As a way to reduce commuting costs, promote work-life balance and increase the pool of qualified job candidates, many employers are offering the option of telecommuting. Telecommuting allows employees to work from home or another alternate location and communicate with their employers electronically. This trend emerged in the 1990s among professionals who could perform their jobs off-site. With the increased focus on going green and being time and energy efficient, this optio

Summer heat can be more than uncomfortable—it can be a threat to your health, specially for older adults and children. Whatever your age, do not let the summer heat get the best of you. Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion occurs when a person cannot sweat enough to cool the body, usually the result of not drinking enough fluids during hot weather. It generally develops when a person is playing, working, or exercising outside in extreme heat. Here are some symptoms: Dizziness, w

On today’s episode of Healthcare Simplified Ned interviewed Doug Aldeen, a healthcare attorney from Austin, Texas. They talked about the state of healthcare today, particularly about how new plans like bundled payments and reference based pricing are disrupting the healthcare marketplace for the better. Referenced-Based Pricing – Has anything changed in the last couple of months? Within the past 30-45 days, it’s almost like a switch has been flipped. Whether it is the aggrega

Sometimes we overlook just how much our mental health plays into our overall wellness, especially when it comes to heart health. The heart and brain greatly influence the functions of one another, and communication is always happening between the two. This is especially true when we're stressed. Short-term stress can actually be good for us, but long-term and chronic stress can have a very negative effect on your heart health. Fortunately, there are numerous things that you c

Online retailer Amazon recently announced that you can now use your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to purchase eligible medical products on its site. Amazon’s FSA and HSA stores enable you to add your respective health payment card to the site and shop for your eligible products as you would shop for any other item. What is an eligible expense? You can use your health FSA or HSA to pay for or reimburse yourself for your own eligible medical ex

Mental health plays a huge role in your overall health and well-being. It affects everything, including how we think, feel and act, and helps determine how we make healthy choices and cope with stress. Because it’s such a crucial component of your health, it’s important to focus on maintaining or improving your mental health. Here are five simple ways to do so every day: Express gratitude. Taking five minutes a day to write down the things that you are grateful for has been p

Employer-sponsored health plans are subject to a variety of compliance requirements under federal law. Some of these requirements are linked to a health plan’s “plan year.” For example: Health plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals must provide a disclosure notice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on an annual basis, within 60 days after the beginning of the plan year. If a health plan is required to f

Preventive care, including regular doctor visits, is important for everyone. The following screenings are recommended for men to maintain good health and catch health problems early: Body Measurement The American Heart Association recommends that men over age 20 have body measurements taken every two years, although your frequency may vary based on age and existing medical conditions. Measuring height, weight, waist and body mass index will determine whether you are overweigh