1. Eat regular meals and snacks throughout the holidays. You may be tempted to skip meals to save calories for holiday parties or big meals, but this only slows down your metabolism. If you arrive at a party or dinner famished you are more likely to make poor food choices and eat a larger portion than if you were not hungry. Consider eating a protein bar before you go out so you are not hungry when you arrive.

2. Divert your attention. The holidays are about a lot more than food. Focus on and look forward to enjoying your family and friends’ company, dancing or playing a game (not the food you plan on eating).

3. Make healthy contributions to the holiday menu. Traditional food does not have to be drenched in butter, cheese or chocolate to be good. Modify your favorites to reduce calories, fat and sugar. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray and Splenda are excellent products that when used in place of regular margarine and sugar can cut the calories and fat content by 75 percent or more and will taste just as good as the original. Consider substituting applesauce for sugar in cookie recipes.

4. Step up the exercise. The holidays can be a busy, stressful time. Set a goal to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Especially on the big day, get the entire family involved and encourage everyone to go for a walk or play a fun game of football in the yard after the big meal. And if you go for a walk, use hand weights.

5. Outsmart the buffet. When dinner is served, use the smallest plate available (try to get a salad plate) and don’t stack your food. Fill your plate once and don’t go back.

6. Be choosy about sweets. Limit your indulgences to one serving of what appeals most to you. Chances are there will be multiple desserts offered. Don’t think that getting small portions of each one is smarter. Pick the dessert you would enjoy having most and eat one full portion of that.

7. Get out of the kitchen. Once you have filled your plate, move to another room and enjoy engaging in conversation. If you are helping with cleanup, chew a piece of gum to keep you from nibbling on leftovers.

8. Pace yourself. This should always be the rule and not just during holidays. Focus on chewing slowly and be conscious of when you are full. You should take about 20-30 minutes to eat a meal as it takes your body 20 minutes to register that you are full. Try putting your fork down between bites to help you do this.

9. Limit alcohol. Alcohol has a lot of calories, but it also lowers your inhibitions and you will not have as much control over your food choices. Make every attempt to avoid eggnog (it is astonishingly high in calories) and if you are going to have a mixed drink, use diet beverages as your mixer.

10. Give non-food gift items, such as gift cards or sessions with a personal trainer. Making cookies and brownies usually means licking the bowl and taste testing, which means more calories. Most people receiving these gifts are also concerned about holiday weight gain so they would probably prefer a non-food item. If you receive such a gift, enjoy one serving and put the rest in your freezer to enjoy over the coming months.

Hispanic kids are less likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to be diagnosed with autism, and socioeconomic factors don’t seem to explain the difference, according to a new study in Texas schoolchildren.

“These findings raise questions: Is autism under diagnosed among Hispanics? Are there protective factors associated with Hispanic ethnicity?” Dr. Raymond F. Palmer of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and his colleagues write in the American Journal of Public Health.

Other research has shown a lower risk of autism among Hispanic individuals, while one study found that Hispanics with autism were typically diagnosed later than autistic children of other ethnic backgrounds. Autism could be under diagnosed among Hispanics, Palmer and his team note, given that these children are less likely to have health insurance and more likely to have trouble accessing medical care.

To investigate the factors behind the difference in prevalence, the researchers looked at data on 1,184 schools in 254 Texas counties, calculating the number of children in kindergarten through 12th grade in each district who had been diagnosed with autism.

For every 10 percent increase in Hispanic schoolchildren in a given district, the researchers found, the prevalence of autism decreased by 11 percent, while the prevalence of kids with intellectual disabilities or learning disabilities increased by 8 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

The reverse was seen as the percentage of non-Hispanic white children in a district increased, with the prevalence of autism rising by 9 percent and the prevalence of intellectual and learning disabilities falling by 11 percent and 2 percent.

The observed relationships remained for Hispanic children after the researchers accounted for key socioeconomic and health care provider factors, although “urbanicity” of a district, median household income, and number of health care professionals did explain the increased percentage of autism among districts with more non-Hispanic white kids — a finding the researchers call “curious.”Whether lower autism prevalence in Hispanics is attributable to other, still-unexamined socioeconomic, health care delivery or biological factors “remains a crucial area for further research,” Palmer and colleagues conclude.

For Temecula resident Jerry Moe, 77, the extensive coverage urging him to get the H1N1 vaccination, and his inability to do so, has led to frustration.

“I think the government is at fault for putting that out there so much and not having the supplies to back it up,” Moe said. “They should get to work on getting it available in more places. I’ve called the county and even they don’t know where it is going to be.”

Moe, who has already received the seasonal flu shot, is concerned not only for himself but also for his great-grandchildren who are considered a priority group.

“I have three great-grandkids that can’t find a place locally to take the vaccine. I encourage my granddaughter to keep calling and looking,” he said.

In the meantime, Moe said he has generally avoided crowded places like the movies. The only exception, he said, is Pechanga Casino near Temecula.

Mixed media messages, a vaccination recall and shortages have left residents perplexed as to how to respond to the H1N1 epidemic.

With April headlines reading, “U.S. ‘very concerned’ about swine flu outbreak,” and May headlines reading, “Swine Flu no worse than regular flu,” it’s no wonder there is confusion.

Amid economic pressure, one thing is certain: local businesses are doing everything they can to calm customers’ H1N1 fears.

According to Pechanga’s Director of Public Affairs Jacob Mejia, the casino has “taken the H1N1 threat very seriously since the news about the pandemic first came out.”

Hand-sanitizer was placed in both public and back of house areas. Informational displays about preventing the spread of germs and H1N1 were also posted for employees. Recently the casino also arranged for team members, as well as dependents on their health insurance plan, to receive the H1N1 vaccine free of charge.

Mejia said three full-time nurses employed by the casino have also been “very helpful” in providing H1N1 education to employees.

“Like most businesses, we heard questions about H1N1 from patrons when the pandemic first broke in late April. Since then we have not seen a decline in business volumes attributable to H1N1,” Mejia said.

Pala Casino Public Relations Manager Jack Taylor said in an email that “H1N1 has not had an effect on Pala Casino Spa & Resort” located just south of Temecula in San Diego County.

Without proper sanitation, another potential bastion of germs is the gym.

In addition to a three-times-a-day cleaning regimen, 24-Hour Fitness in Murrieta has increased sanitation with four sanitation stations located throughout the gym. The stations were installed six months ago with equipment cleaner. A hand sanitation component was added two months ago.

Around the same time, Murrieta’s 24 Hour Fitness dealt with a case of H1N1 in their daycare Kids’ Club. According to Manager Chris Van Der Hoeven, the club was not notified of the illness by the parent. The club found out about the incident after two to three other children became ill. The Kids’ Club was closed for a few days and the entire area was sanitized.

The incident, however, “slowed down some parents from coming in to work out for the two to three weeks after,” Van Der Hoeven said.

One sanitation station is now located directly outside of the Kids’ Club door.

“The sanitizers are empty ever other day and they are supposed to last a week,” Van Der Hoeven said. “I’m sure the company forking out a little more money in that has helped business.”

Though most grocery cart anti-bacterial wipes have been around since 2005, Louise Small, 63, has found them especially useful in recent months.

“It’s nice that businesses have made that available,” she said. “I have used them more since the outbreak.”

She also carries antibacterial wipes in her car. Small does not, however, plan on getting the H1N1 vaccine due to the recent recall.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website explains that the “non-safety-related voluntary recall” includes 800,000 preservative-free pediatric vaccines distributed throughout the U.S. The Sanofi Pasteur vaccines were found to be less potent than the “specified range” during follow-up testing.

On Dec. 22 a second recall was announced for MedImmune nasal sprays citing similar potency reasons. There are 4.7 million doses affected in the recall.

While recipients of the vaccine were not harmed, the word “recall” has surely conjured up fear for some.

Fifty-two-year-old Susan Cooper has never had a flu shot.

“Now I am afraid to. They can’t make up their minds,” she said.

Phyllis Mleczko, 68, an annual recipient of the seasonal flu vaccine decided against the H1N1 vaccine.

“To me it hasn’t been tested yet,” she said. “I know they say it is safe but I am just too skeptical.”

For 28-year-old Maria Vasquez and her family, they decided the vaccination was worthwhile.

“My spouse, myself and my four-year-old son were all vaccinated a week ago. I had been sick and I didn’t want to get the flu,” she said.

Since the outbreak, Vasquez has also used the anti-bacterial wipes provided in the grocery store and avoids going to the movies.

Fifty-two-year-old Vince Barone said his wife talked him into getting an H1N1 vaccine this year.

Barone, who works at the Ralphs distribution center in Moreno Valley, said “I wash my hands more often now.” He also uses the sanitizers at work that were installed after the outbreak.

Joana Johnson, 40, is four months pregnant and all six people in her family have been vaccinated. Though pregnancy places Johnson in a priority group, she said that was “not a factor” in her decision to get the vaccine.

Temecula resident Karen Connerton, 67, is facing a lung transplant. On the recommendation of her doctor, she received an H1N1 shot three weeks ago, as did her husband, but was frustrated they “had to go to [the city of] Riverside to get it.”

As of Dec. 18, California has received the largest shipment of H1N1 vaccine doses, totaling nearly 10.5 million. Texas follows with 6.4 million doses and Florida with 4.5 million.

According to a Dec. 16 press release by the Riverside County Department of Public Health, all Riverside residents “can walk into 10 county family care centers without an appointment and get the H1N1 flu vaccine” beginning Dec. 21.

Centers are located Corona, Banning, Jurupa, Perris, Indio, Palm Springs, Rubidoux, Lake Elsinore, Hemet and Riverside. This contrasts previous months where vaccine shortages led to cancelations of multiple flu clinics.

Hundreds lined up for the first public clinic in Southwest Riverside County to offer H1N1 vaccines. It was held at Ortega High School in Lake Elsinore on Dec. 9 for priority groups.

“Officials are confident” they will continue receiving shipments and can expand the vaccine from priority groups like pregnant women, children, medical workers and adults with chronic medical conditions, to all residents.

Nearby Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties have all followed suit with expanded distribution. New supplies couldn’t come at a better time. Recent data released by the CDC suggest one in six Americans has already contracted H1N1.

The virus, also commonly known as Swine Flu for its genes resembling a virus normally found in pigs, was first confirmed on U.S. soil in April. Since then, the virus has claimed 30 lives in Riverside County and 417 in California. CDC epidemiologists estimate the nationwide death toll to be 10,000.

The CDC’s Flu Vaccine Locator, partnered with Google Maps, makes finding a vaccine quite simple. Search results indicate which locations are stocked with H1N1 vaccines, seasonal flu vaccines, or both.

Below is a list of other local businesses and precautions they have taken to ward off H1N1.

Ryan Digregorio, manager of the Fantastic Sams located on Rancho California Rd. in Temecula, had placed a sign in their window after the initial out break in April. It read, “Due to the high frequency of family and guests, if you have a fever, please refrain from getting a hair cut at this time.” The sign was taken down in summer “after it started getting better,” she said.

The Fantastic Sams on Mission Trail Rd. in Lake Elsinore did not put up a sign but did buy hand sanitizer and has “heard a lot of stores about kids on soccer teams getting sick,” Manager Megan Hernandez said. A memo was also sent to employees advising them to “to just stay home” if they were sick.

Tina Decosta, manager of Lake Elsinore’s Diamond Cinemas said, “Business has been the same,” but they did put in hand sanitizer six months ago.

Trying to keep that golden glow through the new year? It could cost you a little bit more.

A last-minute change in the federal health care bill ditched a proposed 5 percent tax on cosmetic medical procedures and replaced it with a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning services.

Goodbye Botox tax. Hello tan tax.

Dallas is a big market for both cosmetic surgery and fake tans, so the region would have taken a hit either way. Texas is home to two of the nation’s largest indoor tanning chains – Farmers Branch-based Palm Beach Tan, with more than 250 locations, and Houston-based Darque Tan, with more than 100 locations.

John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association, said he’s been getting frantic phone calls from tanning salon owners all week.

“They’re scared to death,” he said. “They’re already suffering through this recession.”

The International Smart Tan Network, a Jackson, Miss.-based educational trade association for the tanning salon industry, estimates the tax could cause 1,000 tanning business to shut down and up to 9,000 job cuts in 2010. Nationally, there are more than 20,000 indoor tanning salons and that doesn’t count gyms, hair salons and other places that also offer tanning services.

Some Dallas-area independent tanning salon owners said they won’t be able to absorb the 10 percent tax and will either have to pass the cost on to customers, cut staff or increase their own hours. One of them is Randy Ranew, owner of 12-year-old Inwood Tan in Dallas. He said the tax would amount to about $30,000 a year based on his annual revenue.

“Times are really tough right now,” Ranew said. “I can’t absorb this. I don’t know how it will all work out, but I see it costing us business and eliminating a lot of smaller businesses.”

Owners’ dilemma

The impact to consumers is difficult to determine because salon owners could handle the tax differently. If an owner decided to pass along the full tax to the customer, then a $20 tanning session would increase to $22.

Tiffany Kirkland, owner of 18-month-old Golden Beach Tan in Allen with her husband, Scott, expects to lose customers if she has to raise prices. Scott Kirkland projects the tax would cost them $13,000 to $15,000 next year.

The tan tax popped up in the health care bill last weekend after powerful medical lobbies – including the American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Botox-maker Allergan – persuaded Congress to remove a tax on cosmetic medical procedures and replace it with a 10 percent surcharge on indoor tanning services.

“We were a sacrifice for another more politically powerful group,” Overstreet said. “It speaks of what’s wrong with Washington. You’re taking it away from wealthy doctors and wealthy clients and putting the tax on working people.”

Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. Steven White said his associations – the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery – lobbied Congress extensively against a tax on cosmetic surgery.

“Since 90 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are women, this would have been a very discriminatory tax,” said White, who opposed the cosmetic surgery tax.

The indoor tanning industry is made up of more than 20,000 small businesses, with at least 75 percent owned by women, according to the Indoor Tanning Association. Salon owner Ranew said 90 percent of his customers are women.

One concern with these so-called vanity taxes is there’s no guarantee the demand for cosmetic surgeries, or a tan, will remain strong enough to generate the projected tax revenue. In 2004, New Jersey became the first and only state to tax cosmetic medical procedures, but less than one-third of the expected revenue was collected, White said.

The so-called Botax would have raised about $5 billion over 10 years, according to the International Smart Tan Network.

Revenue disagreement

Congress estimates the tan tax will generate $2.7 billion over 10 years, but industry groups say that figure is too high. The International Smart Tan Network estimates the tax would generate less than $170 million, based on 2009 data. The industry generates more than $5 billion in annual retail, manufacturing and distribution sales combined.

Another issue appears to be the source of ultraviolet light treatment. The American Academy of Dermatology warns of significant health risks caused by indoor tanning.

Indoor tanning industry groups note that dermatologists use tanning equipment in their offices for cosmetic skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, in phototherapy treatments that cost up to $100 per visit billed to health insurance companies. In contrast, indoor tanning salons cost as little as $6 to $20 per session.

The tan tax would exempt phototherapy services performed by a licensed medical professional.

“This is like Coke being allowed to lobby the government to tax Pepsi, but that Coke be allowed to sell the same product and not be taxed for it,” International Smart Tan Network Vice President Joseph Levy said in a statement. “It’s unbelievable.”

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is joining several other Republican AGs in protesting a special deal for Nebraska that was inserted in the Senate health care bill.

That provision reportedly was added to win the support of Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat viewed as a crucial 60th vote. Under the deal, Washington and other states would have to pay for part of a Medicaid expansion to cover health care for poor families. But Nebraska’s tab would be picked up entirely by the feds.

In an interview today, McKenna said he believes that provision could violate Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress may collect taxes for the “general welfare” of the U.S., not for a special benefit for a particular state.

“We think it’s constitutionally defective. We’re continuing to research it,” McKenna said. And apart from the legality, “it just doesn’t seem right,” he added.

McKenna said he was asked to join in a possible challenge to “the Nebraska purchase” by South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster.

Their counterparts in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota and Texas – all Republicans – have also protested the Nebraska deal.

McKenna’s objections with the health-care bill don’t end with the Nebraska provision.

He said he may also look into whether it would be constitutional for the federal government to require all U.S. residents to purchase health insurance.

McKenna said that mandate may violate the 10th Amendment, which limits the powers of the federal government – reserving other powers for the states.

“The U.S. government has never before required the citizens of the U.S. to buy a particular good or service,” McKenna said. He stopped short of saying he’d launch a legal challenge on that basis. “We need to do more work on it,” he said.

And generally, McKenna said he believes health insurance coverage could be expanded by reducing burdensome state regulations that drive up costs and prevent portable policies from being offered across state lines.

“We act as though the insurance companies are acting in a free market environment, but they are not,” McKenna said.

My twenty one year old son asked me the other day what kind of insurance policy he should take after he gets a job. He didn’t ask me if I had an insurance policy. As a matter of fact I don’t and I am scared. Being a working single mother all my life did not leave me with much time or money to deliberate over a life insurance policy. What I didn’t know at that time was that life insurance rate differs from person to person and that there are many cheap life insurance options available. The high premium rates that I was hearing about kept me from actually approaching an insurance company and finding out about the most affordable life insurance rates. It spooks me out just to think about what would have happened to my son and daughter if something had happened to me.

But a life insurance policy doesn’t come cheap at this age. But finally I gathered the nerve to look around and find what I can do for my little family even if it’s late. My first step was to find life insurance rate online and I was surprised at the number of sites that are ready to give out a life insurance quote for free. And it wasn’t such a dire situation even for those like me above fifty years of age! Considering that I am in reasonably good health and thankfully with no history of any kind of cancer in my family or other malignant diseases, I received reasonably priced quotes without much ado. The world is moving towards a healthy life style. Insurance policies have come out of their comfort zones and started offering insurances for seventy, even eighty year old people. Of course, the elderly cannot expect more than funeral expenses to be covered through an insurance policy taken that late in life.

There are term policies available for people of my age up to twenty years at a surprisingly cheap life insurance rate. Thankfully both my children are going to be self sufficient in about three years, so I might not need such a long term. But I do not want them to get into trouble over the mortgage I had taken on the house to fund their education. So I decided to take up a term policy for the next five years so that all the debts can be taken care of in the worst case scenario. None of us would like to think about ‘what’s next’ but we must. Those who are left behind are the worst part of death. So take care of them. The best life insurance rate is out there for anybody looking for it and I suggest anybody who hasn’t taken a policy to go for it.

Choosing an insurance company can often be a harrowing experience. If you are in the dilemma of which company to go for, then be sure you are going for the best possible option. How can you ensure that? There are so many good companies out there which offer some of the best life insurance rates. There are various perks each of these companies associate with their services that vary form company to company. So, the first step should be deciding what you want out of your life insurance. It always pays off in the long run to do research and compare the life insurance rates these companies give out. Do your research thoroughly to find the most affordable life insurance rate.

In grave matters such as these it is advised to deal with the established and reputed companies and not the minor ones. Most of the established insurance companies have websites where there is a lot of information available. Check these websites out to have an idea of what these companies are offering to you and your family particularly. Most companies require you to go through a physical examination to generate life insurance quotes. The insurance company you go for will ask you to submit a list of pre-existing conditions that have a bearing on the kind of life insurance rate you would be eligible for.
There are websites that help you generate life insurance rates online.

One of the things that you should keep in mind while signing for life insurance is the premium amount. Never go for something that you cannot afford. It is one of the primary mistakes one makes. Having said that, cheap life insurance rates do not churn out the right amount of coverage one should possess. Go for an affordable life insurance rate that gives you a good amount of coverage and does not rob you blind either. Check the rating and financial stability of the company you are signing up with to be rest assured that your claim will be processed on time. The whole purpose of life insurance is to be ready in case of an emergency. If that is not done then what is the point of having any insurance?

Cheap life insurance rates are never the best life insurance rates. The best life insurance rate is one that gives you coverage at a competitive rate. Since this is a field where everyone is vying for customers continuously there are many options for a person to choose from. Be sure to pick the right one as this is a choice that affects the lives of you loved ones too.

Many consumers know that there are certain discounts that virtually every company will include in their car insurance quote, but it is easy to forget some of the available discounts.  When looking for the best possible car insurance quote, it necessary for individuals to keep the following discounts in mind.

Most insurers will include a multi-line discount in the car insurance quote they provide to existing customers.  Insurance companies like to reward the clients that utilize their products to protect both their home and car, so the savings derived from these discounts can be fairly substantial.  A car insurance quote may also be lower if more than one vehicle is going to be covered by the same policy.

Certain safety equipment may result in a lower car insurance quote and these items include daytime running lights, starter disable systems, car alarms, anti-lock brakes, and airbags.  A shopper should be aware that these items have all been proven to reduce the expense of claims and as a result most insurers are willing to pass along the savings.

Membership in certain organizations, such as AAA or AARP, may also lower a car insurance quote.  In addition, many auto insurance companies will offer significant discounts to civil service employees, firefighters, teachers, and paramedics.

The best car insurance quote will be provided to individuals that have excellent credit history and no prior claims.  These customers have proven themselves to be both responsible and reliable and the insurance companies are eager to entice these consumers into choosing their policy.

By simply being aware of the many discounts that are available, a wise consumer can ensure that they are saving as much money as possible on their auto insurance.  When filling out any online forms, a person needs to be certain that they have provided the information necessary for the insurer to provide the best possible car insurance quote.

America has several health insurance plans that are tailor made to cover the health needs of all age group people. You can read through the below data to see what suits you the best.

•    Short Term Health Insurance: This plan is a low cost alternative to a standard health care plan and is valid for 6 months to 1 year only. You won’t be provided all the facilities under this scheme but for young and healthy candidate it is rather good scheme.

•    Student Health Insurance Plan: This is especially for college students. Most of the students travel to different cities or states to study, this scheme covers them up even in those places. The cost is lower than the average schemes.

•    Temporary Health Insurance Plans: This plan acts as a makeshift blanket between the two long term health insurance plans. It is useful for 6 months to 1 year.  This scheme excludes all pre-existing conditions, but covers up well any accident or other acute conditions along with the prescriptions and follow up visits etc. You should buy them before your scheme gets expired.

•    Family Health Care Plans: It is more economical option to go for the Family Health Care Plan than to buy the Individual Plans to cover up each member of your family. You can also opt for the couple plan under this scheme. HMOs and PPOs and other major medical plans come under it.

•    Group Health Care Plans: It is suitable for employees of an organization or other unions. A group of 50 people or more are eligible for it. In it no prior health conditions are taken in notice and are equally distributed among the mass.

•    Self Employment Health Insurance: It is meant for those who own their business rather than the employees of a company. This plan permanently excludes the pre-existing conditions.  Still, there are lesser insurance providers who give out this scheme, leaving not much choice for the interested candidate. It is more expensive than the Group Insurance Plans.

•    Affordable Dental plans: The Dental Plans cover up all your visits to the dentists for regular checkups. The dental surgeries are also included in it. Teeth cleaning, filling, caps and other forms of treatments are also promptly covered by it.

•    Maternity Health Insurance: It is exclusively meant for the pregnant women. It covers cost of prenatal care, labor and delivery fees.

Online agents

The above list is not complete, so you need to search the net to collect more information. You can now shop for any of these plans through the aid of online health insurance agents at no extra cost.

USA is beaming with different kinds of health insurance plans to suit the health needs of all age group people. Below is a short list of all medical insurance plans:

•    Individual Medical Health Insurance Plan: This scheme is for individuals. It has a wide area of coverage and is meant for the accidental covers and the health covers.

•    Family Medical Insurance Plans: It is more economical option if you are planning the insurance cover for your whole family. Couples are also covered under this scheme. HMO and PPO are the two major plans that run under this scheme.

•    Group Health Insurance Plans: This plan is meant for the employees of an organization or other unions. Any group with more than 50 people is eligible for it. No prior health condition is looked for before getting this scheme.

•    Self Employment Health Insurance: Those having their own business are eligible for this scheme. The pre-existing conditions are permanently excluded from this plan. There are limited insurance companies who provide this scheme.

•    Student Health Insurance Plan: All college goers are eligible for this scheme. The rate of premiums is lower in this plan.

•    Short Term Health Insurance: As the name suggests, this plan is applicable only for 6 months to 1 year. Though, you can’t enjoy all the benefits of the long term plans in this, this scheme is best for young and healthy candidates.

•    Temporary Health Insurance Plan: This plan covers up the duration between starting of the new plan and ending of the old plan. You can use it for 6 months to 1 year. All kinds of accidents or other acute conditions are covered under it, but it excludes all the pre-existing conditions. The best time to apply for it is before your existing scheme gets over.

•    Dental Medical Insurance Plan: This plan covers up all your visits to the dentists and the dental procedures such as fillings, dental caps and teeth cleaning.

•    Maternity Health Insurance: All pregnant ladies are covered under this scheme. It includes all the bills of prenatal care, labor and delivery fees.

Online agents:

There are many online agents who can provide all the above mentioned schemes to you. You won’t have to pay any extra rate of premium for the schemes if you buy from these online agents.