Saturday, July 27, 2013

Changing Directions

In light of our non-blogable current life, Dave (dad) and I have decided to use our blog to capture important messages we want to share with our children and grandchildren. Here is the first one:

Because health care is changing so much, we encourage each of you to do whatever it takes to have a healthy body. Exercise, eat your veggies, etc.  Here is just a portion of one article:
You can read the full article here

 How Obamacare Affects You and Your Medical Care The delay in the employer mandate is but one of dozens of negative impacts Obamacare will have on your medical services. As an independent physician, I've been discussing these issues with my patients for the past few years, helping them to prepare for what's ahead. Here the ten most
important points that I tell my patients:
1.  Your private insurance premiums will cost more and more each year.
2.  You will lose the choices and flexibility in health insurance policies
that we have had available up until now.
3.       As reimbursements continue to drop, fewer and fewer doctors will take Medicare (for those 65 and older) or Medicaid (people younger than 65).
4.       Fewer doctors accepting Medicare and Medicaid causes an increase in wait times for appointments and a decrease in the numbers and types of specialists available on these plans. Consumers would be wise to line up their doctors now.
5.    Studies from various organizations and states have consistently shown that Medicaid recipients have longer waits for medical care, fewer options for specialists, poorer medical outcomes, and die sooner after surgeries than people with no health insurance at all. Yet an increasing number of Americans will be forced into this second-class medical care.
6.            As more people enter the taxpayer-funded plans (Medicare and Medicaid) instead of paying for private insurance, the costs to provide this increased medical care and medications will escalate, leading to higher taxes.
7.            With no eligibility verifications in place, millions of people who are in the US illegally will be able to access taxpayer-funded medical services, making longer lines, longer wait times, and less money available for medical care for American citizens… unless taxes are increased even more.
8.            Higher expenditures to provide medical services lead to rationing of medical care and treatment options to reduce costs. This is the mandated function of the Independent Payment Advisory Board: to cut costs by deciding which types of medical services to allow… or disallow. If you are denied treatment, you have no appeal of IPAB decisions; you are simply out of luck, and possibly out of life. This is a radical departure from the appeals process required for all private health insurance plans. Further, the IPAB is accountable only to President Obama, and cannot be overridden by Congress or the courts. IPAB is designed to have the final word on your health.
9.            Under current regulations, if medical care is denied by Medicare, then a patient is not allowed to pay cash to a Medicare-contracted physician or hospital or other health professional. Patients who need medical care that is denied under Medicare or Medicaid will find themselves having to either: 1) look for an independent physician or hospital (quite rare these days); or 2) go outside the USA for treatment.
10.         Expect a loss of medical privacy. Beginning in 2014, if you participate in government health insurance, your health records will be sent to a centralized federal database, with or without your consent.

The bottom line is that Americans are losing more and more of their medical freedom. By 2015, so many workers will be trapped in the government-run health insurance exchanges that there will be no going back to the private plans we have today. At this rate, single-player proponents will drive private insurance companies out of business, which has been their intention all along.
Americans need to become far more proactive about taking charge of their health. The healthier you are, the less vulnerable you are to our degrading healthcare system. It's also wise to consider proactively planning for medical treatment options outside the US.
Dr. Vliet is an independent physician. Upon noticing the major push toward government-run healthcare in the US in 2009, she began studying how government healthcare systems affect the quality and availability of medical care. Her studies led her to become a critic of government healthcare in general and Obamacare in particular.
Dr. Vliet will be speaking on the topic of Obamacare at our Casey Research Summit on October 4-6 in Tucson, Arizona. She is also chair of an international health conference titled "Men's Health and Aging: Preserving Health for the NEXT Stage of Life," which will immediately follow our Casey conference in Tucson on October 6-10. Dr. Vliet's conference will feature international speakers and focus on how to protect your health in the face of increasing government control of your medical care. Click here for the conference's agenda, and click here to register for the conference.
Dr. Vliet's medical website is herplace.com.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Adventure at Moreton Island

Today had to be one of the most adventureous days I've ever had. Most days in Australia have been fairly ordinary, same as at home with different weather and different scenery.  Dave's dad, Harold, came to visit for a week so we decided to go on a boat trip to snorkel around Moreton's Island. We headed out from Redcliffe Jetty with about 15 people and 3 crew. About 30 minutes out we spotted some dolphins. They came towards the boat to go for a "ride". When they move into place, the boat speeds up and the dolphins surf on the sides near the front. We had four at once and they looked like they were having SO much fun.



After the dolphins left, the crew pulled out the Net Boom. They throw a big heavy net behind the boat and those who wanted to get in the water put on a life jacket and climbed down onto the net. When everyone was in place, the boat would speed up. It was cool, refreshing and very salty.





At Moreton Island we put in anchor and had a lunch of prawns, chicken, salad and rolls. After lunch we jumped off the boat onto the island to play in the water and climb a big sand hill to see the view.



After getting back on board an hour later, we headed over to some old "wrecks" that were placed in the water to create a barrier. It was SNORKELING time!  We put on fins, snorkels and gloves.  The crew had us hold our goggles with one hand w/o the snorkel in place and then jump into the water. We practiced with the goggles and snorkel until we felt comfortable and then we headed out to explore the wrecks. Harold and I had a bit of a time relaxing and breathing only through our mouths.  Harold was getting tired so he headed to the boat and paddled around there. Dave and I stuck together and we went exploring. Big fish, little fish, blue fish, striped fish.  Cool!

What a fun day. I am ready to do it again!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Adventures in Bike Riding

Dave and I were in the house all day today because it was uncomfortably hot and muggy outside. We were waiting until about 4:00 for it to cool off so we could go for a bike ride.  Right about then it started raining  accompanied by some impressive thunder and lightening. It stormed for a while and then started to stop.  It was still lightly raining when we started off for the grocery store in Sandgate - about 1 1/2 miles away.
As we rode along the bay it started raining harder and there was still some thunder and lightening although it was further away. By the time we got to the store we were looking pretty bedraggled. We bought a few things and started for home. By this time it was dark and raining hard again. We loaded the groceries in our backpacks, put on our helmets, turned the bike lights on and headed for home.  I thought we wouldn't be able to see the road, but the steady lightening kept it pretty well lit. I tried not to flinch every time it thundered.  It didn't take long until we were back to home base.



Stormy Clouds



Friday, February 18, 2011

Brisbane Temple


We decided to go to the Brisbane temple Friday night and planned to arrive at 5:45. Since we don't have a car we rely on public transportation and I looked up the route on translink to get the information we would need. At 4:00 pm we walked to the bus stop. It was still very warm at that time of day. The bus was running late and we waited about 15 minutes. Luckily they held the train at Sandgate for the bus and we got right on the train. The train ride was 40 minutes into Fortitude Valley.

We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Fortitude Valley terminal. Dave had a kebab (chicken and veggies on a flatbread) and I had a strawberry smoothie. We found the next bus stop on Wickam street. It was noisy, dirty, smoky and we could smell mold from the recent floods. We waited about 20 minutes for bus 475. When we got off the bus at stop 8A we weren't sure which direction to go, so just started walking. Of course it was the wrong way, so we turned around.  We arrived at 5:50 only a few minutes from our plan.

The Brisbane temple is small but was filled with people from a variety of nationalities.  We recognized Jamie and Jill as the people we sat behind at Stake Conference last week and they kindly offered us a ride home. They had to take out the two child seats in the back seat but did so gladly. On the way out of the temple they recognized some people in the church building next to the temple. SO, we crashed an engagement party! We ate a few snacks and chatted with a few strangers.  No worries!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Low Tide

Dave is working in Brisbane again - Feb, Mar, April this time. We are living out of the city in the small town of Brighton on Moreton Bay. It has been hot and humid so we go for a walk/bike ride in the morning and evening and Dave works during the heat of the day. Here are some pictures of us out exploring "low tide".



    Dave chatting with a "net" fisherman.


                                 Enjoying the cool evening...

                                         and the full moon.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Jett's Birthday Celebration


Reading a book with Auntie Linda


                                            Pushing the B.O.B. in the backyard


                       4 Generations of Howells: Dave, Ben, Jett and Harold


                                                  Playing at Municipal Park


                                              
                                          

                                   Great-Grandma Hansen and Jett
                                            

Great Grandpa Hansen and Jett


                      Walking on the Geenbelt - Linda and Grandma Hansen


                                                   Birthday Cake!


                                                   Chillin in the Backyard

Friday, June 4, 2010

GRAD-U-ATION

                                    Bryson Sandwich

Bryson officially graduated from MountainView High School class of 2010.  Grandpa and Grandma Hansen, Grandpa Howell, Linda and John, Kristen, Sawyer and Megan were all in attendance. It wasn't too long of a ceremony considering it was the biggest graduating class in Idaho. Bryson was able to go to an all-nighter party on the BSU campus where he won $50, bowled and enjoyed some fun hypnotist entertainment.  Here are some  pictures of the Big Night.

                                 Bryson with cousin Sarah
                              
                         Grandma Hansen, Bryson, Grandpa Hansen