a job.

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When you're embarking on a new healthy routine, the costs can seem daunting. Gym memberships aren't cheap, and signing up for a weight-loss program like Weight Watchers isn't either. Plus, eating at fast-food chains is cheap and convenient -- cooking you're own healthy meals comes with a hefty grocery bill and takes time.

But losing weight and becoming healthier will actually save you money. How, you ask? Here's how:

• Eating less food means you're spending less money on food
  
• Though cooking at home might seem like it's costing you more money because you spend it all at once on groceries, it's actually cheaper in the long run
• And, most importantly, living a healthy lifestyle means less healthcare costs. Not only will you visit your doctor less, but your insurance premiums will be lower.

Consider healthifying your life an investment that will pay off slowly but surely over a number of years. Your health is worth it, don't you think?

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Although health care in the U.S. is of a large concern to many of us, is there a happy medium to reducing prices while providing the best in care? Health insurance premiums are so high now that it's hard for many Americans to afford them. Hence, there's more than 40 million of them without any insurance at all.

In addition to millions of pundits and politicians, the American Medical Association (AMA) want to promote the cause of helping uninsured Americans get health insurance.

The group is using a multimillion-dollar media campaign to help it as well. Calling the cause "Voices for the Uninsured," the plan includes tax credits and increased federal funds to expand government programs. Sounds like a touch of government-supplied health care, but is that what we need Proponents of this mention covering the uninsured, while opponents mention the enormous cost to taxpayers to subsidize health care for others in addition to mountains of red tape and abuse. What are your thoughts?

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It was odd to read this week that the nation's most populous city had a pretty significant issue when it came to health insurance. That is, one in six citizens of the great state of New York walks around without any.

And it gets weirder -- nearly 66 percent of those without health insurance in New York have jobs. Can they not afford health insurance through their employers due to cost? Without digging deeper, that is the easy conclusion.

But then the report from the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene stated that the high cost of medical care was a primary component that prevented 41 percent of New Yorkers with no insurance from seeking medical care when needed. I'm of the mind that the current state of health care in the U.S. will be at the top of the agendas for next year's U.S. presidential election.

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First we were getting shorter, and now it appears that -- compared to other countries -- we're losing ground in life expectancy as well. Though our life spans are actually longer than ever, citizens in 40 countries around the world have life expectancies that are longer than Americans. The U.S. recently slipped to number 41 on the list, down from number 11 just twenty years ago. Countries whose citizens have longer life spans include Japan, Jordan, Singapore, and most of Europe.

So why are we, despite the fact we're one of the wealthiest nations, slipping down the list? Experts have a few opinions:

• 45 million citizens without health insurance
• one of the highest rates of obesity in the world
• racial disparities
• a shockingly high infant mortality rate, compared to other industrialized nations

Whether this information will affect policy or not remains to be see, but health experts say that if we worked toward four goals: reducing tobacco use, controlling blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and regulating blood sugar, we could make a lot of progress toward improving the health of our citizens.

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Young adulthood isn't all it's cracked up to be. You're underpaid, overworked, struggling to make ends meet and find a balance between work and a social life. At least young adults have their health -- although maybe that's suffering too. A report has shown that young adults can't afford healthcare, despite being at an age where the premiums are presumably the lowest. And in some cases, it's not that young adults can't afford healthcare -- it's that they think they're invincible to heart problems while they're young, so they spend the money on things like night's out with friends, shopping and travelling.

I'm a worry wart so I've always made sure I had insurance to cover my health. I live in Canada, where basic healthcare needs are (mostly) free, but basic services are pretty limited so I've always made sure I had additional coverage just in case. Does that make me more responsible than most 20-somethings? Perhaps, but I've always been a believer of the old adage, Better safe than sorry.

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