Category Archives: Health

Going Healthy, Health, Life

Read This Before Buying Health Insurance

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There are many different factors you need to consider when choosing the ideal international medical insurance plan for your requirements. One thing you need to look at is the benefits you have available to choose from. This includes everything from maternity care and dental care to vaccinations and optical care. When health plan shopping, one important benefit that a lot of people have a tendency to overlook is evacuation. In this post, we will reveal everything you need to know about international evacuation coverage and why it is so important when you are taking out a global health insurance plan.

First and foremost, it is imperative to explain what this benefit is; evacuation coverage ensures all costs are covered in regards to any transportation that is required when transferring you from your local hospital or area to a medical center that is more suited to your needs. Therefore, if you fall ill and you find your local hospital is not equipped to deal with your illness and provide you with the treatment you need, you will have to be transferred to another medical centre, and evacuation coverage will ensure you do not have to foot the bill for this.

A lot of people have a tendency to assume that this is an unnecessary benefit. They believe that it is highly unlikely that they will need to be transferred from one hospital to another. However, while this may not be necessary in your home country, it can certainly be the case if you are an expat. A lot of locations do not have the equipment, facilities and personnel to deal with certain conditions and, therefore, patients need to be referred to a different medical centre, which will usually be in the capital city of the country. However, in some instances, this can mean that the individual needs to go overseas for their treatment.

The cost of transport certainly isn’t cheap. An air ambulance can cost an extortionate amount of money. This is dependent on the country where you are based and the country you need to go to. Nevertheless, you can expect this to cost in the region of $25,000 at a minimum. It is unlikely that this is something most people can afford, which is why evacuation coverage proves to be such a vital part of international health insurance.

This also demonstrates why it is important to consider your policy’s annual limit extremely carefully as well. Many policyholders make the blunder of setting their annual limit too low and they get caught out. But, when you consider how expensive evacuation can be, you see why it is worth paying higher premiums to benefit from a high annual limit. After all, not only will you have to pay for the air ambulance, but also you will have to pay for the medical support you received in your local area as well as the medical treatment you received once you were transferred to a hospital that was more suited to your needs. If your annual limit does not cover all of these costs, you will need to pay the difference.  

In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, you also need to consider the fact that medical evacuation often involves a lot more than a mode of transport. In most cases, it is a lot more complicated than this, as many patients will require the use of oxygen or any other type of specialist equipment that can ensure they remain safe during the journey. This, of course, means that further costs are entailed. Still in case you require detailed information on this concept, you can read more here now. There are many facts and figures to explore when buying health insurance.

The main reason people do not add evacuation to their policy is quite simple – they don’t feel it is in their budget. However, what you need to think about is the fact that medical evacuation cannot be avoided if you are extremely ill and in desperate need of specialist care. So, if you do not have substantial global health insurance in place, you will definitely be faced with the bill. Most worldwide medical insurance providers offer a monetary limit between $25,000 and $100,000 when it comes to this benefit, which displays just how expensive emergency evacuation is. Is this something you could really afford to fund yourself? Plus, by going for a high coverage policy, there are so many great extras included, from medical products, like the best medical alert system, to dental care, maternity care, and such like.

If you really feel that emergency medical evacuation is out of your budget when it comes to international health insurance, it is worth doing some research into the facilities that are available in your country or the country you are moving to. You will be able to understand whether the hospitals nearby have any limitations. If there is a distinct lack of equipment, facilities or personnel for certain treatments, then you do need to push evacuation to the top of your benefit list when choosing a global medical insurance plan. This may mean that you have to sacrifice another benefit instead, but if there is a high chance that you will need an air ambulance or any other type of hospital transport if you fall ill, then it will be worth it. However, if your area provides everything you could need in terms of treatment, then your need for evacuation coverage won’t be as great.

All things considered, hopefully, you have a much better understanding of what international evacuation coverage is and why it is important. Of course, for some people it is more important than for others, yet it is certainly not something that should be overlooked. If you are still feeling unsure as to whether this is a benefit you should pay for, you need to take the advice that was provided regarding assessing what is available in your local area or the area you are moving to, and this will help you to determine how great your need for evacuation coverage is. If you are feeling unsure, the best thing to do is call your international health insurance provider, and they will help you to determine what is best for you and they will talk you through everything you can expect when choosing evacuation coverage for your global medical insurance plan.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

How To Stay Healthy At Work

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Developing healthy habits in the workplace is a mental venture as well as a physical one. It’s important to be in the right frame of mind to reach your full potential, and this can be affected by all manner of different triggers.

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Start With Nutrition

Every good day starts with a healthy breakfast! You need to begin with a nutritious, carb-focused and protein filled meal to give you the energy to work through until lunch, and avoid giving into unhealthy sugary snacks or caffeinated drinks. If you have time in the morning, whip up an omelette, make some fresh porridge or blend some of your favorite fruit and vegetables together to make a smoothie. If you’re usually in a rush, grab some fruit and greek yogurt, or prepare some overnight oats before you go to bed to eat on the go. Snacking at work is commonplace, and it’s likely your colleagues will be around to offer temptations. By giving into the treats, your body will get an instant rush of sugar, but this won’t last long. You will slump shortly after when its dispersed and has been absorbed,  and you’ll be left feeling lethargic and peckish until you get another bite. To combat these types of cravings, ensure you bring more nutritious options to work of your own – some great and easy options include carrot or celery sticks with hummus, sweet or salted popcorn, or any portions of your 5-a-day. When it comes to eating lunch at work, its best to plan ahead and make something of your own. Shop bought meals are often very high in salt and fat, so opting for a healthy homemade dish will keep your energy levels stable until it’s time to go home. However, don’t forget to treat yourself every now and again. After all, you deserve a reward for working so hard!

Stay Hydrated

There is nothing more important for the human body than drinking water. It’s so easy to lose track of how much of the clear stuff you’ve had to drink each day, but even slight dehydration can leave you feeling nauseous and fatigued. The human brain is made of around 75% water – by not drinking enough your circulation is forced to slow meaning less oxygen can travel around the body, and to the brain. This can most certainly have an affect on your mood, leaving you unfocused and foggy. To combat these symptoms, you should aim to consume around 8 glasses (2 Litres) of water each day, and a simple way to check your hydration levels is by passing urine: a light colour means you’re doing fine. If you’re not so keen on the taste of water on its own, try adding a sugar-free fruit cordial to give it more flavour, or some refreshing herbs and fruit wedges such as mint and lemon or lime.

Be Active

If you work in an office or in front of a computer, it’s essential that you get outside to exercise and give your eyes and lungs a much needed break. Sitting down at a desk shroud by artificial light and air conditioning all day can leave you feeling lethargic and slow, but going for a brisk walk or heading to the gym after work will release endorphins making you feel more energised. The same endorphins (medically known as Serotonin) can relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, and make stress much easier to handle. Much like drinking enough water, doing regular cardio increases blood flow to the brain, leaving you more alert and focused. It also helps your body in gaining the vital strength it needs to fight off any illness or disease, meaning less sick days and better long term productivity. If you find yourself seated for most of the day, stand up and stretch as frequently as possible – run on the spot to encourage blood flow and stretch your back and neck regularly to avoid aches and pains from bad posture.

Know When To Switch Off

Sometimes it’s hard to find a good work-life balance. Problems aren’t always left at the desk; they can follow you home and whirl around your mind whilst you lay in bed, stopping you from sleeping and making you feel like your shifts never end. One of the easiest ways of separating work from home is by having a simple ‘end of shift’ routine. Washing up your coffee cup, switching off your laptop and moving any documents out of sight can send an effective signal to the brain that you are no longer on the job, helping you to wind down and focus on relaxation. Use the time of your home commute – listen to an audio book or some calming music and choose a quieter more scenic route. It’s necessary for your body to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night; meditation is a wonderful way of cleansing the mind of the days worries, and can give you a clear mindset to drift off with more ease.

What To Do If It All Goes Wrong

Illness can strike at any time, no matter how much effort you put into your health and nutrition. It’s essential to have a plan in place if something unexpected were to happen, as workplaces are not always sympathetic in situations of absence. Getting health insurance should be a top priority, as it will give you peace of mind if anything were to happen and also give you the necessary means to survive a break from employment. Make sure you let your boss know about any health problems you have when you start your job, as this can help them to help you. Let them know of any medication you need, so they can give any details to assist in an emergency situation.

Hopefully these useful tips will aid you in staying healthy and happy at work, allowing you to thrive and do your job to the best of your ability whilst maintaining good energy levels and handling stress appropriately!

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life

Staying Healthy As You Get Older

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Looking after yourself is essential no matter what age you are. However, you may need to pay closer attention to your body as you get older because things change as you age. For example, it is likely that your bones will become thinner and more brittle. Conditions such as osteoporosis are caused by thinning bones and decreasing bone mass. This will also make you at risk to falls which could give you broken bones. To prevent this, make sure you have a nutritious diet and a good calcium intake as well as a decent supply of vitamin D.

A healthy diet and regular exercise could lower your heart rate, but to look after yourself properly, you need to cut out bad habits too. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you and is linked to a whole range of different health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer, and bronchitis. No matter what age you are now if you stop smoking, your circulation, your lung capacity, and your energy levels will improve.

Also, don’t forget to top-up with lots of water to avoid dehydration. Tea, coffee and fruit juice will help you to stay, but you should avoid sugary fizzy drinks. If you do drink alcohol, make sure you have some days in the week where you don’t drink to give your liver time to recover.

Make the most of expert help, particularly your doctor. Don’t be afraid to get routine tests to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. While high readings increase your risk factor for stroke and heart disease, any problems are reversible with medication. Many people have a vitamin D deficiency and aren’t even aware of it, but vitamin D is essential and being deficient in this vitamin has been linked to health issues such as cognitive impairment, bone problems and cardiovascular disease.

Try to get outside in the fresh air for at least 15-20 minutes a day for a boost of vitamin D boost and increase your intake of eggs and oily fish or have a word with your doctor about a vitamin D supplement.

While you’re getting tests and help from the doctor, you may as well get the full MOT from the GP but also make time to go to specialist doctors such as a testosterone doctor or an ear specialist for hearing tests and get your eyes checked too to make sure your vision and hearing are up to scratch.

As well as sight and sound, your other senses could be affected by ageing, as you may start to lose your sense of taste meaning that flavors may not seem as distinct to you. Your senses of smell and touch may also weaken as your body takes longer to react and needs more to stimulate it.

Getting older can also cause changes in your reflexes. While dementia is not inevitable in old age, it is common for people to experience some forgetfulness as they get older as cells in the brain and nerves become damaged over time.