Friday, 13 February 2015

Medical Insurance, Medical Health Insurance

When Insurance meets the Hollywood Spotlight

When we face an unforeseen situation; medical health insurance for instance, acts as the powerful and mighty Wizard of OZ. Yes, it is a substantial investment for everyone, even for those who work at the cine-industry. While we all agreed about its off-screen importance, has insurance managed a catch an on-screen presence?

Top 3 Movies with an Insurance Cameo


George Pelecanos, Emmy-nominated writer and producer says, “By itself, insurance is pretty boring and uncinematic.”Wouldn’t you all agree with MrPelecanos? However, he says that many movies have made in work pretty well in the plot. Here are a few movies that might have done the trick.

1. The Apartment (1960)

Jack Lemmon, who plays Baxter, works at a New York based life and medical insurance company. As he climbs the corporate ladder, he meets Fran played by Shirley MacLaine. And the plot unfolds… What is to be noted is that, this movie came out before the counterculture became popular, making it a class apart. The movie won best picture at the Oscars for Billy Wilder. And we see actors Lemmon and MacMurray in other insurance movies as well!

2. Double Indemnity (1944)

Los Angeles based insurance representative Walter Neff, played by Fred MacMurray, falls in love with Barbara Stanwyck, who plays Phyllis. Phyllis plans to leave her husband for Neff. Together, they trick her husband to get a life insurance policy, and scheme his death. So, Phyllis can get a lump sum under the double indemnity clause. However, their plan does not unfold as predicted. Barton Keyes played Edward Robinson, catches a whiff of foul play and seeks to bring justice for the departed husband. The movie is a masterpiece. And it goes on to shows that fraud always has a way of resurfacing. After watching this movie, you will rest assured about your own life and medical insurance plans.

3. Cedar Rapids (2011)

Ed Helms plays Tim Lippe, who is a small time insurance agent from Iowa. The plot soon questions the integrity of the business showing cases of corruption and mismanagement. However, Lippe, a man of his principles, redeems himself, the profession and the industry. This movie highlights optimistically the good and morals of the insurance industry today. Stating that, there are honest and hardworking agents and companies, working in the life, motor and medical insurance sector. This happy ending for the profession and industry, is worthy of appreciation.

Saturday, 7 February 2015

Health Insurance Benefits

Astonishing Facts about Sugar

We are all worried about diabetes. However, rest assured because several companies’ health insurance benefits includes treatment for this disorder and other related conditions. But know that, many companies that offer such a cover do so only after you satisfy a 24 month waiting period. On a lighter note, let as look at the central cause of it – Sugar. An as a nation home to masala chai and sweet delicasies,we do have a sugar rush!

Sugar is Not as Sweet for you!

1. Consider Liquid Sugar

If you think Indian desserts and your chai are the only causes of a sugar overdose, think again. It becomes a part of your diet even through sodas and energy drinks. And these beverages are the single largest source of added sugar, even more than ice creams and chocolates.

For instance, take an energy drink and an ice cream with the same calorie count.You would need to consume more liquid, the drink;compared to the solid, the ice cream, to actually quench your appetite. This means, you are more likely to have a sugar overdose from a soda or energy drink, than a dessert. This causes diabetes and related conditions. So, if you consume more than a bottle of soda a day, consider a medical plan, so that you can reap health insurance benefits…

2. Sugar Affects your Liver

Fructose is the type of sugar you get from fruits and vegetables. This is the reason why ripe produce tastes so delicious. According to the Journal of Hepatology and Nature, this can affect your liver just like alcohol. However, natural fructose from fruits is good for your body. The problem arises when the substance is extracted and refined. Manufacturers do this from corn and sugarcane. During the refining process, the fructose looses nutrients and fibers. Such nutrients lets your liver handle it the right way, without them the liver gets taxed. So, apart from diabetes you can land up with several conditions like fatty liver disease or liver scarring. It is a good thing that you can rely on your health insurance benefits, isn’t it?

3. Sugar has many names

When you look at a manufacturer’s nutrition label and see sugar missing, you are immediately elated that you are consuming something with a low calorie. However, sugar has over 50 different names, so look again. Do these names look familiar? - Sucrose, treacle, maltose, diastase, corn syrup, muscovado, maltodextrin, Florida crystals, sorghum syrup and galactose to name a few. They all mean the same thing!

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Best Health Insurance

What Added Sugar is Doing to Your Brain

Figure this! According to the United States Department of Agriculture, an average American consumes no less than 156 pounds of artificially added sugar every year! Hard to believe as it might be, sugar is indeed so ubiquitous in our daily diets that most of us do not have any idea of how much we are actually consuming! And although we might seek the best health insurance policies to take care of all the diabetes-related complications, this sweet poison could be harming us in many more ways than weimagine. In fact, it could be making us less smart!

What exactly happens to your brain when you continue to indulge your sweet tooth?

Researchers reveal that consuming too much of “added” sugar actually reduces the production of BDNF or “Brain Derived Neutrophic Factor,” which is a brain chemical. Without sufficient production of BDNF, the brain loses its ability to remember or learn new things. People suffering from a low glucose metabolic rate have exceptionally low BDNF levels. And as the levels of this brain chemical fall, sugar metabolism progressively worsens, leading to organ damage.

Low BDNF levels also contribute to insulin resistance, resulting in a metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Subsequently, scores of allied health problems follow. And, the body and brain get into a destructive cycle, emerging from which becomes near impossible.This is specifically the reason why the incidence of diabetes or pre diabetes is often associated with poor prognosis. Once diabetes strikes, the best health insurance policies will become available for a heightened premium. So, the best option is to get medical cover as early as possible.

Sugar, Dementia and Depression

There are many more ways in which the brain might suffer damage due to sugar overload. For instance, studies have linked excess consumption of artificial sugar to conditions such as dementia and depression. Low levels of BDNF might actually fuel conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Further, studies have also connected the role of sugar in overeating. Most of us intuitively link sugar consumption to obesity; however, the actually correlation is that relentless consumption of sugar compromises the brain’s ability to detect stomach fullness.

So is all sugar bad for the brain?


Hardly! In fact, the brain cells require double the energy as compared to other cell units of the body. And this energy is supplied by sugar. So, natural sugar stocks found in fruits and whole grains are welcome food for the brain. It is only the “added” sugar that you need to steer clear of.