Refund on Health Insurance

So, when I was unemployed and when I was working at a small firm, I needed to buy my own health insurance.  Thus, after a very stressful search and application period, I ended up with Golden Rule, through United.  I can't really complain, it didn't charge me a whole lot, and it covered the basics (except for prescriptions, which did cause some issues).  Obviously, because I now work for a university, I am on its healthcare plan.  Well, last week I received a love letter from Golden Rule along with a check!  Because of the Affordable Care Act's provision that requires that if a health insurance company doesn't spend at least 80% of its collected premiums on health care services, then it must return the difference to the enrollees.  This is called the 80-20 rule, and it is meant to minimize administrative costs to only 20% of a company's expenses.  In 2011, Golden Rule in Tennessee spent only 70.9% of its total $35M in premiums on health care expenses, meaning that it missed the 80% mark by 9.1%.  Thus, Golden Rule was required to send its enrollees who paid during that period checks of 9.1% of their premiums paid.  Hurrah!  I received a check!  I am pleased to see the ACA working to increase efficiency and decrease administrative padding.  Thanks, Congress and President Obama.  I'm now going to go deposit my small yet morally and politically-pleasing check.  

Something a little lighter

When browsing through my pictures recently, I came across this classic:

This was a note I slipped under the door of a Sardinian hotel I was in while on my geological field camp experience (don't ever let me try to tell you what rock you're looking at --- I have no idea, but once you identify the rock, I will tell you everything you could ever want to know about what that rock means).  My roommate and the rest of the crew had left to go to a bar while I stayed at the hotel to sleep.  She took the key and locked me in while she went out.  While she was out, I drank two liters of water because I was dehydrated, and when I subsequently used the toilet, it happened to come completely out of the wall with the plumbing no longer connected within the wall.  Not quite sure what to do, I pushed the toilet, hoped I reconnected the plumbing, and flushed.  Obviously, I flooded the bathroom.  I then tried the phone, but it consisted of no buttons, and it was also not connected to anything.  Sensing a theme???  I then banged and yelled on the door for help, but no one came.  After checking out the window situation (three floors up, doberman pinschers at the bottom, and now unsure about the reliability of anything in the room), I decided not to climb out the window using the old sheets-tied-together method.  So, I wrote a note, slipped it under the door, and urinated for the rest of the night in the bidet.  Thank God for the bidet.  When my roommate came home after several rounds at the local bar, she saw the note.  She thought to herself, "This can't be true," but then thought that because it involved me, it was most likely true.  Not knowing herself what to do, she came in quietly and went to sleep herself.  Really, what can you do about a toilet at 2 am??? 

Feisty on a Sunday

So this morning, I spent about 30-45 minutes picking up trash from around our neighborhood.  Beyond the general littering, our neighborhood, which includes a wonderful marsh full of wildlife, is plagued by construction debris.  I'd had it.  There were water bottles rolling around, cans smashed in the road, nails in the road, etc.  So, I decided to take action, and I've written a letter to Home Creations, the company that is building the houses.  I urge you to do the same:  identify a need that is in front of your face, and do something about it.  Whether it is picking up the trash or feeding some stray kittens (we're also doing this) or whatever you see.  Take action and then try to hold the person who or company that caused the situation responsible for the need created.

Here's my letter to Home Creations:

In addition, as promised, I've written my US Representative James Lankford about the waste at the House of Rep over trying to repeal the ACA for the 33rd time!  I cannot believe that Republicans can say with a straight face that they are for small government and for fiscal responsibility while they spin their wheels to the tune of $48M * 33 times to issue symbolic votes.  It is disgusting.  Once or twice, okay, but thirty-three times and especially with that cost and at a time when so Americans need real leadership . . .  it's a travesty.

Here's my letter to my representative, and I urge you to write yours:

p.s.  notice that I didn't point out that I'm a liberal . . .  I'm sure his interns will figure that out soon enough.  (Hello little interns!)

Estonia as a financial model???

My mother's family hails from the tiny Baltic nation of Estonia (no, that's not near Romania or any of the -stans -- head north and look just under Finland).  Thus, I take special note of any mention of Estonia in the news.  Bloomberg has just published Brenden  Greeley's article titled Krugmenistan vs. Estonia, and he discusses the financial model of austerity used to get Estonia's economy moving.  Read the story here:  http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-19/krugmenistan-vs-dot-estonia#p1

Let me also point out that Toomas Ilves, the Estonian president, grew up in Fort Lee, NJ, the exact town where my husband and his sister grew up!  What a coincidence! 

Healthier kids --- Healthier US School Challenge

The USDA announced today that 3717 school across the country met and exceeded the goal of 2,250 schools becoming meeting the challenge of offering healthier food and beverage options while educating about correct nutrition.  The USDA offered schools awards based on their levels of performance, and the program was tied to the government program Let's Move!  I looked at the list, and Metro Nashville has a wonderful helping of schools (MLK magnet isn't on the list --- get on it, Sarah Laos), Ohio has a smaller helping of schools than Tennessee (and Lebanon didn't have any), and poor little Oklahoma only had one school in the entire state on the list.  Check out your state and see what you can do to get the schools in your area to help kids become healthier:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/HealthierUS/index.html.

USDA news link:  http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDAOC-49ca2f

Putting this program in a little bit of context, remember that the CDC has predicted that by 2030, 42% of Americans will be classified as obese. That will continue to bankrupt our healthcare system as we care for diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and many other weigh-related health issues.  Let's help ourselves and our kids be healthy for the future.

CDC warning:  http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/t0507_weight_nation.html

Went to a wedding . . .

Last night, Sam and I attended a co-worker's wedding.  Here are some good pics from it:

 This is us when we arrived at the reception.

 The punch bowl was made of ice and had peacock feathers frozen into it.

Sam with the ice peacock.

Is that a Sam with a Sam Adams???

Team Hong

Mississippi Clinic to Stay Open, But . . .

A federal judge ruled that the Jackson, Mississippi, clinic for women's health may stay open while it tries to meet the demands of the new state law, which requires all doctors performing abortions to have privileges at local hospitals.  This is good because the clinic can stay open and continuing servicing women's MANY different health needs.  However, it is really just a delay until the courts rule on whether the fact that the local hospitals are ignoring privilege requests so that the doctors will not be able to meet the state requirements.  Again, that sounds like causing the effect of an undue burden on the women of Mississippi who need abortions.

See the article here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48181044/ns/us_news-life/#.UAGQrByubmw

In a related topic, Jill Lepore with The New Yorker wrote a great piece following Cecile Richards, the President of Planned Parenthood.  In the article, Lepore follows the historical development of medical-supervised and -provided abortions and the legal and policy debates.  It certainly helps round out the picture.  Then, when you read that in conjunction with Jeffrey Toobin's book The Nine (available at amazon.com here), you get yet a fuller picture of how the ultra-conservatives have swung the abortion debate to the main stage (the past conservatives agreed that what a woman does with her own body is completely private) and to the right.  I recommend reading what they both have to say.  

Spinning Your Wheels and Taxpayers' Money

I was astounded at the price tag attached to the GOP's 33rd attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act:  about $48 million.  It's disgusting.  I can't believe that in this time of economic woes, our representatives have voted on this 33 times, knowing that the Senate will defeat it, and have not voted on the jobs bill once.  I'm at a loss for words.  This propels me to write my congressman.  Join me in expressing your frustration and disgust for these senseless repetitious and wasteful acts. 

Read the story from CBS News here

Find your congressman here:  http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ or http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

To be completely catty, remember that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  I think we need to ship the GOP House members to the rubber room.

Voices for Victims in Tennessee Courts

Let's celebrate this victory for victims in Tennessee --- the Tennessee Supreme Court began providing for translation services for all victims in Tennessee courts on July 1, 2012.  Back in 2010, US Attorney General Holder issued a federal mandate that all states provide translation services to the parties involved in any court proceeding.  Recognizing the large number of non-English speakers we have in this country (and let's remember that general language needed for daily life does not correlate into being proficient in legal language used in a courtroom), General Holder declared that not providing those people with translation services violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and that the states could lose precious federal funding unless they provided translation services.  Recognizing that victims are often just as crucial to a case as the parties themselves, the Tennessee Supreme Court, after receiving numerous comments and support, created a victim's right to translation through its program to promote judicial awareness and openness.  Way to go, TSC!  To read the news article, go here.

Going Global

I absolutely love this article on NPR's website about the trend of young Americans being well-travelled and culturally aware.  It interviews some students who have spent years traveling and studying.  I have to say that I absolutely loved my time studying and traveling abroad.  I look forward to waking up in new lands and being surrounded by languages I don't know and cultures I need to learn.  Honestly, I never thought I'd go to Asia, but I've now been there twice, and I absolutely can't wait to go back!  I've definitely switched from an American-Euro-centric interest to more of an Asiatic interest.  Recently, I've been reading books about women in China and Afghanistan.  I'm about to start one that details the lives of the Indian ruling class women.  (I'm even gathering multi-cultural children's books for whenever we have children.)  I've also been listening to my CDs of Mandarin lessons in my car on my way to work --- it's so different from what I grew up hearing, but I embrace it as a part of my family's culture.  Looking to the future, my life plans include hiking the El Camino de Santiago, revisiting Taiwan and other Asian countries many times, visiting Estonia, and joining the Peace Corps (if Sam dies before me).  I also very much want to travel to the Galapagos to see the tortoises and spitting iguanas and to the arctic to see polar bears in the wild.  Bring on the world!!!  Where do you want to go???

Adding an adendum, I strongly believe that we have a duty to help othes across the world and that we have a duty to learn about each other.  Every day this world is becoming more and more connected.  With more connections, there will be more conflict.  As we engage in discussions to resolve conflicts, it will be important that we understand the other person's point of view and cultural ideas in order to properly interpret messages and identify his or her wants, needs, and interests.  An obvious sidenote is that, as we know and understand more about each other, any diagreements become less about people and their charactertistics that are different from "us" and more about the issues at hand. 

How the ACA is Helping People

Just got this press release from HHS about all the people that the ACA has been helping.  I'll try to publish some stats on how much annual wellness exams improve overall health and reduce health care costs for society, but for now,  you're just going to have to believe it.  In addition, while a copay of $5 sounds minimal to most of us (I'm thinking $5???  Mine's $25!), it is a significant amount of money to many Americans on Medicare and who need to go to the doctor often.  Remember that many people don't accrue savings for their retirement, or if they did, it's now gone, whether due to being too small or bad investing. 

Here's the announcement:

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2012
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

More than 16 million people with Medicare get free preventive services in 2012
Affordable Care Act made many preventive services no cost to beneficiaries

The Affordable Care Act – the new health care law – helped over 16 million people with original Medicare get at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first six months of 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. This includes 1.35 million who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit provided by the Affordable Care Act. In 2011, 32.5 million people in Medicare received one or more preventive benefits free of charge.

“Millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services for free thanks to the health care law,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These new benefits, made possible through the health care law, are helping people stay healthy by giving them the tools they need to prevent health problems before they happen.”

Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Through the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early.

The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare — an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice— at no cost to beneficiaries.

For more information on Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services/index.html

To learn what screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the myhealthfinder tool at www.healthfinder.gov.

Be sure to see the posts under the other pages

Just posted some new stuff under the other pages --- be sure to check it out!

Suroweicki on Fairness

I'm exhausted, so this will be  brief and have no deep thoughts in it, but I wanted to pass on some of what James Surowiecki wrote about the issue of fairness when considering the European financial woes.  Now, this was published back in the June 4 & 11 double-issue of The New Yorker, so the factual situation has changed; regardless, the concepts I've highlighted are still good for thinking about, especially in the terms of conflict resolution (which is where I believe I will use it in my course and in my book):

- "Similarly, a famous experiment known as the ultimatum game -- one person offers another a cut of a sum of money and the second person decides whether or not to accept -- shows that people will walk away from free money if they feel that an offer is unfair.  Thus, even when there's a solution that would leave everyone better off, a fixation on fairness can make agreement impossible."

- "From the perspective of society as a whole, concern with fairness has all kinds of benefits:  it limits exploitation, promotes meritocracy, and motivates workers.  But in a negotiation where neither side can have what it really wants, and where the least bad solutions is as good as it gets, worrying too much about fairness can be suicidal."

Pictures from the trip to Ohio

Here are some pictures from my recent trip to Ohio with Lilly Lou:

 These are the galapagos tortoises at the Cincinnati Zoo.  I'm doing my very best to get Sam to take me to Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.  Unfortunately, our schedules are a little hectic right now.

 Happy Father's Day!  My dad and me petting the tortoises!

Happy Father's Day post-zoo!  Here we are eating at the Moerlein Lager House on the riverfront.

Update

Just a quick update --- I have started my new job as Lecturer with the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health.  I will be teaching a Communications Skills course along with performing numerous other administrative functions.  So far, I've worked one week, and I'm loving it!  I've helped advise students, I've been warmly welcomed, I've had plenty to do, I have been respected and listened to . . . it is just a welcomed new phase of life.  If I'm a little quiet in the next couple of weeks, it is because I'm working so hard during the day.  Three cheers for a new job!

Grit --- Making Someone Successful

I just found an article that my dad sent to me back in February.  It came from the Mensa Bulletin, which will completely cast a whole ironic shade on the topic:  Grit.  Lisa Van Gemert discusses how being smart isn't good enough to succeed, rather, it takes some amount of grit, as defined by researcher Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania.  Grit is a "perseverance and passion for long-term goals."  It's this idea that to get really good at something, you put in the 10,000 hours in 10 years, and you may not necessarily enjoy it all the time, but you are there doing "structured, feedback-driven, weakness-focused work, specifically designed to improve performance."

To help children develop grit:
- set challenging yet achievable goals
- allow children to set their own goals (which seems a little at odds with the wording of the previous recommendation)
- transfer skills from one area of grittiness to another
- recognize that obsession is not necessarily grit
- share stories of gritty individuals


Taking this on a personal note, I have to say that I completely admire the grit that my husband has.  He has worked so hard academically to achieve so much, and he continues to work hard to achieve much in his field of medicine.  I am in awe of how much dedication he has to what he does.

To share another story of gritty individuals, I just finished the book Zoya's Story about a woman named Zoya (of course that is not her real name) from Afghanistan who has become one of the leaders of RAWA, an organization that promotes gender equality.  She tells her story of growing up in Afghanistan and then fleeing to Pakistan, where she was educated.  She discusses how she continues to fight for her cause and for the women and children of Afghanistan, despite all the troubles.  I cannot even imagine having that much personal strength.

Here's to us all getting a little grittier~