Forums: Health Insurance Exchange

Start of Party Congress 'Depends on Kim Jong-il's Health' North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's health will determine when the third extraordinary congress of the North Korean Workers Party finally starts, a North Korea expert speculates. The congress is the first of its kind in 44 years. Quoting a North Korean source, Open Radio for North Korea chief Ha Tae-keung on Wednesday said the congress has been delayed because the regime is looking for days when the ailing leader's health is likely to be good enough to perform his duties. In announcing the congress, the North did not name a date...

When I strained a back muscle playing tennis not long ago, my doubles partner, who happened to be a doctor, pulled a tube of cream from her gym bag and told me to rub it on. It wasn’t Bengay or one of those instant ice gels. It was a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like Advil or Motrin, in a cream applied to the skin. She raved about the stuff, which she buys over the counter when she goes to Europe, and lamented that it is so hard to find in the United States. In fact, Europeans have long been able to...

HHS launches first of its kind consumer focused website in SpanishThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled CuidadodeSalud.gov, the first website in Spanish of its kind to help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage.

Japan has confirmed the nation's first case of a new gene in bacteria that allows the microorganisms to become drug-resistant superbugs, detected in a man who had medical treatment in India, a Health Ministry official said Tuesday. The gene, known as NDM-1, was found in a Japanese man in his 50s, Kensuke Nakajima said. Researchers say the gene — which appears to be circulating widely in India — alters bacteria, making them resistant to nearly all known antibiotics. Drug-resistant bacteria are not new. Many bacteria are resistant to the world's first antibiotic, penicillin, as well as successive generations of drugs....

Rate Increases Are Blamed on Health-Care Overhaul; White House Questions Logic Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums on some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul as soon as next month, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections. Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators. These and other insurers say Congress's landmark refashioning of U.S. health coverage, which passed in March after a...

An EU ruling that limits the amount of time junior doctors spend on wards during the day has led to almost a quarter dropping out of NHS training after two years. And of those trainee doctors who do continue their training, more than a fifth are now turned down because they lack sufficient skills or experience. The findings come from first survey into doctors’ training since the chaotic introduction of a European directive which has put a cap on the working hours of junior doctors. Under the Working Time Directive, which was fully implemented in the NHS last August, junior...

A month before the massive salmonella outbreak in eggs was discovered, one Democratic politician was warning another Democrat of the inherent dangers of holding up the "Food Safety Enhancement Act," legislation which very well could have reduced the harm of such an outbreak. A recall on eggs nationwide was announced after hundreds of people were sickened by salmonella that was found on the shells of the eggs. One benefit of the Food Safety Enhancement Act is that it will allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to order a mandatory recall of foods that are suspected to be tainted. Currently,...

A nine-year-old boy didn't know he was allergic to bees, but his 18-week-old dog could sense this. When the boy was attacked by a swarm of bees, it was the pup that took charge and saved the boy from a possible severe reaction. Richie didn't know he was allergic to bees until he was stung on his feet while outside playing with his puppy Pinky. The pup seemed to have a sixth sense and knew that Richie not only had an allergy, but he also had a blood condition that didn't allow his blood to clot properly. Both these issues...

Feeding obese mice omega-3 fatty acids reduced inflammation that can lead to diabetes, a new study finds. By studying fat tissue in the mice consuming fish oil, researchers found omega-3 fatty acids seem to act on a particular receptor on cells, GPR120, which, when activated, blocks inflammatory processes. Chronic inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. Therefore, "if we can fix the inflammation part, it's possible that we could prevent insulin resistance or even ameliorate diabetes," Talukdar explained.

Changing Kim Jong-il's Appearance in Recent Years Oct, 2006 Jun, 2000 vs Oct, 2007 2008 Mar, 2009 May, 2010 Aug 27, 2010 Photos from Latest Trip to China In the following four pictures, you can see a woman wearing orange-colored dress. Media suspect that she is Kim Ok, the latest consort(wife?) of Kim Jong-il. Some S. Korean media even venture to speculate that Kim Jong-eun, the designated heir, is actually Kim Ok's son, not Ko Yong-hee(the previous consort(wife?).)