Livingston Reporting - page 124

History of the American Medicare Program

Teddy Roosevelt who ran for president in 1912, began talks regarding a national health care program for all Americans to help defer the rising costs of American health care. However, it wasn’t until 1945 that President Truman sent a message to congress asking them to come up with a National Health care fund open to all Americans. Truman’s vision was for National health care plan allowed for Americans to get health care coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, Laboratory stays and dental care. He campaigned tirelessly to make National health care a reality, but his efforts were destined for failure.

It wasn’t until 20 years later in 1965 under President Johnson that a National Health care program was actually signed into law. However, this health care program wasn’t for all Americans it was limited to only those people over the age of 65.

As of 2017 58.5 million Americans receive Medicare insurance and Medicare covers about 20% of the total amount of monies spent on health care in the United States.

Over the years there have been many changes to Medicare program one of the most notable was that in 1972 Medicare insurance was expanded to cover individuals under the age 65 allowing many more Americans to take advantage of this National health care program.

However, while Medicare cuts down on Medical expenses for millions of Americans it is not free. This program or part B of the plan calls for the paying of premiums for medical care as well as requiring people to have a deductible and to co-pay for certain services.

In the 1980’s Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) was introduced helping to cover some of the expenses that Medicare does not cover. While the Medicare Supplement Insurance is not part of Medicare and does require people to carry a Medigap policy issued by licensed insurance carriers to which policy holders need to pay monthly premiums it does help defer some of the medical costs not covered by Medicare including paying some of those deductibles and co-pays making medical care even more affordable for older individuals.

Improvements or changes in the Medicare program and Medicare supplement insurance are sure to continue.

Medicare Plans

There are several different Medicare plans, but the three plans most people are familiar with are:

  • Plan A- Under Medicare Plan A Medicare pays for hospital stays, doctor services and procedures. The procedures under this plan may include certain diagnostic test needed to determine your medical problems as well as certain surgeries. Plan A also covers Hospice care and Home health care needs.
  • Plan B- Plan B covers such things as check-ups and screenings, supplies necessary for a given medical condition, ambulance services and mental health care. You may have to pay a 20% co-payment for some of these services.
  • Plan D- covers prescription drugs. The drugs covered under this plan are prescription drugs are FDA approved and used to treat a certain condition.

Although Medicare and its supplement insurance programs don’t fulfill the dream of President Truman to have a National Health care program for all Americans it does provide good basic health care for millions of Americans each year.

Learn more about Medicare Supplemental Insurance plans, rates and more at http://www.emedicare-supplemental-insurance.com.  Medicare Supplemental Insurance brokers will help you compare Medicare Supplemental Insurance rates and plans.  To talk to an expert in Medicare coverage toll free 877-202-9248 today!

 

 

 

Aluminum Pool Fencing Brings Safety to Your Swimming Pool

Fencing isn’t all the same, especially when it comes to what is installed around a pool.  Wooden picket fences are much different than aluminum fencing or other options and much less durable.  Since there are many children drowning in pools each year, we want to make sure that you can keep your family as safe as possible, while still being able to enjoy having a pool right in your backyard.

The way that you can keep your family safe is by installing an aluminum pool fence around your swimming pool.  Our aluminum pool fences meet the strictest safety codes, which means that no one is going to get past the fence and into the pool without you knowing about it.  Our aluminum pool fencing comes with self-latching and self-locking aluminum gates.

Aluminum pool fences should always be at least forty-eight inches tall and there should be less than four inches between the bottom rail and the ground, as well as less than four inches between each of the aluminum pickets.  You will also want to ensure that there isn’t a middle rail between the top and the bottom rail as it can lead to children using it to get leverage and climb over the fence.

When it comes to aluminum pool gates, they should always be installed so that they swing open away from the pool.  The latch for the aluminum pool gates should never be below fifty-four inches either, as anything lower than that height can be opened by curious children.

We urge you to choose an aluminum pool gate that automatically closes and latches after it has been opened, so that it never gets left open by accident.  This can prevent numerous accidents from happening, especially if everyone is leaving the pool area and a child is the last one out.  If they didn’t close the gate all the way, and it doesn’t have this self-closing and latching feature, someone can easily wander back out and into the pool without you noticing.

Now, all these safety features and requirements will not keep you from choosing the aluminum pool fencing that you want, because you can still choose from different styles and colors.  That means that you can enjoy the look of your aluminum pool fence and aluminum pool gates, while benefiting from the safety that they provide.

If you don’t have fence around your pool now, we urge you to get one immediately.  You won’t regret your decision, especially since your family and anyone else that goes near your pool will be safe.

iFenceUSA is an online manufacturer and distributor of wholesale aluminum fencing. With over 18 styles of aluminum fence panels and gates to choose from, we have aluminum fences that will meet your wants and need.  Choose from custom aluminum fencing options including: Commercial Grade Aluminum Fencing, Residential Grade Aluminum Fencing, Pool Grade Aluminum Fencing, and Industrial Aluminum Fencing all at https://ifenceusa.com/.  For more information contact one of our aluminum fence experts toll free 800.762.2907 or via email at info@ifenceusa.com.

How Combining Professional Website Design and SEO Can Boost Your Online Business

When an online business launches a new website, careful consideration goes into their online image including the websites design and usability. Websites should be designed in a manner that allows visitors easy access to answers they are seeking. However, all of that is wasted if customers never visit a business’s website in the first place.

Search engine optimization, SEO is one part of a company’s marketing mix that helps to create a strong foundation for your company’s content strategy. On page content that is featured prominently in organic searches that beats out the competition for customer attention is just one goal. Good SEO design begins with the websites layout. Whether your business is currently designing your website or not, it’s important to ensure it’s getting the best search results possible.

SEO

SEO encompasses a series of activities that makes your website rank higher on various search engines. These activities include executing an SEO strategy, choosing to focus on long-tail keywords for website pages, and constantly generating new content on a blog. Search engines frequently update their search algorithm, which can be a problem for marketers and web designers. If you are running your own SEO strategy, you’ll need to monitor the changes and adjust accordingly.

Professional Website Design

Web design is the process of creating a website. This includes, layout design, graphics design, navigation, metadata, responsiveness to different resolutions, and content production. Web design also involves ensuring the website is programmed correctly and optimizing the speed. A professional website design communicates your brand messaging to the world, tells the story of your company, describes your services and products and can even sell directly online.

Combining both boost your online business, below are some aspect of SEO and website design that boost your online business.

Navigation

Navigation involves SEO and web design principles. The easier it is to navigate your site and find the information needed, the longer a visitor will stay on your site. A longer session leads to better SEO rankings. If customers cannot find what they’re looking for easily, they will abandon the site, and this affects your SEO ranking negatively. You can design an easily navigable site by using descriptive URLs, giving readers directions to find certain materials, and limiting the number of drop downs and sub-drop downs in your menus.

Engagement

Engagement on a web page depends on two things: the design and the content. To enhance the engagement on a page, you want the design to be pleasing to a reader’s eye because people make quick conclusions about a website based on appearance. Following the appearance is your content which is also a vital way of keeping a visitor on your site. Your homepage content should hook the visitor and make him want to read on. Content fall under both SEO and web design as content will help your SEO ranking and determine if a visitor stays on your page.

Speed

It is easy to focus on the visual appeal and website content over the mechanics behind how your website functions. This however often leads to a slower than average site that is bloated with useless information. If the website is slow upon loading people will abandon their effort. Many elements can come into play that can lead to a slow site; website elements including plugins, sharing buttons, and JavaScript that has not been optimized. All these are consequences of a poor website design. Search engines incorporate a variety of metrics into the algorithms they use to determine which sites are the most useful to users and therefore deserve higher organic rankings. This can include the use of keywords and long tailed keyword phrases, site links, and individual page load times. If your site loads too slow, search engines will favor other sites over it.

In conclusion, when SEO and a Professional web design come together, the result is a user-friendly, informative, and easy to find website that will maximize your sales.

Learn more about Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, and the IT solutions they provide including IT consulting, computer consulting, network consulting, networking, server installation, IT disaster recovery, computer repair, virus removal, malware removal, computer tune ups, data backup systems, computer troubleshooting, structured cabling, low voltage wiring, website design, graphic design, logo design, website hosting, search engine placement, iphone app programming, android app programming, and custom programming at www.cpsmi.com.  To contact one of our IT experts, call 810.224.5252 today or via email at info@cpsmi.com.

Removal and Disposal of Medical Equipment

Technology is continuously changing and what was a brand-new machine last year, might be three models behind three hundred and sixty-five days later.  That means that it is not uncommon for hospitals and medical practices to remove and dispose of their medical equipment on a regular basis.  After all, they all want to offer the latest technological advances to their patients.

One of the first things that needs to be completed for linear accelerator removal, CT scanner disposal, or getting rid of any other medical equipment is to remove any of the personal patient information that may be stored on it.  This needs to be completed to meet HIPAA regulations and guidelines, but also to ensure that no patient will have their information getting into the wrong hands.

Some older equipment can always have the information removed and then the equipment can be sold to medical businesses who are looking to upgrade their equipment without spending a lot of money.  This is a great way for businesses to get some money for their CT scanner or linear accelerator removal and put it towards their future purchase.

Of course, it is not always possible to sell older medical equipment, and in those instances, it is best to send the equipment for recycling.  This will ensure that all these medical devices are not filling up landfills, plus some of the parts may be able to be used to repair broken down equipment.

Medical facilities will want to make sure that they are following all the federal guidelines, as well as their state guidelines for their linear accelerator removal and CT scanner disposal.  If they don’t, they will find that they are responsible for paying fines and fees that can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Every medical facility will have their own guidelines that they want to follow as well, which means that the removal and disposal of medical equipment is never going to always be the same.  Some facilities may try to sell their old medical equipment prior to purchasing new equipment, while others will have a new piece of equipment ready to be installed prior to removing the older version.

Medical facilities cannot face any down time with their equipment, because their patients would needlessly suffer.  That is why many places have detailed plans in place, so that they are ready when they are facing a linear accelerator removal or CT scanner disposal.

Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

How Do I Know When to Invoke A POA?

A power of attorney is an authority given to another person to act on behalf of an individual usually called a principal. The agreement is made into a legal document guiding the relationship between the attorney and the principal. There are four types namely: general power of attorney; durable power of attorney; special or limited power of attorney; and springing durable power of attorney.

There are many situations in which given out this authority may be advisable and necessary, for example, this power might be given out about property management and financial affairs, it may be given when one needs to collect benefits or when one desires to sell a home. In these situations, authority can be given to another person to sign a contract on behalf of a principal. There are some decisions in which this power can be delegated to another such as making health care decision.

Before this authority can be given to another, the principal must make sure that he understands the information contained in the document and that it conforms to that state’s requirements. He must be able to evaluate the information in the document and must be mentally fit to do such. Also, the principal must be able to communicate his intents clearly and effectively. To obtain the power of attorney is easy if some precise steps are taken. One of such steps is checking the state’s requirements to make sure one is on the right track. One needs to fill relevant forms and makes sure that the document is clear enough for all signatories.

The preceding paragraph must deal with the legal capacities of the principal. This is the ability of a person to arrive at decisions that are legally valid. This ability will guarantee his fitness to enter into a binding contractual agreement with other people. It also consists of the ability to choose who he will give the authority to. Legal capacity will enable the principal to make his intents clear to avoid misrepresentation.

This power can be revoked when the principal decides to do so. However, the process of revocation must be made explicit to all parties involved. The most important step in this process is to be sure of state’s requirements so as not to contravene laid down rules and regulations governing such procedure. All institutions involved in this process of revocation must be duly informed for necessary actions. In case of legal capacity issues such as when the principal becomes incapacitated or when he can no longer make decisions for himself because of mental depreciation or disability the family members can approach the court for revocation of the power of attorney. Also, this power can be revoked when one is no longer satisfied with the services being rendered by the attorney. It can also be revoked when there is a case of exploitation and abuse on the part of the attorney. Revocation can also occur when the attorney misuse his power.

Learn more about attorney Sean J. Nichols and the legal services he provides for clients including: estate planning, elder law issues, Medicaid planning, elder care, probate law, guardianships, and power of attorney (POA) at www.seanjnichols.com.  To contact the offices of Sean J Nichols, call 734.386.0224 today.

How Do Water Softeners and Conditioners Really Work?

Do you notice a build-up of scum in your shower or dishwasher? Is your home’s shower not supplying you with water that feels “right” as you rinse off the day? If you are encountering issues or experiencing a change in your water supply, it may be so to hard water or that the treatment option that you are currently using for your homes water is not the right one.

One of the most common solutions to treat a hard water supply is with a water softener or conditioner. In this installment, we shall briefly discuss the problem of hard water, how water softener systems and water conditioner work, and the difference between both.

Problems with Hard Water

Hard water is caused by the presence of too many metals or minerals in the water, such as magnesium, calcium, and others. These minerals dissolve into your household water through the dissolution of the surrounding soil and rock. Water hardness is calculated in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or grains per gallon (GPG). If your water tests 1 GPG or less, then you have soft water.

Hard water does not flow easily through because of the build-up of scale which accumulates inside your water pipes, heater or other appliances. In extreme cases, hard water can clog up water pipes and stop the flow of water all together. Hard water also influences household appliances and everyday activities. For instance, hard water reduces soap lathering, causing the water to become sticky and scum-like inside of lather.

How Water Softening Works

If you have a problem with hard water in your home, one of the best solutions is to install a water softener. Of course, it is important to speak with a professional who will test your homes water to see if this is the right option for your family.  A water softener reacts with the calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium ion which results in a softer water. The added sodium is well below the FDA standard which makes the water fit for life.

The ion replacement is done in a tank filled with resin. The beads are negatively charged and attract the sodium ions which are positively charged. Once water flows across these beads, magnesium, and calcium ions are replaced with sodium ions.

Once the softening is completed, there is a need to recycle the beads in sodium chloride solution (water softening salt). This solution will remove the magnesium and calcium ions attracted to the beads and replace them with sodium. This bead can then be used for further softening session.

Choosing a Water Softener or Conditioner?

The term water softener and water conditioner are often used interchangeably. However, there is a huge difference between the two appliances.

Water conditioners remove chlorine, sediments, chemicals, and other foreign materials while treating water hardness while water softener system does not treat water for any other reason other than hardness. Of course, both appliances are used to treat water hardness, but the results are always different.

Water conditioner system processes water through a process that prevents scales. This causes a slight drop in the water pressure and causes the hardness-causing minerals to be suspended for three days. Usually, a catalyst in form of a magnetic field is used to enhance the process. In the end, the system displaces bad tastes, minerals, and prevents bacterial growth. Although the water is not technically soft, it still possesses the properties of a soft water. This means that the water will not precipitate and will lather easily with soap.

At Reynolds Water Conditioning Company, we are here to help make sure our clients don’t buy water treatment systems that they don’t need.  We are here to make sure you find a water softening system that gives you the results you are looking for, whether it is to remove iron or odor from you water; we have a solution that will help!  For more information contact our experts at 800.572.9575 or at our website https://reynoldswater.com.

 

Is LASIK an Option When You Are Over 40?

Can I get LASIK eye surgery even though I am over 40?  This is a question the professionals at Rohr Eye and Laser center often get when meeting with a prospective new patient and the answer is simple, YES!  Although there is nothing simple about your eyes or how you care for them, laser surgery to correct your vision is not something to spend time being worried about.

LASIK, known to be short for laser assisted vision correction, is referred to about many different types of refractive eye surgery and laser vision correction techniques.  Dr. Jeffery S. Rohr is a highly skilled and trained eye doctor who focuses on vision correction surgery in Michigan on patients of all ages.

As a person’s vision starts to deteriorate after 40, the first thing that comes to people’s minds is that they need to start wearing reading glasses, bifocals, or reader contacts.  Often with the thought that LASIK is not to be considered because of their age or they believe their vision problem is not “bad enough” to consider laser vision correction surgery.  Thankfully however, LASIK is the solution for several issues patients over 40 are conflicted with including:

  • Seeing in the distance – Although this often means patients may need to use readers even after the sight for distance issue is resolved.
  • Monovision LASIK – This procedure decreases or eliminates the need for glasses or contacts for seeing close or far away.
  • Corneal Inlay – This is an implant that is placed on the stroma to correct vision when objects are near.

However, if a patient’s vision has begun to fade because of cataracts then LASIK is not a good choice for you.  For patients with cataracts a better option to improve your vision may be actual lens replacement.  If cataracts are your only eye ailment, then most often eye surgeons will recommend lens replacement over correction.

No matter what age you are it is important to do thorough research on the ailment that is afflicting your vision and causing you issues with seeing be it near or farsightedness and the treatment options available.  Both online and in person research will ensure you understand what treatment is available, how it will help you, the recovery, and the prognosis for your future eyesight once it has been corrected.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

Difference Between Freight Forwards and Freight Carrier

Among other businesses manufacturing companies often need to ship their products to warehouses and to market. If you have a new business that ships freight as part of your business, you may be wondering whether you should hire a freight carrier service or a freight forwarder to get your goods to market. To decide which type of company to choose when shipping your freight, you need to know the difference between freight forwarders and freight carriers.

 

A freight forwarder is company that works as a middle man between the company needing to ship the product and the freight trucking company that carries the freight. They arrange for various companies to haul your goods from point A to B sometimes involving several different freight carrier services to transport your goods.

A freight carrier on the other hand is the company that hauls your freight from point A to point B. While both types of companies will get your goods where they need to go there are some benefits to you working with the freight carrier service directly.

 

These benefits include:

Cutting Out the Middle Man

When hiring a freight forwarder, you often pay more money to ship your goods because you need to pay the freight trucking company’s cost for hauling your goods and pay an addition fee to the forwarder for arranging for the hauling of your freight. Over the course of a year this can end up costing your hundreds if not thousands of dollars more to ship your goods. You have no control over the freight carrier service the forwarder selects and less control of amount of your shipping costs. By cutting out the middle man and hiring the freight trucking company yourself you likely will end up paying less to get your goods to market.

 

Ability to Negotiate Shipping Rates Yourself

 

By dealing with the freight carrier Service directly you are able to negotiate yourself for a better rate than you might otherwise get. Since cost is a large part of doing business having more control over your shipping costs may make the difference between success of your business or its failure. Depending on the amount of goods you need to ship you can often negotiate much better rates than you get through a Freight Forwarder.

 

You Can Choose A Company You Trust

 

Another important benefit of hiring the freight carrier service yourself is that you can choose the company of your choice and one that you trust. You also have the ability of forming an excellent working relationship with a specific freight trucking and building a relationship of trust and may be able to form a relationship where the Freight carrier service comes to depend on your business and will go the extra mile to see that your goods are delivered on time.

While both the freight forwards and the freight carrier will get your goods to market, hiring a freight carrier service yourself to hire your goods has some distinct benefits.

 

Learn more about Matrix Transportation and the transportation services they offer including: dedicated truckloads, JIT truckloads, less than truckload (LTL), same day expedited FTL and LTL, full truckload, warehousing, cross-docking, and trailer rentals at www.matrixtransportation.com  To contact one of our trucking experts call toll free 888.896.2405 today.

 

Bloating, Swelling, & Warping: Causes of Damage to Vinyl Siding

Many homeowners choose to have vinyl siding installed on their homes.  It is known for lasting for a very long time and it is practically maintenance free.  However, there are certain situations that can cause vinyl siding to bloat, swell, and even warp, which will make it look horrendous from any vantage point.  Since all homeowners want their home to look beautiful inside and out, they are not going to want their vinyl siding to look bad at any time and therefore should take proper precautions to avoid these issues.

When a homeowner hires an exterior home improvement contractor, they will want to make sure that the contractor is a professional and has years of experience hanging vinyl siding.  Without this experience, exterior home improvement contractors might nail the vinyl siding too closely to the house.  That means that the vinyl siding will not be able to move as it needs to from thermal expansion and it will buckle and warp.

The elements can really wreak havoc on vinyl siding as well, and it is common for the siding to become buckled and warped after being exposed to many different elements for months or years.  Some of the elements that are the worst include severely windy conditions, intense sunlight, and even extreme rain.

Of course, homeowners also need to consider chemical exposure or heat from nearby buildings if they start to see their vinyl siding bloating, swelling, or warping, because those two things can create a lot of damage too.

Exterior home improvement contractors all agree that homeowners should inspect their vinyl siding on a regular basis.  This will allow them to catch the buckling and warping much sooner, when there is a possibility of it being repaired easily.  Regular maintenance on your homes exterior will prevent siding issues from turning into siding catastrophes.

Unfortunately, if damaged vinyl siding isn’t repaired quickly, there will be no way for exterior home improvement contractors to fix it.  The reason for this is that the buckling and warping will continue to spread to larger areas and the only way to make the siding look nice again is completely replacing it.  At least, when the damage is limited to a smaller section, there is a chance that only that section would need to be replaced.

We always recommend that homeowners hold onto the vinyl siding that is leftover from the installation, so if a small section does buckle or warp, it is easy to replace those pieces.  However, those few pieces will not be of any help if an entire side of a house needs to be redone.

No matter what, homeowners will want to call their exterior home improvement contractor as soon as they see their vinyl siding bloating, swelling, or warping.  This phone call can save a homeowner thousands of dollars if they do it quickly enough.

Learn more about Kearns Brothers, a full-service home improvement contractor servicing all Southeast Michigan’s construction needs by visiting their website at www.kearnsbrothers.com or contact a remodeling expert at 888.355.6700.

 

Dark or Light Cabinetry in Kitchen- Which Is Better

You have finally decided that it is time for those kitchen renovations you have been thinking about for so long and now you are faced with the 101 important decisions that goes into every kitchen remodeling task. One of the most important decisions is in regard to kitchen cabinetry since they take up a great deal of space in your kitchen and are the first things most people notice when entering the room.

 

Along with the style of your kitchen cabinets you also must decide whether to go with dark or light cabinetry. The decision to have either light or dark cabinets will depend on many things including your own personal preference and even the reason for your kitchen renovations. Here is a look at the benefits and drawbacks of both light and dark cabinetry.

 

Light Cabinets

Choosing light cabinetry can make a small kitchen look larger and if they are the same color as the walls and back splash they can also make your kitchen appear more spacious. In addition, light cabinets especially those that are white gives your kitchen a more sanitary feel. In addition, light cabinetry is suitable for any wall and counter top color.

However, you do keep in mind that light cabinets show dirt far more easily than dark cabinets so may not be a good choice for families with small children. Light cabinets also show wear and tear more such as cracks more easily dark cabinets.

 

However, if your kitchen remodeling is being done in order for you to sell your home for a higher price the recommendation is that light cabinets may help the overall price of your home more than dark cabinetry.

 

Dark Cabinetry

Dark cabinetry on the other hand can work well in larger kitchens especially against a light-colored background such as your walls and back splash as well as a kitchen with good lighting. Dark cabinets add a warmth and richness to your kitchen you don’t get with light cabinets. They also can look quite sophisticated depending on the style of cabinets you choose. For example, dark gray kitchen cabinets can look stunning against light walls and light marbled counter tops.

 

Dark cabinets are less likely to show dirt so may work better if you have small children in the house. They are also less likely to show wear and tear such as cracks.

 

Other Considerations

There are other considerations that go into choosing light or dark cabinetry when doing a kitchen remodeling. One of the most important considerations is your own taste and the style of the rest of your home. If all of the furniture throughout your home is dark, then light cabinets may look out of the place with the rest of your home. The reverse also is true, dark cabinets may look out of place in a home that is mostly light neutral colors.

As you can see when it comes to light or dark cabinets one is not clearly better than other it just depends on your own personal style and taste and the reason for your kitchen renovation project.

 

JFC Remodeling, out of Howell, Michigan, offers a variety of construction services for the home including: kitchen and bath remodeling, flooring renovations, and home remodeling.  You can find out more information at http://www.jfcremodeling.com or by reaching out to our home renovation specialists at 810.923.1123.