The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act in March 2012, the legislative health care reform package many opponents refer to as “Obamacare.” From the 2008 election forward, President Barak Obama’s efforts to address rocketing medical and insurance costs have been the subject of contentious public debate. Now, with the law’s constitutionality set to be debated in the nation’s highest court just three months into the coming presidential election season, health care will be at the forefront of an even more politically explosive climate.

Opponents Target Mandatory Health Insurance Requirement

Conservatives are pulling out all stops to regain the White House in 2012. The provision of the health care law on which they focus much of their ire, is the requirement for all Americans to carry health insurance by 2014. By its design, the law bases the constitutionality of the coverage stipulation on the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. That portion of the document reads, in part:

“The Congress shall have power … to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and with the Indian tribes.”

Opponents of the Affordable Care Act’s provision mandating personal medical insurance contend that while Congress has both the power and the responsibility to regulate interstate commerce, the Constitution does not give it the authority to compel citizens in a free marketplace to buy a particular product like insurance coverage.

Health Care to Make a Unique Supreme Court Hearing

Twenty-six states have joined together to challenge the law in the highest court in the land. Their case will be presented by Paul D. Clement of Bancroft PLLC. As a bid to the highly complicated and controversial nature of the case, an unprecedented 5.5 hours have been allotted for arguments before the justices.

If the Court rules according to the usual interpretational positions of the individual justices, the “swing vote” will likely fall to Justice Anthony Kennedy. Consequently, much attention is being paid by pundits and the media to Kennedy’s voting record in an attempt to guess how his decision would likely fall.

Justice Anthony Kennedy Could Be Swing Vote

Kennedy, 75, was appointed to the court in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, and has frequently played the deciding role in major cases. Over the years, Kennedy has proven to be liberal on matters of free speech and gay rights, but conservative on parts of the Constitution like the Establishment Clause which prohibits the stipulation of a national religion.

Kennedy has always exhibited a strong interest in the power of the federal government to create and to maintain the national economy in an integrated sense, but he is also a supporter of “states rights.” His mixture of views on federalism and individual liberty make it difficult to hazard a guess on his position on the health insurance mandate.

Opponents Also Seek Justice Kagan’s Recusal

Other conservative groups are calling on Justice Elena Kagan, 51, to recuse herself from the health care case. Appointed to the Court by President Obama in 2010 to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, Kagan served as solicitor general in the Obama administration. Ironically, were she still serving in that capacity, she would be defending the health care law before the very Supreme Court on which she now serves.

During her confirmation hearings, Kagan answered questions regarding the inevitability of the health care law’s constitutionality being tested before the Court and said she had played no part in crafting the legislative package or preparing the administration for its defense. This denial was confirmed by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. who said that all efforts were made to ensure Kagan was in no way involved in legal discussions about the health care reform law. Kagan shows no sign of recusing herself, which is always a voluntary option for a Supreme Court Justice.

Public Opinion on Health Care Reform Divided But Strong

According to research conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in November 2011, most Americans still do not understand the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act, but 44 percent still view it unfavorably. Approximately 37 percent of those surveyed support health care reform as it currently exists, with roughly 19 percent undecided or disinterested.

Most analysts agree that the displeasure many Americans show with health care reform is actually an extension of the discontent evident across the nation with Washington politics. Much of that negative sentiment is aimed at financial regulations and institutions that benefit the wealthy, but which is causing the erosion of the middle class in America.

When the health care law was broken into components for the survey, some aspects were viewed favorably even by the Republican opposition. A resounding 84 percent, for instance, are in favor of the requirement for insurance companies to provide easily comprehensible benefit summaries. The second most popular provision was that awarding tax credit to small businesses, with 80 percent approval.

People also like the idea of subsidies to help individuals afford health insurance with an eye toward closing the “doughnut hole,” those policy coverage gaps where services and prescription medications revert to full cost. Additionally, the public supports banning the practice of coverage denial based on pre-existing conditions.

However, the individual mandate for consumers to purchase health insurance by 2014 is highly unpopular, with 63 percent opposing the requirement, and of those, 43 percent describing their feelings toward the requirement as “very” unfavorable.

Many See Health Care Requirement As an Infringement on Personal Liberty

Although most Americans do not really understand the complete health care reform package, it is typical for citizens to resist being made to do something by the federal government. The perception in the public is that health care reform will primarily help lower income Americans and have little effect on the middle and upper classes. However, being compelled to purchase coverage, like the existing mandate to carry auto insurance, will affect all Americans.

In March, however, the Supreme Court justices will not be voting according to public opinion, but by the standards of constitutionality it applies to every case it reviews. The fine points of existing interstate commerce law, both in its codified forms and based on prior decisions by the court, will be the basis of the opinion they ultimately deliver.

The affect the vote will have on the election season is also difficult to determine. If the law’s constitutionality is upheld, public ire could go against President Barak Obama in his bid to win a second term. But by the same token, if the provision of the law is declared unconstitutional, voters may see it as a victory for conservatism in the U.S. that will throw more support behind the Republican candidate.

Regardless, however, as 2012 opens, and as March draws nearer, health care will once again be front and center in the American political debate, and it will remain as controversially charged as ever. Given the existing climate of discontent clearly illustrated by the numerous “occupy” demonstrations, this will be a major factor crafting public sentiment in the November presidential elections.

As the only nation in the world without universal health care, the United States is working to come up with a solution to keep its citizens healthier. Many Americans go without health insurance because they cannot afford it, and their illnesses and injuries go untreated as a result. However, since the Health Care Reform Act remains so controversial, it has proved to be near impossible to find a solution that is both viable and acceptable to everyone.

People Who are for Health Care Reform

People who support the Health Care Reform bill believe that health care should be made more affordable, especially for people living in low-income households, and those who make more money should be taxed to make up for it.  Being taxed more money is acceptable to them, because of the positive changes that will come from it, and believe that everyone should be required to have health insurance so no one goes without.

People Who are Against Health Care Reform

Those who disagree with the Health Care Reform Act do not believe it is fair to be taxed any more than they already are, and do not feel responsible for making sure everyone has health insurance, even people who cannot afford it. They see a nationwide requirement to have insurance – and suffering a penalty for noncompliance – to be unconstitutional and believe it strips them of their freedom.

Is There a Compromise?

Since the Health Care Reform Act was first brought to Congress, people have been trying to find a compromise between those who support it and those who don’t. There are several options, like taxing everyone and then providing refunds to those who buy insurance, or limiting the amount of time each year people are able to buy insurance. Despite these options, and agreement is yet to be reached.

What’s Going On Now?

Certain parts of the Health Care Reform Act have already gone into effect, but the majority of the act is still being debated as far as what should be legal for the government to require of its citizens. Many people are worried that this is just the first step in the government taking control of individuals’ decisions on how to live their lives by telling them they must buy health insurance.

What’s Happening in Court

The Health Care Reform Act is now in the Supreme Court, and has been for a long time. There is a high degree of disagreement among the public and the justices, and it will be months before an agreement can be reached. The most likely outcome of the debate will be to keep certain parts of the act that people can agree on and get rid of others as everyone struggles to find an option that could work for everyone.

The Health Care Reform debate has been going on for years and is unlikely to end anytime soon. People have very strong standpoints about this matter, especially since it has to do with their health and, in some people’s opinions, their freedoms. The court will continue to edit and discuss the act until they are able to receive enough votes on a newer version to end the debate.

Going into the 2012 election season many critics of President Barack Obama are lashing out at the Chief Executive’s recent claim that he has achieved 60 percent of his campaign promises. According to a report by ABC News, during a private fundraising event in Los Angeles on October 24, 2011, the president said, “I keep a checklist in my desk, and I kind of see, all right, I made a bunch of these promises during the campaign . . . we’ve got about 60 percent done in three years.” A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation would indicate, however, that at least in the area of health care reform, the presidential math is lacking.

2009 Campaign Promises on Health Care Reform

During his campaign, Obama promised three major aspects of health care reform:

• affordable, portable, high-quality health coverage for all Americans,
• new initiatives in the fight against AIDS and autism, and
• lower costs across the boards in the U.S. health system, including those for prescription medications.

The Kaiser Family Foundation / Health Research & Educational Trust, however, which annually surveys health benefits in the U.S., found that premiums skyrocketed 9 percent in 2011, which was triple the rate of inflation and the highest increase since 2005. The figures paint a sharp contrast to the optimistic picture the White House draws on the success of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

The major points of the health care law would, among other specific provisions:

• require all citizens and legal residents to carry health insurance coverage,
• create American Health Benefit Exchanges in each state with premium and cost-sharing credits for those with an income 133-400% of the federal poverty level ($18,310 for a family of three),
• create separate exchanges for small businesses to purchase coverage,
• expand Medicaid to 133% of the federal poverty law.

In 2010, the specific provisions of the law that took effect included:

• expanding coverage on parental plans to children up to the age of 26,
• providing a $250 rebate to Medicare recipients to close the “doughnut” hole in their health coverage,
• banning insurers from excluding coverage to children for pre-existing conditions,
• making high-risk insurance pools available to adults with pre-existing conditions until the health care exchanges are in operation,
• preventing insurers from placing annual and lifetime limits on coverage,
• requiring all new health insurance plans to supply coverage for preventive health care with no out-of-pocket expenses
• and allowing small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to claim eligibility for a tax credit of 35% of their health insurance premiums climbing to 50% in 2014.

In 2011, additional health care reform provisions were activated including:

• free once-a-year wellness visits for Medicare recipients,
• the inclusions of preventive health care in all new Medicare plans with no out-of-pocket expenses.
• new discounts of 50% on brand name drugs for seniors enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan,
• raising the penalty tax on distributions from Health Savings Accounts before age 65 from 10 to 20%,
• an increase in the Medicare payroll tax for those earning $200,000 as individuals or $250,000 for joint filers from 1.45% to 2.35%.

No major provisions of health care reform are set to engage during the 2012 election year, creating an even riper opportunity for critics to judge exactly what these changes have done for Americans. The Kaiser study points to more harm than good.

In Response to Health Care Reform, Costs Skyrocketed in 2010

Currently the average health care premium for employers in the U.S. is $10,944 and $4,129 for workers for a total $15,073. Premiums jumped 8 percent for single Americans. For workers-only coverage, the average employee has seen an annual increase in their health insurance costs of $452 per month.

In a story for ABC News by Jake Tapper on September 29, 2011 a specific example was drawn for workers at the Flora Venture Flower shop in Newmarket, NH. Citing a campaign pledge Obama made to create a health care plan that would save the average family $2,500 on health premiums, the Flora Venture employees saw a 41 percent increase in their premiums in 2010.

When Tapper queried the White House for a response to those figures, the deputy chief of staff, Nancy-Ann DeParle made what can only be a disheartening statement for Americans who have endured three years of recession and struggled against a near 10 percent unemployment rate. “Many of the changes in the Affordable Care Act are starting this year, and in succeeding years, and by 2019 we estimate that the average family will save around $2000.”

What Rising Health Care and Insurance Costs Mean in an Election Year

As Americans ponder their political choices for the 2012 election season, a promised improvement seven years in the future is not what the average voter wants to hear. Nor did DeParle’s follow-up comment suggest that health care reform has, indeed, been a success. She said, “the big increases that occurred last year were probably driven by insurance plans over-estimating what the impact would be and maybe trying to take some profits upfront before some of the changes in the Affordable Care Act occur.”

Insurance companies exist to make money, and across the boards openly opposed the Obama health care reform initiative. Without question insurers have taken, and will continue to take steps to preserve their profit base, just as many businesses are dropping health care benefits for workers altogether because they cannot afford the premiums. This situation has ensured that repealing what is now popularly known as “Obamacare” will be a central point of debate in the 2012 election, with many of the President’s promises from 2009 likely coming back to haunt him.

While the purpose of the Health Care Reform Act is to make health insurance more affordable for everyone, there are certain downsides that will affect many Americans under this new legislature. Changes will be made slowly as each stage of the law goes into effect, and while some are very subtle, some could have a dramatic affect on you and your family. Be aware of what these disadvantages are and how they could affect you.

Negative Affects on Older Citizens

The Health Care Reform Act caters  more toward younger people who may have healthier lifestyles than those who are old and suffer from many illnesses. These younger people will be able to receive the benefits of the new health care laws for much longer than those who are old and unhealthy. Additionally, insurance companies will no longer be able to charge lower prices for healthier habits, therefore affecting older, sicker citizens negatively.

New Fines For No Heath Care

In the Health Care Reform Act, all Americans are required to have some type of insurance and are no longer offered the freedom of not paying a premium each month as a public option becomes available to make it more affordable for all. While this sounds like a good idea, those who do not abide by this law will suffer the consequences, which come in the form of a fine of up to 2.5 percent of an individual’s income who is uninsured.

Tax Increases All Around

To pay for the Health Care Reform Act, Americans will be required to pay new taxes. Those who already have health insurance will pay their part of a $2 billion tax while anyone who buys over the counter drugs with money from their health savings accounts will have to pay their part of a separate $8 billion tax. Over the first ten years of the Health Care Reform Act, there will be over $572 billion in new taxes.

High Government Costs

The Health Care Reform Act will inflict an even heavier debt on the already suffering financial state of the country. The cost of this initiative could top over $1 trillion dollars over the next ten years, and will create deficits over the second five years after the reform. Over $34 billion will be pushed onto state budgets as more people than ever before become eligible for Medicaid.

Public Option May Be a Bad Option

While the government mandated public option for health insurance may sound good in theory to help those who are unable to afford other forms of insurance, it may not function as well in practice. It could potentially require some who must subscribe to the public option to pay even higher premiums than those who use a private insurance company and the public option may also deny more reimbursement claims than private companies do.

As when any new piece of legislature goes into effect, it is important to understand how the new changes will change the way we live and do things.  Since the Health Care Reform Act will continue to bring about new changes and regulations over the next several years, it could take over a decade to truly determine the results of the new laws. These disadvantages could be just a few of many that crop up as the country begins to see the effects of the act.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season has officially begun. Over the weekend my neighborhood and the local stores have literally transformed into a sea of twinkling lights and jolly decorations in red and green. The Christmas season is met with joy, kindness and, of course, shopping.

While sometimes it is sad that Christmas is so focused on the material (that is another argument for another day), it is no doubt that a busy holiday shopping season is a big focus.

Black Friday kicks off the shopping season, pushing shoppers into a panic of Christmas arriving in less than a month. If you want to keep your sanity, follow these tips to keep your holiday season merry and bright.

• Budget. Budgeting is the number one way to keep your holiday sanity this season. Stores try to lure costumers to overspending with deals, free gifts and an overall sense of holiday. There just is something about the holidays that makes people just want to shop. If you want to indulge that feeling, make sure to budget for Christmas gifts all year long. If not, you will feel the weight of your bad decisions just as the wrapping paper hits the floor. Make a list of everyone you plan on purchasing a gift for the upcoming year. Give yourself a limit for each person. Combine that number and you will have your budget. Make sure to add about $50 on top of that for gift wrapping, shipping, etc. Next, divide that number up by 12. That is how much you need to set aside each month to make your budget. If you save all year long it won’t seem like such a big burden in December. If that is too much for you to put aside every month then you need to pare down your budget. But most importantly, remember to stick to your budget. It may be tempting to go over to get that one extra gadget or thing, but just remember that is just isn’t worth it.
• Center Christmas around things that are not stuff. Whatever your religious feelings are, Christmas can be more than just about giving stuff. For Christians, Christmas is celebrating Christ’s birth. If this is your cup of tea, try to focus your events, gifts and traditions around why you are celebrating the season. For those who are less religious, center your holiday around service and finding ways to benefit others. These memories will mean more than just getting things. And think back, which gifts/events do you remember most? Try to create memories instead of filling stockings to ensure a truly magical Christmas season.
• Line up your bills. The last thing you want to do after Christmas is to receive a stack of bills. If you stick to the budget above, you should not have to charge anything on your credit card. But your other regular bills can be a pain during December. Make sure to put your payments for your car, inexpensive insurance and utility bills on auto pay so you won’t have to worry about paying them on time.

The leftovers are filling the fridge and people are starting to awake from their food induced coma. My friends, Thanksgiving has come and gone and we are left with the aftermath.

I finished my Thanksgiving dinner feeling twice the size I was before I started downing the turkey. Thanksgiving marks the middle of the holiday season: Halloween one month earlier and Christmas one month later. And the bad habits are usually out of the window by then. But you can still enjoy the holidays without letting your health go downhill.

Try not to overeat. No, this does not mean starving yourself. In order to have a safe and healthy holiday season you need to eat well and often. But with the extra treats at holiday parties and from neighborhood gifts, it is easy to eat way more calories than you intend to. My rule is to only eat things you enjoy. Why would you waste calories on brownies if you are not a big brownie fan? Use those calories for the homemade caramels you adore. Eating healthy does not mean you have to restrict or deny yourself, it just means you need to make smarter choices.

However, if you did indulge a bit too much (and you feel like I did after my second Thanksgiving dinner), there are a few ways to get back on track.

• Drink plenty of water. Water is a great way to help flush things out. Staying hydrated is one of the many easy ways to keep your body intact. You might think that water will add to water weight, but it helps cleanse the body.
• Speaking of cleansing, doing a quick cleanse can help get the impurities out of your system. And most of that awful day after feeling is mostly attributed to bloat. Try this recipe to help flush out excess water weight and impurities: 60 ounces of pure water, 1 tablespoon of sugar free cranberry juice, 1 dandelion root tea bag, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Drink one of these every day for a week.
• Do not, under any circumstances, starve yourself. It may seem like a good idea to skip a couple of meals the day after eating a large meal, but that will generally back fire. Your body needs constant nutrients to continue functioning. Not only will skipping meals probably make you crabby (it sure does for me) but it can really mess up your metabolism, not to mention breeds unhealthy eating habits. Instead, try and trade out unhealthy options for a big salad, or eat fruit and nuts for a snack. Starving yourself if unhealthy and could leave to worse consequences that could involve a visit to your doctor (and no one wants to spend the holidays looking for health insurance quotes so they can visit the doctor).
• Exercise. It may seem impossible to roll yourself out the door after Thanksgiving, but any form of exercise is good. No need to run 10 miles. Bundle the family up and take a walk around the block to ease you back into your fitness routine.

The major aim of the Health Reform Act is to make health insurance more widely available, but especially to make it more available to the poor. With new regulations on rates and health care and developments with new maximums and tax credits, health insurance is becoming more affordable. Through the Health Reform Act, many changes are being implemented to bring a higher quality of health insurance to the poor.

Insurance Will Become More Affordable

With the help of the Health Reform Act, people who have incomes at 400 percent for the federal poverty level will be able to receive credits that will limit the percent of their income used to pay for insurance. People who receive these subsidies will not have to pay any more than 12 percent of their income, even if their insurance is through their employers, with the poorest percentage paying no more than 1.5 percent of their income.

The Quality of Health Care Will Improve

Some might worry that those who receive health care at a lower rate than others because of their lower income would, in turn, receive a lower quality of care. However, new mandates will prevent this from happening. Doctors will receive new bonuses and new incentive programs will be established in hospitals to encourage doctors to provide the best possible care with the lowest possible readmission rates.

New Improvements to Medicaid and Medicare

The quality and quantity of benefits to people who qualify for Medicaid and Medicare will both improve under the Health Reform Act. Medicare has begun covering the entire cost of yearly wellness visits and prevention plan services, and a new program goes into effect this October that will offer home and community based care over institutionalized care for the disabled.

New Regulations for Premiums

The Health Reform Act will also implement new regulations to ensure that health care remains affordable to everyone. Medicaid will now be open to people making up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level and insurance providers are required to cover more medical costs than ever before. Some businesses will be eligible for a tax credit to encourage them to provide insurance coverage to their employees.

New Maximums Have Been Set

Under the Health Reform Act, insurance providers will no longer be able to set caps on the amount of insurance they provide, so people of all economic situations will be able to receive care as long and as often as they need. Additionally, maximums on out of pocket pay will change for everyone, with special attention being paid to ensure the poor do not pay more than they can afford.

Health care is expensive, and the only way to offset the cost is by paying for insurance every month – but for some people, even taking money out of their budget to pay a premium isn’t an option. With the help of the Health Reform Act, more people than ever before will be able to take advantage of health insurance and all the benefits that come with it at a much more affordable cost.

While the holidays signify ugly sweaters, overeating and family, it can also mean an increase of drinking. Whether recreationaly for a party or to take the edge off when spending time with family, drinking generally increases during the holidays.

And the morning after a night of drinking is usually not full of fun and games. Yes, the dreaded hangover is the ugly step-child of the holidays, but a constant after a night of drinking. (Want to avoid a hangover? The best way is to curb your drinking or to not drink at all.) If you do decide to drink, get a designated driver. No amount of Humana health insurance can take back an accident.

Here is a few ways to minimize the pain of hangovers so you can quickly bounce back.

• Moderation, moderation, moderation. If you must drink at a party, moderation is key for a few reasons. Alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories,which can add to some extra poundage during the holiday season. Limit yourself to one drink to save on calories. Moderation is also important to help keep you from overdrinking. Sure, people might have a cocktail to loosen up, but no one likes the drunk guy. Try alternating between alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. And make sure to have a stomach full of food to absorb the alcohol.
• Dump old wives tales. Don’t even think about chasing a night of drinking with another drink in the morning like a Bloody Mary. Sure, the alcohol in the Bloody Mary will help ease your symptoms by numbing them, but you will be worse off. After a night of drinking, your body needs time to work off the toxins from the alcohol. Give it time to rest. And greasy food is not going to help your hangover, especially if you have an upset stomach. You must eat when you wake up but stick to foods that are easy to digest.
• Avoid gimmicks. Ever heard of a hangover pill? You might as well take a placebo, say doctors. No evidence has showed that hangover pills work, so try to take a multivitamin instead to help replenish any nutrients lost. While there is no hangover pill, a small dose of ibuprofen or aspirin can help ease the sharpness of the hangover. Just make sure not to take it on an empty stomach.
•  Sometimes coffee can help. If you rely on a morning cup of jo to survive through the day, do not avoid one during a hangover. You might add a caffeine withdrawal headache on top of the pounding hangover migraine. However, if you are not regularly caffeinated, avoid caffeine. It constricts the blood vessels which can create a bigger headache.
• Drink, drink, drink. Water that is. Drinking alcohol dehydrates you, which drains you of necessary nutrients. Make sure to drink plenty of water or Gatorade to get your electrolytes back up to snuff. Plus, it will help you feel better overall.
• Get moving! Exercise is the go to remedy for many reasons. Can’t imagine doing a run? Try some light yoga.

Most importantly. Rest.

The first stages of the Health Insurance Reform Act has only recently gone into effect, and many people find themselves confused about what it means to them. This new legislature will affect every American differently, and it is important to find out what changes may be necessary to stay in accordance with the new laws. One of the biggest ways the act may affect people is through health insurance rates nationwide.

Lower Premiums for Low-Income People

People who live near the poverty level can expect to get the greatest benefit out of the Health Insurance Reform Act, especially where health insurance rates are involved. They can expect lower premiums and out of pocket costs as well as better health care offered at each visit with the new incentives being implemented for doctors in every hospital in America. Middle class families may save as much as $2,300 a year in health insurance costs.

More Care Provided for the Price You Pay   

No matter what your current premium is, the Health Insurance Reform Act will require your insurer to provide more care. For example, annual wellness visits and other preventative services will be mandatory in all health plans with no out of pocket costs necessary for people who choose to take advantage of these services. These out of pocket costs include both copayments and deductibles.

No More Limits

With the Health Insurance Reform Act in place, insurance companies will no longer be able to impose limits on the amount of coverage provided over a lifetime. This will stretch insurance dollars even farther than before, when it was possible for those with ongoing illnesses to exhaust the amount of care they were able to receive due to the limits on their insurance policies.

Easier Appeals Process

For the premium paid each month for health insurance, the Health Insurance Reform Act requires providers to make it easier for their customers to dispute coverage and plan denials. In a case where a health insurance provider refuses to offer coverage for medical care that a customer feels should be included in their plan, it will be easier than ever to make a claim against the company, even with the help of the state.

New Maximums for Insurance Premiums

The price people are expected to pay for health insurance in both premiums and out of pocket costs will be tied directly to their income, especially for those who are near the federal poverty level. Insurance companies are also being required to offer more services and benefits for their prices, especially those who provide for their customers through businesses, to improve the quality and level of health care available.

Of all the changes that will go into effect as a result of the Health Insurance Reform Act, people need to be most informed on how it will affect them individually – and the rates they pay each month. Those who are entitled to lower premiums and out of pocket costs need to make sure they are receiving the care for the price providers are required to by law to give them.

While the end of November reminds most people of Thanksgiving: a day full of turkey, pumpkin pie and family. A day where most of America (except for Golden Corral) takes the day off to watch football, or in my family’s case, eat treats and play games all day.

But for other Americans the end of November signifies a whole other breed of day: Black Friday shopping.

For those who are not familiar with Black Friday shopping, it is a huge shopping day to kick off the holidays the Friday after Thanksgiving. It is called Black Friday because it is usually the first day of the year that the companies are out of the ‘red’. Or simple, they are making money.

Crazed shoppers, scrounging for the cheapest prices on all of their holiday wishes line up hours, even days, before a store opens its doors so they can get the best deal possible. The store opening times have gotten earlier and earlier every year with many opening on midnight (Thursday night/ Friday morning) or earlier Thanksgiving evening.

To add to the excitement, Black Friday ads for the big stores (Wal-mart, Best Buy, etc.) were leaked weeks in advance.

For those who want to sleep in, fine. Take the day off. But Black Friday signifies more than just a day of deals; it signifies the beginning of the holiday season. If anything, it is a wake up call to get into holiday high gear.

Just like the anticipation of Black Friday deals, the year’s hottest toys are always circling around. Thankfully, I do not have kids yet so I do not get pushed into the hustle of the ‘it’ toy that I must buy to be considered a good parent.

With each yearly list of the toy of children’s dreams comes a list of the most dangerous holiday toys to avoid. And a consumer watch group has published their toy black list. In recent years toy recalls have increased significantly. The increase can be attributed to two different causes. One, the production of toys is becoming careless. Or two, companies are taking action sooner and recalling toys.

The scariest issue with toy recalls is that the recall is often spurred by a serious injury or death. Why else would a company yank a toy off the shelves?

To avoid any unwanted holiday injuries, make sure to buy safe toys. First and foremost, buy toys that are age appropriate. Some games have an age minimum because it is intellectually too hard for younger children. However, many have an age minimum (usually printed on the box) because the pieces might be a choking hazard for a young child.

Also be cautious about the accessories on toys. A toy wooden toy on wheels pulled by a string is a seemingly innocent toy for a young toddler to pull around the house. But long pieces of string are extremely dangerous for young children to play with as they can be a choking hazard.

This holiday season, nix using your personal health insurance for a visit to the emergency room by selecting safe toys for your kids.