Yesterday, we looked at the types of health reform that Obama plans on instituting. Today, we’ll look at how these plans may be carried out.

If you were hoping Obama was going to charge in on his gallant steed and change the way health insurance operates in this country, you are probably mistaken. “The Obama plan is actually quite traditional,” says John Sheils, Senior Vice President of the Lewin Group, a health care policy research company. “It is very similar to the proposals made by other democratic candidates during the primaries.” This isn’t something to get down about, but realistic expectations should be held near and dear. Although there are some changes and extensions that Obama is hoping to make to the way things operate currently, what he drafts and what actually makes it through Congress are another story.

Bill Clinton and George Bush didn’t get bills passed simply due to lack in trying. Congressional support from the Democratic members, as well as their input, is going to be a crucial component of how the health care and insurance turns out for all of us, so that is what you will want to keep your eye on.

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Times are lean. Despite having a new and exciting Presidency looming, our country is still in the throes of a great financial crisis, and more than ever, people are struggling to pay the bills. If you have medical bills piling up and don’t think you can get out from under them, do not despair.

The following article is intended to help you figure out the best ways to help save money on medical bills. A word to the wise: Letting the bills pile up unopened is a sure-fire bet for disaster. Take a deep breath, get out the letter opener, and get ready to take control.

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Hospitals are meant to be safe havens, providing care and a place of recovery for the sick, injured and infirmed. Unfortunately, they have become places where many are robbed of their hard-earned money in hidden charges, fees for unnecessary treatments and lack of coverage from their health insurance plan. According to recent studies, hospitals are overcharging unsuspecting consumers a whopping $10 billion per year. Luckily, you are not doomed to a lifetime of high hospital charges. There are tips and tools at your disposal to make sure that you are only paying the fees that are necessary for you, and you can ensure that the money saved can go toward preventative care to help you stay out of the hospital in the future.

Request an Itemized Bill

You may get a bill at the end end of a surgery or extensive hospital stay for something like $25,000 dollars, and have no idea what you are being charged for. Before the bill even gets placed in your hands, request that the hospital make it into an itemized bill for you. One woman whose husband had just had hip replacement surgery saw charges for newborn blood work and a crib mobile. Unless her husband had had a baby while he was in the hospital, these charges were ridiculous and egregious. Hospital overcharges average about $1,300 per patient, per hospital visit, so requesting an itemized bill can help you avoid paying for things like $129 for a box of tissues.

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Recently, U.S. News & World Report released findings on various types of health care plans throughout the United States. They surveyed members of commercial health plans, Medicare and Medicaid that operate throughout the country. The survey used criteria like customer satisfaction, physician ratings, prevention, and treatment.

According to U.S. News “…the 469 ranked plans received scores of 0 to 100 and overall ratings of 1 to 5 stars. Star ratings are also shown for individual measures, combinations of measures (such as ‘women’s reproductive health’), and the three major categories—prevention, treatment, and consumer assessment. An additional 94 plans did not provide enough data to be ranked but are listed with the information available.”

The following five health care plans are the top rated commercial plans according to this study. You’ll learn what geographic areas they cover, how they rated in terms of overall score and what makes it so darn wonderful to be a member of these plans.

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It’s no secret that the environment in which you live has a significant impact on your health and well being. For instance, if you live in what could be considered an unhealthy city (one with lots of smokers or a high rate of obesity for example), you health might follow suit.

Natural Health Magazine recently released a study on the top “healthy” cities in the United States by looking at 49 metropolitan areas. The study was based on criteria like natural medicine practitioners, availability of exercise options, easy access to healthy foods, a solid public transportation system, clean air and water and a strong sense of community.

Healthy City #1: San Francisco, CA

Affectionately known as the City by the Bay, San Francisco is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. With its beautiful architecture, rolling fog and stunning views, it’s no wonder people flock from the world over just to visit. San Francisco also takes the cake (rice cake maybe?) as the healthiest city to live in. The city allocates nearly 20% of its land to park space, so despite the city being a thriving metropolitan area, there’s plenty of space in which to get out and stretch your legs. The temperate climate in the Bay Area certainly lends itself to outdoor activities as well, boasting 265 sunny days each year.

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photo credit: contraption

Choosing a doctor might be one of the most important health decisions you make this year. It is one you should confident, informed and content making, because your doctor will be holding the key to your health in his or her hands. Whether you have an HMO that dictates which pool of doctors you can choose from, or if you are someone without health insurance shopping around to find the best doctor to fit your life and budget, there is so much to sort through. Male or female? What was their education like? What is their specialty? These questions and many more can leave your head spinning, so the following is meant to serve as s guide to help you choose the doctor that will leave you feeling relaxed enough to take a nap on the exam table.

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