Health Reform was a big topic this year.  After all, President Barack Obama stood in front of congress more than once to encourage bipartisan support for the measures.  In the end, the country was deeply divided in their opinions about the bill’s veracity, but few can deny that Health Reform – as described in HR 3590 - will have far-reaching effects for millions of Americans (for better or worse).

This list of the 10 Most Costly Conditions was taken from our consumer guide to Health Reform in 2010.

Among the extensive coverage of health reform (Google shows an astounding 4,100,000 results for the phrase “health reform bill”) there is very little in the way of consumer guides.  MedHealthInsurance.com sought to remedy that shortfall by publishing a consumer guide to health reform in conjunction with the Insurance Research Organization.  We hope this guide will help you better understand your options under the new bill, its timeline, and how it will affect you – no matter which walk of life you hail from.

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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