ConsumerReports.org | By Paul Hope | Published February 18, 2021 | Updated January 5, 2022
Never use a generator indoors or within 20 feet of your house.
Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
If you use your car to stay warm or charge devices, make sure it’s outside the garage.
Never use a device (such as an oven) to produce heat unless that’s its intended purpose.
Indoor portable heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch in case they tip over.
Winter storms leave thousands of Americans without power each year, but there are several steps you can take to stay warm and safe.
The biggest threat from a power outage, of course, is the lack of heat. But even during an extended outage, there are ways to survive the cold.
The danger is that some alternative heating systems pose their own threats, such as fire and carbon monoxide. But there are precautions you can take to minimize the danger.
Here are five ways to stay warm—and safe—during a power outage.
1. If You Can, Get a Generator
Even if you’ve already lost power, it’s not too late to look for a portable generator. Sales always spike during weather emergencies, but it’s still worth trying.
Some major retailers have told CR that they’re able to reallocate the supply of generators to affected areas in as little as a day or two. A good strategy is to show up early at a store to grab one before they’re sold out.
If you can’t find a portable generator at a home center or power equipment dealer, try looking for a recreational generator at places like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart, or even at a local RV or boat dealership.
These smaller generators aren’t really designed for power outages, but their output of 1,800 to 2,000 watts is still enough to power a large space heater and charge cell phones, which may be enough to get you through an outage.How to Run a Generator Safely
Journaling has been recommended for years as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression—but mood journals are unique.
Unlike regular journals, which are usually meant for chronicling your day-to-day life, mood journals are a place to focus specifically on your feelings and emotions. They’ve become increasingly popular, as apps and online mood trackers have emerged on the Internet. But they are more than just a trend: Research shows they can be effective tools to help people manage chronic health conditions.
A study published in the journal JIMR Mental Health looked at 70 adults with various medical symptoms who also experienced anxiety. Participants were asked to keep a web-based journal for 15 minutes a day, three days a week, for 12 weeks. Those who did so reported less stress and better moods. People with diabetes are often bothered or stressed out by experiences or challenges in our lives, and this can crowd out or displace positive experiences, thoughts and reflection. Journaling allows you to refocus on more positive topics, such as good experiences or strong relationships. That, in turn, can tamp down stress hormones that affect overall health.
A landmark study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology found that people who wrote about past traumatic experiences had lower blood pressure and heart rates, as well as increases in T-cells, which help fight disease, compared with those who wrote about superficial things.
Mental Health Feelings to the Forefront
A mood journal gives you a place to release thoughts and feelings that you may not be acknowledging. For many, the problem with our emotions is not the emotions that we have but the fact that we don’t know how to express them. For example, have you ever been frustrated when you couldn’t find the right blood glucose test strips or another diabetes supply you need at your local pharmacy and noticed your blood glucose go up along with your anxiety?
It’s not surprising. As levels of stress hormones such as epinephrine (adrenaline) rise, more glucose is released from the liver. But at the same time, cortisol levels rise, which causes body tissue (both muscle and fat) to be less sensitive to insulin. The result: more glucose in your bloodstream.
The good news is that lowered stress can lead to other health benefits. When you feel better about yourself, you’re more likely to stick to healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep and regular physical activity.
Writing down your thoughts may also help you break not-so-healthy patterns. Say, for instance, potato chips have become your go-to snack. Jot some notes about how you’re feeling and include what happened right before. You may realize that you got into an argument with someone or were late to a meeting and were so upset from those events that you turned to comfort food. Catching yourself at the time and actually writing down your feelings can give you the information you need to understand your motivation and make a different choice.
Is your loved one aging in place? Part of helping someone do that successfully involves limiting risks — but at the same time allowing for Mom, Dad or another family member to maintain independence. Consider these smart choices around the house for added safety, autonomy and a sense of connection.
1. Smart speakers
These multipurpose devices function like voice-controlled virtual assistants: Ask to listen to music, set medication reminders, hear the weather forecast or even control compatible home fixtures such as a smart thermostat with the sound of your voice.
2. Nonslip rug grips
Slippery area rugs pose a fall risk and can be tricky to navigate for those who use mobility aids like a walker or cane. If you don’t want to remove area rugs altogether, consider adding a nonslip layer for safety: Opt for a nonskid carpet pad under each rug, or use adhesive corner grips or double-sided carpet tape to secure edges and keep corners from curling.
Most people get their health insurance through an employer, though there are other health insurance plans that are available for those who don’t qualify or who are unemployed or self-employed. If you are shopping for health insurance, we can help. Call us at Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan to find out more about the types of plans available and more.
Health Insurance for the Self-Employed
Many people who are otherwise uninsured get a catastrophic health policy. This is an affordable plan that protects you against very high medical bills but that doesn’t cover lower ones. These plans generally have a very high deductible. However, some of these policies come with a discount for lower-priced medical bills. These policies are often chosen by those who are self-employed because they don’t get health insurance through an employer and regular health coverage can be highly expensive.
Insurance From an Employer
If you are a business shopping for health insurance for your business and its employees, we can help. We can assist with the shopping process by finding out what kind of coverage you need and matching that to health plans that are available in Michigan. We can help you to shop around for the best price as well. When it comes to health insurance, we are highly knowledgeable and ready to assist you with every step of getting health insurance for your business. Employees today have certain expectations when it comes to health insurance benefits, and we can help you to reach those expectations.
Get Your Health Insurance
Whether you’re unemployed, self-employed or you need a health plan for your employees, we are ready to assist you with the whole process. Shopping for health insurance can be complicated, and we can help you to make sense of it all. Give us a call at Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan.
If you’re one of the 63 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, you’re probably being deluged by marketing pitches for Medicare Advantage plans, which offer managed care with low or zero premiums.
Medicare’s fall open enrollment season starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, when you can switch your coverage between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, or make changes to your prescription drug plan.
All that marketing seems to be working. Recently, 42 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Advantage plans, up from 31 percent in 2016, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Those numbers include 50 percent of Black and 54 percent of Hispanic enrollees vs. 36 percent of whites in 2018. By 2025, half of Americans are expected to be in Advantage plans.
It’s easy to see the appeal of Advantage. Original Medicare doesn’t cover all your medical expenses, while Advantage plans have cost-sharing requirements but then cap your out-of-pocket costs. Plus, you have low premiums and the simplicity of all-in-one coverage.
But there can be hidden risks to Advantage plans, especially for those with major health issues.
“Some people in Medicare Advantage end up paying unexpectedly high costs when they become ill or find their network lacks the providers they need,” says Tricia Neuman, senior vice president at Kaiser.
Your alternative is to opt for Original Medicare and add a supplemental, or Medigap, a plan that covers your out-of-pocket costs and gives you a wider choice of providers. But you’ll pay additional monthly premiums for a Medigap policy, and unless you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time, you could be denied Medigap coverage due to a preexisting condition.
(LANSING, MICH) Gov. Whitmer today announced Michiganders have more plans to choose from, more low- or no-cost coverage options, and more time to enroll during the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period, which runs today, November 1 through January 15, 2022.
“Michigan has called for expanded health coverage opportunities throughout the pandemic, and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for its continued work in lowering costs to high-quality, comprehensive health insurance for Michigan’s working families,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Through increased subsidies, an extended enrollment period, and more investment in local assistance, Michiganders have the support they need to get covered for 2022.”
“Many people worry it is either too expensive or too complicated to sign up for a health plan. Fortunately, Michigan remains one of the least expensive states in the country to purchase health insurance and there is free, local enrollment help available by visiting LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov or calling 800-318-2596,” said Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox. “Comprehensive health insurance leads to better health outcomes, so Open Enrollment is an important opportunity for Michiganders to protect their health and financial wellness.”
More Health Plans
During Open Enrollment, Michigan consumers are able to choose from 174 approved health plans from 10 insurers on the Health Insurance Marketplace, which is available at HealthCare.gov or by calling 800-318-2596. In addition, an increased number of off-Marketplace plans are also available, bringing the total number of individual plans available to Michiganders to 256.
Overall, DIFS has approved average rate changes for individual plans that range from a decrease of 1.8% to an increase of 8.8%. Overall, the average rate increase on the individual market is 4.7%, well below the 6% average annual increase in health care costs seen during the last two years. Michigan continues to have a robust marketplace and comparatively lower average premium rates than most other states, tying for the 3rd lowest benchmark premiums in a 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation study.
More Low-or No-Cost Coverage Options
Increased subsidies established by the American Rescue Plan to give more Michiganders the opportunity to qualify for low- or no-cost coverage will continue in 2022. In 2021, Michigan consumers saw an average premium reduction of 45% through these subsidies or more than $71 per month in savings. Statewide, Michiganders saw nearly $12 million in savings per month, and nationally, more than half of consumers found coverage for $10 or less per month.
Premium tax credits depend on estimated household income, and consumers will see the monthly savings they qualify for when they apply for Marketplace coverage. Before applying, Michiganders can visit HealthCare.gov/Lower-Costs to estimate whether they may qualify for subsidies and other savings.
More Time, Assistance for Open Enrollment
The Biden-Harris Administration extended the 2022 Open Enrollment period so that consumers have until January 15, 2022, to enroll. However, consumers generally need to choose a plan by December 15 for their coverage to start January 1, 2022.
In addition, $3.3 million in grants have been awarded to three Michigan organizations to expand access to qualified Navigators who provide free assistance to consumers who need help signing up for health coverage. For assistance, visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov or call 800-318-2596.
To review available plans and rates, visit HealthCare.gov today. For questions about health coverage, visit the Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance or call DIFS 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 877-999-6442.
The mission of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is to ensure access to safe and secure insurance and financial services fundamental for the opportunity, security, and success of Michigan residents while fostering economic growth and sustainability in both industries. In addition, the Department provides consumer protection, outreach, and financial literacy and education services to Michigan residents. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/DIFS or follow the Department on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Contact Carlos Garcia, or 616.896.4600, Shield Insurance Health Care Advisor. You can even click here to fill out a quick form and we will get back to you soon.
Carlos is the Shield Agency specialist in health insurance and represents several companies.
Carlos can work with you to choose the best company and the best policy to meet your specific needs.
He can take care of your family and employees as well. can help answer your questions and get you insured.
Want a long and healthy life? New research shows that focusing on this one behavior, may help a lot more than losing weight.
By Catherine Pearson | 10/13/2021 8:58 am EDT | Updated October 14, 2021 | Huffpost.com | Fit and Fat
Health experts have increasingly embraced the idea that people can absolutely be “fit and fat” — and that the body mass index is deeply flawed and does not provide a very good picture of a person’s health.
A recent scientific review strengthens these points. The research, published in the journal iScience, showed that overall wellness and longevity cannot be predicted by a number on a scale, and that exercise is more important than weight loss when it comes to heart health and living a long life.
“We would like people to know that fat can be fit, and that fit and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes,” study researcher Glenn Gaesser, of the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, said in a statement.
How focusing too much on weight loss misses the point
The team behind the new review aimed their research at a glaring problem: Obesity has grown significantly in the United States and the world over the past several decades, as have the number of people dying from conditions like heart disease that are often closely linked with diet and exercise.
At the same time, the prevalence of people trying to lose weight has also increased. Since the 1980s, at least 40% of women in this country and 25% of men have been dieting to shed pounds. Whatever we’re collectively doing right now isn’t working, and it’s not necessarily making people healthier.
“The intense focus on weight loss has not prevented excessive weight gain in recent decades,” the new review states. “Moreover, repeated weight loss efforts may contribute to weight gain, and is undoubtedly associated with the high prevalence of weight cycling, which is associated with significant health risks.”
This article first appeared in The Business Journals.
Small businesses could see more Restaurant Revitalization Fund money and other grants for hard-hit industries — but only after Congress finishes its work on a pair of infrastructure bills.
Right now, Congress is occupied trying to pass both a $1 trillion “hard infrastructure” bill with funding for roads and bridges, as well as another $3.5 trillion bill including tax credits for families with children through a process called reconciliation allowing just 50 votes in the Senate. That political wrangling is happening both between Democrats and Republicans and within the Democratic Party itself over how big the bill should be and how it should be passed.
Surgery puts enormous stress on the body. It puts patients at risk for complications, which can slow recovery. But taking time to get into optimal shape before elective surgery can vastly improve a patient’s chances for a speedy recovery from surgery, says Katie Starr, Vivo chief scientific officer with the VA POSH (Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health) at the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
Essentially, the healthier a person is before surgery, the better equipped their bodies are to overcome the stress responses produced during surgery. But many people have compromised immune systems due to advanced age or a medical condition, making it more difficult for them to bounce back after surgery.
