The IAA One Minute Blog

Gaining weight during the holiday season is a national pastime. With Thanksgiving only a week away, it is important to start thinking healthy now, before the holiday season begins.

Before the Meal Begins

Stress seems to go hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving, which can lead to stress eating. Here are a few tips to lower your stress level:

• Food Shopping: Start shopping sooner. Shopping ahead of the crowds will save you time and stress.
• Pick And Choose: If your group is small, pick and choose among the traditional Thanksgiving options. Don't tax yourself trying to serve everything that might be offered at a larger gathering.
• Gather Your Gear: Gather your plates, silverware, glasses, and linens at least five days in advance.
• In The Kitchen: Create a game plan for the day and know exactly how long it takes to prep and cook each item.

Whether you are a host or a guest, the best thing anyone can do is have a healthy and filling meal before the feast even begins. Eating a nutritious meal takes the edge off your appetite and allows you to be more discriminating in the foods you choose during the Thanksgiving meal.

During the Thanksgiving Meal

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner or just bringing a dish to share, make your recipes healthier with less fat, sugar, and calories:

• Roast your turkey with no additional butters or oils, as the average turkey has enough fat under its skin to keep it moist while roasting.
• Buy fresh produce and prepare it using as little fat as possible.
• Substitute full fat ingredients in your favorite recipes with low-fat or or fat-free dairy alternatives.

Make Thanksgiving buffet style. This is useful for larger groups because it keeps people circulating and lets them eat at their own pace. It also helps to keep guests' will power strong. A study conducted by Pennsylvania State University found that dining in a group causes the average person to eat 44% more calories than he or she would normally eat alone.

Before you fill your plate, survey the buffet table and decide what you are going to choose. Then select reasonable sized portions of foods you cannot live without. Remember, don't waste calories on foods you can have all year long. Fill your plate with small portions of holiday favorites that only come around once a year.

After the Meal

Do something physical after your big meal. This is a great way for families to participate in physical activity and enjoy the holiday together. Here are some activities you can plan for your family:

1. Scavenger Hunt
2. If it's warm enough, start a football game or shoot some hoops.
3. Find local activities going on in your area.
4. Instead of having a huge meal, why not serve those less fortunate? Volunteer to help out at a soup kitchen.
5. Indoor games, like Twister or charades, can be a lot of fun.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to give thanks this Thanksgiving. Scientists say the body cannot feel stress simultaneously with a rush of gratitude. So count your blessings in a big way this holiday season. IAA wishes everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

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In today's economy, saving any little bit helps. Insurance Administrator of America is here to give you tips on putting some extra money in your piggy bank.

Saving at the Pharmacy

If you are on long-term medication, you may want to think about ways you can save on your prescription:

1. Mail Order: Many health plans offer discounts if you use mail order.
2. Go Generic: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, generic brands can reduce drug expenses by as much as 80% to 85%.
3. Follow Your Formulary: A formulary is a list of prescription medications covered by your health insurance. See if you can switch to medications that are covered by your plan.
4. Pill Split: Ask your doctor if he will order drugs that will allow you to pill split. Cutting pills in half will reduce the cost.

Back to Basics

Sometimes saving money is all about going back to basics:

• Up to 50% of your doctor or hospital bills may contain mistakes that could end up costing you money. Check carefully to make sure your plan is paying all it should.
• Obesity drives up medical costs and much of the extra expenses are prescription drugs used to treat chronic conditions. Even a modest weight loss, 5% to 10% of total body weight, could have a huge payoff.
• Do not skip on preventative care or check ups. Early detection usually means better health and lower costs.

Get healthy now to save money tomorrow. 

IAA Plan Options Can Help

Self-funded plans can help save employers and employees money. IAA has multiple plan options that can help put money back into everyone's wallet:

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): FSAs can help employees save 20% to 40% on medical expenses not covered by insurance. Find out what your FSA covers and you can stock up on important items. FSAs are use it or lose it, so spend it!
• Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs): Employees are reimbursed tax free for qualified medical expenses through this plan option. Reimbursements of qualified claims are also tax deductible to the employer. Plus, unused funds in a HRA can be rolled over into future years for reimbursement.
• Wellness Programs: These programs are designed to keep employees healthy and ultimately cut medical expenses. Wellness programs often come with financial perks to increase participation.
• Teladoc: This program provides on demand access to a national network of U.S. board-certified doctors who can resolve medical issues via phone or online video consultations. This is a great alternative to a non-emergency ER trip as that could cost hundreds of dollars. Teladoc charges a flat fee of $35 and can diagnose, treat or prescribe medication when necessary, for multiple medical issues.

IAA knows that having health insurance gives you peace of mind. Knowing how to use that insurance is like money in the bank. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Insurance Administrators of America wants to end this month of prevention and survivorship by informing readers on the issues going on in women's health.

The Debate Over the Yearly Mammogram

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), breast cancer is the fifth leading cause of death for women. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt. There are varying mammogram guidelines from different organizations about when to begin mammograms.

In 2009, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), a group of health experts that review published research and make recommendations about preventative healthcare, issued revised mammogram guidelines that are still being debated today:

• Screening mammograms should be done every two years beginning at age 50 for women at average risk for breast cancer.
• Screening mammograms before age 50 should not be done routinely and should be based on a woman's values regarding the risks and benefits of mammography.
• Doctors should not teach women to do breast self-exams.

According to the USPSTF, the benefits of screening mammograms don't outweigh the harms for women ages 40 to 49, including false-positive results leading to unneeded breast biopsies and accompanying anxiety and stress. The USPSTF found that if women were to start yearly mammograms at 40, that would prevent one additional death, but would also lead to 470 false alarms for every 1,000 women screened.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) put out differing guidelines. The ACS is a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization. The ACS guidelines call for:

• Yearly mammogram screening beginning at age 40 for women at average risk for breast cancer.
• Breast self-exam is optional.

In 2011, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued its own guidelines, stating that women need to have annual mammograms starting at age 40 and women who are at high risk for breast cancer should learn how to do a self-exam.

In 2012, the debate is still going on today. Recent studies show a growing body of evidence that regular mammograms can only help a tiny fraction of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Still, many doctors and institutions believe that yearly mammograms at age 40 are the best option.

Facts on Breast Cancer

When making your decision on which side of the mammogram debate you are on, here are some facts to think about from the National Cancer Institute:

• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Over 220,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• When breast cancer is detected early, the five year survival rate is 98%.
• Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread beyond the early stage.

Here are some ways you can lower your risk of breast cancer:

• Control your weight and exercise.
• Know your family history of breast cancer.
• Find out the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy.
• Limit the amount of alcohol your drink.

What IAA has to Say

No matter what part you take in the debate over yearly mammograms, it is important to discuss the issue with your doctor to learn what is best for you. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

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Halloween is only a week away, bringing with it all those delicious treats. Before you dig in, here are a few tips on how to keep Halloween healthy.

Healthy Halloween Alternatives

Halloween can be fun and also relatively healthy. In fact, you may not even have to hand out candy. Here are some healthy alternatives for trick-or-treaters that come in individual packs:

• Goldfish Crackers
• Teddy Grahams
• Peanut Butter Crackers
• Raisins
• Pretzels

Remember, not all treats have to be edible. Here are some knick knacks that make good Halloween treats:

• Stickers
• Markers
• Crayons
• Glow Sticks
• Halloween Themed Jewelry

Tips for Your Trick-or-Treater

About 41 million children went trick-or-treating last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Halloween does not have to be as "sugar crazed" as it may seem. Try these tips for a healthy Halloween:

1. Plan a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for Halloween day.
2. Let your children know ahead of time their candy limits, and the reason for those limits.
3. Review your child's "loot" to see what you already approve.
4. Allow children to have the amount of treats you approve on Halloween, and then put the rest away.
5. Establish a plan on how the rest of the candy will be consumed. It could be a certain amount of pieces per day or it could be out of sight out of mind, waiting until the child asks for it. Either way, parents should make the decision and distribute the candy modestly.

According to a survey created by the American Dental Association, the average child receives just over 90 pieces of candy on Halloween. The survey showed that 70% of parents agree it would be good if their children received less candy and had more non-candy options.

What IAA has to Say

IAA knows that a healthy and safe Halloween is the best kind. Just remember, Halloween is only one day on the calendar. If your family eats sensibly during the rest of the year, one day's indulgence probably won't hurt. IAA wishes everyone a happy Halloween!

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With 2013 right around the corner, it is important for everyone to know what new taxes are coming. These taxes are being put in place due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Medical Device Tax

The PPACA will implement a 2.3% excise tax on gross sales from all medical devices. This tax could potentially:

• Increase the cost of healthcare.
• Make everything from pacemakers to prosthetics more expensive.
• Hurt small firms, many of which rely solely on investment capitol for years before turning a profit.

The law exempts the following from the tax: glasses, contact lenses, and any device the Treasury Department determines is generally purchased by the public at retail for individual use.

Special Needs Kids Tax

There are 30 million to 35 million Americans who use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Currently, FSAs are unlimited under federal law, though employers are allowed to set a cap. In 2013, there will be a new federal cap of $2,500.

The families who this could potentially hurt are those with special needs children. Many special needs families use a FSA to pay for their child's education. Under federal tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for:

• Braille books
• Tutoring for special needs children.
• Costs (tuition, meals, and lodging) of attending a school that provides special needs education.

There is no data on how many special needs families will be affected by this cap.

Surtax on Investment Income

Currently, the maximum federal income tax rate on long-term gains and dividends is 15%. Starting in 2013, the maximum rate on long term gains is scheduled to increase to 20% and the maximum rate on dividends is scheduled to increase to 29.6%.

There is an additional 3.8% surtax on investment income if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) exceeds:

1. $200,000 if you are unmarried.
2. $250,000 if you are a married joint filer.
3. $125,000 if you use married filing separately status.

Medicare Itemized Deductions

Americans who are facing high medical expenses are currently allowed a deduction to the extent that those expenses exceed 7.5% of AGI. The new tax will impose a threshold of 10% of AGI.

Medicare Payroll Tax Hike

The Medicare Payroll Tax is currently 2.9% on all wages and self employment (SE) profits. In 2013, an extra 0.9% of Medicare tax will be charged on:

1. Salary and or/SE income above $200,000 for an unmarried individual.
2. Combined salary and/or SE income above $250,000 for a married joint filing couple.
3. Salary and/or SE income above $125,000 for those who use a married separate filing status.

Elimination of Tax Deduction for the Medicare Part D Subsidy

An employer offering retiree prescription drug coverage that is at least as valuable as Medicare Part D coverage, is currently entitled to a federal drug subsidy. Employers can claim a deduction for the entire cost of the prescription drug coverage.

The PPACA repeals the current rule permitting deduction of the portion of the drug coverage expense that is offset by the Medicare Part D subsidy. The PPACA limits the amount that certain health insurers may deduct from a tax year.

What IAA has to Say

All of these new rules and taxes can seem overwhelming. Insurance Administrator of America is here to help you through the process. IAA will let you know any new changes that will affect your company and/or clients. IAA stays on top of this new information as it comes in. Remember, with IAA, one call does it all.

If you would like to read more about the PPACA, click here and here.